PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between David Poulain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier Dandenault (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Poulain
vs
Dandenault

169 cm
22
154 lbs
4 - 13 - 0

182 cm
18
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 4 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, David Poulain!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Xavier Dandenault!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, William Peck and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Poulain circles away from the clinch attempt.
Poulain shoots in for a double leg but Dandenault sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Poulain shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dandenault but Dandenault pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Dandenault wants to clinch.
A head kick misses from Poulain.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dandenault misses with a jab, cross combination.

Poulain closes the distance and clinches.

Poulain has Dandenault pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Poulain pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Dandenault tumbling to the mat - Poulain dives into Dandenault's guard.

Dandenault throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Poulain escapes and throws Dandenault's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dandenault takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Dandenault regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dandenault looks like he's trying to stand up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dandenault is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Dandenault trying to control from the bottom.
Poulain lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Dandenault trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Nice strikes from Poulain there.
Poulain winds up and cracks Dandenault with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Poulain has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Poulain working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Poulain prevents Dandenault from improving his position.
Ground and pound from Poulain.
Dandenault gets back to full guard.
Poulain landing with the ground and pound.
Dandenault working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Poulain.
Poulain scoring with some ground and pound.
Poulain throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dandenault works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poulain not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Poulain trying to control but Dandenault is working from the bottom.
Poulain is pushing down on Dandenault's leg trying to pass to half guard. Dandenault is fighting to maintain full guard but Poulain has managed to sneak the leg through.
Poulain wants to take a breather but Dandenault is having none of it.

Poulain is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Poulain is breathing heavily.
Dandenault blocking the ground and pound attempt from Poulain.
Dandenault is controlling Poulain's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Dandenault trying to control but Poulain postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Dandenault keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dandenault keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dandenault is pressing down on Poulain's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Dandenault not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Dandenault working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Poulain doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Poulain manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Poulain works over Dandenault with some ground and pound from guard.
Poulain is looking to work some ground and pound but Dandenault has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Poulain accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Poulain distracts Dandenault with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Poulain postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Poulain dominated that round.
That's time! Poulain's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Dandenault misses with a takedown

and Poulain counters with a nice double leg into side control. Dandenault won't be happy with that.
Poulain controls the position.
Poulain cracks Dandenault with a big elbow.

Poulain looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Dandenault takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Dandenault tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Poulain scores with punches from side control.
Poulain looks up at the clock and then as Dandenault takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Poulain smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dandenault taking punishment in the form of punches.
Poulain working the ground and pound from side control.
Dandenault is trying to control Poulain's posture but Poulain avoids it.
Poulain landing strikes.
Dandenault manages to work his way to half guard, despite Poulain's best efforts.
Poulain thows a huge punch but Dandenault dodges it nicely.
Dandenault is staying active underneath Poulain, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Dandenault regains full guard. Nicely done.
Dandenault is trying to control the position but Poulain postures up.
David Poulain overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dandenault avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dandenault working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Poulain.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dandenault has momentary wrist control but Poulain slips an elbow through the middle.
Poulain is working Dandenault over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Poulain working some strikes from top position.
Dandenault not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Poulain connects with a couple of short punches.
Dandenault looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Poulain passes Dandenault's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Dandenault wants to control but Poulain is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Poulain trying to control from half guard but Dandenault is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dandenault is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dandenault trying to hold on to Poulain's head to control him but Poulain postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Poulain shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Dandenault napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Dandenault takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Dandenault is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dandenault gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Dandenault is trying to escape the mount.
Dandenault is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Dandenault is looking to improve his position but Poulain isn't that keen on the idea.
Dandenault wants to control but Poulain is having none of it.
Dandenault taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Poulain dominated that second round.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Dandenault tries to keep at a distance but Poulain has taken the fight into the clinch.
Poulain is working for takedown but Dandenault is calmly controlling the position for now.
Poulain tries to score a body lock takedown but Dandenault shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Poulain fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Poulain. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Dandenault decides to pull guard.
Poulain might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Poulain looking to sit in guard and control but Dandenault gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Dandenault wants to control from the top but Poulain keeps moving.
Dandenault with a nice head shot there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Poulain is trying to control the position but Dandenault postures up.
Poulain keeping full guard, as Dandenault tries to pass.
Dandenault wants to control from the top but Poulain keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poulain throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Poulain wants to sweep but no luck.
Poulain keeping moving, preventing Dandenault from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dandenault fails with the takedown

and Poulain decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Dandenault's guard.
Poulain is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Poulain won't allow Dandenault to sweep him here.
Poulain connects with a couple of short punches.
Poulain lands a couple of digs.
Dandenault working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poulain is working Dandenault over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Poulain slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Poulain lands a couple of digs.
Dandenault tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Dandenault is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Dandenault is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Poulain drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Poulain seems to have locked his on tight now - Dandenault screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Poulain, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). David Poulain!