PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bryan Leigh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Rhodes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Rhodes is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Leigh
vs
Rhodes

180 cm
19
178 lbs
5 - 0 - 1

188 cm
22
180 lbs
4 - 0 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Great low kicks
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Bryan Leigh!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, James Rhodes!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Summer Carpenter and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rhodes scores with a body shot.
Rhodes digs a good hook to Leigh's body.
A head kick misses from Rhodes.
Rhodes walks forward, straight into a front kick from Leigh.

Leigh moves into range and clinches up with Rhodes.
Leigh stalling in the clinch.
Knees to the body from Leigh.
Leigh connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like James Rhodes has been cut.
Leigh crunches a lovely knee into Rhodes's ribcage.
Rhodes looks gassed!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Leigh has Rhodes pushed against the cage.
Leigh trying to land knees to the body.
Rhodes working hard to break the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Leigh.
Leigh misses with a knee strike.

Rhodes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Leigh is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leigh throws a nice head kick!
Leigh pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rhodes throws a right hand that Leigh ducks under and follows up with a left that Leigh also avoids with ease.
A big left from Rhodes misses.
Bryan Leigh is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rhodes fails to land with a series of punches.

Leigh gets a clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Leigh.
Leigh throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rhodes blocks it with crossed arms.
Leigh lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Leigh throws a knee to the head but misses.
Leigh pushes off an throws an elbow but Rhodes leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Leigh pressing his opponent against the cage.
Leigh lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Rhodes avoiding damage as Leigh throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leigh is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rhodes is defending well for now.
Leigh stalling in the clinch.
Leigh misses with an elbow over the top.
Leigh tries to land a knee to the head but Rhodes blocks with his arms.
Rhodes has had enough of the clinch but Leigh keeps him there for the moment.

Rhodes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rhodes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Leigh.
Rhodes will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Leigh moves in looking to clinch but Rhodes pushes him off.
Rhodes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Leigh.
Some wild striking there from Rhodes.
Leigh swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Rhodes counters with a three punch combo that has Leigh backing up. Leigh nods at Rhodes to acknowledge the strikes.
Leigh moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Rhodes lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Rhodes fails to land with a series of punches.
Leigh thumps Rhodes with a low kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Leigh connects with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leigh fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rhodes.
Rhodes blocks the body kick.
Leigh throws a head kick that misses.
Leigh wants to clinch but Rhodes slips to the side
and Leigh takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Leigh throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Leigh fakes the leg kick and cracks Rhodes in the body.
Leigh misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Leigh takes a swing at Rhodes's ribcage but misses.

Leigh clinches with his opponent.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Rhodes takes an elbow to the temple.
Leigh prevents Rhodes from breaking the clinch.
Leigh lands an elbow just above Rhodes 's eye.
Leigh throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leigh tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rhodes managing to block the knees to the body from Leigh.
Leigh with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Leigh takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Rhodes blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Leigh has Rhodes pressed against the cage, preventing Rhodes from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rhodes is looking to break free of the clinch but Leigh has double underhooks.
Leigh tries a knee to the head but Rhodes blocks it.
Leigh keeps control of Rhodes as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Leigh unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rhodes lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Leigh misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rhodes.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Leigh creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rhodes's defenses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Leigh dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Rhodes's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Leigh misses with a head kick.
Leigh showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rhodes.
Rhodes throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Bryan Leigh is winning the standup battle so far.
Rhodes blocks a jab.
Leigh is looking to slow Rhodes down with leg kicks.
Leigh throws out a loose jab but Rhodes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rhodes throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Rhodes takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Some wild striking there from Rhodes.
Rhodes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rhodes looks to score with a jab to the body but Leigh is just out of range.
Leigh feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rhodes's calf.
Rhodes takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Leigh slips a jab and a cross from Rhodes.
Leigh throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rhodes misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Leigh counters with a good low kick that Rhodes was not able to check.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leigh looks to land a right hand but Rhodes moved out of range.
Rhodes avoids the head kick by Leigh.
A low kick from Leigh is predictable there
and Rhodes counters with a stiff right hand.
Leigh slips a straight right by Rhodes.
Rhodes takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Leigh scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Rhodes is breathing heavily.
Leigh digs a good body shot into Rhodes's ribs.
Rhodes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rhodes throws a lazy body kick

