PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Swanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henri Lafitte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Swanson comes to the cage accompanied by The Devil You Know. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Henri Lafitte enters the cage!

Swanson
vs
Lafitte

184 cm
20
214 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

193 cm
21
213 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Swanson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Henri Lafitte!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Swanson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Swanson moves out of range of the body kick.
Swanson on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

It looks like John Swanson has been cut.
Swanson darts in looking for a takedown but Lafitte gets double underhooks and turns Swanson into the cage.
Swanson swings widly with a right hand
and Swanson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Swanson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
John Swanson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Swanson with a hook.
Lafitte throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Swanson takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Swanson throws a leg kick that is checked
and Lafitte makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Swanson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Swanson just misses with a punch to the body.
A countering left hand to the body from Lafitte misses.
A bone on bone clash there as Lafitte blocks the leg kick.
Lafitte looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson lands a nice hook to Lafitte's body. Lafitte takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Swanson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Decent striking displayed by Swanson there.
Swanson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lafitte as he jumps to the side.
Lafitte fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Swanson.
Swanson tries to clinch there but Lafitte circles away.
Lafitte scores with a nice head shot.

Swanson moves into range and clinches up with Lafitte.

Swanson breaks the clinch.
Swanson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swanson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Lafitte on the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Swanson attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Swanson shoots for a takedown but Lafitte saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Swanson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A leg kick checked by Lafitte.
Lafitte flicks out a counter leg kick but Swanson steps away.
Swanson scores with a crisp jab that stopped Lafitte in his tracks.
Swanson fails with a takedown attempt.
Lafitte let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Swanson tries to land a leg kick but Lafitte saw it coming and moves away.
Lafitte loads up on a big right hand but Swanson slips the punch.
Lafitte throws a hook to the side of Swanson's head but Swanson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Swanson changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Lafitte thows a left - swing and a miss!
Swanson fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lafitte scores with a leg kick.
Swanson throws a jab when Lafitte was well out of range.
Lafitte is trying to counter with his kicks.
Lafitte swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Swanson.
Lafitte checks a low kick from Swanson.
Lafitte was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Lafitte works Swanson's body with a nice hook.
Swanson throws a poor cross that misses
and Lafitte counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Swanson thinking.
Lafitte has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Swanson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lafitte.

Swanson forces Lafitte back against the cage and clinches.

Swanson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice body punch from Swanson.
Swanson swings widly with a right hand
enabling Lafitte to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swanson works Lafitte's body with a nice hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Swanson throws a combination that misses
and Lafitte counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

John Swanson's cut is getting worse.
Lafitte takes a swing at Swanson's ribcage but misses.
Swanson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lafitte sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lafitte misses with an uppercut.
Swanson shoots in and drives through. Lafitte sprawls well.
Swanson misses with an uppercut
and Lafitte counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Lafitte slaps away a takedown attempt from Swanson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Swanson lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Lafitte checks a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Henri Lafitte will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on John Swanson's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Lafitte lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Swanson has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Swanson and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Lafitte slips a straight right by Swanson.
Swanson connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Swanson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Lafitte looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Jab, jab by Swanson - just one landing.
Swanson throws a half hearted mid kick.
A countering left hand to the body from Lafitte misses.
Lafitte throws a body shot but no joy.
Lafitte throws the kick towards the body but Swanson avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lafitte slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Swanson scores with a jab. Lafitte acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Swanson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Lafitte to the mat! Lafitte manages to get full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lafitte controlling Swanson's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lafitte tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Swanson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Swanson throws a strike but Lafitte rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Lafitte must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Swanson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Swanson is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Lafitte dives into side control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lafitte stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Swanson.
Swanson slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Lafitte takes one to the chin there.
Swanson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Swanson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Swanson wants to control but Lafitte is keeping him busy.
Lafitte has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Lafitte is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Swanson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Lafitte is controlling Swanson's trapped leg to prevent Swanson from advancing to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson throws a strike but Lafitte avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Lafitte avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Swanson scoring with some ground and pound.
Swanson trying to control the position from guard on top but Lafitte is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lafitte is pulling down on Swanson's head. It's preventing any offense from Swanson, at least for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Henri Lafitte seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lafitte keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lafitte just misses with a punch to the body.
Swanson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Swanson thows a leg kick but Lafitte checks it
and Lafitte connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Swanson connects with a looping right hand.
Lafitte chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Swanson can pounce on him.
Swanson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Swanson tries for a takedown but Lafitte circles away easily
and Lafitte counters with a nice uppercut.
Swanson darts in looking for a takedown but Lafitte gets double underhooks and turns Swanson into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Swanson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Swanson thumps Lafitte with a low kick.
Swanson checks a low kick from Lafitte.
Swanson throws a right hand that misses
and Lafitte counters with a straight right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Swanson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on John Swanson's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Swanson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Swanson tries to clinch but Lafitte is having none of it.
Lafitte throws a right and a left that both miss.
Swanson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lafitte defends it nicely.
Lafitte connects with a looping right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lafitte has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Swanson.
Swanson throws a front kick aimed at Lafitte's knee but Lafitte avoids it well.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Swanson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lafitte jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lafitte uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Swanson.
Swanson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Lafitte keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Swanson.
Lafitte displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Swanson throws out the jab.
Swanson walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Lafitte checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Swanson lands with a kick to the ribs.
Swanson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Lafitte.
Lafitte motions for Swanson to come forward. Lafitte throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Swanson gets a clinch.
I was talking to Swanson's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Swanson breaks from the clinch.
Lafitte misses with a low kick.
Swanson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lafitte but Lafitte pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Swanson attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Swanson does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A nice side step and Lafitte releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Swanson scores with a nice strike.
Lafitte thumps Swanson with a low kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Swanson looks to throw the jab but Lafitte is out of range.
Lafitte throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Swanson throws a nice inside leg kick.
An inside leg kick from Lafitte misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson misses with a right hand
and Lafitte cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Swanson misses the shot to the body.
Swanson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lafitte is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Swanson with a body shot.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Swanson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Swanson throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Swanson misses with an uppercut
and Lafitte counters with a nice uppercut.

John Swanson's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Lafitte cracks Swanson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Swanson.
Swanson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Swanson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Lafitte.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swanson throws a poor cross that misses
and Lafitte counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Swanson misses the jab.
Swanson throws a leg kick
and Lafitte counters with a right hand to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Swanson throws a leg kick but Lafitte moved away.
A little jabbing left from Lafitte on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Lafitte looks for the body kick but Swanson saw that one coming.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Swanson checks a low kick from Lafitte.

Swanson gets a double leg takedown into Lafitte's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lafitte wants to sweep here but Swanson controlling him for the moment.
Swanson trying to control the position from guard on top but Lafitte is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Swanson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to John Swanson.
I think Swanson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... John Swanson!
John Swanson tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.