PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rashad Sokoudjou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bobby Leshley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leshley has chosen Step into a World as his entrance music. Rashad Sokoudjou had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Sokoudjou
vs
Leshley

197 cm
29
272 lbs
20 - 11 - 1

190 cm
32
265 lbs
20 - 16 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Rashad Sokoudjou!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Bobby Leshley!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Elvis Blanc and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leshley is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sokoudjou sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Leshley stuns Sokoudjou with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A big left from Leshley misses.
Sokoudjou misses with a low kick.
Leshley lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Leshley lands with an uppercut that bounces Sokoudjou off the cage and back into range.
Leshley misses with a kick to the body.
Leshley misses with an uppercut.
Leshley ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Leshley is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sokoudjou sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Leshley blocks a leg kick.
Leshley swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A cross from Sokoudjou lands.
Leshley thows a body shot but no joy.
No joy there for Sokoudjou, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sokoudjou throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokoudjou keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rashad Sokoudjou has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bobby Leshley.
Leshley swings for the body but Sokoudjou moves out of range.
Sokoudjou slips a jab from Leshley.
Leshley misses with a shot to the body
and Sokoudjou connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sokoudjou lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Leshley fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sokoudjou avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Leshley will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sokoudjou looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Leshley gets the takedown into side control.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Sokoudjou manages to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sokoudjou wants to control but Leshley is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sokoudjou is not content to let Leshley control the position.
Leshley thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sokoudjou gets back to full guard.
Leshley pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sokoudjou is keeping the position for now.
Leshley wants to stand but Sokoudjou is controlling his posture from full guard.

Sokoudjou is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Leshley wanted to stand there but Sokoudjou had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leshley pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sokoudjou is keeping the position for now.
Sokoudjou thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Leshley is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Sokoudjou looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Sokoudjou is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sokoudjou looking for a sweep. Not yet Sokoudjou, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sokoudjou escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Leshley gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sokoudjou trying to keep a closed guard but Leshley is proving a slippery customer.
Sokoudjou is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Leshley is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Leshley preventing the sweep.

Sokoudjou is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Leshley gets to his feet. Sokoudjou looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sokoudjou swings for the body but Leshley moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bobby Leshley 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.

Leshley throws a hook to the side of Sokoudjou's head but Sokoudjou sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nice takedown defense from Sokoudjou. No joy for Leshley on that attempt.
Leshley shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sokoudjou as he avoids it easily.

Leshley gets a double leg takedown into Sokoudjou's guard.
Sokoudjou is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Leshley is sitting in close to Sokoudjou's body. Sokoudjou has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Leshley is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Leshley is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Sokoudjou.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Rashad Sokoudjou!
An out of breath Rashad Sokoudjou thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.