PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bryan Leigh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mickey O Neil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bryan Leigh has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Leigh
vs
O Neil

180 cm
22
178 lbs
12 - 1 - 1

187 cm
25
177 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 12 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Bryan Leigh!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mickey O Neil!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Donatello Bradman and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
O Neil misses with a body shot.
O Neil displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
O Neil looks to land a right hand but Leigh moved out of range.
Leigh tries to clinch but O Neil is having none of it.
Leigh moves out of range as O Neil strikes.
A slow jab from O Neil misses its intended target.
O Neil throws a looping overhand right but Leigh ducks down to avoid it.
Leigh ducks under a wild hook from O Neil.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Leigh.
Leigh throws a wild body kick that O Neil sees coming a mile off.
An inside leg kick lands from Leigh.
Some wild striking there from O Neil.
O Neil thows a body shot but no joy.
O Neil thows a body shot but no joy.
O Neil scores with a sloppy right hand. Leigh should have avoided that one.
Leigh thuds his shin into the meat of O Neil's side.
O Neil throws a hook but Leigh blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Neil just misses with a punch to the body.
Mickey O Neil seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Leigh closes the distance and pushes O Neil back into the cage.
O Neil wants to break free but Leigh has control.
Leigh misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from O Neil.
O Neil lands with a light punch inside.

Leigh pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Leigh misses the jab.
O Neil missing with a left hand there. Leigh was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
O Neil misses the jab.
O Neil misses with a series of wild punches.
Leigh slips a jab from O Neil.
Leigh displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as O Neil throws out the jab.
O Neil stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
O Neil throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Leigh scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Leigh slips a jab and a cross from O Neil.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leigh ducks under a wild hook from O Neil.
O Neil takes a kick to the side of the head.
O Neil scores with a shot to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Leigh.
Leigh uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from O Neil.
Leigh slips a straight right by O Neil.
O Neil is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Leigh.
An inside leg kick lands from Leigh.
Leigh tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A slapping leg kick lands for Leigh.
Leigh throws a jab when O Neil was well out of range.
O Neil throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
O Neil swinging wildly here.
A big right from O Neil misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Neil throws a big shot that misses.
O Neil just misses with a punch to the body.
O Neil darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
O Neil throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
O Neil misses with an uppercut.
O Neil scores with a nice strike.
O Neil fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Leigh manages to avoid it.
Leigh slips under a jab from O Neil.
A head kick misses from Leigh.
Leigh throws a quick inside leg kick.
O Neil throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Leigh walks into a straight right hand from O Neil.
O Neil chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Leigh can pounce on him.
Leigh avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Neil throws a hook to the side of Leigh's head but Leigh sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Leigh.
A looping hook to the body misses from O Neil. Leigh does a little dance to reset his feet.
Leigh lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
O Neil looks gassed!
O Neil misses the jab.
Leigh takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Leigh throws a quick head kick that skims the top of O Neil's head.

It looks like Mickey O Neil has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
O Neil misses with a wild combination.
O Neil misses the jab.
O Neil misses with a hook. Leigh ducked under it nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Leigh tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Leigh chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Leigh on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Leigh keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from O Neil.
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 Mickey O Neil's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

O Neil tries to keep at a distance but Leigh has taken the fight into the clinch.
O Neil is trying to force a seperation but Leigh has the dominant position.
O Neil wants to break the clinch but can't.
O Neil wants to break the clinch but can't.
A bit of stalling here from Leigh.
O Neil tries to break the clinch but Leigh is controlling the position.
O Neil wants to break free but Leigh has control.
O Neil tries to circle away but Leigh has him pinned against the cage.
O Neil can't find room to land a body shot as Leigh controls the action.
A frustrated look appears on O Neil's face as he tries to break the clinch.
O Neil can't break the clinch.
Leigh keeps the fight in the clinch, despite O Neil's efforts to push away.
O Neil working hard to break the clinch.
Leigh taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
O Neil is looking to break free of the clinch but Leigh has double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leigh with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Nice body punch from O Neil - that landed with a thud.

Leigh breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Good leg kick by Leigh there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Leigh takes one to the chin there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Neil misses with a jab, cross combination.
O Neil lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Leigh walks into a stiff left hand from O Neil.
Leigh uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by O Neil.
Leigh moves away from the strike by O Neil.
O Neil's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Nice defenses there by O Neil.
Bryan Leigh is winning the standup battle so far.
Leigh on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
O Neil lands a slapping body shot.
O Neil checks the leg kick nicely there.
Leigh looks for the body kick but O Neil saw that one coming.

