PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Georgio Mindzatti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyle LeBlanc (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kyle LeBlanc will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Mindzatti
vs
LeBlanc

165 cm
23
187 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

178 cm
27
192 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Georgio Mindzatti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kyle LeBlanc!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mindzatti is looking to land body kicks.

Mindzatti drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Mindzatti controlling the position from side mount.

Mindzatti tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Mindzatti has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
LeBlanc really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mindzatti. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mindzatti wants to control for a moment but LeBlanc uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Mindzatti seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mindzatti is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so LeBlanc is just riding it out for now. Mindzatti eventually gives up the hold.
Mindzatti content to control rather than advance.

Mindzatti is working for a kimura but LeBlanc is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mindzatti is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mindzatti is taking a breather. LeBlanc says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Mindzatti is trying to control. LeBlanc wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Mindzatti is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and LeBlanc defends it well.
Mindzatti missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mindzatti looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Mindzatti is trying to control the action in half guard but LeBlanc is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mindzatti is looking for a kimura here.

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

Mindzatti is working for a submission of some sort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georgio Mindzatti dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

LeBlanc fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
LeBlanc displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mindzatti.
Mindzatti gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A punch combination from LeBlanc misses.
LeBlanc lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
LeBlanc darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
LeBlanc scores with a one two! Mindzatti had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
LeBlanc throws a head kick but Mindzatti moves out of range.
Mindzatti changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. LeBlanc tries to avoid it but Mindzatti manages to keep hold of a leg and drag LeBlanc to the ground. LeBlanc escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
LeBlanc sizes up Mindzatti with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Mindzatti showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from LeBlanc.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LeBlanc misses with a few strikes there.
LeBlanc moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Mindzatti shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Mindzatti controlling his opponent.

Mindzatti jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… LeBlanc is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by LeBlanc and Mindzatti has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Mindzatti fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
LeBlanc is not content to let Mindzatti control the position.

Mindzatti is trying to get an arm triangle but LeBlanc is defending well.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Mindzatti goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, LeBlanc has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Mindzatti but great work by LeBlanc.
You can see the frustration on Mindzatti's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Mindzatti gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mindzatti tries to roll over but LeBlanc keeps him under control.

Mindzatti is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but LeBlanc pulls his head out easily.

Mindzatti is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but LeBlanc pulls his head out easily.
LeBlanc blocks the strikes from Mindzatti.
LeBlanc tries to stand and escape but Mindzatti is controlling the position.
Mindzatti might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mindzatti actively working from the bottom here.
Mindzatti tries to kick LeBlanc off but LeBlanc keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Mindzatti trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Mindzatti wants to control but LeBlanc is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

LeBlanc stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
LeBlanc throws a right and a left that Mindzatti avoids nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle LeBlanc showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

LeBlanc closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Mindzatti changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. LeBlanc tries to avoid it but Mindzatti manages to keep hold of a leg and drag LeBlanc to the ground. LeBlanc escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
LeBlanc throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Mindzatti's head.
LeBlanc's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and LeBlanc duly obliges.
LeBlanc fails to land with a series of punches.
LeBlanc misses with the combination.
LeBlanc misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nice takedown defense from LeBlanc. No joy for Mindzatti on that attempt.
LeBlanc misses with a series of wild punches.
LeBlanc works over Mindzatti's head and body with a nice combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
LeBlanc throws a series of punches but Mindzatti moves out of range.
Mindzatti tries for a takedown but LeBlanc sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Georgio Mindzatti. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mindzatti just misses with a punch to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mindzatti is defended easily by LeBlanc.
Kyle LeBlanc seems to be getting the better of the standup.
LeBlanc misses with a wild combination.
Mindzatti throws a combination but it was largely blocked by LeBlanc.
LeBlanc tries a head kick but it misses.
Mindzatti dodges the punch combination from LeBlanc.
LeBlanc shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Mindzatti eats them both and turns towards LeBlanc to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
LeBlanc swinging wildly here.
Mindzatti shoots in and drives through. LeBlanc sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
LeBlanc throws a head kick that misses.

Mindzatti closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mindzatti lands in his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Mindzatti has gone for a leg lock! LeBlanc slips out almost immediately though and dives into Mindzatti's guard.
Mindzatti is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LeBlanc is refusing to be controlled, as Mindzatti sits in half guard.
LeBlanc is trying to stand.

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

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

Mindzatti is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mindzatti is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, LeBlanc has managed to free his arm - good work.
Georgio Mindzatti overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Mindzatti is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so LeBlanc is just riding it out for now. Mindzatti eventually gives up the hold.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mindzatti seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but LeBlanc does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kyle LeBlanc comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think LeBlanc 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kyle LeBlanc!