PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Leopold Scotch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Calzaghe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Scotch
vs
Calzaghe

175 cm
29
157 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

185 cm
29
158 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Firebird Designs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Leopold Scotch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Calzaghe!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch lands to the side of Scotch 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Scotch catches Calzaghe with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

It looks like Joe Calzaghe has been cut.

Calzaghe tries to keep at a distance but Scotch has taken the fight into the clinch.

Scotch is fighting off a takedown attempt but Calzaghe is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Scotch to the mat. Scotch regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Scotch looking for a sweep. Not yet Scotch, not yet.
Scotch preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Scotch has control of Calzaghe's left arm, preventing Calzaghe from doing any damage.
Calzaghe looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Scotch looking for a sweep. Not yet Scotch, not yet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Calzaghe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Calzaghe drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Calzaghe jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Calzaghe is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Scotch keeping moving, preventing Calzaghe from controlling successfully.
Scotch is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Scotch throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Calzaghe is trying to maintain the position but Scotch is very close to passing his half guard.
Scotch thows a huge punch but Calzaghe dodges it nicely.
Scotch tries to pass the half guard into mount. Calzaghe knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Scotch not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe is looking for a sweep. Scotch is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Calzaghe is staying active underneath Scotch, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Scotch thows a huge punch but Calzaghe dodges it nicely.
Scotch sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Calzaghe defending well though.
Scotch throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Scotch working Calzaghe over with strikes.
Calzaghe won't allow Scotch to pass to mount.
Scotch missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Calzaghe avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Scotch.
Scotch misses with a head shot. Calzaghe uses the momentum to regain guard.
Scotch throws and elbow that misses. Calzaghe uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Scotch's guard. Nice move by Calzaghe!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Scotch controls Calzaghe momentarily but Calzaghe frees himself.
Scotch pulls Calzaghe in close to prevent any damage.
Calzaghe trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Scotch can't keep his opponent in guard - Calzaghe advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Calzaghe throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Scotch is looking to improve his position.

Calzaghe is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Scotch keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Calzaghe is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Scotch sees it coming and defends easily.

Calzaghe seems to be working for a kimura but Scotch defends the submission attempt.
Scotch moves into full guard.
Calzaghe wants to control from the top but Scotch keeps moving.
Scotch working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Calzaghe.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Scotch looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Calzaghe being controlled here momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leopold Scotch dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joe Calzaghe's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

A telegraphed right hand from Scotch misses the target.
Leopold Scotch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Scotch looks to score with a jab to the body but Calzaghe is just out of range.

Scotch closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Scotch lands in his opponent's guard.
Calzaghe is pulling down on Scotch's head. It's preventing any offense from Scotch, at least for the moment.
Let's hope that Calzaghe 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.
Calzaghe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scotch missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Calzaghe wants to sweep but no luck.
Scotch throws a strike but Calzaghe rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Scotch seems keen to control Calzaghe's posture.
Scotch wants to sweep here but Calzaghe controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Scotch preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Scotch working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Calzaghe.
Scotch preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Scotch is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Calzaghe wants to control from the top but Scotch keeps moving.
Calzaghe stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Scotch swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Scotch wants to sweep here but Calzaghe controlling him for the moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Scotch throws a lazy right hand but Calzaghe sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Scotch misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Calzaghe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe feints a jab promting Scotch to slip. Calzaghe then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Scotch slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Joe Calzaghe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Scotch looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Calzaghe feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Calzaghe throws a big right hand that misses.
Scotch tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Scotch keeping full guard, as Calzaghe tries to pass.
Scotch pulls Calzaghe in close to prevent any damage.
Scotch looking to hit a scissor sweep but Calzaghe is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Scotch swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Scotch looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Scotch throws a jab when Calzaghe was well out of range.

Calzaghe bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Calzaghe is putting a hurting on Scotch here, landing some big shots from side control.
Scotch struggling a bit here.
Scotch is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joe Calzaghe will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Joe Calzaghe'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. This is the final round!

Scotch walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Calzaghe checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Calzaghe tried to score with a low kick but Scotch checks it.
Scotch tries for a takedown but Calzaghe sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Calzaghe staying out of range there.
Scotch tries to close the distance and clinch but Calzaghe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Calzaghe is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Scotch's half guard.
Scotch is looking to improve his position.
Calzaghe scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Calzaghe is keen to just control but Scotch is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scotch throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Calzaghe looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Scotch keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Calzaghe is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Calzaghe lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Scotch tries to get to full guard but Calzaghe has control of the leg.

Calzaghe is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Scotch is just riding it out for now. Calzaghe eventually gives up the hold.
Calzaghe takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Scotch tries to roll over but Calzaghe keeps him under control.
Calzaghe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe is trying to control the action in half guard but Scotch is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Scotch is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Scotch regains full guard. Nicely done.
Scotch manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Scotch throws some wild stikes that Calzaghe manages to avoid easily.
Scotch working the ground and pound effectively.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Scotch landing shots from mount.
Scotch looking to ground and pound but Calzaghe is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scotch is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Scotch throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Scotch with shots to the head and body - Calzaghe looks very uncomfortable down there.
Calzaghe taking shots to the head.
Scotch punching from mount but Calzaghe doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Scotch pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Calzaghe is rocked!
Scotch with the ground and pound from mount.
Calzaghe is still in real trouble! Can Scotch finish him?
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Scotch looking to finish here with some ground and pound. He lands one big shot that has Calzaghe covering up... and two more big strikes land, forcing the referee to step in and put and end to proceedings! This fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Leopold Scotch!