PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nick McSlick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jay Leben (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

McSlick
vs
Leben

150 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Nick McSlick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jay Leben!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Daniel Bishop and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leben stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Leben wants it to stay on the feet.
A head kick misses from McSlick.
McSlick avoids a punch combination nicely.
McSlick checks a leg kick nicely.
No luck with that takedown attempt from McSlick.
Leben misses with a low kick as McSlick jumps back.
Leben throws a leg kick but McSlick moved away.
Leben throws a nice looking combination but McSlick bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
McSlick shoots for a double leg takedown but Leben sprawls well. He's pushed McSlick's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick McSlick. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McSlick checks a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leben swats away the attempt to clinch by McSlick.
A punch combination from Leben misses.
McSlick moves in looking to clinch but Leben pushes him off.
McSlick could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Leben throws a leg kick but McSlick checks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McSlick tries to clinch but Leben is having none of it.
McSlick looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Leben is fending him off so far but McSlick persists. Nope, Leben circles away and we're back to standing.
The fight stays on the outside here - McSlick looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
McSlick fails with the takedown.
Leben pivots, looking for a leg kick but McSlick is out of range and Leben settles back down.
McSlick thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Leben if he has to take too many more of those.
McSlick showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Leben.
McSlick fails to land the takedown.
Leben is looking to chop away at McSlick's legs.
Leben looks to land a combination. McSlick sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Nick McSlick has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Leben misses.
McSlick throws the kick towards the body but Leben avoids it.
Leben rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but McSlick moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Leben throws a series of punches but McSlick avoids them all with ease.
Leben throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
McSlick tries to clinch but Leben is having none of it.
McSlick checks a leg kick.
Leben throws a chopping leg kick but McSlick manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Leben swinging wildly here.
Leben looks gassed!
Leben scores with a one two! McSlick had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
McSlick fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
McSlick tries to clinch but Leben moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McSlick tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
McSlick tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Leben throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McSlick.
McSlick keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Leben misses with a low kick.
Leben throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
McSlick throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
No joy there for Leben, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
McSlick shoots in for a double leg but Leben sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
No luck with that takedown attempt from McSlick.
Nice sprawl there from Leben as McSlick shoots in.
Leben swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
McSlick shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Leben sprawls well. Leben wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. McSlick gets slowly back to his feet.
Leben throws a right and a left that McSlick avoids nicely.
Leben finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
McSlick fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Jay Leben is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Leben motions for McSlick to come forward. Leben throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Leben's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Leben duly obliges.
McSlick misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
McSlick tries to score a power double leg takedown but Leben sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten McSlick somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Leben dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nick McSlick'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.

Leben misses with the combination.
Leben rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but McSlick moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
McSlick shoots in for a takedown but Leben shows good takedown defense.
Leben swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and McSlick counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by McSlick.

Leben is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Leben prevents a body shot from McSlick.
McSlick is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Leben as McSlick tries to tie him up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McSlick breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McSlick fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Leben avoids it really well and circles away.
McSlick slips a jab and a cross from Leben.
Leben scores with a three punch combo!
Leben scores with a nice head shot.
Leben tries to bum rush McSlick with a series of wild strikes but McSlick uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Leben dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on McSlick. That did some damage!
A punch combination from Leben misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McSlick misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick McSlick. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Leben lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Nick McSlick's cut is getting worse.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Leben, right into the meat.
McSlick looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Leben is fending him off so far but McSlick persists. Nope, Leben circles away and we're back to standing.
Leben misses with a low kick.
Leben thows a leg kick but McSlick checks it
enabling McSlick to counter with a crisp jab.
McSlick avoids a punch combination nicely.
Leben throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
McSlick has a takedown stuffed.
Leben throws a right hand that McSlick ducks under and follows up with a left that McSlick also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leben swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McSlick wants to clinch up but Leben keeps it at a distance.
McSlick avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Leben misses with a double jab.
McSlick throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Leben throws a series of punches but McSlick avoids them all with ease.
McSlick is looking to clinch.
A combination from Leben does no damage.
McSlick shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Leben misses with a wild combination.
McSlick shoots in for a takedown but Leben shows good takedown defense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
A combination from Leben does no damage.
Some bone on bone action there as McSlick checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
McSlick's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and McSlick duly obliges.
Leben falls off balance throwing a combination

and McSlick counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Leben really doesn't want to stay on the ground with McSlick. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Leben is looking to stand up but McSlick isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

McSlick stands and steps away. Leben gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Leben takes one on the chin but seems OK.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Leben fails to land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jay Leben will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Nick McSlick's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

McSlick fails with an attempt to clinch.
Leben displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from McSlick.
A left and a right from Leben both land. Nice combination.
McSlick looks for a takedown but Leben sprawls well.
McSlick falls off balance throwing a combination
and Leben counters with a left and a right that stings McSlick.
Some wild striking there from Leben.
Leben misses with the combination.
McSlick throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nick McSlick is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McSlick checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leben throws a combination that misses

and McSlick counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Leben's guard now.
McSlick trying to control the position from guard on top but Leben is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McSlick sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
McSlick prevents Leben from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McSlick trying to control the position from guard on top but Leben is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Nick McSlick just wasn't active enough.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Leben!
McSlick wants to clinch but Leben slips to the side
and Leben counters with a two punch combo.
Leben falls off balance throwing a combination

and McSlick counters with a single leg into guard. Leben didn't expect that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McSlick won't allow Leben to get back to his feet.
Leben is looking to stand back up but McSlick counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Leben.
Leben has hold of McSlick's hands but McSlick slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
McSlick content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leben pushes McSlick off but McSlick dives into side control.
McSlick advances to full mount.
McSlick controlling his opponent.
Leben is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Leben defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from McSlick.
Leben is trying to stand.
Nick McSlick has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

McSlick wants to finish this one by submission but Leben is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from McSlick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick McSlick showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Leben has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Jay Leben!