PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mos Def (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephane Ouelet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Def comes to the cage accompanied by Mathematics. The crowd seem to be enjoying Ouelet's choice of entrance music: Chien Fou . The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Def
vs
Ouelet

179 cm
30
170 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

180 cm
26
165 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mos Def!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Stephane Ouelet!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Steve Smith and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Def swings for the body but Ouelet moves out of range.
Def throws a low kick but Ouelet moves out of range easily.
Ouelet fails with an attempt to clinch.
Def looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Def fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ouelet, pushing him back against the cage.
Ouelet throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Def on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ouelet misses with an elbow strike.
Def managing to block the knees to the body from Ouelet.
Def blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ouelet misses with a body punch.
Ouelet trying to land knees to the body.
Ouelet managing to block the knees to the body from Def.
Def misses with a knee to the head.
Def is stalling here.
Def misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ouelet.
Ouelet lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Ouelet scores with a nice hook to the head.
Ouelet throws an elbow but it misses.
Def blocks an elbow strike.
Ouelet tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Def avoids it.
Ouelet goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Def blocks an elbow strike.
Def misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ouelet.
Def holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A body shot lands from Ouelet.
Ouelet tries to land knees in the clinch but Def avoids the damage to the body.
Ouelet throws an elbow but it misses.
Ouelet on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Def jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ouelet walks away with a smile on his face. Def gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Ouelet has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Def fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ouelet is out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Def.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Def throws a knee to the head but misses.

Def gets control of Ouelet's arms and successfully pulls guard. Def will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Def can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ouelet controls the pace.
Def looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ouelet is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ouelet is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Stephane Ouelet was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Def shoots in looking for a takedown but Ouelet manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Def's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Def misses with a low kick as Ouelet jumps back.
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!
Def lands with a thumping leg kick.
Def throws a shot from downtown. Ouelet moves away and avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Def keeps the fight on the outside.
A leg kick checked by Ouelet.
Def misses with a low kick.
Ouelet tries to clinch but Def moves out of range.

Def closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ouelet did well to prevent Def getting side control.

Def is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ouelet has managed to free his arm - good work.
Def frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Def trying to control but Ouelet is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Def goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Ouelet is on top in guard.
Def pulls Ouelet in close to prevent any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Def had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ouelet defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Def attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Def tries a low kick but Ouelet avoids it.
Def throws a sloppy head kick and Ouelet moves out of range easily.
Def throws a leg kick

and Ouelet holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ouelet lands a nice elbow.
Def blocks an elbow strike from Ouelet.
Ouelet creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Def's defenses.
Ouelet tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Def's elbow.
Ouelet has a couple of punches blocked by Def.
Def blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Def utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Ouelet just misses with a elbow thrown towards Def's brow.
Ouelet throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Ouelet pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Def is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ouelet tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Def jumps guard but Ouelet turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Def lands a knee to the body.
Def scores a nice knee to the body.
Ouelet tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ouelet is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Def is defending well for now.
Ouelet tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Def avoids it.
Def is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Def blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ouelet throws a head punch that misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ouelet as Def tries to tie him up.
Ouelet putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Def in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Ouelet lands a damaging elbow.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Ouelet lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Ouelet just misses with a elbow thrown towards Def's brow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Def blocks an elbow strike from Ouelet.
Def avoids the elbow strike from Ouelet, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ouelet with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ouelet looking to throw knees to the head but Def is blocking nicely.
Def throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ouelet blocks it with crossed arms.
Ouelet has a couple of punches blocked by Def.
Def stalling in the clinch.
Def blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ouelet swings wildly with an uppercut but Def uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ouelet is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Def is defending well for now.
Ouelet using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Def has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Def has clasped his hands together around Ouelet's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Ouelet bucks up and tries to throw Def off but instead Def has got his back!
Def throwing sloppy strikes.

Ouelet defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Def's arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Def is persistently looking for the submission but Ouelet is defending it well.
Def just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Def struggling to land strikes to the head as Ouelet covers up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Def looking for the choke from the back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ouelet just trying to survive but Def is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Def looking for the choke from the back.
Even with his hooks in, Def manages to miss with strikes from the back.
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!

Def working for a choke but Ouelet reverses nicely into Def 's guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Def controls Ouelet momentarily but Ouelet frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mos Def dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Def closes the distance and clinches.
Ouelet tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Def tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ouelet avoids it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Ouelet lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ouelet swings wildly with an uppercut but Def uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ouelet creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Def wants to stall.
Ouelet creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Def on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ouelet lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Ouelet just misses with a elbow thrown towards Def's brow.
Ouelet looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Ouelet misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Def.
Ouelet creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Def's defenses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Def successfully pulls guard.
Def being controlled here, momentarily.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ouelet throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Def looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ouelet looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Stephane Ouelet wasn't active enough on the ground.
Def fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ouelet has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Def misses with an attempted mid kick.

Def drives through and clinches with Ouelet against the cage.
Ouelet looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Ouelet makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Def is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ouelet is defending well for now.
Def blocks an elbow strike from Ouelet.
Ouelet swings wildly with an uppercut but Def uses good head movement to avoid it.
Def stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Def is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Def lands a knee to the body.
Def tries to pull guard but Ouelet forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ouelet lands with a short shot to the head.
Ouelet throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Stephane Ouelet seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Ouelet looking to throw knees to the head but Def is blocking nicely.
Ouelet looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Still in the clinch, Ouelet scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ouelet pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Def tries to land knees in the clinch but Ouelet avoids the damage to the body.

Def pulls guard successfully.
Ouelet trying to stand up but can't free himself from Def's guard.
Def not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Stephane Ouelet has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Def keeping moving, preventing Ouelet from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Stephane Ouelet.
Ouelet is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mos Def is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
An inside leg kick from Def misses.
Def throws a head kick but Ouelet moves out of range.

Def moves into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ouelet scores with an uppercut up the middle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ouelet comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Ouelet lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Mos Def has been cut.
Def misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ouelet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Stephane Ouelet.
I think Def 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mos Def!
During a confident post fight interview, Mos Def thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.