PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Cleophus Washington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jill Leonard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Washington's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, The Way I Feel. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Washington
vs
Leonard

166 cm
20
136 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

176 cm
21
145 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Cleophus Washington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jill Leonard!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Dillan Fox and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Washington blocks a head kick by Leonard.
Leonard looks to land a right hand but Washington moved out of range.

Leonard scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Leonard scoring with punches and elbows.
Leonard lands a few punches from side control.
Leonard working the body and head with strikes.
Washington is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Leonard asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Leonard is chipping away with strikes.
Washington regains half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Washington looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Washington is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Leonard pulls his head out easily.
Washington avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Leonard.
Leonard winds up and cracks Washington with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Leonard scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Washington looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Leonard is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard thows a huge punch but Washington dodges it nicely.
Leonard not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Washington won't allow Leonard to pass to mount.
Leonard missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Washington keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Leonard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Leonard fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Washington shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Leonard manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Leonard looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Leonard looks gassed!
Washington throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Washington working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard is stalling in the full guard.
Leonard trying to control the position from guard on top but Washington is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Leonard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Washington works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Leonard preventing the sweep.

Washington has his foot on Leonard's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Leonard works his way back into a safe position though.
Leonard postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Leonard got a little sloppy there for a moment and Washington has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Leonard has managed to get both his arms back between Washington's legs - danger averted.

Washington is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Leonard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Washington swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard postures up.
Leonard wants to control from the top but Washington keeps moving.

Leonard drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Leonard jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Washington is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Leonard is aware though and is defending well.
Washington preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Leonard lands a couple of elbows.
Leonard is looking to work some ground and pound but Washington has wrist control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Leonard gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Washington counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Washington.
Washington postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Washington wants to control from the top but Leonard keeps moving.
Washington throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Leonard had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Washington defends it easily.
Washington lands a couple of elbows.
Washington wants to control from the top but Leonard keeps moving.
Washington throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Washington drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Leonard dives on top into guard.
Leonard has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Washington throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Leonard escapes and throws Washington's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Leonard working the body and head with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jill Leonard will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Leonard scores with a hook.
Washington dives in and grabs Leonard's left leg, looking for a takedown. Leonard pushes down on Washington's head and hops out.

Washington shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Washington is looking for a kimura but Leonard is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Washington to get the leverage.
Leonard regains full guard. Nicely done.
Washington tries to free his leg and advance position but Leonard is retaining full guard.

Washington throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Leonard trying to control the position from guard on top but Washington is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Washington had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Leonard defends it easily.
Leonard keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Washington's head.
Leonard advances to half guard.
Leonard lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Leonard landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Washington taking some punishment here, with Leonard in his half guard.
Washington is not content to let Leonard control the position.
Leonard working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Leonard passes to side control.
Leonard lands a few punches from side control.
Jill Leonard has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Washington sneaks back into half guard.
Leonard blocks the strikes from Washington.
Leonard looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Washington with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Leonard thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Washington lands one or two decent shots to the body here. Although from his own half guard, he's not going to be causing too much damage.
Leonard is trying to control. Washington wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Washington blocking the ground and pound attempt from Leonard.

Washington looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Washington throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
No luck for Leonard with that takedown attempt.
Leonard throws a right hand that Washington ducks under and follows up with a left that Washington also avoids with ease.
Washington stuffs the takedown attempt from Leonard. Leonard gets slowly back to his feet.
Leonard throws a body kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard misses with a series of wild punches.
Leonard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jill Leonard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Washington closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Washington lands in his opponent's guard.

Washington drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Washington jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Leonard working for a triangle but Washington defends it easily.
Washington is working Leonard over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Washington is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Leonard looking for a sweep. Not yet Leonard, not yet.
Washington trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Washington throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Leonard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Washington chips away with some ground and pound.
Washington trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Washington loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Washington is working Leonard over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Washington throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Leonard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Washington loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Cleophus Washington will probably get the nod.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Washington wants to clinch up but Leonard keeps it at a distance.
Leonard throws a one two combo.
Leonard has his takedown stuffed

and Washington holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Washington lands a nice knee to the body.
Washington with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Washington is trying to maintain a safe position but Leonard gets an underhook and turns Washington into the cage.
Leonard managing to block the knees to the body from Washington.

Washington successfully pulls guard.
Leonard passes Washington's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Leonard thows a huge punch but Washington dodges it nicely.
Leonard trying to pass the guard but Washington defending well.
Washington punching from the bottom.
Washington keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Washington misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Leonard is thwarting Washington's attempts to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Washington wants to improve his position but Leonard is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Leonard takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Washington closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Washington tries to clinch up but Leonard circles away and keeps his distance.
Leonard has his takedown stuffed

and Washington counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Leonard!
Washington is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Leonard can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Leonard sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Washington is looking for a kimura here.
Leonard tries to get to full guard but Washington has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Washington wants to work for an arm triangle but Leonard is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Washington is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Leonard sees it coming and defends easily.
Washington throwing shots but Leonard is blocking nicely.
Leonard is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Washington's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Washington's back!
Leonard connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Washington to escape the position.

Leonard is persistently looking for the submission but Washington is defending it well.
Washington trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Leonard is trying to stick to Washington's back but Washington is turning into Leonard. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Leonard's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Washington.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Washington throws a big right hand that misses.
Washington trying to control the position from guard on top but Leonard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Washington is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Leonard is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Leonard has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Washington can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Washington slips nicely into half guard.
Leonard is not content to let Washington control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Washington is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Leonard doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Washington.

Washington seems to be working for a kimura but Leonard defends the submission attempt.
Washington thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Leonard to regain full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Cleophus Washington.
I think Washington 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cleophus Washington!