PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kirk Dillard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nuriel Leonard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Dillard
vs
Leonard

170 cm
27
135 lbs
11 - 6 - 1

168 cm
23
147 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

1337 ANZAC
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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 11 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kirk Dillard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Nuriel Leonard!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Cecil Peabody and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leonard bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Dillard's head backwards.
Leonard misses with an uppercut. Dillard saw that one coming.
Dillard misses with a takedown attempt
and Leonard counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice body punch from Leonard.

Dillard gets a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Leonard's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Leonard has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Leonard tries to break the clinch but Dillard is controlling the position.
Leonard is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Leonard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Kirk Dillard has been cut.
Leonard throws a body kick that misses.
Leonard throws a chopping leg kick but Dillard manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Leonard throws a leg kick but Dillard moved away.

Dillard moves into the clinch.

Leonard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A good leg kick by Leonard.
Dillard takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Leonard tries to score with a low kick but Dillard moves his leg out of the way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Leonard throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Dillard moves away from the strike by Leonard.
Leonard misses with a looping right.
Decent striking displayed by Leonard there.
Leonard fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Dillard checks it well.
Leonard buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dillard takes one to the chin there.
Dillard uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Leonard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard throws a right and a left that both miss.

Dillard closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Dillard is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Leonard is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Leonard is not content to let Dillard control the position.

Dillard swings around for an armbar but Leonard sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Dillard's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dillard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dillard escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Leonard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Leonard got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dillard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Leonard has managed to get both his arms back between Dillard's legs - danger averted.
Leonard not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dillard looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nuriel Leonard dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kirk Dillard's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Dillard on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Dillard checks the leg kick nicely there.
Leonard misses with an uppercut
letting Dillard counter with a right hand.
Dillard with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Leonard to score with a decent uppercut.
Leonard blocks a jab.
Leonard misses with a jab, cross combination.
Leonard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dillard moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dillard shoots in for a double leg but Leonard sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Leonard dips to his left and cracks Dillard with an uppercut!
Dillard on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Dillard swings for the body but Leonard moves out of range.
Dillard needs to keep his hands up - Leonard had a free shot at his head there.
The fighters circling - Leonard throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A combination from Leonard does no damage.
Good shot there by Leonard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dillard blocks a head kick by Leonard.
A leg kick checked by Dillard.
Leonard lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Leonard throws a leg kick

and Dillard decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Leonard's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Dillard drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Leonard dives on top into guard.

Dillard working for submissions but it's allowed Leonard to get to half guard.
Leonard seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dillard wants to get back to full guard.
Dillard wants to control but Leonard is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard prevents Dillard from improving his position.
Dillard trying to control here.
Dillard manages to get to full guard.

Leonard got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dillard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Leonard has managed to get both his arms back between Dillard's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nuriel Leonard will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Kirk Dillard's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Leonard throws a low kick but it's checked well by Dillard.
Leonard sizes up Dillard with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Sloppy strikes from Leonard. Those never looked like landing.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dillard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nuriel Leonard seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dillard checks the leg kick.
Dillard displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Leonard throws out the jab.
Leonard misses with a right hand
enabling Dillard to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dillard shoots in for a takedown but Leonard shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Dillard throws a hook but Leonard avoids it easily.
Dillard keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Dillard takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Leonard throws a shot from downtown. Dillard moves away and avoids it.
Leonard fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Dillard is out of range.
Leonard lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Leonard throws a leg kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard tries to bum rush Dillard with a series of wild strikes but Dillard uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Dillard avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
No joy there for Leonard, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Dillard avoids the head kick by Leonard.
Dillard moves out of range of the strikes.

Dillard fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Leonard sprawls well initially but Dillard persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Leonard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Leonard is trying to stand.
Leonard is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Kirk Dillard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dillard wants to lay and pray for a moment but Leonard keeps working.
Dillard tries to pass the half guard into mount. Leonard knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Dillard missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Dillard is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Dillard wants to work for an arm triangle but Leonard is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dillard trying to control from half guard but Leonard is working away.

Dillard seems to be looking for submissions.

Dillard is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Leonard sees it coming and defends easily.
Dillard prevents Leonard from standing back up.
Dillard throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kirk Dillard.
I think Leonard 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Kirk Dillard!