PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vicente Lafayette (ranked 31 p4p, 5 weight class) and Pekka Pera (ranked 150 p4p, 25 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lafayette
vs
Pera

184 cm
31
175 lbs
25 - 10 - 0

150 cm
25
177 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Dauntless
Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vicente Lafayette!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pekka Pera!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Dillan Fox and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pera checks the leg kick nicely there.
Nice straight punches there by Lafayette. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Lafayette.
Lafayette throws a head kick but Pera moves out of range.
Lafayette uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pera.
Lafayette looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Pera throws a body punch but Lafayette moves out of range.
Lafayette half committed to a counter leg kick.
A shot to the body from Lafayette misses

and Pera counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Lafayette!
Lafayette is looking to regain half guard here but Pera keeps moving and retains side control.
Lafayette manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Lafayette wants to improve his position but Pera is controlling well.
Pera keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Lafayette looking for subs from the bottom but Pera mounts him!
Pera connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lafayette is looking to get to half guard.
Lafayette regains half guard.

Lafayette looking for submissions off his back.
Pera prevents Lafayette from improving his position.
Lafayette gets back to full guard.
Pera is in close to Lafayette's body, working some short punches and elbows.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Pera working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Pera landing some decent shots from guard.

Lafayette is looking for a triangle but Pera pushes his legs off easily.

Lafayette has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pera can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Lafayette will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pera trying to control the position from guard on top but Lafayette is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Lafayette looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Pera passes into side control.
Pera working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Lafayette is looking to reverse the position.
Pera lands a decent elbow from side control.
Lafayette takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Pera content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Pera wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lafayette keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pera scoring with punches from side control.
Lafayette is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
A lull in the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pera lands some shots froms side control.
Lafayette regains half guard.

Lafayette looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Pera is trying to control. Lafayette wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lafayette is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Pera's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Pera's back!

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

Lafayette patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Pera rolls, trying to escape but Lafayette keeps control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lafayette is persistently looking for the submission but Pera is defending it well.

Lafayette has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Pera has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Pera tries to roll but Lafayette sticks to his back.

Pera is having to fend off submission attempts from Lafayette, who is looking to sink in the choke. Lafayette doesn't have the hooks in though and Pera manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Pera dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Pera lands a really nice looking cross but Lafayette seems unphased.
Pera tries to clinch up.
Lafayette ducks under a wild hook from Pera.
Lafayette swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Lafayette scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A head kick misses from Lafayette.
Lafayette lands a head shot.
Nice defenses there by Pera.
Pera tries to clinch up.
Vicente Lafayette 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.
Lafayette throws a sloppy head kick

and Pera counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Pera.

Pera avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Pera's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Lafayette is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pera working some strikes from top position.

Lafayette has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pera can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Pera is working Lafayette over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Lafayette has his foot on Pera's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pera works his way back into a safe position though.
Lafayette is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Lafayette throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Lafayette is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Pera trying to control but Lafayette is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Lafayette is trying to control the position but Pera postures up.
Pera throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pera is in close to Lafayette's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Pera connects with a couple of short punches.
Pera wants to control from the top but Lafayette keeps moving.
Pera cracks Lafayette with a solid left hand.
Lafayette keeping moving, preventing Pera from controlling successfully.
Pera distracts Lafayette with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pera engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Lafayette is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pera is aware though and is defending well.

Lafayette is looking for a triangle but Pera pushes his legs off easily.

Lafayette looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Pera not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Pera trying to control the position from guard on top but Lafayette is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Lafayette is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lafayette not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four 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.

Lafayette working for a triangle but Pera defends it easily.

Lafayette working for a triangle but Pera defends it easily.
Pera pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lafayette is keeping the position for now.
Pera not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Pera is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pera wants to pass the guard but Lafayette is keeping the position.

Lafayette escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pera gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Pera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Pera tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Pera ducks under a wild hook from Lafayette.
Lafayette thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lafayette throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lafayette throws out a loose jab but Pera uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lafayette throws a body punch but Pera moves out of range.
Lafayette misses with a head kick.
A big left from Lafayette misses.
A nice inside leg kick there by Pera. That's going to slow Lafayette down.
Lafayette throws a lazy head kick
enabling Pera to counter with a crisp jab.
Lafayette misses with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lafayette avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pera looks to land a right hand but Lafayette moved out of range.
Lafayette throws a leg kick which misses Pera's front leg but catches the back leg as Pera tries to avoid it.
Vicente Lafayette is winning the standup battle so far.
Lafayette scores with a leg kick.
Pera misses the jab.
Pera throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lafayette keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pera.
Lafayette throws a jab but it's blocked by Pera.
Lafayette misses with a head kick.
A big left from Lafayette misses.
Lafayette throws a poor cross that misses
and Pera counters with a thumping low kick.
Lafayette on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Pera throws a big shot that misses.
Lafayette tries to counter by clinching up but Pera breaks away and moves out of range.
Pera steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lafayette.
A nice side step and Pera releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Lafayette throws a nice outside leg kick.
Vicente Lafayette is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lafayette throws a hook to the side of Pera's head but Pera sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lafayette throws a lazy uppercut
and Pera counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Pera misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lafayette.
Lafayette tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Pera manages to circle out of the way.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pera looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lafayette throws a leg kick but Pera moved away.
A countering left hand to the body from Pera misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lafayette throws a sloppy head kick
and Pera cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lafayette ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pera moves away.
Lafayette connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Lafayette tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pera cracks Lafayette with a good jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Pera misses the target.
A big right from Lafayette misses.
Pera ducks under a wild hook from Lafayette.
Lafayette avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lafayette throws a head kick that misses.
Pera checks a leg kick.
Pera tests Lafayette's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Lafayette on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Pera feints and then cracks Lafayette's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Lafayette down.
Pera connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Lafayette.
Pera connects with a looping right hand.
Lafayette takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Pera takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Pera chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Pera connects with an inside leg kick.
Lafayette throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lafayette tries to score with a low kick but Pera moves his leg out of the way.
A telegraphed right hand from Lafayette misses the target.
Pera lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Pera keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Pera scores with a jab to the jaw.
Lafayette looks to throw the jab but Pera is out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pera. Lafayette does a little dance to reset his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lafayette avoids the head kick by Pera.
As Pera backs away, Lafayette returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Pera.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Pera.
Pera tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Lafayette misses with a straight left.
Pera connects with a right hand. Lafayette shakes it off.
Lafayette chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Pera can pounce on him.
Lafayette pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lafayette throws an overhand right that lands on Pera's shoulder, as Pera tries to avoid the shot.
Lafayette throws the left hand but Pera avoids the punch easily.

