PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Torka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Leks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Torka
vs
Leks

189 cm
18
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
203 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, James Torka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Justin Leks!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Sam Margolis and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Torka fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Leks misses with a jab, cross combination.

Torka darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Torka is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Leks defends it well.

Torka is looking for a kimura but Leks is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Torka to get the leverage.
Leks holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Torka is trying to work for a kimura but Leks is defending well.
Leks trying to control but Torka postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Torka is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Torka blocks a leg kick.
Leks misses with a looping left.
Torka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Leks as he jumps to the side.
Horrible takedown by Torka or perhaps it was just good defense by Leks which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Torka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Torka avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Leks tries to bum rush Torka with a series of wild strikes but Torka uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Torka slips a jab and a cross from Leks.

Torka closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Torka lands in his opponent's guard.
Torka is fighting to break Leks's control of his arms but Leks is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Torka wants to pass the guard but Leks is keeping the position.
Torka is breathing heavily.
Leks pulls Torka in close to prevent any damage.

Leks working for a triangle but Torka defends it easily.
Torka stops Leks from standing up.
Leks has Torka pulled in close to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Leks 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.

Despite being in the dominant position, Justin Leks just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice takedown defense from Leks. No joy for Torka on that attempt.

Torka fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Leks, pushing him back against the cage.
Torka lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Leks.
Torka tries to pull guard but Leks holds him up against the cage and eventually Torka drops back down to his feet.

Torka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Leks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Leks missing with a left hand there. Torka was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Torka showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Leks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leks misses with an uppercut. Torka saw that one coming.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Torka checks a leg kick.
Torka tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Leks swivels and escapes.
Torka tries for a takedown but Leks sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Torka blocks a low kick nicely.
Leks looks to land a combination. Torka sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Torka fails with a takedown attempt.
A jab from Leks misses.
Leks misses with an uppercut.
Leks throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Torka tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Leks swivels and escapes.
Leks with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Leks misses with a takedown attempt
and Torka counters with a solid body kick.

Torka bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Leks struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Justin Leks will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Torka drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Torka throwing strikes but missing.
Torka tries to free his leg and advance position but Leks is retaining full guard.
Torka throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Leks works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Leks not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Leks looking for a guillotine here but Torka defends easily.
Torka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Leks is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Torka postures up.
Leks preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Leks with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Torka with a poor takedown
and Leks counters with a straight right hand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Leks doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Torka counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torka is thwarting Leks's attempts to control the position.
Leks controlling the position well.
Leks gets back to full guard.
Leks looking to hit a scissor sweep but Torka is one step ahead there.

Leks is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Torka distracts Leks with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Torka wanted to stand there but Leks had control of the position.
Torka is looking to work some ground and pound but Leks has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Leks lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Torka!
Torka is wriggling around trying to escape.
Torka is working hard here to advance position.
Leks unloads with some shots from mount but Torka bucks and avoids them well.
Torka regains half guard.
Torka is looking to escape.
Torka punching from the bottom.

Torka is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Leks pulls his head out easily.
Leks perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Torka is looking for a sweep. Leks is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Torka is looking to escape.
Leks wants to lay and pray for a moment but Torka keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leks sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Leks wants to land a leg kick but Torka is out of range.
Torka shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Leks as he avoids it easily.
Torka showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Leks.
Torka closes this distance looking for a takedown but Leks circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Torka. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Torka closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Torka lands in his opponent's guard.
Leks tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Leks not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Leks is pulling down on Torka's head to control his posture.
Leks's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Leks is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Leks is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Leks managing to control the position.
Torka throws a big right hand that misses.
Leks looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Despite being in the dominant position, Justin Leks just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Torka shoots in for a takedown but Leks shows good takedown defense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Justin Leks will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Leks throws an overhand right that lands on Torka's shoulder, as Torka tries to avoid the shot.
Torka blocks a jab.
Leks works over Torka's head and body with a nice combination.

Torka is rocked!

It looks like James Torka has been cut.
Torka uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Leks.
Leks throws a right and a left that both miss.

Torka scores with a takedown into Leks's guard.
Leks pulls Torka in to control the position.
Torka trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Leks seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Torka postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Leks working for a triangle but Torka defends it easily.
Torka throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Torka is looking to work some ground and pound but Leks has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leks has Torka pulled in close to control his posture.
Torka looking to pass the guard.
James Torka overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Some bone on bone action there as Torka checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Torka fails with the takedown.
Torka fails to land the takedown.
Torka misses with a takedown attempt - Leks sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Torka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Torka shoots in and drives through. Leks sprawls well.

Torka drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Leks's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Torka tries for a kimura but Leks is defending well.
Torka gets to mount! Leks was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leks tries to hold on but Torka pushes him away.
Torka cracks Leks with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Leks tries to lock up and control but Torka gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Leks is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Torka is staying active.
Leks bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Torka is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Leks is controlling him.
Leks not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Leks throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Torka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leks stays in close to Torka's body and controls the position.
Leks pushes down on Torka's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Leks is controlling the pace.
Leks moves nicely into side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Despite being in the dominant position, Justin Leks just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A combination from Leks does no damage.
Torka throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Leks's waist but Leks gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Torka off to one side.
Leks throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Torka shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Leks counters with a left and a right that stings Torka.

Torka fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Leks sprawls well initially but Torka persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Torka seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Torka wants to free his trapped foot but Leks is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Leks is trying to maintain the position but Torka is very close to passing his half guard.
Torka trying to pass the guard but Leks defending well.
Torka throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Leks gets back to full guard.
Torka landing some decent shots from guard.
Leks has his hands on Torka's head, controlling the position.
James Torka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin Leks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Leks 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin Leks!