PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Renji Abarai (ranked 749 p4p, 458 weight class) and Draco Leonidas (ranked 66 p4p, 47 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Abarai
vs
Leonidas

175 cm
34
150
23 - 9 - 1

170 cm
26
150
9 - 4 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Kersikov's Vitamin Clinic (160)
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 9 - 1, fighting out of New York, Renji Abarai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Draco Leonidas!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abarai lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Abarai scores with a jab. Leonidas acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Abarai sizes up Leonidas with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Leonidas shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Abarai manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Leonidas trying to control but Abarai is working from the bottom.
Leonidas throwing strikes but missing.
Leonidas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Leonidas is looking to work some ground and pound but Abarai has wrist control.
Leonidas trying to control but Abarai is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leonidas throws a big elbow that misses.
Abarai keeping moving, preventing Leonidas from controlling successfully.
Abarai has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Leonidas missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonidas showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Leonidas wants to control from the top but Abarai keeps moving.
Leonidas is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Abarai looks to score with a jab to the body but Leonidas is just out of range.
Leonidas blocks a jab.
Abarai misses with a straight left.
Leonidas doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Leonidas throws a leg kick but Abarai sees it coming and moves out of range.
Leonidas avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Leonidas swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abarai throws a leg kick
and Leonidas finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Abarai moves out of range of the leg kick from Leonidas.
Leonidas just misses with a punch to the body.
Abarai comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Abarai throws a good cross that connects.
The fighters circling - Leonidas throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Renji Abarai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Abarai pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Leonidas counters with a body kick.
Abarai takes a swing at Leonidas's ribcage but misses.
Leonidas looks to land a body kick but Abarai moved away.
Leonidas avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Abarai jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Leonidas digs a good body shot into Abarai's ribs.
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!
Leonidas throws a sloppy head kick and Abarai moves out of range easily.
Abarai thuds his right hand into Leonidas's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Abarai lands a jab to Leonidas's midsection.
Abarai avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Leonidas takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Leonidas looks to score with a jab to the body but Abarai is just out of range.
Abarai lands a nice leg kick that just misses Leonidas's sensitive parts.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A solid leg kick lands there for Leonidas.
Leonidas throws a leg kick but Abarai moved away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonidas smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Abarai with the inside leg kick.
Renji Abarai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Abarai jabs Leonidas right on the nose. Leonidas blinks but takes it well.
Abarai throws a leg kick but Leonidas checks it.
Leonidas blocks a head kick by Abarai.
Leonidas misses with a kick to the body.
Leonidas takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Leonidas looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Abarai takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Leonidas throws a sloppy head kick and Abarai moves out of range easily.
Leonidas scores with a decent looking hook.
Abarai slips a straight right by Leonidas.
A little feinted left hand from Abarai on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Leonidas is looking to land body kicks.
Abarai was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Abarai fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Leonidas connects with the punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Leonidas jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Abarai scores with a decent looking hook.
Leonidas on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Leonidas moves away from the strike by Abarai.
Leonidas staying out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonidas scores with a jab. Abarai acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Abarai scores with a jab.
Abarai ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Leonidas moves away.
Abarai works Leonidas's body with a nice hook.
Abarai is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Leonidas slips a straight right by Abarai.
Abarai stuffs the takedown.
Abarai scores with a hook.
A good leg kick by Abarai.

Leonidas closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Leonidas lands in his opponent's guard.
Leonidas connects with a couple of short punches.
Abarai keeping moving, preventing Leonidas from controlling successfully.
Leonidas throwing strikes from guard but Abarai blocks nicely.
Leonidas throws a big right hand that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Abarai misses with an uppercut.
Abarai with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Leonidas to score with a decent uppercut.
Abarai lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Leonidas is looking to chop away at Abarai's legs.
Abarai keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Abarai takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Leonidas looks to land a body kick but Abarai moved away.
Abarai throws an overhand right that lands on Leonidas's shoulder, as Leonidas tries to avoid the shot.
Leonidas buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Abarai throws an overhand right that lands on Leonidas's shoulder, as Leonidas tries to avoid the shot.
Abarai throws a jab when Leonidas was well out of range.
Abarai avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Abarai misses with a looping right.
Leonidas blocks a head kick by Abarai.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abarai ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Abarai swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Abarai connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Abarai misses with a looping left.
Abarai connects with a nice looking jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Abarai takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Abarai throws a lazy right hand but Leonidas sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Abarai works Leonidas's body with a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abarai uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Leonidas.
Abarai with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Abarai cracks a nice hook into Leonidas's ribs.
Leonidas misses with a looping right.
Abarai takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Leonidas looks to land a left hand but Abarai moved out of range nicely.
Leonidas does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Leonidas loads up on a big right hand but Abarai slips the punch.
Leonidas throws a hook but Abarai avoids it easily.
Abarai blocks a jab.
Leonidas missing with a left hand there. Abarai was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A slapping leg kick lands for Abarai.
Leonidas lunges at Abarai with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Abarai's hand.
Leonidas throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Abarai sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Abarai lunges at Leonidas with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Leonidas's hand.
Abarai blocks a head kick by Leonidas.
Abarai misses with a head kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd cheers as Leonidas lands an impressive looking overhand right. Abarai doesn't seem phased though.
Leonidas takes one on the button.
Abarai takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Leonidas shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Abarai's guard.

