PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tom Eli (ranked 2993 p4p, 2184 weight class) and Pierre Ledoux (ranked 373 p4p, 287 weight class). 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.

Eli
vs
Ledoux

176 cm
25
178
7 - 4 - 0

180 cm
24
182
6 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

FUClothing

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tom Eli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pierre Ledoux!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ledoux scores with the left hand. Eli knows he should have avoided that one.

It looks like Tom Eli has been cut.
Eli ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ledoux moves away.
Eli pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Ledoux gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Eli tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ledoux tries for a takedown. No joy.
Eli is trying to push Ledoux away but Ledoux has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Eli has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Eli stops a takedown attempt from Ledoux.

Eli's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Eli stuffs the takedown.
Tom Eli has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pierre Ledoux.
Eli just misses with a punch to the body.

Ledoux drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Ledoux is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Eli keeping moving, preventing Ledoux from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eli seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ledoux missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ledoux accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Eli seems keen to control Ledoux's posture.
Eli controls Ledoux momentarily but Ledoux frees himself.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Eli looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Ledoux tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Eli paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ledoux looks for a takedown but Eli sprawls well.
Ledoux takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Ledoux wants to clinch up but Eli keeps it at a distance.
Ledoux misses with a body punch
and Eli counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eli slaps away a takedown attempt from Ledoux, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Eli lands a head kick!

It looks like Pierre Ledoux has been cut.
Nice defenses there by Ledoux.
Ledoux tries to clinch but Eli is having none of it.
Good leg kick by Eli.
Ledoux showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Eli.
Eli slips a jab from Ledoux.
Eli swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Ledoux.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Eli lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Ledoux wants to clinch.
Ledoux throws a jab but it's blocked by Eli.
Ledoux doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Eli counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ledoux misses with a right hand
and Ledoux takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Eli throws a sloppy head kick and Ledoux moves out of range easily.
Eli misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ledoux.
Eli throws a good cross that connects.

Ledoux closes the distance and clinches.
Eli has had enough of the clinch but Ledoux keeps him there for the moment.

Eli breaks from the clinch.
Ledoux walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Eli misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Eli moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Tom Eli is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Ledoux closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Eli to the mat! Eli manages to get full guard.
Ledoux tries to free his leg and advance position but Eli is retaining full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ledoux is looking to work some ground and pound but Eli has wrist control.
Ledoux looking to pass the guard.
Eli has his hands on Ledoux's head, controlling the position.
Eli looking for a sweep. Not yet Eli, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eli seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ledoux stands up over Eli, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ledoux postures up.
Ledoux controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Eli looking to control.
Eli keeping moving, preventing Ledoux from controlling successfully.
Ledoux works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Eli is looking to improve his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Eli dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Eli scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Ledoux doesn't seem bothered though.
Ledoux with a lazy takedown attempt
and Eli counters with a nice uppercut.
Ledoux connects with a crisp jab.
Eli throws out a powerful jab.
Eli throws a right and a left that Ledoux avoids nicely.
A jab from Eli does it's job there.
Ledoux misses the shot to the body.
Eli uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ledoux.
Eli throws a hook to the side of Ledoux's head but Ledoux sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Ledoux closes the distance and clinches.
Eli is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Ledoux wants a takedown but no success here.
Tom Eli has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pierre Ledoux.

Eli manages to break the clinch.
Eli stalks Ledoux and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Ledoux's face. Ledoux staggers backwards, shaken.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A shot to the body from Ledoux misses
letting Eli counter with a right hand.
Eli throws a looping overhand right but Ledoux ducks down to avoid it.
Eli throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eli misses with a hook. Ledoux ducked under it nicely.
Ledoux tries to clinch up.
Ledoux tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jab, jab by Eli - just one landing.
Eli throws out a powerful jab.
Eli throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Ledoux's head.

