PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Buzzard Leonard (ranked 21119 p4p, 3424 weight class) and Quinten Cuevas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cuevas has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Quinten Cuevas is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Leonard
vs
Cuevas

182 cm
26
150
0 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
145
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Buzzard Leonard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Quinten Cuevas!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Joseph Jones and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cuevas clinches up against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Leonard throws an elbow but misses.
Cuevas lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Cuevas misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Leonard blocks a body shot from Cuevas.
Cuevas misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cuevas lands a nice shot to the body.
Leonard looking to slow down the pace here.
Leonard blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cuevas lands a shot to the body.
Cuevas has a couple of punches blocked by Leonard.
Leonard is looking to break free of the clinch but Cuevas has double underhooks.
Leonard stalling against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leonard drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cuevas misses with a punch to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cuevas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Cuevas.
Cuevas throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Leonards head.
Cuevas lands a left hand.
Leonard really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cuevas misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cuevas works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Cuevas cracks Leonard with a nice body shot.
Nice body punch from Cuevas - that landed with a thud.
Leonard is breathing heavily.
Cuevas lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Cuevas pushes Leonard back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A short right from Cuevas on the inside.
Cuevas lands an uppercut.
Cuevas lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Leonard's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cuevas lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Leonard tries to circle away but Cuevas has him pinned against the cage.
Cuevas lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cuevas is leaning against Leonard and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Leonard looking to slow down the pace here.
Leonard is trying to pull guard but Cuevas has him pressed against the cage.
Cuevas lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Cuevas lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Cuevas lands a body shot in the clinch.
Cuevas lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A right hand to the body from Cuevas.
Cuevas throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Leonards head.
Cuevas is leaning against Leonard and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A short body shot lands from Cuevas as the two fighters clinch.
Cuevas lands a left hand that snaps the head of Leonard backwards.
Cuevas lands a left hand that snaps the head of Leonard backwards.
A right hand to the body from Cuevas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cuevas lands with a right to the head.
Leonard wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Buzzard Leonard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A right handed body shot lands from Cuevas.
A right hook to the body lands for Cuevas.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Cuevas.
Cuevas lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Leonard.
A hook to the body from Cuevas.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cuevas.
Leonard jumps guard but Cuevas turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Cuevas lands a body shot in the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Cuevas.
Cuevas lands with a short shot to the head.
Cuevas lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Leonard backwards.
Cuevas softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Leonard takes a shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cuevas scores with a nice hook to the head.
Cuevas goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cuevas misses with the head strike.
Cuevas lands a shoulder strike.
Leonard blocks an uppercut.
Leonard trying to stall but Cuevas improves his position.
Leonard prevents a body shot from Cuevas.
Cuevas misses with a hook from the clinch.
Leonard drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cuevas pulls his leg out and moves away.

Leonard forces Cuevas back against the cage and clinches.
Leonard is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Cuevas tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Quinten Cuevas dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cuevas rushes Leonard and presses him up against the cage.

Leonard pulls guard effortlessly.
Leonard manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cuevas manages to get himself to full guard.

Leonard trying to control but Cuevas is working from the bottom.

Leonard thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Leonard is stalling in the full guard.
Leonard trying to control the position from guard on top but Cuevas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leonard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cuevas swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Leonard stands up and waves to Cuevas to follow him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cuevas changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Leonard tries to avoid it but Cuevas manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Leonard to the ground. Leonard escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cuevas is breathing heavily.
Leonard throws a right hand that Cuevas ducks under and follows up with a left that Cuevas also avoids with ease.
Leonard shoots for a double leg takedown but Cuevas sprawls well. He's pushed Leonard's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Leonard gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Cuevas.
Cuevas is looking to clinch.
Cuevas stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cuevas wants it to stay on the feet.
And Cuevas tries to counter it with a takedown but Leonard pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Cuevas closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Leonard is trying to pull guard but Cuevas has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Buzzard Leonard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Leonard pulls guard effortlessly.
Cuevas wants to stand and escape but instead Leonard has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cuevas is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cuevas can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard trying to control but Cuevas is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Leonard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cuevas swivels though and keeps the full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Leonard accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cuevas wants to get back to his feet but Leonard is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Leonard not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Cuevas wants to stand up but Leonard is controlling him.
Leonard not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Cuevas tries to clinch but Leonard moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cuevas uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Leonard shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Cuevas has closed the distance and engaged Leonard in a clinch.
Cuevas misses with a punch to the body.
Cuevas pushes Leonard back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Leonard struggles to land a body shot inside as Cuevas controls his hands.
Leonard tries to pull guard but Cuevas won't allow it.
Cuevas lands a body punch in the clinch.
Cuevas tries a body shot but Leonard blocks it.
Cuevas misses with a body punch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Cuevas.
Leonard has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Cuevas after a bit of a struggle.

Leonard gets control of Cuevas's arms and successfully pulls guard. Leonard will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Leonard not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cuevas's guard.

Leonard showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Cuevas wants to stand up but Leonard is controlling him.
Leonard seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Leonard advances position into side control!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Buzzard Leonard dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Cuevas darts in and clinches Leonard up against the cage.
Cuevas misses with a body punch.
A frustrated look appears on Leonard's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Cuevas misses with a punch to the body.
Leonard tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cuevas smiles and moves away.

Cuevas has closed the distance and engaged Leonard in a clinch.
Cuevas misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cuevas.
Leonard wants a takedown.
Cuevas lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A right handed body shot lands from Cuevas.
Quinten Cuevas seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Cuevas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cuevas can't find room to land a body shot as Leonard controls the action.
Cuevas doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Cuevas lands a hook that snaps the head of Leonard backwards.
Cuevas lands a nice shot to the body.
Cuevas scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Leonard fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Buzzard Leonard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cuevas misses with a body punch.
Cuevas cracks Leonard with a nice body shot.
Leonard tries to circle away but Cuevas has him pinned against the cage.

Leonard has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Cuevas uses from the top position.

Leonard is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cuevas defends well.
Leonard manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cuevas manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cuevas wants to stand but Leonard is controlling the position.
Leonard not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Cuevas wants to get back to his feet but Leonard is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cuevas is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Leonard dives into side control.
Cuevas wants to get back to his feet but Leonard drags him back down.
Cuevas avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Leonard.

Leonard decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard wants to clinch up but Cuevas keeps it at a distance.

Leonard rushes Cuevas and presses him up against the cage.
Leonard throws an elbow that misses.
Cuevas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Leonard manages to break the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Cuevas as Leonard shoots in.
Cuevas is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Leonard avoids the body shot from Cuevas.
Cuevas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Leonard wants to clinch.
Cuevas wants to clinch.
Leonard looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cuevas is fending him off so far but Leonard persists. Nope, Cuevas circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard tries to clinch up.
Cuevas misses with a body punch
and Leonard counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Leonard darts in looking for a takedown but Cuevas gets double underhooks and turns Leonard into the cage.
Cuevas lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Leonard blocks a body shot from Cuevas.
Leonard blocks a body shot from Cuevas.
Leonard wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cuevas has him pressed against the cage.
Cuevas misses with a short punch on the inside.
Leonard drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cuevas gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Cuevas swings wildly with an uppercut but Leonard uses good head movement to avoid it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Leonard has had enough of the clinch but Cuevas keeps him there for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Quinten Cuevas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cuevas has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Quinten Cuevas!