Abarai pushes Leonidas off and scrambles back to his feet.
Renji Abarai is winning the standup battle so far.
Abarai's jab looks to have found its range, popping Leonidas under the eye.
Abarai chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Leonidas can pounce on him.
Leonidas misses with the combination.
Leonidas misses with an attempted mid kick.
Jab by Abarai.
A big right from Abarai misses.
Leonidas fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Abarai scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Abarai lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Leonidas throws a hook to the side of Abarai's head but Abarai sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Leonidas misses with a looping right.
A good leg kick by Leonidas.
Leonidas checks a leg kick.
Abarai misses the shot to the body.
Abarai turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonidas bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Abarai's head backwards.
Abarai swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Leonidas with a jab.
Leonidas tests Abarai's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Abarai misses with a low kick.
Leonidas chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Abarai with a jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Leonidas misses the target.
Abarai tries a low kick but Leonidas avoids it.
Leonidas tries to work over Abarai's front leg with a kick but Abarai checks it.
Leonidas throws the left hand but Abarai avoids the punch easily.
Abarai lands a nice shot to the body.
Leonidas blocks a head kick by Abarai.
Abarai misses with a looping right.
Abarai connects with a nice looking jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Abarai bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Leonidas's head.
Abarai will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Abarai jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Leonidas throws a hook but Abarai avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Abarai.
Abarai with the inside leg kick.
Abarai throws a sloppy head kick and Leonidas moves out of range easily.
Leonidas walks into a jab.
Nice defenses there by Abarai.
Leonidas throws a right and a left that Abarai avoids nicely.
Abarai lands with a right hand.
Leonidas checks a leg kick.
Abarai misses with an uppercut. Leonidas saw that one coming.
Good leg kick by Leonidas.
Leonidas misses with a low kick.
Abarai cracks Leonidas with a good jab.
Abarai uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Leonidas.
Leonidas misses with a looping right.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Abarai throws a big shot that misses.
Abarai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Abarai moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Abarai crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Leonidas - the referee stops the clock and Abarai gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Leonidas. Abarai manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Good exchange - Abarai coming out on top.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Renji Abarai will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Leonidas looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A bone on bone clash there as Leonidas blocks the leg kick.
Abarai ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Abarai lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Nice jab there from Leonidas.
Leonidas thumps Abarai with a low kick.
Abarai scores with a jab to the body.
Leonidas misses the shot to the body.
Abarai throws a jab when Leonidas was well out of range.
Abarai throws a leg kick which misses Leonidas's front leg but catches the back leg as Leonidas tries to avoid it.
Leonidas misses with a low kick.
Leonidas slips a straight right by Abarai.
A head kick by Leonidas misses
and Abarai counters with a nice uppercut.
Leonidas throws a jab when Abarai was well out of range.
Abarai connects with a looping right hand.
Leonidas uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Abarai.
Abarai lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Abarai's corner calls for a 1-2. Abarai obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Leonidas thows a left - swing and a miss!
Abarai takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonidas misses the shot to the body.
Leonidas moves out of range of the leg kick from Abarai.
Leonidas replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Abarai blocks it well.
Abarai throws a shot from downtown. Leonidas moves away and avoids it.
A slow jab from Abarai misses its intended target.
Abarai takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Abarai throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Despite the aggression on Leonidas's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
A low kick lands for Abarai.
Abarai checks a low kick from Leonidas.
Leonidas misses with a looping right.
Abarai throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Leonidas fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Abarai takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Leonidas throws a push kick but Abarai slaps the foot to one side.
Leonidas has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Abarai.
Leonidas's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A cross from Abarai lands.
No joy there for Leonidas, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Abarai scores with a shot to the body.
Abarai blocks a jab.
Abarai throws a leg kick

and Leonidas counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Renji Abarai is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Abarai regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Leonidas.
Leonidas with a flurry of punches that miss.
Abarai wants to stand but Leonidas is controlling the position.
Leonidas postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Leonidas trying to control the position from guard on top but Abarai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Leonidas stopping the sweep attempt from Abarai.
Leonidas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Abarai is keeping the position for now.
Leonidas throwing strikes from guard but Abarai blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonidas looking to pass the guard.
Leonidas is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Leonidas looking to sit in guard and control but Abarai gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Draco Leonidas has got the better of the ground game so far.

Leonidas has his foot on Abarai's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Abarai works his way back into a safe position though.
Leonidas has a closed guard, preventing Abarai from standing up.
Leonidas thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Abarai is looking to stand up but Leonidas won't let him.
Leonidas 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.

Leonidas is looking for a triangle but Abarai pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abarai is looking to stand up but Leonidas won't let him.

Leonidas has his foot on Abarai's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Abarai works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Abarai stands up and waves to Leonidas to follow him.
Leonidas tests Abarai's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Leonidas looks to throw the jab but Abarai is out of range.
Draco Leonidas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leonidas fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Abarai is out of range.
Leonidas turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Abarai lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Leonidas at a distance.
Abarai keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Leonidas throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Abarai sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Leonidas ducks right into an uppercut from Abarai.
Abarai moves out of range as Leonidas throws a body kick.
Leonidas tries to move into range but Abarai moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Leonidas looks to land a body kick but Abarai moved away.
Leonidas walks into a left hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Renji Abarai.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Abarai, 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Renji Abarai!
After winning the bout, Renji Abarai thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.