and Leigh counters by moving into the clinch.
Leigh with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Leigh manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Leigh tries to land a knee to the head but Rhodes blocks with his arms.
Rhodes avoiding damage as Leigh throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leigh pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Leigh is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Leigh landing knees to the head.
Leigh has Rhodes pressed against the cage, preventing Rhodes from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Leigh misses with a knee strike.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Leigh.
Leigh has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Leigh with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rhodes avoiding damage as Leigh throws knees to the body.
Rhodes on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Leigh misses with a knee strike.
Leigh using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rhodes has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Leigh keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rhodes's efforts to push away.
Leigh tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Leigh tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leigh keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rhodes's efforts to push away.
Rhodes has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rhodes is trying to break free.
Leigh's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Leigh misses with a knee to the head.
Leigh missing with knees to the body.
Rhodes avoiding damage as Leigh throws knees to the body.
Leigh pushes off an throws an elbow but Rhodes leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Leigh looking to throw knees to the head but Rhodes is blocking nicely.
Leigh using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rhodes has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rhodes working hard to break the clinch.
Leigh tries to land knees in the clinch but Rhodes avoids the damage to the body.
Rhodes wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rhodes as Leigh tries to tie him up.
Leigh misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rhodes.
Rhodes leaning against his opponent.
Rhodes wants to break the clinch but can't.
Leigh tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rhodes avoids it.
Leigh trying to stall but Rhodes improves his position.
Rhodes tries to break free but Leigh pushes him back against the cage.
Rhodes on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Leigh tries a knee to the head but Rhodes blocks it.
Leigh prevents Rhodes from breaking the clinch.
Rhodes has had enough of the clinch but Leigh keeps him there for the moment.
Leigh looking to throw knees to the head but Rhodes is blocking nicely.

Rhodes manages to break the clinch.
Nice body kick there by Leigh.
Rhodes stalks Leigh and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Leigh's face. Leigh staggers backwards, shaken.
James Rhodes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rhodes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Leigh dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on James Rhodes's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rhodes ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Leigh throws a combination that misses
and Rhodes counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Leigh tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rhodes takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A lazy left from Leigh finds it's target.
Leigh misses with an attempted mid kick.
Leigh takes one to the side of the head.
Rhodes moves out of range as Leigh strikes.
Leigh moves in looking to clinch but Rhodes pushes him off.
Rhodes smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Rhodes swats away the attempt to clinch by Leigh.
Leigh looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rhodes looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rhodes cracks a nice hook into Leigh's ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhodes scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Leigh takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Leigh scores with a leg kick.
A head kick from Rhodes lands but Leigh takes it in his stride.
Rhodes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rhodes's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Leigh throws a half hearted mid kick.
Rhodes lands with a nice body kick.
Rhodes misses with a series of wild punches.
Rhodes misses with a body shot.
Leigh tries to close the distance and clinch but Rhodes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rhodes throws a nice looking combination but Leigh bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rhodes stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Leigh throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Rhodes misses with a jab, cross combination.

Leigh lands a big head kick that sends Rhodes tumbling to the mat! Leigh takes a step backwards and waves Rhodes back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Rhodes is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes looks to land a combination. Leigh sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Rhodes is still on wobbly legs! Can Leigh finish him?
A nice leg kick lands there from Leigh.
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!
Rhodes keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Leigh.
Rhodes seems to have recovered his senses.
Rhodes has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Leigh looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Leigh misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rhodes lands a jab-cross combination.
Leigh is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Rhodes's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Leigh feints and then cracks Rhodes's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rhodes down.
Rhodes throws a right and a left that Leigh avoids nicely.
A head kick from Leigh lands but Rhodes takes it in his stride.
Rhodes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Leigh.
Leigh closes the distance but Rhodes moves to the side
and Rhodes counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Leigh moves out of range of the body kick.
Rhodes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Leigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes throws a hook but Leigh blocks it.
Leigh scoring well with a low kick there.
Rhodes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
An inside leg kick from Leigh misses.
Leigh showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rhodes.
Leigh keeps Rhodes at a distance using the push kick.
Horrible takedown by Rhodes or perhaps it was just good defense by Leigh which made him look bad.
Rhodes slips under a jab.
Leigh is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rhodes can do to turn this around?
Leigh throws a nice looking combination but Rhodes bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Leigh thows a body kick. Rhodes tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Rhodes takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

