PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Esteban Guzman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nuriel Leonard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Guzman
vs
Leonard

167 cm
30
151 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

168 cm
24
147 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Fossington & Blythe: Gentlemen's Fight Attire

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 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Esteban Guzman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Nuriel Leonard!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Yves DeLean and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leonard throws a right hand that Guzman ducks under and follows up with a left that Guzman also avoids with ease.
Guzman finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Guzman is looking to clinch.
Guzman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Leonard swats away the attempt to clinch by Guzman.

Leonard 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.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Leonard is looking to work some ground and pound but Guzman has wrist control.
Leonard wants to control from the top but Guzman keeps moving.
Guzman looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Guzman is looking to stand up but Leonard isn't so interested in that idea.
Guzman keeping moving, preventing Leonard from controlling successfully.
Guzman working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Leonard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Leonard being controlled here momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Guzman tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Leonard counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Leonard rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Guzman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Guzman moves in looking to clinch but Leonard pushes him off.
Guzman fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Leonard comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Esteban Guzman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Guzman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Leonard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Leonard with a hook.
Leonard shoots in for a double leg but Guzman sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Guzman tries to clinch up
and Leonard counters with a nice uppercut.
Guzman closes the distance looking to clinch
and Leonard counters with a nice low kick that buckles Guzman's knee momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard throws a series of punches but Guzman moves out of range.
Leonard checks the leg kick nicely there.
Guzman darts in trying to clinch
and Leonard counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Guzman feints and then cracks Leonard's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Leonard down.
Guzman wants to clinch
and Leonard counters with a stiff right hand.

Leonard closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Guzman did well to prevent Leonard getting side control.
Leonard is looking to take a break and control but Guzman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Guzman wants to get back to his feet.
Guzman blocking the ground and pound attempt from Leonard.
Guzman is trying to control but can't.
Still in half guard, Leonard seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Guzman manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Guzman wants to stand up but Leonard is controlling him.
Leonard is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Leonard landing with the ground and pound.
Leonard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Guzman works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Guzman can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Leonard controls the pace.
Guzman wants to sweep but no luck.
Guzman working a defensive guard here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Guzman looks to land a combination. Leonard sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
A nice leg kick lands there from Guzman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard swats away the attempt to clinch by Guzman.
Leonard swings for the body but Guzman moves out of range.

Leonard looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Guzman!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Leonard trying to control but Guzman is having none of it.
Leonard working Guzman over with strikes here.
Leonard looking to control but Guzman is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Leonard lands a big shot there that rocks Guzman but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Guzman squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Guzman wants to hold on but Leonard pushes him away.
Leonard lands with some strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nuriel Leonard dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Leonard's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Guzman connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Leonard scrambles back to his feet.
Esteban Guzman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Guzman scores with a head kick.
Guzman tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Guzman takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Guzman throws a hook to the side of Leonard's head but Leonard sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Leonard lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Guzman closes the distance looking to clinch
and Leonard counters with a one-two to the body.
Guzman slips a jab and a cross from Leonard.
Leonard keeps the fight on the outside.
Guzman tries to clinch up but Leonard circles away and keeps his distance.

Guzman closes the distance and pushes Leonard back into the cage.
Guzman has a couple of punches blocked by Leonard.

Leonard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Guzman tries to clinch
and Leonard counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard circles away from the clinch attempt.
Esteban Guzman is winning the standup battle so far.
A head kick misses from Guzman.
Leonard throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Guzman tries to clinch but Leonard moves away
and Leonard counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Guzman moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Guzman looks to land a body kick but Leonard moved away.
Leonard pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Guzman back to the cage. Leonard follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Guzman tries to clinch there but Leonard circles away.
Guzman throws a body punch but Leonard moves out of range.
Leonard throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Guzman.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Leonard!
Guzman throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Leonard checks a leg kick.
Leonard chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Guzman looks to score with a jab to the body but Leonard is just out of range.
Guzman wants to clinch up but Leonard keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guzman tries to clinch but fails miserably

