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). Leonidas's entrance music is Spartan Warriors. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Leonidas
vs
Rafael

180 cm
27
135 lbs
19 - 7 - 1

170 cm
26
145 lbs
14 - 4 - 2

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 - 1, 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 - 2, fighting out of New York, Nando Rafael!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, David Schapiro and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leonidas throws a lazy right hand but Rafael sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Leonidas looks to land a right hand but Rafael moved out of range.
Rafael takes one to the side of the head.
Rafael misses with a double jab.
Leonidas throws an off balance right hand
and Rafael counters with a head kick.
Rafael lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Rafael misses with a straight left.
Rafael throws a jab but it's blocked by Leonidas.
Rafael bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Rafael swats away the attempt to clinch by Leonidas.
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 keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rafael throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Leonidas rushes Rafael and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Leonidas misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rafael is working Leonidas over against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonidas tries for a takedown but Rafael manages to get underhooks.
Leonidas working aggressively here.
A short right from Rafael on the inside.
Rafael lands an uppercut.
Leonidas lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rafael lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Leonidas.
A shot in the inside from Leonidas.
Leonidas misses with the head strike.
Rafael lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rafael.
Leonidas working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Leonidas tries to score a body lock takedown but Rafael shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
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.
Leonidas throws a head punch that misses.
Rafael blocks a body shot from Leonidas.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rafael is trying to push Leonidas away but Leonidas has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Leonidas pulls guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Leonidas working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rafael doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rafael manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rafael slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Leonidas is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rafael defends well.

Leonidas is looking for a triangle but Rafael pushes his legs off easily.
Rafael stays in close to Leonidas's body and controls the position.
Leonidas is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Leonidas is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rafael not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Leonidas throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rafael is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Leonidas looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rafael is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Nando Rafael hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Leonidas connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Rafael avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rafael lunges at Leonidas with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Leonidas's hand.
Leonidas avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Rafael throws a nice inside leg kick.
Leonidas defending well as Rafael loads up on a big left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rafael throws the kick towards the body but Leonidas avoids it.
Rafael throws a big shot that misses.
Rafael is looking to slow Leonidas down with leg kicks.
Rafael moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Leonidas keeps the fight on the outside.
Leonidas connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Rafael tries a low kick but Leonidas avoids it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Leonidas takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Rafael misses with a head kick.
Rafael looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rafael fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Leonidas.
Leonidas fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Leonidas throws a hook but Rafael blocks it.
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.

Leonidas lands a jab to Rafael's midsection.
Nando Rafael seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rafael lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Rafael throws the left hand but Leonidas avoids the punch easily.
Leonidas checks the leg kick.
Rafael tries to clinch but Leonidas moves out of range.
Leonidas takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Rafael tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Leonidas counters with a series of strikes. Rafael will be more careful next time no doubt.
Leonidas throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rafael. Leonidas does a little dance to reset his feet.
Leonidas avoids the body shot from Rafael.

Leonidas closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Leonidas throws a punch but it's blocked by Rafael.
Nice body punch from Leonidas - that landed with a thud.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafael fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rafael lands a hook to the side of the head.
Leonidas scores with a nice hook to the head.
Rafael is trying to stall.
Nice body punch from Rafael - that landed with a thud.
Rafael is leaning against Leonidas and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Leonidas misses with the head strike.
Rafael presses Leonidas against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Rafael blocks an uppercut.
Rafael digs a right hand into Leonidas's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Leonidas's gas tank.
Rafael misses with some punches.
Leonidas misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Leonidas fails to land.
Rafael struggles to land a body shot inside as Leonidas controls his hands.

Rafael breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Leonidas throws a body punch but Rafael moves out of range.
Leonidas defending well as Rafael loads up on a big left hand.
Rafael misses with a head kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rafael fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Leonidas throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rafael thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rafael fails with an attempt to clinch.
Leonidas tries to close the distance and clinch but Rafael swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Leonidas defending well as Rafael loads up on a big left hand.
Leonidas swings widly with a right hand
and Rafael counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Rafael slips under a jab from Leonidas.
Rafael avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rafael tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rafael keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Leonidas.
Leonidas thows a body shot but no joy.
Rafael throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rafael fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Leonidas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Rafael.
Rafael tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Leonidas was well out of range. Poor timing from Rafael.

