PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gregoire Lamerde (ranked 3823 p4p, 5985 weight class) and Shigeru Otori (ranked 356 p4p, 446 weight class). Lamerde comes into the arena with Sans Pression - Térritoire Hostile blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lamerde
vs
Otori

183 cm
25
155
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
149
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gregoire Lamerde!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shigeru Otori!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Hugh Johnson and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Otori thuds his shin into the meat of Lamerde's side.

Lamerde lands a big head kick that sends Otori tumbling to the mat! Lamerde takes a step backwards and waves Otori back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Shigeru Otori has been cut.
A shot to the body from Lamerde misses
and Otori counters with a head kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Crunch! Lamerde slams his shin into Otori's torso.
Lamerde throws a head kick but Otori moves out of range.
Lamerde throws a half hearted mid kick.
Lamerde tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Lamerde is looking to land body kicks.
Lamerde chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Otori can pounce on him.
Lamerde misses with a body kick.
Lamerde blocks a head kick by Otori.
A solid body kick from Lamerde.
Lamerde has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Otori.
Lamerde throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Otori avoids the head kick by Lamerde.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lamerde throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lamerde throws a head kick that misses.
Lamerde fakes the leg kick and cracks Otori in the body.
Lamerde misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick misses from Otori.
Lamerde throws a body punch but Otori moves out of range.
Otori follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Lamerde tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lamerde throws a body punch but Otori moves out of range.
Otori follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Lamerde misses with the body kick
and Otori counters with a nice low kick that buckles Lamerde's knee momentarily.
Otori bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Lamerde's head.
Otori throws a jab when Lamerde was well out of range.
Otori swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lamerde wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Lamerde tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Otori counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Otori blocks the body kick.
Otori avoids a kick to the body.
Lamerde fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Otori is out of range.
Lamerde has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Otori.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lamerde throws a head kick that misses.
Good work by Otori as he checks the leg kick.
Lamerde throws a predictable looking body shot
and Otori counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Lamerde keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Lamerde wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Lamerde throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Otori looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Otori dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Lamerde. That did some damage!
Lamerde is looking to land body kicks.
Lamerde looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Lamerde throws a leg kick that is checked
and Otori counters with a slapping leg kick.
Otori's coach down at Takeda Clan Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Otori's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lamerde throws a sloppy head kick
and Otori counters with an outside leg kick.
Lamerde is breathing heavily.
Otori misses with a wild combination.

Lamerde gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Otori wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Otori is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Otori is trying to push Lamerde away but Lamerde has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Otori working hard to break the clinch.
Lamerde stalling.
Lamerde tries a knee to the head but Otori blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Otori fails to land.
Otori working hard to break the clinch.
Lamerde misses with a punch on the inside.
Otori throws a knee to the head but misses.
Otori is trying to break free.
A frustrated look appears on Otori's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lamerde using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Otori has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Otori swings wildly with an uppercut but Lamerde uses good head movement to avoid it.
Otori is trying to break the clinch but Lamerde is controlling him.
Otori avoiding damage as Lamerde throws knees to the body.
Otori stops a takedown attempt from Lamerde.
Otori working hard to break the clinch.
Otori tries to break free but Lamerde pushes him back against the cage.
Otori wants to get back to striking at distance but Lamerde won't allow it.
Lamerde is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Otori is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lamerde is defending well for now.
Lamerde tries to throw a body punch but Otori avoids it by throwing Lamerde back against the cage.
Lamerde misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Otori.
Lamerde scores a nice knee to the body.
Lamerde keeps control of Otori as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Lamerde prevents Otori from breaking the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lamerde.
Lamerde tries to land knees in the clinch but Otori avoids the damage to the body.
Otori wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lamerde has him pressed against the cage.
Lamerde misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Otori.
Otori wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gregoire Lamerde dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Shigeru Otori's cut.
That's time! Lamerde's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Otori pushes Lamerde away with a front kick.
Otori connects with a leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Lamerde checks a leg kick.
Lamerde lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Gregoire Lamerde is winning the standup battle so far.
Lamerde is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And Otori responds with a good body kick, but Lamerde manages to step out the way in time.
Otori finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Lamerde pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Otori feints a counter leg kick.

