PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mohammad Reza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Guillaume Leblanc (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Guillaume Leblanc is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Reza
vs
Leblanc

225 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 Amsterdam, Mohammad Reza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Guillaume Leblanc!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Albert Achterberg and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Leblanc shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Leblanc is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Leblanc looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Reza is looking to control Leblanc's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Reza avoid being mounted?
Leblanc drops an elbow to the side of Reza's head.
Reza wants to improve his position but Leblanc is controlling well.
Leblanc is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Leblanc wants to lay and pray for a moment but Reza keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reza trying to hold on to Leblanc's head to control him but Leblanc postures up.
Reza pushes Leblanc off looking to stand but Leblanc dives back in and keeps control.
Leblanc wants to pass the guard but Reza is defending well.
Leblanc looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Guillaume Leblanc was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Reza tries for a takedown but Leblanc circles away easily

and Leblanc counters with a single leg into guard. Reza didn't expect that.
Reza throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Reza looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Reza has a closed guard, preventing Leblanc from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reza wants to hit a switch here but Leblanc passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Reza there!
Reza is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Leblanc lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Reza tries to lock up and control but Leblanc gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Leblanc wants to take Reza's back here but Reza is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.

Leblanc stands up from mount. Strange move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Leblanc rushes Reza and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Leblanc escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Leblanc gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Leblanc has Reza pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Leblanc pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Reza tumbling to the mat - Leblanc dives into Reza's guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Reza is trying to hold Leblanc in close to prevent damage but Leblanc has managed to pass into half guard.
Leblanc takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Reza really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Leblanc is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Reza doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Leblanc.
Leblanc is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reza is squirming around, avoiding Leblanc's attempts to control the action.

Leblanc stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

Leblanc drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Leblanc looking to sit in guard and control but Reza gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Reza is breathing heavily.
Leblanc is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Guillaume Leblanc dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Leblanc closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on Reza's face as Leblanc controls the position.
Reza pushes Leblanc away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Leblanc gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Reza prevents Leblanc from moving into mount.
Leblanc controls the position from side control.

Leblanc looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Leblanc really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Reza. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Leblanc stands up.
Mohammad Reza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reza ducks under a wild hook from Leblanc.
Reza gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Leblanc counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Reza will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Leblanc stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Reza swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Leblanc drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Leblanc jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Reza trying to control the position.
Leblanc pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Reza is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leblanc postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Leblanc decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Reza gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Leblanc to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Leblanc slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Let's hope that Leblanc 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reza wants to sweep here but Leblanc controlling him for the moment.

Reza throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Leblanc trying to control but Reza is working from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Leblanc throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Reza works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

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.
Reza keeping full guard, as Leblanc tries to pass.
Leblanc is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Leblanc must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Leblanc is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Guillaume Leblanc has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Leblanc misses with a combination
and Reza counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Leblanc is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Leblanc scores a takedown into full mount!
Leblanc sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Leblanc landing strikes, looking to finish!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Guillaume Leblanc showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Reza throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Leblanc counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Leblanc.
Leblanc looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Guillaume Leblanc has got the better of the ground game so far.
Leblanc looking to pass the guard.
Reza is trying to keep Leblanc in close.
Reza keeping moving, preventing Leblanc from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Reza working a defensive guard but Leblanc passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leblanc is keen to just control but Reza is a slippery customer.
Reza trying to control but Leblanc postures up.

Leblanc is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Reza doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Leblanc.
Leblanc content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Reza desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's two 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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Reza shoots and misses

and Leblanc decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Reza's guard.

Leblanc gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Leblanc closes the distance and pushes Reza back into the cage.

Leblanc has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Reza clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
I really don't envy Reza right now.
Leblanc scores with punches and elbows.
Leblanc avoiding Reza 's attempts to control his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leblanc is working the ground and pound. Can Reza escape?
Leblanc trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Reza doesn't escape.
Can Reza hold on?! Leblanc is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Leblanc has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Leblanc biding his time, controlling Reza.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Leblanc looking for the RNC.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Leblanc controlling the positon.
Leblanc gets his hands free as Reza looks to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Guillaume Leblanc comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Leblanc 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 25:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 24:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Guillaume Leblanc!