PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hakuna Matata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jordan Lesniewski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Lesniewski's choice of entrance music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgARus5JFQY. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Matata
vs
Lesniewski

175 cm
20
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
22
161 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Pure Strength, 142+ for 40$

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hakuna Matata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jordan Lesniewski!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Wagner Zegers and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lesniewski throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Lesniewski drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Matata is looking to stand up but Lesniewski isn't so interested in that idea.
Matata has a closed guard, preventing Lesniewski from standing up.
Matata wants to stand but Lesniewski is controlling the position.
Lesniewski throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lesniewski is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lesniewski gets to his feet - Matata follows without any prompting.
Lesniewski is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Matata shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Lesniewski counters with a stiff right hand.
Lesniewski moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Lesniewski tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Matata shoots and misses

and Lesniewski counters with a shoot takedown. Matata fights it but they end up in guard.
Matata is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lesniewski trying to control but Matata is working from the bottom.
Matata wants to stand up but Lesniewski is controlling him.

Lesniewski stands up and waves to Matata to follow him.
Matata has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Lesniewski shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Matata utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Matata keeping moving, preventing Lesniewski from controlling successfully.
Lesniewski throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Matata works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lesniewski throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matata is looking to stand up but Lesniewski isn't so interested in that idea.

Matata has his foot on Lesniewski's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lesniewski works his way back into a safe position though.

Lesniewski decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Matata, up you get!
Matata takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Matata takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Lesniewski tries to clinch up.
A head kick from Lesniewski lands but Matata takes it in his stride.
Matata misses with a takedown

and Lesniewski counters by moving into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hakuna Matata. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lesniewski scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Matata tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lesniewski smiles and moves away.
Lesniewski connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lesniewski shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Lesniewski was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matata can't escape the position.
Lesniewski with good strikes from the mount here!
Lesniewski dominating with strikes here.
Matata is wriggling around trying to escape.
Lesniewski won't let Matata get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Matata 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.
A nice elbow there by Lesniewski.
Lesniewski is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Matata can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Matata wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matata is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Lesniewski won't let Matata get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Lesniewski connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Matata is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Matata is squirming around, avoiding Lesniewski's attempts to control the action.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matata really wants to buck Lesniewski off and get back to his feet.
Matata is desperately trying to improve his position but Lesniewski has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jordan Lesniewski dominated that round.
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.

Lesniewski shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Matata manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Lesniewski trying to control but Matata is working from the bottom.

Matata has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Lesniewski off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Matata circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lesniewski shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Matata doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Lesniewski counters by clinching up.
Matata tries for a takedown. No joy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lesniewski fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lesniewski can't break the clinch.
Lesniewski wants to get back to striking at distance but Matata won't allow it.

Matata has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Lesniewski uses from the top position.
Matata wants to stand up but Lesniewski is controlling him.
Lesniewski trying to control the position from guard on top but Matata is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matata wants to stand up but Lesniewski is controlling him.

Lesniewski stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Lesniewski fails in his attempt to clinch.

Matata scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Matata is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lesniewski has escaped the position, nice work there.
You can see the frustration on Lesniewski's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lesniewski manages to work his way to half guard, despite Matata's best efforts.
Lesniewski won't allow Matata to pass to mount.

Matata is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Lesniewski has managed to free his arm - good work.
Lesniewski wants to get back to his feet.
Lesniewski regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Matata.
Lesniewski wants to stand but Matata is controlling the position.

Matata stands up and waves to Lesniewski to follow him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lesniewski fails with the takedown

and Matata decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Lesniewski's guard.
Matata throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Matata drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Lesniewski manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Matata has Lesniewski in his guard.
Matata is trying to keep Lesniewski in close.
Lesniewski won't allow Matata to get back to his feet.
Lesniewski's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Lesniewski is looking to stand up but Matata won't let him.
Lesniewski trying to control the position from guard on top but Matata is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matata striking from his own guard.
Matata controlling Lesniewski's posture.
Matata wants to stand and escape but Lesniewski is having none of it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Matata takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Lesniewski shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Matata counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hakuna Matata has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jordan Lesniewski.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lesniewski wants to control but Matata is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Lesniewski is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakuna Matata dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Matata tries for a takedown but Lesniewski sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Lesniewski moves into the clinch.

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

Lesniewski clinches.

Lesniewski pulls guard successfully.

Lesniewski has his feet on Matata's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Matata walks into a straight right hand from Lesniewski.
Lesniewski throws a leg kick which misses Matata's front leg but catches the back leg as Matata tries to avoid it.
Lesniewski will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Matata waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lesniewski.
Lesniewski closes the distance looking to clinch

and Matata counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matata is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lesniewski sees it coming and defends easily.
Matata wants to take a breather but Lesniewski is having none of it.
Matata wants to advance to full mount but Lesniewski doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

Matata is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Lesniewski is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Lesniewski has escaped and now he's on top!
Lesniewski has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Matata is proving hard to escape from.

Matata has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Lesniewski off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Lesniewski misses with a takedown attempt

and Matata counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lesniewski scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.

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

Matata is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Matata changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Lesniewski fights it off and pushes away nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lesniewski misses with a takedown attempt

and Matata counters with a single leg into guard. Lesniewski didn't expect that.
Hakuna Matata has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jordan Lesniewski.

Matata drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Lesniewski dives on top into guard.
Matata has momentary wrist control but Lesniewski slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matata has his foot on Lesniewski's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lesniewski works his way back into a safe position though.

Lesniewski decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Matata, up you get!
Matata shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Lesniewski counters with a shoot takedown. Matata fights it but they end up in guard.
Matata manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lesniewski manages to get himself to full guard.
Matata wants to get up but he can't break Lesniewski's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Matata drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Lesniewski dives on top into guard.

Matata is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lesniewski stops Matata from standing up.

Matata pushes Lesniewski off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matata doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lesniewski counters with a low kick, right behind Matata 's knee.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Lesniewski, right into the meat.
Lesniewski throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Matata closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matata wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lesniewski keeps working.

Matata is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Lesniewski has managed to free his arm - good work.
Lesniewski is looking for a sweep. Matata is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matata is trying to control the action in half guard but Lesniewski is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hakuna Matata showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Matata 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:28
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:28
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a draw!