PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rene Lafayette (ranked 390 p4p, 624 weight class) and Douglas Cardozo (ranked 60 p4p, 103 weight class). Lafayette comes into the arena with Erasure - Always blaring out of the sound system. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Lafayette
vs
Cardozo

179 cm
22
170
13 - 3 - 0

178 cm
22
173
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Altitude Clothing
SynCity Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rene Lafayette!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Douglas Cardozo!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lafayette clinches up with Cardozo and pushes him back against the cage.
Cardozo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Lafayette gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Lafayette tries a body shot but Cardozo blocks it.
Lafayette misses with a body punch.
Cardozo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Lafayette pulls his leg out and moves away.
A jab lands there for Lafayette.
Cardozo throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Lafayette stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Lafayette connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A jab lands there for Lafayette.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Lafayette, as that shot connected.
Lafayette is looking to clinch.
Cardozo throws out a powerful jab.
Lafayette thuds a left hand into Cardozo's body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice sprawl there from Lafayette as Cardozo shoots in.
Rene Lafayette has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Douglas Cardozo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lafayette with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Cardozo lands a lovely overhand right.
Lafayette walks into a left hand.
Lafayette throws a lazy right hand but Cardozo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Lafayette swings for the body but Cardozo moves out of range.
Lafayette fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cardozo manages to avoid it.
Cardozo takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Lafayette throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lafayette connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Cardozo looks to land a right hand but Lafayette moved out of range.
Lafayette looks to score with a jab to the body but Cardozo is just out of range.
Cardozo just misses with a punch to the body.
Lafayette swings for the body but Cardozo moves out of range.
Cardozo looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Lafayette lands with an overhand left.
Lafayette bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lafayette with a jab.
Cardozo moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Cardozo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lafayette circles away quickly and effectively.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Lafayette.
Cardozo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice shot by Lafayette.
Lafayette throws a body punch but Cardozo moves out of range.
Lafayette is looking to clinch.
Lafayette slips a straight right by Cardozo.
Lafayette lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Lafayette lands with a hook. Cardozo tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Lafayette lands with a right hand.
Lafayette throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lafayette works the jab nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lafayette comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Cardozo swings widly with a right hand
and Lafayette counters with a straight right hand.
Lafayette tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cardozo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lafayette scores with a nice head shot.
Cardozo looks to land a left hand but Lafayette moved out of range nicely.
No luck for Cardozo with that takedown attempt.
Lafayette slips under a jab.
A little feinted left hand from Lafayette on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Cardozo slips under a jab from Lafayette.

Lafayette clinches up with Cardozo and pushes him back against the cage.
Cardozo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Lafayette pulls his leg out and moves away.
It looks like Lafayette has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Lafayette pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lafayette thuds his right hand into Cardozo's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A slow jab from Lafayette misses its intended target.
Cardozo's jab looks to have found its range, popping Lafayette under the eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardozo throws out a loose jab but Lafayette uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cardozo slips under a jab from Lafayette.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lafayette staying out of range there.
An attempted straight right counter from Lafayette misses the target.
Lafayette lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Cardozo looks for a takedown but Lafayette sprawls well.
Lafayette connects with the punch.
Rene Lafayette is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lafayette with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Lafayette lands a body shot.
Cardozo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lafayette throws a sloppy body shot
and Cardozo counters with a stiff right hand.
Cardozo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lafayette scores with a jab.
Lafayette is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cardozo can do to turn this around?
Lafayette swings away with a body shot that misses
and Cardozo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lafayette missing with a left hand there. Cardozo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lafayette looks to score with a jab to the body but Cardozo is just out of range.
Lafayette cracks Cardozo with an open hand slap.

