PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe McConnell (ranked 2031 p4p, 1779 weight class) and Fred Leer (ranked 112 p4p, 98 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Fred Leer was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

McConnell
vs
Leer

200 cm
27
300
6 - 4 - 0

200 cm
27
300
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Northern Zombie
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe McConnell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Fred Leer!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Elvis Blanc and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Leer tries to keep at a distance but McConnell has taken the fight into the clinch.

McConnell breaks from the clinch.
McConnell lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
McConnell with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Leer to score with a decent uppercut.

McConnell moves into range and clinches up with Leer.
McConnell lands an elbow just above Leer 's eye.

It looks like Fred Leer has been cut.
Leer is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Leer takes an elbow to the temple.
Leer tries a body shot but McConnell blocks it.
McConnell comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Leer throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McConnell blocks it with crossed arms.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Leer tries to work over McConnell's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
McConnell throws an elbow but it's blocked.
McConnell dodges an elbow strike from Leer.
Leer misses with some punches.
A hook to the body from Leer.
McConnell misses with an elbow strike.

McConnell breaks from the clinch.
Leer moves away from the strike by McConnell.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McConnell is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Leer.

McConnell rushes Leer and presses him up against the cage.
McConnell managing to block the knees to the body from Leer.
McConnell creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Leer's defenses.

McConnell's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

McConnell clinches up against the cage.
McConnell working aggressively here.
McConnell scores with a nice hook to the head.
Leer throws a punch but it's blocked by McConnell.
A right handed body shot lands from Leer.
McConnell is breathing heavily.
Leer tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
McConnell blocking some punches.
Leer misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from McConnell.
McConnell scores with a shoulder strike.
Leer misses with a knee to the head.
Leer throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McConnell avoiding damage as Leer throws knees to the body.
Leer avoids a wild elbow strike from McConnell.
Still in the clinch, McConnell scores with a nice short uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A nice left hand lands by McConnell.
Leer working McConnell over with knees to the body.
Leer trying to land knees to the body.
Leer avoids the elbow strike from McConnell, against the cage.
McConnell throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Nice elbow from Leer.
Leer misses with a body punch.
Leer misses with a hook from the clinch.
Leer creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through McConnell's defenses.
McConnell misses with a punch on the inside.
McConnell avoiding damage as Leer throws knees to the body.
McConnell throws an elbow but it's blocked.
McConnell throws a head punch that misses.
Leer makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
McConnell blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Leer is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. McConnell is defending well for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McConnell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McConnell wants to clinch
and Leer counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Leer darts in and clinches McConnell up against the cage.
McConnell misses with a punch to the body.
Leer scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Leer working hard to break the clinch.
Leer goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Leer takes an elbow to the temple.
McConnell gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by McConnell.
McConnell lands a left hand.
A nice left hand lands by McConnell.
Leer can't find room to land a body shot as McConnell controls the action.
Leer tries to break free but McConnell pushes him back against the cage.
McConnell lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Leer misses with a hook from the clinch.
Leer using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McConnell has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Leer is trying to break the clinch but McConnell is controlling him.
McConnell lands a damaging elbow.

That has opened up Fred Leer's cut even more.
McConnell lands an uppercut.
McConnell looks to throw an elbow but misses.

McConnell breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McConnell tries to clinch there but Leer circles away.

McConnell forces Leer back against the cage and clinches.
McConnell blocks a body shot from Leer.
McConnell gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
McConnell lands a hook to the side of the head.
McConnell creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Leer's defenses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McConnell blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Leer misses with the head strike.
Leer misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Leer scores a nice knee to the body.

McConnell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joe McConnell dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Fred Leer's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Leer takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Leer ducks under a wild hook from McConnell.

McConnell instigates a clinch.
McConnell lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, McConnell creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Leer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
With the fighters up against the cage, McConnell throws an elbow but misses.
Leer tries to land knees in the clinch but McConnell avoids the damage to the body.

Leer breaks from the clinch.

McConnell drives through and clinches with Leer against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leer lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Leer misses with a hook to the ribs.
Joe McConnell has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Leer stalling in the clinch but McConnell improves position.
McConnell tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Leer goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
McConnell blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Leer tries to throw a body punch but McConnell avoids it by throwing Leer back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leer takes an elbow to the forehead.
Leer throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McConnell blocks it with crossed arms.
Leer can't find room to land a body shot as McConnell controls the action.
Leer trying to land knees to the body.
McConnell working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Leer throws an elbow that misses.
Leer misses with a shot to the kidneys.
McConnell is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Leer can do to turn this around?
McConnell scores with a shoulder strike.