so Leonard counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Guzman keeping moving, preventing Leonard from controlling successfully.
Leonard stopping the sweep attempt from Guzman.
Leonard trying to control the position from guard on top but Guzman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Nuriel Leonard has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Leonard has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Guzman.
Leonard feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Guzmans jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guzman closes the distance but Leonard moves to the side
and Leonard counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Danga de danga de dang - Guzman scores with a four punch combination!
Guzman checks the leg kick nicely there.
Leonard tried to score with a low kick but Guzman checks it.
Guzman is looking to land body kicks.
Guzman shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Leonard fails with the takedown.
Leonard lunges at Guzman with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Guzman's hand.
Guzman misses with a low kick as Leonard jumps back.
Guzman doesn't manage to clinch there - Leonard circles away.
Nice body punch from Guzman.
Guzman tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Leonard keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Esteban Guzman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Leonard with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Guzman to score with a decent uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Guzman tries to score with a low kick but Leonard moves his leg out of the way.
Guzman keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Leonard.
Guzman avoids the body shot from Leonard.
Guzman ducks right into an uppercut from Leonard.
Guzman tries to clinch up but Leonard circles away and keeps his distance.
Guzman looks to clinch
and Leonard counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Guzman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Guzman tries to clinch
and Leonard counters with an outside leg kick.
A lazy left from Leonard finds it's target.
Nice takedown defense from Guzman. No joy for Leonard on that attempt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Leonard throws a lazy right hand but Guzman sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Guzman fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Leonard is out of range.
Guzman is looking to clinch but Leonard is avoiding it.
Leonard keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
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 fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Guzman is looking to clinch but Leonard is avoiding it.
Guzman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Guzman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Guzman takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Guzman closes the distance looking to clinch
and Leonard counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Guzman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Leonard swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Leonard thows a body shot but no joy.
Guzman pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Leonard throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Leonard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Guzman is looking to wear down Leonard with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Leonard keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Guzman throws a series of punches but Leonard avoids them all with ease.
Guzman connects with a good right hand that stumbles Leonard. Leonard circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guzman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Leonard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nice body punch from Guzman.
A chopping leg kick lands by Leonard.
Guzman misses with a hook to the body
and Leonard counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Guzman throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Leonard.
Guzman rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Leonard moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Guzman gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Leonard to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Leonard pushing down on Guzman's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Guzman has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Leonard is working away from the top position though.
Guzman is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Leonard's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Leonard's back!
Leonard tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Nuriel Leonard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Leonard tries to lock up and control but Guzman gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Guzman sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Guzman is standing up, even though he is in mount.
A punch combination from Guzman misses.
Guzman tries to land a front kick but Leonard steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Guzman moves to clinch but Leonard breaks away
enabling Leonard to counter with a crisp jab.
Guzman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Guzman tries to land a front kick but Leonard steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Guzman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Leonard.
Guzman looks to throw a body kick
and Leonard counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard avoids the head kick by Guzman.
Guzman misses with a looping left.

Guzman rushes Leonard and presses him up against the cage.
Guzman creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Leonard jumps guard but Guzman turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Leonard lands a hook that snaps the head of Guzman backwards.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Guzman just misses with a elbow thrown towards Leonard's brow.
Guzman has a couple of punches blocked by Leonard.

Leonard manages to break the clinch.
Leonard shoots in for a takedown but Guzman shows good takedown defense.
Guzman scores with a shot to the body.
Guzman is looking to clinch but Leonard is avoiding it.
Guzman darts in trying to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Nuriel Leonard is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard jabs at Guzman's body.
Leonard misses with a series of wild punches.
Guzman misses with a double jab
and Leonard cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Guzman needs to keep his hands up - Leonard had a free shot at his head there.
Esteban Guzman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Guzman ducks under a wild hook from Leonard.
Guzman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Guzman throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Leonard swats away the attempt to clinch by Guzman.
Leonard dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Leonard is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Guzman.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Guzman throws a combination that misses
and Leonard counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Guzman pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Leonard shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Leonard was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

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 Esteban Guzman.
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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nuriel Leonard!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Nuriel Leonard waved his t-shirt featuring Versus Clothing's logo in front of the cameras.