PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gordan Leone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keisuke Atoshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Keisuke Atoshi told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Leone
vs
Atoshi

150 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
19
153 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gordan Leone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Keisuke Atoshi!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shigeki Fujiwara and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leone shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Atoshi pinned against the cage. Atoshi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Atoshi looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Leone shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Leone drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Leone wants to stand but Atoshi has his arm trapped.
Atoshi struggling a bit here.

Leone has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

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

Leone gets to his feet - Atoshi follows without any prompting.

Leone shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Leone showed some decent athleticism there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Leone wants to stand but Atoshi has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Atoshi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atoshi looks like he's trying to stand up.
Leone is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Leone stands up and beckons Atoshi to join him on the feet.

Leone scores with a takedown into Atoshi's guard.
Leone wanted to stand there but Atoshi had control of the position.
Leone trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Leone knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Atoshi on the ground.
Atoshi thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leone wants to get up but he can't break Atoshi's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Atoshi throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Leone wants to stand but Atoshi is controlling his posture from full guard.
Leone really is a fat lump.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Leone misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gordan Leone. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Leone stuffs the takedown.
Leone fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Leone shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Atoshi as he avoids it easily.
Leone doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Atoshi counters with a one-two to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leone shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Atoshi counters with a one-two to the body.
Atoshi tries to clinch but Leone moves out of range.

Leone looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Leone trying to stand up but can't free himself from Atoshi's guard.

Leone stands up and waves to Atoshi to follow him.
Leone tries for a takedown but Atoshi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A right-left combo lands from Atoshi.
Atoshi shoots for a takedown but Leone saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Leone fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Atoshi stuffs the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leone shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Atoshi as he jumps to the side.
Atoshi scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Atoshi lands a high kick!
Leone shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Atoshi as he avoids it easily.
Atoshi scores with a one two! Leone had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Leone fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Leone looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Atoshi is fending him off so far but Leone persists. Nope, Atoshi circles away and we're back to standing.
Leone has a takedown stuffed.
Leone misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Leone gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Atoshi counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Atoshi closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Atoshi stops Leone from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gordan Leone dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Leone shoots in for a takedown but Atoshi shows good takedown defense.
Leone gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Atoshi counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Atoshi wants to clinch.
Leone shoots in for a takedown but Atoshi shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gordan Leone. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Leone misses with a takedown attempt - Atoshi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Leone has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Leone misses with a takedown attempt
and Atoshi counters with a series of strikes. Leone will be more careful next time no doubt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Atoshi scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Leone with a lazy takedown attempt
and Atoshi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Keisuke Atoshi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Leone closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Atoshi to the mat! Atoshi manages to get full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Atoshi has a closed guard, preventing Leone from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Leone decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Atoshi, up you get!
Leone doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Atoshi counters with a series of strikes. Leone will be more careful next time no doubt.

Leone shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Gordan Leone overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Atoshi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Leone controlling from mount.
Atoshi sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leone is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Atoshi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Leone is working away from the top position though.
Leone wants to stand but Atoshi has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Atoshi looking for submissions off his back.

Leone stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Atoshi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Atoshi stuffs the takedown attempt from Leone. Leone gets slowly back to his feet.

Leone closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atoshi is trying to stand.
It looks like Leone is going to stand back up.
Atoshi tries to roll over but Leone keeps him under control.
Leone wants to stand up but Atoshi is controlling the position.

Leone stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Gordan Leone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck for Leone with that takedown attempt.
Atoshi shoots for a takedown but Leone saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

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.
Leone fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Leone tries for a takedown but Atoshi circles away easily
and Atoshi counters with a two punch combo.
Leone tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Atoshi swivels and escapes.
Leone fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Leone tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Atoshi swivels and escapes.
Atoshi's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Atoshi duly obliges.

Atoshi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Atoshi is looking for a triangle but Leone pushes his legs off easily.
Leone has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Atoshi is proving hard to escape from.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Leone avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Leone has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Atoshi is proving hard to escape from.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gordan Leone dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Atoshi tries to clinch but Leone moves out of range.

Leone fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Atoshi sprawls well initially but Leone persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Leone wants to stand but Atoshi has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Leone stands up and beckons Atoshi to join him on the feet.
Leone gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Atoshi counters with a head kick. That will keep Leone thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Leone stuffs the takedown attempt from Atoshi. Atoshi gets slowly back to his feet.
Leone closes this distance looking for a takedown but Atoshi circles away.
Atoshi has a takedown stuffed.
Leone fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gordan Leone. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Leone shoots in for a takedown but Atoshi shows good takedown defense.
Leone shoots in but no luck this time.
Atoshi has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atoshi tries to clinch up but Leone circles away and keeps his distance.

Leone feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Leone postures up.
Leone wants to stand but Atoshi has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Atoshi looking to control.

Atoshi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Leone wants to get up but he can't break Atoshi's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Atoshi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Leone has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Atoshi is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atoshi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Leone is controlling him.

Atoshi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Leone tries to stand but Atoshi is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Leone shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Atoshi but Atoshi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A nice leg kick lands there from Atoshi.
Leone circles away from the clinch attempt.

Leone looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Leone seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Leone prevents Atoshi from improving his position.
Leone stops Atoshi from getting back to his feet.
Leone wants to stand but Atoshi has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Leone prevents Atoshi from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atoshi is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Leone stops Atoshi from getting back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Atoshi stalks Leone and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Leone's face. Leone staggers backwards, shaken.
Leone changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Atoshi tries to avoid it but Leone manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Atoshi to the ground. Atoshi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Leone looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Atoshi is fending him off so far but Leone persists. Nope, Atoshi circles away and we're back to standing.
Leone shoots in for a takedown but Atoshi shows good takedown defense.

Leone feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Leone wanted to stand there but Atoshi had control of the position.

Atoshi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Atoshi trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gordan Leone showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Leone, 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gordan Leone!