PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between King Leonidas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nando Rafael (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Leonidas might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Spartan Warriors. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Leonidas
vs
Rafael

180 cm
27
135 lbs
19 - 7 - 0

170 cm
26
145 lbs
14 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI

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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 19 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, King Leonidas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 1, fighting out of New York, Nando Rafael!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Jonathan Paton and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rafael misses with a head kick.
Rafael throws an off balance right hand
and Leonidas counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Leonidas checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Rafael lands a nice shot to the body.
Leonidas checks the leg kick nicely there.
Rafael throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Leonidas connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Leonidas really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rafael misses with a head kick.
Rafael is looking to clinch but Leonidas is avoiding it.

Leonidas has managed to clinch.
Rafael misses with the head strike.
A head punch on the inside from Rafael fails to land.
Leonidas is looking for a takedown.
Leonidas lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rafael backwards.
Rafael tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Leonidas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Leonidas fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rafael tries to clinch up but Leonidas circles away and keeps his distance.
Rafael scores with a spinning back kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafael tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rafael swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Leonidas takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Rafael throws a head kick but Leonidas moves out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Rafael. Those never looked like landing.
Leonidas avoids a kick to the body.
Rafael is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Leonidas.
Rafael loads up on a big right hand but Leonidas slips the punch.
Leonidas swings widly with a right hand
and Rafael counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Leonidas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rafael.
Rafael looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Leonidas avoids the head kick by Rafael.
Leonidas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonidas misses with a series of wild punches.
Leonidas scores with a jab. Rafael acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rafael swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Leonidas counters with a straight right hand.
Rafael slips under a jab from Leonidas.
Rafael throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rafael throws a head kick but Leonidas moves out of range.
Rafael throws a leg kick that misses.
Rafael takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Leonidas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rafael throws a big shot that misses.
A clash of legs there as Leonidas blocks the low kick.
Rafael throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Leonidas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Leonidas throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafael throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Leonidas connects with a looping right hand.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rafael.
Leonidas rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Rafael counters with a solid body kick.
Leonidas blocks a head kick by Rafael.

Leonidas has taken the fight to the clinch.

Leonidas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rafael defending well as Leonidas loads up on a big left hand.
Leonidas scores with a jab to the head.
Rafael misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Leonidas moves out of range of the strikes.
Leonidas wants to clinch.
Leonidas ducks under a wild hook from Rafael.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rafael misses with a right hand
and Leonidas counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Leonidas scores with a body shot.
Leonidas lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Leonidas.
Leonidas is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
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!
Rafael closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Rafael throws a hook to the side of Leonidas's head but Leonidas sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rafael takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Rafael is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Rafael tried to score with a low kick but Leonidas checks it.
Rafael throws a leg kick
and Rafael takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rafael misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Leonidas gets cracked there but stands up to it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fight stays on the outside here - Leonidas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Leonidas fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rafael on the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nando Rafael will probably get the nod.
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.

Rafael tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Leonidas manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Leonidas moves away from the strike by Rafael.
Rafael is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Leonidas.