Lafayette instigates a clinch.
Cardozo is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Lafayette gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Lafayette tries to throw a body punch but Cardozo avoids it by throwing Lafayette back against the cage.
Cardozo wants to take the fight to the mat but Lafayette manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Lafayette scores with an uppercut up the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lafayette prevents the takedown attempt.
Rene Lafayette has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Douglas Cardozo.
Cardozo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cardozo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Lafayette is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Lafayette is pressed up against the cage. Cardozo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Lafayette down to the mat. Lafayette avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Lafayette doesn't manage to clinch there - Cardozo circles away.

Lafayette gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lafayette gets underhooks to prevent Cardozo's takedown attempt.
Lafayette tries to work over Cardozo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lafayette can't find room to land a body shot as Cardozo controls the action.
Cardozo wants a takedown.
Lafayette lands with a left to the head.
A short right from Lafayette on the inside.
Lafayette lands with a light punch inside.
Lafayette lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Cardozo can't get the takedown.
Lafayette throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cardozos head.
Cardozo looking for a takedown.
Lafayette lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Lafayette gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cardozo.
Cardozo is breathing heavily.
Nice body punch from Lafayette - that landed with a thud.

Cardozo lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lafayette slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lafayette had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cardozo defends it easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cardozo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lafayette looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cardozo trying to control but Lafayette is working from the bottom.
Cardozo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cardozo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Cardozo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lafayette has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cardozo has managed to get both his arms back between Lafayette's legs - danger averted.
Cardozo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lafayette is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lafayette tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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

Lafayette looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

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

That's four 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.
Cardozo stands and throws Lafayette's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Cardozo is looking to take a break and control but Lafayette is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Cardozo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Lafayette manages to work his way to half guard, despite Cardozo's best efforts.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rene Lafayette dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Cardozo throws a lazy right hand but Lafayette sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cardozo misses with a hook.
Nice body punch from Lafayette.
Lafayette connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Cardozo might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Cardozo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Cardozo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lafayette defends it nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Lafayette misses the target.
Lafayette catches Cardozo with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Cardozo has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cardozo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lafayette loads up on a big right hand but Cardozo slips the punch.
Cardozo throws out a loose jab but Lafayette uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardozo slips under a jab from Lafayette.
Nice defenses there by Lafayette.
Cardozo throws a hook but Lafayette avoids it easily.
Lafayette was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Cardozo on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Cardozo takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Cardozo looks to land a left hand but Lafayette moved out of range nicely.
Cardozo on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Cardozo looks to land a right hand but Lafayette moved out of range.
Cardozo throws a shot from downtown. Lafayette moves away and avoids it.
Lafayette fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Cardozo on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Cardozo misses with a lunging right hand
and Lafayette counters with a nice body shot.
Lafayette swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Cardozo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardozo misses with a straight right.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lafayette moves out of range of the strikes.
Lafayette bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A big right from Cardozo misses.
Nice defenses there by Cardozo.
A slow jab from Cardozo misses its intended target.
It looked like Lafayette was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Cardozo.
Lafayette slips under a jab.

Cardozo is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Lafayette's half guard.
Lafayette moves into full guard.
Cardozo is pushing down on Lafayette's leg trying to pass to half guard. Lafayette is fighting to maintain full guard but Cardozo has managed to sneak the leg through.
Lafayette is looking to improve his position.
Lafayette moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardozo tries to free his leg and advance position but Lafayette is retaining full guard.
Cardozo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cardozo trying to control the position from guard on top but Lafayette is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cardozo passes Lafayette's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Douglas Cardozo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lafayette has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cardozo is working away from the top position though.

Cardozo is trying to work for a kimura but Lafayette is defending well.
Cardozo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rene Lafayette is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Cardozo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Cardozo is looking to advance position but Lafayette won't allow it.

Cardozo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lafayette is just riding it out for now. Cardozo eventually gives up the hold.
Cardozo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Cardozo is looking for a kimura but Lafayette is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cardozo to get the leverage.
Lafayette tries to get to full guard but Cardozo has control of the leg.
Douglas Cardozo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lafayette keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

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 Rene Lafayette.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lafayette, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rene Lafayette!
Rene Lafayette bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.