PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Aramis Knox (ranked 2142 p4p, 2002 weight class) and Ian Laperierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laperierre has chosen Tha Shiznit as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Knox
vs
Laperierre

181 cm
39
168
34 - 21 - 1

177 cm
42
167
20 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 34 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aramis Knox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ian Laperierre!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Robert Twigg and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A right-left combo lands from Knox.
Laperierre has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Laperierre fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Knox takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Knox wants to clinch up but Laperierre keeps it at a distance.
Laperierre keeps the fight on the outside.
Aramis Knox seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Laperierre lands a glancing blow to the side of Knox's head.
Knox is looking to clinch.
A nice side step and Laperierre releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Nice shot by Laperierre.
Knox is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Knox misses with a hook.
Laperierre lands a head shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Laperierre slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Good shot there by Laperierre.
Laperierre connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Knox shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Laperierre moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Laperierre avoids a punch combination nicely.
Laperierre avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A little jabbing left from Laperierre on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Laperierre throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Laperierre.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Laperierre creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Aramis Knox has been cut.
Laperierre lands a nice uppercut.
A right handed body shot lands from Laperierre.
Laperierre throws a head punch that misses.
Laperierre lands a hook that snaps the head of Knox backwards.
Laperierre blocks a body shot from Knox.
Laperierre tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Knox's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Laperierre scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Knox tries to circle away but Laperierre has him pinned against the cage.
Knox is trying to push Laperierre away but Laperierre has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Laperierre keeps control of Knox as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Laperierre misses with a hook from the clinch.
Knox wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Knox wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Laperierre has him pressed against the cage.
Laperierre scores with a shot to the side of Knox's head.
Knox blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A nice left hand lands by Laperierre.
Knox can't break the clinch.
Knox tries to circle away but Laperierre has him pinned against the cage.
A short right from Laperierre.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laperierre blocks a body shot from Knox.

Knox breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Laperierre slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Laperierre lands a head shot.
Knox on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Laperierre wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Knox blocks a head kick by Laperierre.
Knox fails with an attempt to clinch.
Knox fails in his attempt to clinch.
Knox tries to clinch there but Laperierre circles away.
Laperierre swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Laperierre swats away the attempt to clinch by Knox.
Laperierre wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Laperierre fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Knox has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Knox there as he acknowledges the shot.
Laperierre lands a slapping body shot.
Laperierre throws a good cross that connects.
Laperierre works the jab nicely.
Knox wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knox walks into a left hand.
Aramis Knox is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Good standup being displayed there by Laperierre as he connects with a hook.
Laperierre moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Laperierre takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Laperierre moves out of range of the body kick.
Knox moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromLaperierre.
Knox swinging wildly here.
Knox walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nice shot lands for Laperierre.
Laperierre dips to his left and cracks Knox with an uppercut!
Laperierre throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Knox on the side of the head.
Laperierre is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Knox had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Laperierre circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Knox wants to clinch up but Laperierre keeps it at a distance.
Laperierre lands with a cross.
Knox is looking to clinch.
Knox on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Laperierre scores with a jab. Knox acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Laperierre might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knox drops his hands momentarily and Laperierre takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Knox walks into a jab.
Laperierre uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Laperierre misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Knox throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Laperierre looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Laperierre lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Knox is looking to land body kicks.
The fight stays on the outside here - Knox looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Laperierre fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Knox tries to close the distance and clinch up but Laperierre swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Knox on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Knox punishes Laperierre's body with a nice straight punch.
The crowd cheers as Laperierre lands an impressive looking overhand right. Knox doesn't seem phased though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Knox wants to clinch.
Laperierre slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ian Laperierre dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aramis Knox's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Good shot there by Laperierre.
Knox takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Knox goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Laperierre uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Knox.
Laperierre scores with a jab. Knox acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Knox connects with a jab.
Ian Laperierre seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Laperierre lands with an uppercut that bounces Knox off the cage and back into range.
Laperierre keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Knox throws a body shot but no joy.
Knox looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Laperierre tests Knox's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Knox scores with a nice head shot.
Laperierre scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Knox fails in his attempt to clinch.
Laperierre digs a good hook to Knox's body.
Laperierre lands with an overhand left.
Knox misses with a shot to the body
and Laperierre cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Laperierre moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Laperierre connects with the punch.
Knox tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Laperierre paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Knox is looking to clinch.
Laperierre looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Knox forces Laperierre back against the cage and clinches.
Laperierre keeps control of Knox as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Knox makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Knox is trying to force a seperation but Laperierre has the dominant position.
Laperierre controlling the action here for a moment.

Laperierre pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Laperierre cracks Knox with an open hand slap.
Laperierre keeps the fight on the outside.
Knox tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Knox closes the distance and pushes Laperierre back into the cage.
Laperierre scores with a shoulder strike.

Laperierre breaks the clinch.
Knox uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Laperierre has time to react.
Knox is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Knox takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Laperierre moves out of range as Knox strikes.
Nice shot by Laperierre.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Knox closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Knox tries to clinch but Laperierre moves out of range.
Laperierre connects with a single shot there.
Knox wants to clinch up but Laperierre keeps it at a distance.

Laperierre throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Knox was covering up waiting for the punch and Laperierre finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Knox seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Knox has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Laperierre has passed into side control.

Laperierre is trying to get an arm triangle but Knox is defending well.

Laperierre looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Laperierre has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Laperierre tries to stand but Knox is controlling his head.
Laperierre controlling from side mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knox is looking to regain half guard here but Laperierre keeps moving and retains side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Laperierre wants to lay and pray for a moment but Knox keeps working.

Laperierre wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Knox, who protects the arm well.
Knox is looking for a sweep.

Laperierre working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Laperierre is trying to get an arm triangle but Knox is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laperierre wants to stand but Knox has his arm trapped.
Laperierre trying to control the position but Knox is working away.
Knox is looking to reverse the position.

Laperierre is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Knox has escaped the position, nice work there.
Knox struggling a bit here.
Laperierre wants to lay and pray for a moment but Knox keeps working.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ian Laperierre showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Aramis Knox's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Knox wants to clinch.
Knox tries to clinch but Laperierre moves out of range.
Laperierre swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Laperierre scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Knox misses with a strike from the bottom.

Laperierre tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Laperierre swings around for an armbar but Knox sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Laperierre's guard.
Knox throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Laperierre works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ian Laperierre has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Laperierre working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Knox doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Knox manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Knox wants to control from the top but Laperierre keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laperierre manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Knox manages to get himself to full guard.

Laperierre is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Laperierre stands up out of Knox's guard for a moment - Knox manages to land a nice upkick.
Laperierre won't allow Knox to sweep him here.
Knox trying to control the position.
Laperierre's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Laperierre tries to free his leg and advance position but Knox is retaining full guard.

Knox has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Laperierre can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laperierre sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Knox trying to control the position.
Knox is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Laperierre works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Knox is looking to improve his position.
Laperierre passes to side control.
Laperierre works to advance to full mount. Knox defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Laperierre controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laperierre wants to control the pace but Knox is squirming around nicely.
Laperierre controlling his opponent.
Knox is in all sorts of trouble here.
Laperierre is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Knox is in real trouble.
Laperierre really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Knox.
Laperierre struggling to keep hold of the position.

Laperierre working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laperierre is not going to allow Knox to sit and survive in this position.

Knox is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Knox manages to reverse the position and now he's in Laperierre's guard. Nice work there by Knox.
Aramis Knox has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Laperierre is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Laperierre is taking a breather. Knox says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ian Laperierre comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Laperierre has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ian Laperierre!
A victorious Ian Laperierre thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.