Pera moves into the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Lafayette.
Lafayette misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pera lands with a left to the head.
Pera has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lafayette lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Pera backwards.
Lafayette blocks an uppercut.
Lafayette misses with the head strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Pera really dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Pera.
Pera landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Lafayette taking punishment in the form of punches.
Lafayette is trying to improve his position.
Pera advances to mount.
Lafayette working to try and regain half guard.
Lafayette wants to hold on but Pera pushes him away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lafayette is trying to escape the mount.
Pera landing strikes from the mount and Lafayette is in trouble!
Pera landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lafayette wants to hold on but Pera pushes him away.
Lafayette is bucking up trying to escape but Pera cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Pera working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Lafayette tries to hold on but Pera postures up.
Pera lands a heavy elbow.
Lafayette manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Lafayette is controlling Pera's trapped leg to prevent Pera from advancing to side control.
Lafayette is staying active underneath Pera, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Lafayette trying to control from the bottom.
Pera is controlling the pace.
Nice strikes from Pera there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lafayette is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pera pulls his head out easily.
Lafayette trying to hold on to Pera's head to control him but Pera postures up.
Lafayette wants to improve his position but Pera is controlling well.
Pekka Pera has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lafayette is trying to maintain the position but Pera is very close to passing his half guard.

Lafayette looking for submissions off his back.
Pera is taking a breather. Lafayette 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.
Lafayette is not content to let Pera control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pera is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Lafayette looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Lafayette looking for submissions off his back.
Pera is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Lafayette actively working from the bottom here.

Lafayette looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Pera working over Lafayette with some ground and pound. Lafayette looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Pera trying to control from half guard but Lafayette is working away.
Lafayette is looking to improve his position.
Pera wants to take a breather but Lafayette is having none of it.
Pera slips a nice elbow through Lafayette's hands, connecting with Lafayette's forehead.
Pera seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Pera is trying to control the action in half guard but Lafayette is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Lafayette is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pera pulls his head out easily.
Pera slows the pace down in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Pera dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Lafayette's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Lafayette lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Pera moves out of range of the strikes.
Pera steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Lafayette.
Pera misses with a head kick.
Pera tries to clinch up.
Lafayette throws a hook to the side of Pera's head but Pera sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lafayette swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Pera feints and then cracks Lafayette's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Lafayette down.
Pera cracks a nice hook into Lafayette's ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Lafayette.
Lafayette fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Lafayette lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A nice leg kick lands there from Pera.
Lafayette misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pera blocks a head kick by Lafayette.
Lafayette keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pera.
Pera throws a body punch but Lafayette moves out of range.
Lafayette lands with a cross.
A jab from Pera misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pera. Lafayette does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pera moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lafayette. Pera does a little dance to reset his feet.
A jab from Pera misses.
A swing and a miss from Lafayette.
Pera scoring well with a low kick there.
Pera takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Pera blocks a head kick by Lafayette.
Pera tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lafayette was well out of range. Poor timing from Pera.
Lafayette tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Pera manages to circle out of the way.
Some bone on bone action there as Pera checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Pera was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lafayette throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pera sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Pera cracks the inside of Lafayette's front leg.
Lafayette misses with an uppercut.
Lafayette is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Pera.
Lafayette throws a sloppy head kick and Pera moves out of range easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lafayette throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pera sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lafayette walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Lafayette misses with a lunging right hand
and Pera counters with a nice uppercut.
A clash of legs there as Lafayette blocks the low kick.
A head kick misses from Lafayette.
Pera misses with a straight right.
Lafayette scores with a nice right hand.
Pera throws a quick inside leg kick.
Lafayette is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Pera swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lafayette thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lafayette swings widly with a right hand
enabling Pera to counter with a crisp jab.
Lafayette slips under a jab from Pera.
Pera throws a body shot but no joy.
Pera dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Lafayette. That did some damage!
Lafayette throws a head kick that misses

and Pera counters with a shoot takedown. Lafayette fights it but they end up in guard.
Lafayette keeping moving, preventing Pera from controlling successfully.
Vicente Lafayette has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Lafayette working for a triangle but Pera defends it easily.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

Lafayette has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pera can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lafayette has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pera can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Lafayette looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Pera passes into side control.
Pera in side control lands a decent elbow.
Lafayette is working to avoid the ground and pound but Pera connects with a decent elbow.
Lafayette tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Pera presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
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!
Lafayette can't escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pekka Pera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pera 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 45:50
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 45:50
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pekka Pera!
Pekka Pera is the new welterweight champion!
After winning the bout, Pekka Pera thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.