Leigh closes the distance and clinches.
O Neil is looking to break free of the clinch but Leigh has double underhooks.
Leigh leaning his opponent against the cage.
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.
O Neil wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
O Neil misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A frustrated look appears on O Neil's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Leigh has O Neil pressed against the cage, preventing O Neil from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
O Neil tries to circle away but Leigh has him pinned against the cage.
O Neil has had enough of the clinch but Leigh keeps him there for the moment.
Leigh content to slow the pace in the clinch.
O Neil is trying to break free.
O Neil is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Leigh has O Neil pressed against the cage.
Leigh keeps the fight in the clinch, despite O Neil's efforts to push away.
Leigh keeps the fight in the clinch, despite O Neil's efforts to push away.
O Neil has a couple of punches blocked by Leigh.
O Neil wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
O Neil blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Leigh has O Neil pressed against the cage, preventing O Neil from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Leigh is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Leigh landing knees to the body.

Leigh manages to break the clinch.
O Neil throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Neil throws a good cross that connects.
O Neil throws a shot to the body.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! O Neil crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Leigh - the referee stops the clock and O Neil gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Leigh. O Neil manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Leigh throws a head kick that misses.
Leigh throws a sloppy head kick and O Neil moves out of range easily.
O Neil throws out a loose jab but Leigh uses good head movement to avoid it.
Leigh pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
O Neil lands a jab to the head.
O Neil dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
O Neil checks the leg kick.
O Neil throws a lazy right hand but Leigh sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
O Neil throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
O Neil lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
O Neil lands with a good body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from O Neil.
Good exchange - O Neil coming out on top.
Jab from O Neil.
Leigh scores with a spinning back kick!
Leigh blocks a jab.
Nice uppercut lands for O Neil. That snapped Leigh's head back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Leigh throws a front kick aimed at O Neil's knee but O Neil avoids it well.
O Neil scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
O Neil throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Leigh moves out of range as O Neil strikes.
O Neil throws a body punch but Leigh moves out of range.
O Neil throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
O Neil stuns Leigh with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey O Neil showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mickey O Neil's cut.
That's time! Leigh's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

O Neil lands with a cross.
Leigh throws a push kick but O Neil slaps the foot to one side.
O Neil cracks Leigh with an open hand slap.
Leigh keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Leigh moves out of range of the strikes.
O Neil swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
O Neil thuds his right hand into Leigh's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Leigh throws a head kick that misses.
A big left from O Neil misses.
Leigh takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
O Neil smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Leigh uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by O Neil.
O Neil throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Leigh feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to O Neil's calf.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Leigh there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
O Neil looks to land a combination but Leigh avoids it well.
Leigh connects with a right hand. O Neil shakes it off.
A head kick misses from Leigh.
O Neil throws an overhand right that lands on Leigh's shoulder, as Leigh tries to avoid the shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from O Neil. Leigh does a little dance to reset his feet.
Leigh misses with an attempted mid kick.
Leigh defending well as O Neil loads up on a big left hand.
O Neil cracks Leigh with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Leigh uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from O Neil.
Leigh throws a body kick that misses.
Leigh throws a low kick but O Neil avoids it.
Leigh takes a swing at O Neil's ribcage but misses.
Leigh looks to land a body kick but O Neil moved away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Neil jabs at Leigh's body.
O Neil misses with a body shot.
A punch combination from O Neil misses.
O Neil lands a nice looking body shot.
O Neil bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Leigh's head backwards.
Leigh throws a head kick that misses.
O Neil lands a jab to the head.
Leigh is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Leigh misses with a jab to the body
and O Neil connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Leigh staying out of range there.
Leigh looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Leigh uses good head movement to avoid the hook from O Neil.
Leigh looks to land a body kick but O Neil moved away.
A big left from Leigh misses.
O Neil throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Leigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leigh misses with an attempted mid kick.
A big left from O Neil misses.
Leigh tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but O Neil was well out of range. Poor timing from Leigh.
Leigh tries to land a front kick but O Neil steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Leigh slips under a jab.
O Neil keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
O Neil throws a looping overhand right but Leigh ducks down to avoid it.
Leigh takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Leigh displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as O Neil throws out the jab.
A punch combination from O Neil misses.
O Neil lands a head shot.
O Neil works Leigh's body with a nice hook.
O Neil misses with an uppercut. Leigh saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Neil misses with a few strikes there.
Leigh thows a left - swing and a miss!
O Neil just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice straight punches there by O Neil. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of O Neil.
O Neil lands with a hook. Leigh tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A cross from O Neil lands.
Leigh uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from O Neil.
O Neil swings for the body but Leigh moves out of range.
Leigh avoids a punch combination nicely.
Leigh pulls out of a head kick attempt.
O Neil fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
O Neil thows a body shot but no joy.
O Neil connects with the punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey O Neil really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mickey O Neil's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Leigh misses with an attempted mid kick.
O Neil throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Leigh stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Leigh thows a body kick. O Neil tries to catch it but that hurt him.
O Neil loads up on a big right hand but Leigh slips the punch.
Leigh uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from O Neil.
Leigh scores with a spinning back kick!
Leigh lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Leigh is really struggling to find his range with his punches. O Neil's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Leigh slips under a jab from O Neil.
Leigh lands a head kick. O Neil smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
O Neil wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Leigh takes a shot right to the bread basket.
O Neil jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nice uppercut there from O Neil.
O Neil misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Neil lands the left hand.
O Neil misses with an uppercut. Leigh saw that one coming.
Leigh looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Leigh goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Leigh throws a hook but O Neil blocks it.
O Neil misses with a hook. Leigh ducked under it nicely.
Leigh takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Leigh keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from O Neil.
O Neil jabbing away but nothing is landing.
O Neil looks to land a right hand but Leigh moved out of range.
O Neil lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Leigh circles away quickly and effectively.
O Neil moves out of range as Leigh throws a body kick.
Leigh defending well as O Neil loads up on a big left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Neil smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
A looping hook to the body misses from O Neil. Leigh does a little dance to reset his feet.
Leigh misses with a jab to the body
and O Neil counters with a stiff right hand.
O Neil moves out of range of the leg kick from Leigh.
O Neil lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
O Neil misses with an uppercut. Leigh saw that one coming.
O Neil steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Leigh. That one must have hurt.
Leigh tries to clinch but O Neil moves out of range.
O Neil lands a jab to Leigh's midsection.
Leigh with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling O Neil to score with a decent uppercut.
O Neil missing with a left hand there. Leigh was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Leigh tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Leigh ducks under a wild hook from O Neil.
O Neil scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
O Neil has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Leigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for O Neil.
Leigh looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
O Neil swings for the body but Leigh moves out of range.
Leigh takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
O Neil lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Leigh circles away quickly and effectively.
A jab from O Neil misses.
O Neil throws a jab when Leigh was well out of range.
Leigh scores with a kick to the midsection.
O Neil is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