Lamerde closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Lamerde blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lamerde keeps control of Otori as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Otori can't break the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Otori tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A frustrated look appears on Otori's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Otori wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Otori wants to get back to striking at distance but Lamerde won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Otori with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lamerde misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Otori.
Otori trying to land knees to the body.
Otori tries to circle away but Lamerde has him pinned against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Otori is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Lamerde blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Otori has had enough of the clinch but Lamerde keeps him there for the moment.
Otori throws a punch but it's blocked by Lamerde.
Lamerde blocks an uppercut.
Lamerde scores a nice knee to the body.
Lamerde tries to land knees in the clinch but Otori avoids the damage to the body.
Lamerde is looking to control Otori's arms but Otori gets an underhook and turns him. Now Lamerde has his back to the cage.
Lamerde misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Otori.
Otori is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Lamerde breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lamerde takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Lamerde misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lamerde throws a head kick but Otori moves out of range.
Lamerde backing away here, and Otori unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lamerde looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lamerde lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Otori throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Shigeru Otori is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lamerde fails with an attempt to clinch.
Otori wants to slow Lamerde down by chopping away at his legs.
Gregoire Lamerde seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lamerde connects with a high kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice leg kick lands there from Otori.
Lamerde throws a nice head kick!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lamerde fails with a takedown attempt.
Despite the aggression on Otori's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Lamerde - that will leave a mark!
Otori scores with a leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lamerde. Otori does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lamerde looks to land a body kick but Otori moved away.
Lamerde throws a body kick that misses
and Otori counters with a three punch combo that has Lamerde backing up. Lamerde nods at Otori to acknowledge the strikes.
Lamerde throws a head kick that misses.
Lamerde tries a low kick but Otori avoids it.
Otori lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Lamerde fails with an attempt to clinch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Otori.
Otori throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lamerde keeps Otori at a distance using the push kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lamerde attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Otori only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Lamerde tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
That kick from Otori tenderised Lamerde's leg. Lamerde is trying to keep his angry face on.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head kick misses from Otori.
Otori avoids the head kick by Lamerde.
Lamerde misses with a low kick.
Otori throws a leg kick but Lamerde checks it.
Lamerde tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Otori tries a quick counter leg kick but Lamerde is wise to it.
Lamerde throws a body punch but Otori moves out of range.
Otori only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Otori blocks a head kick by Lamerde.
Otori shapes to counter with a head kick.
Lamerde throws a head kick that misses.
Otori is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Lamerde throws a leg kick
and Otori counters with a body kick that stops Lamerde in his tracks momentarily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Shigeru Otori will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Shigeru Otori'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. This is the final round!

Otori connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Lamerde momentarily.
Otori has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Lamerde.
Lamerde misses with an attempted mid kick.
Lamerde throws a head kick that misses.
Lamerde misses with the body kick
and Otori makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Lamerde avoids a kick to the body.
Lamerde misses with a kick to the body.
Otori raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Nice uppercut there from Otori.
Otori circles away from the clinch attempt.
Otori throws a big counter head kick but Lamerde avoids it with no problem.
Otori scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Lamerde doesn't seem bothered though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lamerde throws the kick towards the body but Otori avoids it.
Otori chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Otori moves out of range of the body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Otori misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Otori ducks under a wild hook from Lamerde.
Lamerde scores with a kick to the midsection.
Otori avoids the head kick by Lamerde.
Otori only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Lamerde misses with an attempted mid kick.
Otori throws the kick towards the body but Lamerde avoids it.
Otori tries a head kick but it misses.
Lamerde moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Lamerde tries to land a leg kick but Otori saw it coming and moves away.
Lamerde checks the leg kick.
Lamerde throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Lamerde backing away here, and Otori unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Otori lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lamerde circles away quickly and effectively.
The fighters circle momentarily. Otori darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lamerde thumps Otori with a low kick.
Otori avoids a kick to the body.
Lamerde throws a lazy head kick
and Otori makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Lamerde really felt that one!
Otori throws a head kick but Lamerde moves out of range.
Otori throws a quick inside leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Otori blocks the body kick.
Otori throws a sloppy head kick and Lamerde moves out of range easily.
Lamerde takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Lamerde is looking to clinch.
Otori tries a quick counter leg kick but Lamerde is wise to it.
Lamerde is looking to clinch.
Lamerde moves in looking to clinch but Otori pushes him off.
Otori moves out of range of the body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Otori.
Gregoire Lamerde is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lamerde tries to land a front kick but Otori steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Otori scores with a leg kick.
Otori takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
A head kick from Lamerde lands but Otori takes it in his stride.
Lamerde throws a head kick but Otori moves out of range.
Otori tries a quick counter leg kick but Lamerde is wise to it.
Otori moves out of range as Lamerde strikes.
Lamerde tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Lamerde is looking to wear down Otori with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Otori feints and then cracks Lamerde's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Lamerde down.
Lamerde wants to clinch up but Otori keeps it at a distance.
Otori flicks out a counter leg kick but Lamerde steps away.
Lamerde takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Otori throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lamerde swings for the body but Otori moves out of range.
Lamerde throws a leg kick
and Otori counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A good leg kick by Otori.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lamerde tries to clinch up
and Otori counters with a slapping leg kick.
Lamerde throws a lazy body kick
and Otori counters with a leg kick.
Lamerde is looking to land body kicks.
Otori with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A lazy body kick from Lamerde
and Otori counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Lamerde is looking to clinch.
Otori throws a nice inside leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shigeru Otori comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Otori has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!