Leigh darts in and clinches Rhodes up against the cage.
Leigh connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rhodes's face.
Leigh tries a knee to the head but Rhodes blocks it.
Leigh trying to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Leigh throws an elbow but misses.
Leigh with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Leigh looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Leigh with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rhodes as Leigh tries to tie him up.
Rhodes avoiding damage as Leigh throws knees to the body.
Rhodes managing to block the knees to the body from Leigh.
Leigh missing with knees to the body.
Rhodes has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Leigh.
Leigh is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rhodes is defending well for now.
Leigh missing with knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rhodes as Leigh tries to tie him up.
Rhodes has had enough of the clinch but Leigh keeps him there for the moment.
Leigh content to slow the pace in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Leigh clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on James Rhodes's cut.
That's time! Leigh's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rhodes throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Leigh on the side of the head.
Leigh throws a quick inside leg kick.
Leigh chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Rhodes misses with a leg kick.
Rhodes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rhodes throws a left and a right that both miss
and Leigh counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Rhodes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rhodes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Leigh.
Leigh lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Leigh moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Leigh doesn't manage to clinch there - Rhodes circles away.
Leigh waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rhodes.
Rhodes is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Leigh lands with a thumping leg kick.
A slapping body kick lands there for Leigh.
Leigh throws a looping overhand right but Rhodes ducks down to avoid it.
Leigh looks to clinch
and Rhodes counters with a three punch combo that has Leigh backing up. Leigh nods at Rhodes to acknowledge the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Leigh.
Leigh throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Leigh throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Leigh turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Leigh throws a head kick but Rhodes moves out of range.
Leigh works Rhodes's body with a nice hook.
A solid leg kick lands there for Leigh.
Leigh swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rhodes takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
An inside leg kick lands from Leigh.
Rhodes takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Rhodes keeps the fight on the outside.
Leigh throws a nice head kick!
A nice inside leg kick there by Leigh. That's going to slow Rhodes down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Leigh counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Leigh throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rhodes blocks it with crossed arms.
Rhodes dodges an elbow strike from Leigh.
Leigh is struggling to control the position.
Rhodes avoiding damage as Leigh throws knees to the body.
Leigh looking to throw knees to the head but Rhodes is blocking nicely.
Rhodes blocks the elbow strike.
Leigh content to slow the pace in the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Leigh tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rhodes on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rhodes tries to circle away but Leigh has him pinned against the cage.

Rhodes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rhodes fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Leigh moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leigh misses with a double jab
and Rhodes counters with a nice body shot.
Leigh moves out of range of the body kick.
Rhodes throws a right and a left that Leigh avoids nicely.
Leigh fails with an attempt to clinch.
Leigh throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Rhodes counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rhodes swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Leigh feints and then cracks Rhodes's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rhodes down.
Leigh has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A head kick from Rhodes lands but Leigh takes it in his stride.
Rhodes throws a right and a left that Leigh avoids nicely.

Leigh darts in and clinches Rhodes up against the cage.
Leigh looking to throw knees to the head but Rhodes is blocking nicely.
Leigh throws an elbow but it misses.
Rhodes can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leigh tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rhodes avoids it.
Leigh trying to stall but Rhodes improves his position.
Leigh misses with an elbow over the top.
Leigh trying to land knees to the body.
Leigh misses with a knee to the head.
Leigh throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rhodes blocks it with crossed arms.
Leigh misses with a knee to the head.
Leigh trying to control the position but instead, Rhodes has worked for underhooks and has pushed Leigh into the cage.
Leigh missing with knees to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rhodes working hard to break the clinch.
Leigh lands a knee to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Rhodes.
Leigh throws a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Leigh had his way with James Rhodes in that round.
The cut man is working on James Rhodes's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rhodes throws a good cross that connects.
Leigh attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A lazy body kick from Rhodes

and Leigh counters by clinching up.

Rhodes gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Rhodes preventing the sweep.
Rhodes wants to control from the top but Leigh keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leigh trying to control the position.
Leigh wants to stand but Rhodes is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Leigh looking to control.
Rhodes looking to sit in guard and control but Leigh gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Leigh is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rhodes swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rhodes misses with a few strikes there.

Leigh rushes Rhodes and presses him up against the cage.
Leigh lands an elbow inside that Rhodes shrugs off.
Leigh throws an elbow that misses.
Leigh tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Leigh working Rhodes over with knees to the body.
Leigh looking to throw knees to the head but Rhodes is blocking nicely.
Leigh stalling against the cage.
Leigh connects with a knee to the head.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Leigh tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Leigh is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rhodes is defending well for now.
Rhodes is trying to break the clinch but Leigh has him pressed against the cage.
Rhodes has had enough of the clinch but Leigh keeps him there for the moment.
James Rhodes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rhodes avoids a wild elbow strike from Leigh.
Leigh unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Rhodes wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Leigh tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Leigh using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rhodes has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Leigh.
Leigh lands a good knee to the midsection. Rhodes won't want to take too many of those.
Leigh is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rhodes is keeping busy.
Leigh stalling.
Rhodes is trying to force a seperation but Leigh has the dominant position.
Leigh lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Leigh tries a knee to the head but Rhodes blocks it.
Bryan Leigh has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rhodes struggles to land a body shot inside as Leigh controls his hands.
Bryan Leigh is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rhodes wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Leigh has him pressed against the cage.
Rhodes misses with a punch to the body.
Nice body punch from Rhodes.
Rhodes misses with a body punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryan Leigh showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Leigh, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 50:45
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 50:45
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bryan Leigh!
Bryan Leigh retains his welterweight title!