Leigh moves into range and clinches up with O Neil.
Leigh is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but O Neil is keeping busy.
O Neil wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
O Neil on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
O Neil has had enough of the clinch but Leigh keeps him there for the moment.
O Neil misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Neil managing to block the knees to the body from Leigh.
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.
O Neil tries to break the clinch but Leigh is controlling the position.
O Neil is trying to break the clinch but Leigh has him pressed against the cage.
O Neil stops a takedown attempt from Leigh.

O Neil pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Leigh thuds his right hand into O Neil's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Leigh looks to throw the jab but O Neil is out of range.
Leigh throws a front kick that sends O Neil stumbling back into the cage.
O Neil misses with a straight left.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Leigh. O Neil shrugs it off though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Leigh lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Leigh thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on O Neil if he has to take too many more of those.
O Neil takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Good leg kick by Leigh there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Leigh had his way with Mickey O Neil in that round.
The cut man is working on Mickey O Neil's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Leigh throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
O Neil misses with an uppercut. Leigh saw that one coming.
Good exchange - O Neil coming out on top.
O Neil moves out of range as Leigh throws a body kick.
Leigh misses with a head kick.
O Neil looks to throw the jab but Leigh is out of range.
O Neil moves out of range of the leg kick from Leigh.
O Neil misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
O Neil avoids the head kick by Leigh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leigh showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from O Neil.
O Neil misses with a series of wild punches.
O Neil scores with a hook to the body. Leigh takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leigh turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Leigh thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on O Neil if he has to take too many more of those.
O Neil is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Leigh.
Leigh pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Leigh.
O Neil misses with a hook to the body
and Leigh finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
O Neil throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Leigh counters with a nice kick to the body.
Leigh tries a head kick but it misses.
Leigh misses with a few strikes there.
Leigh throws a body punch but O Neil moves out of range.
A shot to the body from O Neil misses
and Leigh makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. O Neil really felt that one!
Leigh keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Leigh.
O Neil throws a hook to the side of Leigh's head but Leigh sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Leigh misses with a head kick.
Leigh ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
O Neil throws the left hand but Leigh avoids the punch easily.
O Neil throws a hook to the side of Leigh's head but Leigh sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Leigh keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from O Neil.
Leigh cracks O Neil with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
O Neil will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Leigh fails in his attempt to clinch.
O Neil misses with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Leigh throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
O Neil bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Leigh's head.
Leigh tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but O Neil paws at him with a jab and circles away.
O Neil misses with a straight right.
Leigh ducks under a wild hook from O Neil.
Leigh slips a straight right by O Neil.
O Neil swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Leigh makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Leigh pulls out of a head kick attempt.
O Neil scores with a jab to the body.
Leigh misses with a body kick.
O Neil misses the shot to the body.
O Neil swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Leigh counters with an outside leg kick.
O Neil lands a glancing blow to the side of Leigh's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leigh looks to land a right hand but O Neil moved out of range.
Leigh ducks under a wild hook from O Neil.
Leigh looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
O Neil throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Leigh scores with a spinning back kick!
Leigh takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Leigh scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Leigh cracks the inside of O Neil's front leg.
O Neil throws a right and a left that Leigh avoids nicely.
A big right from O Neil misses.
Leigh defending well as O Neil loads up on a big left hand.
O Neil scores with a nice strike.
Leigh slips a jab and a cross from O Neil.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryan Leigh showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Leigh has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 48:47
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 48:47
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 48:47

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