PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between AJ Ardonia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Leben (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leben has chosen Changes as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Chris Leben will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Ardonia
vs
Leben

175 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, AJ Ardonia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Chris Leben!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Robert Douchet and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ardonia misses with a few strikes there.
Leben is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Leben moves out of range as Ardonia strikes.
Ardonia connects with a body shot.
Leben swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ardonia counters with a nice uppercut.
Leben closes the distance but Ardonia moves to the side
and Ardonia connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Leben fails with the takedown
and Ardonia counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Leben slips a jab and a cross from Ardonia.
Ardonia misses with a double jab
and Leben cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Leben uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ardonia.
Ardonia showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Leben.
Leben wants to clinch.
Ardonia misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leben shoots in looking for a takedown. Ardonia tries to sprawl out of it but Leben keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ardonia manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
AJ Ardonia is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Leben shoots in for a takedown but Ardonia shows good takedown defense.
AJ Ardonia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Leben.
Leben shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ardonia sprawls well. Ardonia wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Leben gets slowly back to his feet.
Ardonia looks to score with a jab to the body but Leben is just out of range.
A slow jab from Ardonia misses its intended target.
Ardonia throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Leben.
Ardonia misses with a combination

and Leben counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Leben trying to control the action but Ardonia is working from the bottom.
Ardonia is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Leben wants to work for an arm triangle but Ardonia is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Leben passes the guard and advances to mount!
Ardonia wants to hold on but Leben pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Leben jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Ardonia manages to avoid the submission attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ardonia tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Leben landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ardonia can't do much from the bottom here.
Ardonia takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

Leben is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ardonia is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Ardonia taking punishment in the form of punches.

Leben has hold of Ardonia's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Ardonia tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Leben cranks the arm and Ardonia screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Ardonia, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Chris Leben!