PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gregoire Lamerde (ranked 4014 p4p, 6714 weight class) and Shigeru Otori (ranked 347 p4p, 436 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Lamerde might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Sans Pression - Térritoire Hostile. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Lamerde
vs
Otori

183 cm
25
155
1 - 0 - 1

178 cm
18
149
0 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Gregoire Lamerde!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Shigeru Otori!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Winston Howard and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lamerde bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Lamerde throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Otori avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lamerde gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Otori counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lamerde goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Lamerde misses with a low kick.
Lamerde tries to clinch but Otori moves out of range.
Otori with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Otori moves out of range of the body kick.
Lamerde throws a right hand that Otori ducks under and follows up with a left that Otori also avoids with ease.
Gregoire Lamerde seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lamerde throws a head kick that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Otori blocks the body kick.
A low kick from Lamerde is predictable there
and Otori makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Lamerde throws the kick towards the body but Otori avoids it.
Lamerde tries to land a body kick
and Otori counters with a left and a right that stings Lamerde.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lamerde throws a sloppy head kick and Otori moves out of range easily.

Lamerde fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Otori, pushing him back against the cage.
Lamerde using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Otori's coach down at Takeda Clan Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Otori's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Otori misses with some punches.
Lamerde has Otori pressed against the cage, preventing Otori from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Otori blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Otori tries to circle away but Lamerde has him pinned against the cage.
Lamerde tries to stall but Otori uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Otori working aggressively here.
Otori avoiding damage as Lamerde throws knees to the body.
Otori is trying to break the clinch but Lamerde is controlling him.
Lamerde can't get the takedown.
Otori avoiding damage as Lamerde throws knees to the body.
Lamerde lands a good knee to the midsection. Otori won't want to take too many of those.
Lamerde tries to throw a body punch but Otori avoids it by throwing Lamerde back against the cage.
Lamerde looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Otori is trying to force a seperation but Lamerde has the dominant position.
Lamerde tries to pull guard but Otori holds him up against the cage and eventually Lamerde drops back down to his feet.
Otori misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lamerde has Otori pressed against the cage, preventing Otori from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Lamerde breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lamerde throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Otori is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Lamerde.
Otori misses with a head kick.
Lamerde pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Otori throws out a counter right but Lamerde avoids it with no problem.
Lamerde sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Lamerde is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lamerde has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Lamerde there as he acknowledges the shot.
Otori avoids a kick to the body.
Otori raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Lamerde blocks a head kick by Otori.
Lamerde throws a right and a left that both miss.
Otori steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Lamerde misses with an attempted mid kick.
Lamerde misses with a head kick.
Otori follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Lamerde throws a head kick that misses
and Otori counters with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Otori scores with a spinning back kick!
Lamerde tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Otori lands with a slapping head kick.
Shigeru Otori is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lamerde wants to clinch
and Otori counters with a nice kick to the body.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Otori. Lamerde shrugs it off though.
Otori chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Otori delivers a nice body kick.
Lamerde takes a kick to the side of the head.
Otori fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Lamerde has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Otori connects with a solid leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A low kick from Lamerde is predictable there
and Otori counters with a body kick.
Lamerde tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lamerde is looking to land body kicks.
Lamerde throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Otori counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Lamerde moves to clinch but Otori breaks away
and Otori counters with a thumping low kick.
Otori scoring well with a low kick there.
Otori connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Lamerde throws a body kick that misses
and Otori counters with a thumping low kick.
Lamerde misses with a hook. Otori ducked under it nicely.
Otori swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Otori lands a jab to the head.
Lamerde fails with an attempt to clinch.
Otori bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Lamerde tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Otori tries a head kick but it misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shigeru Otori dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A good leg kick by Otori.
Lamerde looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Otori is trying to counter with his kicks.
Lamerde throws a head kick that misses.
Otori feints a counter leg kick.
Lamerde is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Lamerde avoids the head kick by Otori.
A thudding body kick lands there by Lamerde!
Lamerde throws a sloppy head kick and Otori moves out of range easily.
Lamerde will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Otori blocks a head kick by Lamerde.
Otori has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lamerde tries to clinch up
and Otori counters with a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lamerde tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Otori gets tackled into the cage by Lamerde. Lamerde maintains the clinch.
Lamerde tries to land knees in the clinch but Otori avoids the damage to the body.
Otori is trying to force a seperation but Lamerde has the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Otori misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lamerde.
Otori avoiding damage as Lamerde throws knees to the body.
Lamerde lands a good knee to the midsection. Otori won't want to take too many of those.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Otori is trying to break free.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lamerde.
Otori is trying to break the clinch but Lamerde is controlling him.

