PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ray Leonard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexei Vestuvich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Leonard
vs
Vestuvich

182 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
190 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ray Leonard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexei Vestuvich!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Frank Dennis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leonard fails with a takedown attempt.
Leonard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Leonard misses with a takedown attempt - Vestuvich sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Leonard closes this distance looking for a takedown but Vestuvich circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ray Leonard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vestuvich throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Leonard shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Vestuvich as he jumps to the side.
Leonard wants to clinch up but Vestuvich keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leonard closes the distance and clinches up with Vestuvich, looking for a takedown. Leonard pushes Vestuvich against the cage but Vestuvich circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Vestuvich wants to land a leg kick but Leonard is out of range.
Good shot there by Leonard.
Leonard shoots for a double leg takedown but Vestuvich sprawls well. He's pushed Leonard's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vestuvich closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Leonard quickly recovers to half guard.
Vestuvich is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Leonard trying to hold on to Vestuvich's head to control him but Vestuvich postures up.
Vestuvich not doing much here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Leonard pushes Vestuvich off looking to stand but Vestuvich dives back in and keeps control.
Leonard is not content to let Vestuvich control the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Alexei Vestuvich hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Leonard has his takedown stuffed

and Vestuvich counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Leonard's guard now.
Vestuvich prevents Leonard from getting back to his feet.
Leonard might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vestuvich postures up.

Vestuvich gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Leonard tries to clinch but Vestuvich moves away

so Vestuvich counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Vestuvich decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Leonard, up you get!
Leonard checks a leg kick nicely.
Leonard is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Leonard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Vestuvich counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Leonard is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vestuvich looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Leonard is looking to get back to is feet but Vestuvich passes into side control.
Leonard is trying to control Vestuvich's posture but Vestuvich avoids it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Leonard tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Vestuvich presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexei Vestuvich dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Vestuvich keeps the fight on the outside.
Leonard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The fight stays on the outside here - Leonard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Vestuvich is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Leonard fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leonard with a lazy takedown attempt

and Vestuvich counters with a nice double leg into side control. Leonard won't be happy with that.
Leonard tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Vestuvich wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Vestuvich stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard tries for a takedown but Vestuvich circles away easily

and Vestuvich counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Leonard!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Leonard is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Leonard is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Vestuvich takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Vestuvich trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Alexei Vestuvich has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vestuvich gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Ray Leonard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Leonard with a poor takedown

and Vestuvich decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Leonard's guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ray Leonard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vestuvich's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vestuvich won't allow Leonard to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vestuvich slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Vestuvich trying to stand up but can't free himself from Leonard's guard.
Vestuvich wants to control from the top but Leonard keeps moving.
Leonard wants to control the position but Vestuvich says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

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.
Vestuvich wants to lay and pray for a moment but Leonard keeps working.
Leonard is trying to escape back to his feet but Vestuvich uses the scramble to pass into side control.

Vestuvich stands up and we're back to a striking position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Leonard swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexei Vestuvich showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Vestuvich takes a swing at Leonard's ribcage but misses.
Leonard misses with a series of wild punches.
Leonard misses with a double jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Leonard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Leonard lands a head kick. Vestuvich smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leonard misses with a takedown

and Vestuvich counters with a nice double leg into side control. Leonard won't be happy with that.
Vestuvich tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Leonard's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Leonard sneaks back into half guard.
Leonard is looking to escape.

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.
Leonard is trying to control but Vestuvich manages to pass to mount!

Vestuvich get's back to his feet.
Vestuvich takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vestuvich uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Leonard.
Leonard wants to clinch up but Vestuvich keeps it at a distance.
Leonard shoots and misses

and Vestuvich counters with a single leg into guard. Leonard didn't expect that.
Leonard wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vestuvich wants to pass the guard but Leonard is keeping the position.
Leonard bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Vestuvich's guard.
Leonard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Leonard is standing up over Vestuvich. Vestuvich looks to escape but Leonard dives into side control.
Vestuvich is trying to get back to half guard.

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.
Leonard sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Vestuvich is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vestuvich stops Leonard from passing to mount.
Leonard is looking to take a break and control but Vestuvich is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Leonard sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Vestuvich is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexei Vestuvich comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Vestuvich 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 25:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 25:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexei Vestuvich!