Ledoux is rocked!
Ledoux dives in for a single leg takedown but Eli sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Eli throws a right hand that Ledoux ducks under and follows up with a left that Ledoux also avoids with ease.
Ledoux moves to clinch but Eli breaks away
and Eli counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Eli connects with a high kick.
Ledoux blocks a head kick by Eli.
Ledoux ducks under a wild hook from Eli.
Ledoux goes for a double leg but Eli avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Eli continues to drive forward.
Ledoux takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ledoux is looking to clinch.
Ledoux scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eli scores with a shot to the body.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Eli waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ledoux.
Ledoux shoots in looking for a takedown but Eli manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ledoux's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Tom Eli is winning the standup battle so far.
Ledoux tries to clinch but Eli moves away
and Eli connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ledoux blocks a head kick by Eli.
Ledoux fails with an attempt to clinch.
Eli thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Ledoux if he has to take too many more of those.
Eli is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ledoux can do to turn this around?
Ledoux takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Ledoux bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ledoux lands with a nice body punch.
Eli looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Ledoux gets a clinch.
Eli is trying to break the clinch but Ledoux is controlling him.
Eli goes for a takedown attempt but Ledoux pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Eli ducks under a wild hook from Ledoux.
Ledoux tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ledoux blocks a head kick by Eli.
Ledoux has a takedown stuffed.
Eli throws a hook but Ledoux blocks it.
Eli swats away the attempt to clinch by Ledoux.
Eli ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ledoux moves away.
A big left from Eli misses.
Ledoux fails with an attempt to clinch.
A big right from Eli misses.
Eli tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ledoux was well out of range. Poor timing from Eli.

Ledoux closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Eli's guard.
Ledoux is in close to Eli's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ledoux working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Eli's head.
Eli is pulling down on Ledoux's head to control his posture.
Ledoux wants to control from the top but Eli keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ledoux won't allow Eli to sweep him here.
Ledoux postures up and lands a big shot to Eli's brow.
Ledoux trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ledoux has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Eli has control of Ledoux's left arm, preventing Ledoux from doing any damage.
Eli is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ledoux slips nicely into half guard.
Ledoux lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ledoux lands strikes from half guard.
Eli keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ledoux takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ledoux lands a nice short elbow.

Eli is rocked!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Eli dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Ledoux throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Eli's waist but Eli gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ledoux off to one side.
Eli swats away the attempt to clinch by Ledoux.
Ledoux avoids the head kick by Eli.
Eli circles away from the clinch attempt.
Eli scoring well with a low kick there.
Eli turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ledoux throws the left hand but Eli avoids the punch easily.
Eli swinging wildly here.
Eli misses with an uppercut

and Ledoux counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Eli is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eli 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.
Ledoux missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ledoux slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Ledoux pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Eli is keeping the position for now.
Ledoux wants to control from the top but Eli keeps moving.
Eli pulls Ledoux in close to prevent any damage.
Eli trying to keep a closed guard but Ledoux is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ledoux shoots in looking for a takedown but Eli manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ledoux's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ledoux blocks a head kick by Eli.
Ledoux dips to his left and cracks Eli with an uppercut!

Ledoux drives through with a takedown into Eli's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Eli is pulling down on Ledoux's head to control his posture.
Pierre Ledoux has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ledoux forces his way into half guard.
Pierre Ledoux has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tom Eli is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eli trying to control from the bottom.
Eli taking some punishment here, with Ledoux in his half guard.
Ledoux is thwarting Eli's attempts to control the position.

Ledoux looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Eli wants to improve his position but Ledoux is controlling well.

Eli is defending against the submission attempts here by Ledoux.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eli is trying to get back to full guard.
Ledoux drops an elbow to the side of Eli's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Eli is refusing to be controlled, as Ledoux sits in half guard.
Eli is concentrating on defense, preventing Ledoux from advancing position.

Ledoux is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Eli is just riding it out for now. Ledoux eventually gives up the hold.
Eli is staying active underneath Ledoux, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

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.

Ledoux is working for a kimura but Eli is defending it quite comfortably.
Ledoux wants to free his trapped foot but Eli is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Nice strikes from Ledoux there.
Ledoux is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Eli wants to get back to full guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Ledoux working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Eli preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Eli blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ledoux.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ledoux working the head and body with strikes.

Tom Eli's cut is getting worse.
Eli on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pierre Ledoux comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Eli has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Eli!