Otori breaks from the clinch.
A slapping body kick lands there for Otori.
Gregoire Lamerde is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lamerde throws a sloppy body shot
and Otori counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Otori moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Lamerde throws a wild body kick that Otori sees coming a mile off.
Otori throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Lamerde is looking to slow Otori down with leg kicks.
A lazy body kick from Lamerde
and Otori counters with a nice kick to the body.
Lamerde throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Otori tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lamerde blocks a head kick by Otori.
Lamerde misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Otori misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lamerde swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Otori lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Lamerde fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Otori, pushing him back against the cage.
Lamerde keeps control of Otori as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Otori wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lamerde has him pressed against the cage.
Lamerde keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Otori's efforts to push away.
Lamerde throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Lamerde breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lamerde throws a head kick but Otori moves out of range.
Lamerde throws a lazy body kick
and Otori counters with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Otori darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Shigeru Otori seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Otori scores with a head kick. Lamerde tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Lamerde throws a sloppy head kick and Otori moves out of range easily.
A head kick misses from Otori.
Lamerde looks for the body kick but Otori saw that one coming.
Lamerde throws a head kick but Otori moves out of range.
Otori blocks a head kick by Lamerde.
Otori is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Good leg kick by Otori.
Lamerde misses with a leg kick
and Otori counters with a big head kick but Lamerde shrugs it off.
Lamerde throws a body kick that misses.
Otori turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Otori throws a head kick but Lamerde moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Otori tries a head kick but it misses.

Lamerde closes the distance and clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lamerde lands a knee to the head.
Otori misses with the head strike.
Lamerde throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Otori blocks it with crossed arms.
Lamerde prevents Otori from breaking the clinch.
Otori wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lamerde has him pressed against the cage.
Otori is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Otori tries to circle away but Lamerde has him pinned against the cage.
Otori wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Lamerde tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Otori avoids it.
Otori has a couple of punches blocked by Lamerde.
Lamerde throws a knee to the head but misses.
Otori is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Lamerde is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Otori is defending well for now.
Otori has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Otori has had enough of the clinch but Lamerde keeps him there for the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Shigeru Otori will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Lamerde misses with a leg kick.
Otori misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lamerde misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lamerde misses with a head kick.
Otori is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Lamerde throws a head kick that Otori semi-blocks.

Lamerde closes the distance and clinches.
Otori tries to break free but Lamerde pushes him back against the cage.
Lamerde keeps control of Otori as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Otori wants to break the clinch but can't.
Otori is trying to force a seperation but Lamerde has the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lamerde has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Otori uses from the top position.
Otori has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Lamerde is proving hard to escape from.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Otori stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Otori fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Lamerde tries to clinch up
and Otori counters with a slapping leg kick.
Lamerde is looking to land body kicks.
A slapping leg kick lands for Otori.
Lamerde avoids the head kick by Otori.
Lamerde is looking for a counter combo.
Lamerde pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Otori is trying to counter with his kicks.
Lamerde staying out of range there.
Otori scores with a kick to the midsection.
Otori staying out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lamerde throws a wild body kick that Otori sees coming a mile off.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Lamerde - that will leave a mark!
Lamerde fails in his attempt to clinch.
Otori is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Otori takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Lamerde crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Otori - the referee stops the clock and Lamerde gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Otori. Lamerde manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Otori throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Otori takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Lamerde wants to slow Otori down by chopping away at his legs.
Lamerde is looking to clinch.
Otori feints a counter leg kick.
Otori throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lamerde fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lamerde thows a leg kick but Otori checks it
and Otori counters with a head kick. That will keep Lamerde thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Lamerde scores with a nice body kick.
Otori moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Lamerde misses with a leg kick
and Otori counters with a head kick.
Shigeru Otori is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Otori throws a nice inside leg kick.
Otori thuds his shin into the meat of Lamerde's side.
Gregoire Lamerde has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lamerde misses with a kick to the body.
Otori is looking to slow Lamerde down with leg kicks.
Otori lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Lamerde tries to clinch but Otori is having none of it.
Lamerde tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lamerde throws a sloppy head kick
and Otori counters with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Otori scores with a push kick.
Lamerde throws a lazy head kick
and Otori counters with a head kick.
Lamerde throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Otori scores with a leg kick.
Otori lands a high kick!
Otori lands with a kick to the temple. Lamerde shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Lamerde tries to clinch but Otori moves away
and Otori counters with an inside leg kick.
Otori scores with a push kick.
Otori connects with an inside leg kick.
Lamerde throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Otori lands with a nice body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shigeru Otori comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Otori winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shigeru Otori!