PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luca Gotti (ranked 2821 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Leinweber (ranked 5531 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Gotti
vs
Leinweber

200 cm
21
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Luca Gotti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tom Leinweber!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Taro Takaoka and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gotti misses with a double jab.
Nice takedown defense from Gotti. No joy for Leinweber on that attempt.
Leinweber shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gotti defends it nicely.
Gotti is looking for a counter combo.
Gotti throws a nice looking combination but Leinweber bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Leinweber scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Gotti looks to land a combination but Leinweber avoids it well.
Gotti stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gotti wants it to stay on the feet.
Luca Gotti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Leinweber.
Gotti throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Leinweber.

Leinweber moves into range and clinches up with Gotti.

Gotti pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gotti misses with a series of wild punches.
Gotti misses with a wild combination.
Gotti sets himself, and Leinweber steps forward looking for the clinch! Gotti avoids it this time.
Gotti swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Leinweber instigates a clinch.
Leinweber is trying to pull guard but Gotti turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Gotti escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gotti pushes Leinweber away with a front kick.
Gotti throws a series of punches but Leinweber moves out of range.
Leinweber avoids the head kick by Gotti.
Gotti throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gotti lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Leinweber circles away quickly and effectively.
Luca Gotti is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Leinweber clinches up with Gotti and pushes him back against the cage.

Gotti pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Leinweber throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gotti's waist but Gotti gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Leinweber off to one side.
Gotti fails to land with a series of punches.
Leinweber has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gotti throws a sloppy head kick and Leinweber moves out of range easily.
Gotti is breathing heavily.
Gotti misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leinweber fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Leinweber moves out of range of the strikes.
Gotti misses with a series of wild punches.
Leinweber shoots in for a takedown but Gotti shows good takedown defense.
Gotti throws a right and a left that Leinweber avoids nicely.
Leinweber shoots in and drives through. Gotti sprawls well.
Leinweber is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gotti sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Gotti scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Gotti misses with an uppercut. Leinweber saw that one coming.

Leinweber moves into the clinch.
Gotti wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Gotti breaks from the clinch.
Gotti keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gotti will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Leinweber shoots in but no luck this time.
Gotti misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Despite the aggression on Leinweber's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Gotti misses with a head kick.
Gotti throws a series of punches but Leinweber avoids them all with ease.

Leinweber forces Gotti back against the cage and clinches.

Gotti pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gotti misses with a wild combination.
Leinweber flicks out a counter leg kick but Gotti steps away.

Leinweber closes the distance and pushes Gotti back into the cage.

Gotti breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Luca Gotti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gotti will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gotti misses with a few strikes there.
Gotti misses with a head kick.
Leinweber wants to counter the offense by Gotti and move into the clinch position.

Leinweber drives through and clinches with Gotti against the cage.

Leinweber pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gotti swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Leinweber counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Leinweber keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Leinweber shoots for a takedown but Gotti saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Gotti gets tackled into the cage by Leinweber. Leinweber maintains the clinch.

Gotti breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Leinweber dodges the punch combination from Gotti.
Leinweber fails with the takedown.
Gotti lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luca Gotti dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gotti throws a nice head kick!
Gotti connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Gotti throws a head kick that Leinweber semi-blocks.
Gotti misses with a few strikes there.
A head kick misses from Gotti.
Luca Gotti is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A head kick misses from Gotti.
A countering left hand to the body from Leinweber misses.

