PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Leben (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and marek rudzinski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Leben
vs
rudzinski

185 cm
24
201 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

186 cm
20
220 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Leben!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, marek rudzinski!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Richard Clark and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leben looks to land a combination but rudzinski avoids it well.

Leben gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows rudzinski to score an easy takedown into full guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
rudzinski content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
rudzinski postures up.
rudzinski lands a couple of digs.
rudzinski preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leben is trying to keep rudzinski in close.
rudzinski prevents Leben from getting back to his feet.
rudzinski is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Leben wants to get back to his feet but rudzinski is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
rudzinski throws a big right hand that misses.
rudzinski stays in close to Leben's body and controls the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Some wild striking there from Leben.
marek rudzinski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

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.

rudzinski looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
rudzinski controlling the action here.
Leben is looking to control rudzinski's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Leben avoid being mounted?
rudzinski prevents Leben from improving his position.
Still in half guard, rudzinski seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leben wants to get back to his feet.
rudzinski is taking a breather. Leben says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Leben is looking for a sweep. rudzinski is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Leben pushes rudzinski off looking to stand but rudzinski dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Leben works his way to full guard. Good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Leben looking to hit a scissor sweep but rudzinski is one step ahead there.
rudzinski forces his way into half guard.
rudzinski content to control rather than advance.
Leben gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

marek rudzinski 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.

Leben swinging wildly here.
Leben lands with a slapping head kick.
Michael Leben is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

rudzinski drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Leben throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
rudzinski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Leben is keeping the position for now.
rudzinski is pushing down on Leben's leg trying to pass to half guard. Leben is fighting to maintain full guard but rudzinski has managed to sneak the leg through.
Leben wants to control the action here but instead rudzinski manages to pass to full mount!
Leben wants to try and get back to his feet.
rudzinski controlling the pace for now.
rudzinski prevents Leben from getting the reversal.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leben is working hard here to advance position.
rudzinski with the ground and pound from mount.
rudzinski controlling the pace for now.
A nice elbow there by rudzinski.
rudzinski looking to control and managing it successfully.
Leben can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
rudzinski controlling from mount.
Leben is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
rudzinski tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
rudzinski's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Let's hope that rudzinski has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
rudzinski raining down shots from the mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
rudzinski content just to control the position here.

Despite being in the dominant position, marek rudzinski just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

rudzinski scores with a takedown into Leben's guard.
rudzinski controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Leben controls rudzinski momentarily but rudzinski frees himself.
rudzinski is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

marek rudzinski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

rudzinski feints and as Leben raises his hands in defense, rudzinski changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
rudzinski stopping the sweep attempt from Leben.
rudzinski looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Leben is looking to stand up but rudzinski isn't so interested in that idea.
Leben 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leben is trying to keep rudzinski in close.
rudzinski controlling from the top position.
Leben is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

rudzinski closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
rudzinski creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Leben sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
rudzinski is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
marek rudzinski is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
rudzinski prevents Leben from escaping the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
rudzinski just content to control the position.
Leben is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
rudzinski is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Leben will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michael Leben has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leben trying to control but rudzinski flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Leben is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Leben is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by rudzinski.
Leben is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Leben is trying to stand back up.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
rudzinski controlling well, preventing Leben from escaping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
marek rudzinski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got rudzinski winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... marek rudzinski!