PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rene Lafayette (ranked 1271 p4p, 1358 weight class) and Gul Dukat (ranked 167 p4p, 184 weight class). Lafayette comes into the arena with Erasure - Always blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Dukat's choice of entrance music: Guillotine (Swordz) . Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lafayette
vs
Dukat

179 cm
26
170
19 - 8 - 0

180 cm
26
178
11 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 19 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rene Lafayette!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gul Dukat!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Nard Betker and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Lafayette does no damage.
Dukat with the counter takedown but Lafayette avoids it easily.
A jab from Dukat misses.
Lafayette lands with an uppercut that bounces Dukat off the cage and back into range.
Lafayette walks into a straight right hand from Dukat.
Lafayette uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Dukat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lafayette is defended easily by Dukat.
Dukat doesn't manage to clinch there - Lafayette circles away.
Dukat wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A punch combination from Dukat misses.
Gul Dukat seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lafayette shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dukat just misses with a punch to the body.
Lafayette lands a body shot.
Lafayette misses with a looping left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lafayette shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Dukat sprawls well. Dukat wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lafayette gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rene Lafayette. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dukat connects with a single shot there.
Dukat lands a nice shot to the body.

Lafayette clinches up with Dukat and pushes him back against the cage.
Dukat tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A right hand to the body from Dukat.
Lafayette blocking some punches.
Dukat swings wildly with an uppercut but Lafayette uses good head movement to avoid it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Dukat creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dukat struggles to land a body shot inside as Lafayette controls his hands.
Dukat tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lafayette.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Lafayette breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dukat throws a lazy right hand but Lafayette sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Lafayette doesn't manage to clinch there - Dukat circles away.
Dukat lands a really nice looking cross but Lafayette seems unphased.
Lafayette uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dukat.
Dukat lands a nice hook to Lafayette's body. Lafayette takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dukat lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Lafayette at a distance.
Horrible takedown attempt by Lafayette or perhaps it was just good defense by Dukat, which made it look bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dukat darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Lafayette tries to roll over but Dukat keeps him under control.
Dukat is looking to take a break and control but Lafayette is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Dukat lands a nice short elbow.

Dukat seems to be working for a kimura but Lafayette defends the submission attempt.
Dukat missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Dukat connects with a nice short shot to Lafayette's temple.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Dukat lands strikes from half guard.
Dukat looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Dukat is thwarting Lafayette's attempts to control the position.
Lafayette is not content to let Dukat control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lafayette wants to control but Dukat is keeping busy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gul Dukat dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lafayette closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Lafayette shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dukat pinned against the cage. Dukat gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Dukat jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Dukat lands a jab to the nose.
Dukat swings away with a body shot that misses
and Lafayette counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dukat ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Dukat scores with a body shot.

Dukat has taken the fight to the clinch.
Dukat misses with the head strike.
Dukat has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dukat misses with a hook to the ribs.
Dukat tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lafayette's elbow.
Dukat digs a right hand into Lafayette's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Lafayette's gas tank.
Dukat misses with the head strike.
Dukat misses with a punch to the body.
Dukat lands a body punch in the clinch.
Lafayette wants to stall.
The referee calls for Lafayette to work.
Dukat misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dukat scores with a nice hook to the head.
Dukat throws a punch but it's blocked by Lafayette.
Dukat throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Dukat misses with a hook to the ribs.
Lafayette trying to control the position but instead, Dukat has worked for underhooks and has pushed Lafayette into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Dukat creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Lafayette blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Lafayette breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dukat bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Lafayette's head.
Lafayette throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lafayette fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Dukat lands a jab to Lafayette's midsection.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Lafayette shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Dukat is controlling Lafayette's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lafayette prevents Dukat from improving his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Dukat manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Dukat is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Dukat throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Dukat has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lafayette controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Dukat is looking for a triangle but Lafayette pushes his legs off easily.
Lafayette is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

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.
Lafayette trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lafayette trying to control but Dukat is working from the bottom.
Dukat has his hands on Lafayette's head, controlling the position.
Dukat is continuing to stall.
Lafayette wants to control from the top but Dukat keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Dukat is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lafayette defends well.
Lafayette looking to pass the guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gul Dukat showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Lafayette has his takedown stuffed
and Dukat counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Dukat keeps the fight on the outside.
Dukat throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lafayette sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lafayette staying out of range there.
Lafayette shoots in and drives through. Dukat sprawls well.
Lafayette looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lafayette walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Rene Lafayette is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dukat scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dukat swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Lafayette.
Lafayette fails with a takedown attempt.
Dukat with the counter takedown but Lafayette avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rene Lafayette. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dukat waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lafayette.
Lafayette tries to counter by clinching up but Dukat breaks away and moves out of range.

Dukat looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lafayette looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Dukat throws a big right hand that misses.
Lafayette seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Gul Dukat has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lafayette utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Dukat trying to control but Lafayette is working from the bottom.
Dukat working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Dukat with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

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.
Dukat trying to control the position from guard on top but Lafayette is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lafayette looking to control but Dukat passes into half guard.
Dukat wants to control but Lafayette is keeping him busy.
Dukat stalling away here and it's allowed Lafayette to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Lafayette is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Dukat with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lafayette seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Dukat keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Lafayette's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dukat in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rene Lafayette has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dukat pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lafayette is keeping the position for now.
Lafayette is pulling down on Dukat's head to control his posture.
Dukat is working Lafayette over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gul Dukat is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Lafayette had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Dukat defends it easily.
Lafayette can't keep his opponent in guard - Dukat advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dukat has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Dukat lands a big shot there that rocks Lafayette but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Lafayette swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Dukat looking to control and managing it successfully.
Lafayette is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dukat takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Lafayette flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gul Dukat comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Dukat has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight for Gul Dukat!
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight for Gul Dukat!
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight for Gul Dukat!

Gul Dukat wins by unanimous decision!
A very excited looking Gul Dukat rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.