Leinweber instigates a clinch.
Gotti wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Leinweber has him pressed against the cage.
Leinweber keeps control of Gotti as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Leinweber keeps control of Gotti as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gotti looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leinweber controlling the action here for a moment.
Gotti tries to break free but Leinweber pushes him back against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Leinweber jumps into guard, dragging Gotti to the mat.
Leinweber has Gotti pulled in close to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leinweber tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gotti throws a strike but Leinweber rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Leinweber sitting in guard here, content to control.
Gotti working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Leinweber.
Leinweber's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Gotti wants to stand but Leinweber is controlling the position.
Leinweber looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Gotti has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Leinweber has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gotti wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Leinweber has him pressed against the cage.
Gotti looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Gotti breaks from the clinch.
Leinweber fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Gotti displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Leinweber.
Gotti lands a head kick. Leinweber smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Gotti throws a right and a left that Leinweber avoids nicely.
Leinweber is trying to counter with his kicks.
Gotti misses with a two punch combination.
Leinweber ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gotti scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Leinweber will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gotti throws a front kick that sends Leinweber stumbling back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gotti throws the left hand but Leinweber avoids the punch easily.
Leinweber tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Gotti throws a series of punches but Leinweber avoids them all with ease.
Leinweber shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gotti as he jumps to the side.
Gotti throws a nice looking combination but Leinweber bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gotti displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Leinweber.
As Leinweber looks to move away, Gotti throws a big counter combo but Leinweber just gets out of the way.
Luca Gotti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Leinweber.
Gotti connects with a high kick.
Gotti misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Leinweber scores with a shot to the body.
Leinweber looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gotti is fending him off so far but Leinweber persists. Nope, Gotti circles away and we're back to standing.
Leinweber avoids a punch combination nicely.
Despite the aggression on Leinweber's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gotti throws a right and a left that Leinweber avoids nicely.
A nice side step and Leinweber releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Leinweber misses with a takedown attempt - Gotti sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Leinweber rushes Gotti and presses him up against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Gotti's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Leinweber!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A combination from Gotti does no damage.
Leinweber dodges the punch combination from Gotti.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luca Gotti dominated that second round.
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!

Gotti avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gotti pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Leinweber takes the fight into the clinch.

Gotti breaks the clinch.

Leinweber gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Leinweber has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Gotti after a bit of a struggle.
Leinweber has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gotti is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Leinweber is trying to pull guard but Gotti turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Luca Gotti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Leinweber.
Gotti jumps guard but Leinweber turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Gotti is trying to push Leinweber away but Leinweber has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gotti breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Leinweber looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gotti was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Gotti throws a left and a right that both miss
and Leinweber counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gotti is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Leinweber can do to turn this around?
Leinweber avoids the head kick by Gotti.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leinweber showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gotti.
Gotti lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Gotti.
Gotti throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Leinweber.
Gotti throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Leinweber.
Gotti misses with a jab, cross combination.
Leinweber will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gotti misses with a wild combination.
Some wild striking there from Gotti.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Gotti. Those never looked like landing.
Leinweber shoots in for a takedown but Gotti shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gotti throws a nice looking combination but Leinweber bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Leinweber is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Gotti rather than just go for the knockout.
Gotti throws a sloppy head kick and Leinweber moves out of range easily.
Gotti moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromLeinweber.
Leinweber tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Leinweber avoids a punch combination nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gotti misses with a two punch combination.
Leinweber shoots in looking for a takedown but Gotti manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Leinweber's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Gotti throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Leinweber shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Leinweber takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Gotti rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Leinweber moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Leinweber darts in looking for a takedown but Gotti gets double underhooks and turns Leinweber into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gotti misses with a wild combination.
Leinweber avoids a punch combination nicely.
Leinweber lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Leinweber dodges the punch combination from Gotti.
Gotti leaves Leinweber with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gotti throws a big counter combination but Leinweber scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Leinweber clinches up against the cage.
Gotti fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gotti is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Leinweber keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gotti's efforts to push away.

Leinweber breaks the clinch.
Gotti stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gotti wants it to stay on the feet.
Luca Gotti is winning the standup battle so far.
Gotti plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Leinweber shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gotti as he avoids it easily.
As Leinweber looks to move away, Gotti throws a big counter combo but Leinweber just gets out of the way.
Luca Gotti is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A punch combination from Gotti misses.
Gotti lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Leinweber circles away quickly and effectively.
Leinweber wants to clinch.
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!

Leinweber gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luca Gotti showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gotti, 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luca Gotti!
A less than humble Luca Gotti misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.