PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lee Van Cleefe (ranked 3277 p4p, 20116 weight class) and Nathan Leal (ranked 383 p4p, 564 weight class). Van Cleefe's entrance music is Classics - The Master (1984) TV series. A fine choice. Nathan Leal acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Van Cleefe
vs
Leal

185 cm
38
255
25 - 33 - 1

195 cm
40
275
19 - 21 - 0

Good takedowns
Decent elbows
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Champion Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 33 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lee Van Cleefe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nathan Leal!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Robert Douchet and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Van Cleefe drives through with a takedown into Leal's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Van Cleefe looking to sit in guard and control but Leal gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Leal postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Van Cleefe is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Leal, into his guard.

Van Cleefe won't allow Leal to sweep him here.
Van Cleefe throwing strikes but missing.
Leal keeping moving, preventing Van Cleefe from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Cleefe advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Cleefe throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Van Cleefe tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Van Cleefe has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Van Cleefe raining down shots from the mount!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Leal can do anything to dispel that myth.
Van Cleefe trying to control but Leal is having none of it.

Van Cleefe is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Leal is surviving well by controlling Van Cleefe's body position as best he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Van Cleefe has hold of Leal's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Leal manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Van Cleefe swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Leal is now in Van Cleefe's guard. A big mistake from Van Cleefe there, giving up the dominant position!

Van Cleefe has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Leal can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Van Cleefe has a closed guard, preventing Leal from standing up.

Van Cleefe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Leal gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Leal wants to stand but Van Cleefe is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Cleefe manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Leal manages to get himself to full guard.

Leal wants to sweep but no luck.
Van Cleefe trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Leal keeping moving, preventing Van Cleefe from controlling successfully.

Leal is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Van Cleefe is aware though and is defending well.
Van Cleefe trying to control but Leal is working from the bottom.

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.
Van Cleefe throwing strikes from guard but Leal blocks nicely.
Van Cleefe slips nicely into half guard.

Van Cleefe is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Leal is just riding it out for now. Van Cleefe eventually gives up the hold.

Van Cleefe seems to be working for a kimura but Leal defends the submission attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lee Van Cleefe dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Van Cleefe closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Van Cleefe seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Leal does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ground and pound from Van Cleefe.
Van Cleefe controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Cleefe passes to full mount!
Van Cleefe is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Leal can do to turn this around?
Leal is trying desperately to improve position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Cleefe controlling his opponent.

Leal defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Van Cleefe.

Leal defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Van Cleefe.
Van Cleefe fails to take his opponent's back.
Van Cleefe is working hard here to advance position.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Van Cleefe here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

Van Cleefe is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Leal has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Leal!
Van Cleefe controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Cleefe is trying to keep Leal in close.
Van Cleefe is really struggling to control Leal but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Leal really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Van Cleefe. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Leal tries to stand but Van Cleefe is controlling from the bottom.
Van Cleefe wants to sweep but no luck.

Leal decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Van Cleefe, up you get!
Van Cleefe fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Leal on the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Cleefe misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Leal.
Van Cleefe misses with a body shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Leal! But no joy.
Van Cleefe takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Van Cleefe throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Leal.
Leal unleashes a big counter combination but Van Cleefe bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Van Cleefe bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Leal is looking to get back to his feet here but Van Cleefe is keeping cool and he's managed to take Leal's back.
You can see the frustration on Leal's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Van Cleefe has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Leal has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Lee Van Cleefe overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Van Cleefe tries to keep control of the position but Leal is staying busy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Van Cleefe is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Leal defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Van Cleefe is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Van Cleefe seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Van Cleefe is cranking Leal's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for Leal! He's tightened the choke and Leal is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Lee Van Cleefe!
After winning the bout, Lee Van Cleefe thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.