Leonidas pushes Rafael up against the cage in a clinch.
Rafael swings wildly with an uppercut but Leonidas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Leonidas misses with a punch to the body.
Rafael prevents the takedown attempt.
Leonidas throws a punch but it's blocked by Rafael.
Leonidas lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rafael backwards.
Leonidas misses with a punch on the inside.
Leonidas throws a head punch that misses.
A left hand lands to the body for Rafael.
Rafael fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rafael softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rafael is struggling to control the position.
Rafael has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rafael tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rafael scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafael trying to control the position but instead, Leonidas has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rafael into the cage.
Leonidas makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Leonidas tries to throw a body punch but Rafael avoids it by throwing Leonidas back against the cage.
Leonidas lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rafael backwards.
Leonidas throws a punch but it's blocked by Rafael.
A shot in the inside from Rafael.
Rafael blocks a body shot from Leonidas.
Rafael lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Leonidas backwards.
Leonidas swings wildly with an uppercut but Rafael uses good head movement to avoid it.
Leonidas misses with a punch on the inside.
Rafael goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rafael lands a body punch in the clinch.
Rafael scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Leonidas manages to break the clinch.
Rafael throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rafael tries to clinch
and Leonidas counters with a nice uppercut.
Leonidas takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rafael tries to clinch there but Leonidas circles away.
Rafael throws a low kick but Leonidas moves out of range easily.
Leonidas fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Leonidas closes the distance and clinches.
Rafael is trying to stall.
Leonidas presses Rafael against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Leonidas lands a right hand.
Rafael can't find room to land a body shot as Leonidas controls the action.
Rafael blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Leonidas misses with a short punch on the inside.
Leonidas digs a right hand into Rafael's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rafael's gas tank.
A head punch on the inside from Leonidas fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Leonidas fails to land.
Leonidas softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Leonidas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rafael walks into a stiff left hand from Leonidas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafael just misses with a punch to the body.
Rafael moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A clash of legs there as Leonidas blocks the low kick.
Rafael tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nando Rafael seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rafael misses with a lunging right hand
and Rafael takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rafael thows a body shot but no joy.
The fighters circling - Leonidas throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rafael misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Leonidas.
A shot to the body from Rafael misses
and Leonidas counters with a straight right hand.
Rafael ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Leonidas moves away.
Leonidas lands with an overhand left.
Rafael throws a leg kick that misses.
Rafael doesn't manage to clinch there - Leonidas circles away.
Leonidas moves out of range of the body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Leonidas.
Leonidas scores with a jab to the body.
Leonidas throws the left hand but Rafael avoids the punch easily.
Rafael has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Rafael there as he acknowledges the shot.
Decent striking displayed by Leonidas there.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Rafael lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Leonidas has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Leonidas and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Rafael takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
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!
A leg kick checked by Leonidas.
A clash of legs there as Leonidas blocks the low kick.
Rafael cracks the inside of Leonidas's front leg.
Nando Rafael seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rafael throws a head kick but Leonidas moves out of range.
Rafael blocks a jab.
Leonidas keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rafael.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that King Leonidas will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rafael throws a jab but it's blocked by Leonidas.
Leonidas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rafael manages to avoid it.
Rafael fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Leonidas has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Leonidas moves out of range of the strikes.
Rafael throws a body kick that misses.
Leonidas looks to land a combination but Rafael avoids it well.
Leonidas slips a straight right by Rafael.
Leonidas is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
A telegraphed right hand from Leonidas misses the target.
Leonidas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rafael was well out of range. Poor timing from Leonidas.
Leonidas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rafael lands a head kick!
Leonidas throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rafael throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Leonidas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafael misses with a head kick.
Rafael misses with a hook
enabling Leonidas to counter with a crisp jab.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Leonidas checks a leg kick.
Left hook, right uppercut from Leonidas.
Rafael throws a leg kick
and Leonidas counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Leonidas tries to clinch there but Rafael circles away.
Rafael feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Leonidas's calf.
Rafael slips a jab and a cross from Leonidas.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rafael. Leonidas does a little dance to reset his feet.
Leonidas connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rafael.
Leonidas tries to clinch up.
Leonidas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rafael.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafael fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Leonidas has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Leonidas checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Leonidas catches Rafael with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Leonidas misses the jab.
Rafael is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
That kick from Rafael tenderised Leonidas's leg. Leonidas is trying to keep his angry face on.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Leonidas lands a glancing blow to the side of Rafael's head.
Rafael pivots, looking for a leg kick but Leonidas is out of range and Rafael settles back down.
Leonidas avoids the body shot from Rafael.
A big right from Rafael misses.
Rafael ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Leonidas moves away.
Leonidas misses with an uppercut. Rafael saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafael doesn't manage to clinch there - Leonidas circles away.
Leonidas moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Rafael throws a series of punches but Leonidas moves out of range.
Leonidas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rafael on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Rafael throws a wild body kick that Leonidas sees coming a mile off.
Rafael misses with a shot to the body
and Rafael takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rafael throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Leonidas misses with a wild body shot.
A jab from Leonidas finds it's way through Rafael's defenses.
A jab from Leonidas does it's job there.
Rafael works Leonidas's body with a nice hook.

Rafael has closed the distance and engaged Leonidas in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Rafael fails to land.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rafael.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Leonidas.
Rafael looking to slow down the pace here.

Rafael pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Leonidas closes the distance and pushes Rafael back into the cage.
Rafael has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

Leonidas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Leonidas throws a lazy right hand but Rafael sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rafael ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Leonidas moves away.
Leonidas thows a body shot but no joy.
Rafael misses with an attempted mid kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Leonidas throws out a loose jab but Rafael uses good head movement to avoid it.
Leonidas takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Rafael throws a leg kick which misses Leonidas's front leg but catches the back leg as Leonidas tries to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nando Rafael comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rafael 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!