PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Bernard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Georges Laraque (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laraque has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bernard
vs
Laraque

168 cm
18
278 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

191 cm
25
270 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Xavier Bernard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Georges Laraque!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Ian Loll and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Laraque shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Bernard is trying to defend but Laraque finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Laraque looks winded!

Bernard looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Bernard wants to get back to full guard.
Bernard trying to control from the bottom.
Bernard tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Laraque has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Bernard sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bernard missing with punches from the bottom.
Laraque wants to stand up but Bernard is controlling the position.
Laraque blocks the strikes from Bernard.
Bernard really is a fat lump.
Bernard is looking for a sweep. Laraque is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bernard looking for submissions off his back.
Bernard wants to control but Laraque is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Laraque tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Bernard.
Bernard wants to improve his position but Laraque is controlling well.
Bernard 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.
Bernard trying to control from the bottom.
Bernard is trying to get back to full guard.
Bernard controlling the position for now.
Bernard trying to control but Laraque postures up.

That's two 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.
It looks like Laraque is going to stand back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Laraque blocks a head kick by Bernard.
Bernard shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Laraque but Laraque pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bernard shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Bernard takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Laraque decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Bernard is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laraque tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Bernard has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Laraque is working away from the top position though.
Laraque seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Bernard is controlling Laraque's trapped leg to prevent Laraque from advancing to side control.
Bernard trying to control here.

Laraque decides to stand up.
Laraque throws a nice outside leg kick.

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.
Laraque looks to land a left hand but Bernard moved out of range nicely.
Bernard tries to counter by clinching up but Laraque breaks away and moves out of range.
Bernard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bernard lands a two punch combo.
Georges Laraque seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bernard on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Laraque shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bernard's guard.
Bernard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Laraque is one step ahead there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bernard is looking to sweep but instead, Laraque has passed into half guard.
Bernard moves into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georges Laraque dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bernard dives in for a single leg takedown but Laraque sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Bernard throws a right and a left that both miss.

Bernard instigates a clinch.
Laraque looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Bernard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice sprawl there from Laraque as Bernard shoots in.
Bernard throws a sloppy head kick and Laraque moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laraque misses with a head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Laraque pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bernard looks to score with a jab to the body but Laraque is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laraque looks to land a combination but Bernard avoids it well.
Bernard throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Laraque's waist but Laraque gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bernard off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xavier Bernard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bernard wants to clinch
and Laraque counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bernard misses with a series of wild punches.
A little jabbing left from Laraque on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Bernard shoots in but no luck this time.
Laraque tried to score with a low kick but Bernard checks it.
Laraque has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laraque connects with a body shot that sends Bernard's belly button to the back.
Laraque misses the shot to the body.
Georges Laraque seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bernard has a takedown stuffed.
Laraque pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Laraque misses with the combination.
Laraque misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bernard.
Bernard shoots in for a double leg but Laraque sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Laraque is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laraque misses the shot to the body.
No luck for Bernard with that takedown attempt.

Laraque drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Bernard manages to get back to half guard.

Laraque gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Laraque throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Laraque gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Laraque is trying to push Bernard away but Bernard has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Bernard prevents Laraque from breaking the clinch.
Laraque is pressed up against the cage. Bernard has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Laraque down to the mat. Laraque avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Laraque has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A slow jab from Bernard misses its intended target.

Laraque scores with a takedown into Bernard's guard.

Bernard throws his legs up looking for a submission but Laraque uses it to pass to side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bernard is trying to get back to half guard.

Laraque decides to take the fight back to the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georges Laraque showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Laraque lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Bernard misses with a double jab
and Laraque counters with a stiff right hand.
Laraque misses with a head kick.
Laraque avoids the head kick by Bernard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bernard misses with a takedown attempt - Laraque sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bernard shoots for a takedown but Laraque saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernard shoots in for a takedown but Laraque shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xavier Bernard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laraque cracks Bernard with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Laraque connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Bernard clinches up with Laraque and pushes him back against the cage.

Bernard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bernard misses with a double jab
and Laraque counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Laraque drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bernard might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Laraque gets to his feet. Bernard looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bernard shoots for a takedown but Laraque saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Laraque falls off balance throwing a combination

and Bernard counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Laraque pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Laraque misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bernard misses with a two punch combination.
Bernard shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Laraque as he jumps to the side.
Bernard takes one to the side of the head.
Xavier Bernard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Laraque.
Bernard closes this distance looking for a takedown but Laraque circles away.
Bernard on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Bernard doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Laraque counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Laraque pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bernard tries to counter by clinching up but Laraque breaks away and moves out of range.
Bernard pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Laraque lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Georges Laraque is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bernard misses with a kick to the body.
Good shot there by Laraque.
Bernard is looking to clinch but Laraque is avoiding it.
Laraque leaves Bernard with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nice shot by Laraque.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bernard looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Laraque is fending him off so far but Bernard persists. Nope, Laraque circles away and we're back to standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Georges Laraque comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Laraque 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Georges Laraque!