Rafael closes the distance and clinches.

Leonidas tightens his grip and picks Rafael up, before dumping him to the ground. Rafael manages to land in guard.
Leonidas throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Leonidas postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rafael trying to control the position.
Leonidas missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rafael is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Leonidas works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Leonidas prevents Rafael from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonidas thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rafael's head.

Leonidas wants to work for an arm triangle but Rafael is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rafael avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Leonidas.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Leonidas is keen to just control but Rafael is a slippery customer.

Leonidas is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rafael doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Leonidas.
Rafael tries to kick Leonidas off but Leonidas keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rafael slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Leonidas throws a big elbow that misses.
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.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Leonidas cracks Rafael with a good jab.
Rafael looks to throw the jab but Leonidas is out of range.
Leonidas ducks under a wild hook from Rafael.
Leonidas throws a series of strikes that have Rafael backpedaling.
Rafael rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Leonidas counters with a right hand to the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rafael.
Rafael takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Rafael misses with a hook to the body
and Leonidas counters with a straight right hand.
Rafael uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Leonidas.
Rafael tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Leonidas was well out of range. Poor timing from Rafael.
Leonidas scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Leonidas scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Rafael closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rafael lands with a light punch inside.
Leonidas is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafael swings wildly with an uppercut but Leonidas uses good head movement to avoid it.
A right handed body shot lands from Leonidas.
Leonidas fails to pull guard.
Leonidas drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rafael gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A head punch on the inside from Rafael fails to land.
Leonidas blocking some punches.
Rafael fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Leonidas.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Rafael tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rafael struggles to land a body shot inside as Leonidas controls his hands.
Leonidas working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rafael misses with a body punch.
Leonidas misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Leonidas.
A body shot lands from Rafael.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafael trying to control the position but instead, Leonidas has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rafael into the cage.
Rafael lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rafael takes a shot to the head.
Leonidas lands a right hand.
Rafael lands a left hand that snaps the head of Leonidas backwards.
Rafael misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Rafael struggles to land a body shot inside as Leonidas controls his hands.
A nice right hand lands inside from Leonidas.
Rafael misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Leonidas as Rafael tries to tie him up.
Rafael misses with a body punch.
Leonidas misses with a punch to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Leonidas drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rafael gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for King Leonidas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Leonidas can't get the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafael tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Leonidas's elbow.
Rafael tries a body shot but Leonidas blocks it.
Rafael looking to stall.
Rafael wants to get back to striking at distance but Leonidas won't allow it.
Rafael's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rafael tries to work over Leonidas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Leonidas doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Leonidas prevents a body shot from Rafael.
Leonidas is trying to pull guard but Rafael turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Leonidas blocks a body shot from Rafael.
Leonidas blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rafael blocks an uppercut.
Rafael tries a body shot but Leonidas blocks it.
Leonidas fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rafael misses with a short punch on the inside.
Leonidas misses with the head strike.
Leonidas misses with the head strike.
Leonidas lands a left hand.
Rafael blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rafael pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nando Rafael seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Leonidas tries to clinch but Rafael is having none of it.
Leonidas is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Leonidas throws a hook to the side of Rafael's head but Rafael sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rafael thows a body shot but no joy.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fighters circling - Rafael throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rafael keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rafael scores with a crisp jab that stopped Leonidas in his tracks.
Rafael connects with a crisp jab.
Rafael tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Leonidas is able to avoid easily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rafael. That's going to slow Leonidas down.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rafael looks to land a left hand but Leonidas moved out of range nicely.
Rafael throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Rafael throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nando Rafael.
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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nando Rafael!
A relieved looking Nando Rafael thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.