McConnell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've been told by McConnell's head coaches at The Jungle Room that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

McConnell gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
McConnell lands a right hand.
Leer is breathing heavily.

McConnell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Leer tries to keep at a distance but McConnell has taken the fight into the clinch.
McConnell lands a left hand.

McConnell breaks the 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!
Leer buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McConnell misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Leer throws out a counter right but McConnell avoids it with no problem.
McConnell misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
McConnell lands with a straight right. Leer didn't see that one coming.
McConnell is looking to clinch.
Leer throws a fast counter high kick but McConnell manages to duck under it in time.
Leer avoids the head kick by McConnell.
McConnell tries to close the distance and clinch but Leer swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

McConnell instigates a clinch.
McConnell keeps control of Leer as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

McConnell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McConnell misses with a few strikes there.

McConnell gets a clinch.
Leer throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McConnell pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Leer stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Leer misses with an elbow over the top.
Leer is stalling here.
McConnell misses with a hook from the clinch.
McConnell lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Leer gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

McConnell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Leer tries to clinch up.
McConnell tries to clinch there but Leer circles away.
Leer is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Leer scores with a head kick. McConnell tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Leer takes a jab right on the kisser.
Leer swats away the attempt to clinch by McConnell.
Despite the aggression on Leer's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McConnell throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
McConnell darts in trying to clinch
and Leer counters with a leg kick.
Leer swats away the attempt to clinch by McConnell.
Leer unleashes a big counter combination but McConnell bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
McConnell tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
McConnell scores with a jab. Leer acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Leer tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Leer wants to clinch
and Leer takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joe McConnell dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Fred Leer's cut.
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!

McConnell takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Leer misses with the combination.
McConnell is looking to counter punch.
Leer swats away the attempt to clinch by McConnell.
Nice shot by Leer.

McConnell fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Leer, pushing him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McConnell misses with an elbow over the top.
McConnell's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
McConnell misses with an elbow over the top.

McConnell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Joe McConnell is winning the standup battle so far.
McConnell moves in looking to clinch but Leer pushes him off.
Leer throws out a counter right but McConnell avoids it with no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McConnell moves into the clinch.
Leer blocks the elbow strike.
A right handed body shot lands from Leer.
Leer creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through McConnell's defenses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Leer has a couple of punches blocked by McConnell.
Leer misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from McConnell.
Leer pushes off an throws an elbow but McConnell leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
McConnell pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
McConnell struggles to land a body shot inside as Leer controls his hands.
Leer throws an elbow that misses.
McConnell lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Leer tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Leer pushes McConnell back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Leer pushes McConnell back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Leer lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of McConnell backwards.
Leer takes an elbow to the forehead.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McConnell.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McConnell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Leer tries to clinch up but McConnell circles away and keeps his distance.
A little feinted left hand from McConnell on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
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!
Leer moves in looking to clinch but McConnell pushes him off.
Leer tries to clinch there but McConnell circles away.
Leer slips a jab from McConnell.
McConnell wants to clinch
and Leer counters with a nice kick to the body.
Leer circles away from the clinch attempt.
Leer slips a jab and a cross from McConnell.

McConnell moves into the clinch.
Leer lands a hook that snaps the head of McConnell backwards.

McConnell's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leer changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Leer throws a head kick that misses.
McConnell tries to clinch there but Leer circles away.
Joe McConnell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McConnell throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Leer counters with a two punch combo.
McConnell takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Leer lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Leer misses with a body kick.
McConnell blocks a head kick by Leer.
McConnell tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Leer cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
McConnell tries to clinch but Leer is having none of it.
McConnell tries to clinch but Leer is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A thudding body kick lands there by Leer!
McConnell wants to clinch up but Leer keeps it at a distance.
Leer thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on McConnell if he has to take too many more of those.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McConnell fails with an attempt to clinch.
Leer counters with a body kick.
McConnell shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A punch combination from Leer misses.
A little feinted left hand from McConnell on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
McConnell tries to clinch but Leer is having none of it.
Leer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
McConnell wants to clinch up but Leer keeps it at a distance.
And Leer responds with a good body kick, but McConnell manages to step out the way in time.
Leer lands a right hook to the body.
Fred Leer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joe McConnell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McConnell is looking to clinch but Leer is avoiding it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fred Leer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think McConnell 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe McConnell!
An out of breath and clearly excited Joe McConnell thanked Northern Zombie for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).