PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Anders Leblanc (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Croft (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Anders Leblanc has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Leblanc
vs
Croft

185 cm
23
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
170 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Anders Leblanc!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tom Croft!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Eliza Hachem and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Croft shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Leblanc trying to control here.
Croft wants to take a breather but Leblanc is having none of it.
Leblanc is looking to escape.
Leblanc manages to get to full guard.
Leblanc trying to control the position.
Croft wants to control from the top but Leblanc keeps moving.
Leblanc trying to keep a closed guard but Croft is proving a slippery customer.
Leblanc is really struggling to control Croft but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Croft shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Leblanc sprawls well. Leblanc wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Croft gets slowly back to his feet.
Croft looks gassed!
Croft walks forward, straight into a front kick from Leblanc.
Leblanc misses with a takedown attempt

and Croft counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Leblanc's guard now.
Leblanc manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Leblanc tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Leblanc throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leblanc trying to control but Croft is having none of it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Leblanc prevents Croft from getting the reversal.
Leblanc landing shots from mount.
Leblanc throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Leblanc tries to control but Croft wriggling away.

Leblanc looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
The referee warns Croft that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Croft wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Leblanc.
Leblanc trying to control but Croft is having none of it.
Leblanc looking to control and managing it successfully.
Leblanc has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Croft is looking to improve his position but Leblanc isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Leblanc is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Croft has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Leblanc looking to control but Croft is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Leblanc punishing his opponent with strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Croft is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Leblanc can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Croft is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anders Leblanc 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.

Croft dives in and scores a takedown into Leblanc's guard.

Leblanc throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Leblanc looking to control.
Croft looking to pass the guard.
Leblanc manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Croft is in all sorts of trouble here.
Croft is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Croft is bucking up trying to escape but Leblanc cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Croft really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Leblanc connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Croft is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

Leblanc working for a submission but Croft is keeping him at bay.
Leblanc with the ground and pound from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leblanc wants to take Croft's back here but Croft is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.

Leblanc looking to secure an arm triangle but Croft defends it well.
Leblanc misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Leblanc looking to control but Croft is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Anders Leblanc overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Croft wants to control but Leblanc is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leblanc can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Croft is looking to escape.

Leblanc jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Croft is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Croft and Leblanc has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Leblanc wants to control but Croft is keeping him busy.
Croft tries to bench press Leblanc off him but Leblanc keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leblanc cracks Croft with a big elbow.
Croft is not content to let Leblanc control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Leblanc looking to control but instead Croft has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Leblanc is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anders Leblanc dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Croft will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Croft circles away from the clinch attempt.
Leblanc wants to clinch.
Leblanc fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Croft takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leblanc tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Croft swivels and escapes.
Leblanc shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Croft defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anders Leblanc. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Croft throws a body punch but Leblanc moves out of range.

Leblanc bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Croft is looking to regain half guard here but Leblanc keeps moving and retains side control.
Leblanc trying to control the position but Croft is working away.
Leblanc tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leblanc trying to control the action but Croft is working from the bottom.
Croft tries to bench press Leblanc off him but Leblanc keeps the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Leblanc wants to lay and pray for a moment but Croft keeps working.
Leblanc working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Croft tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Leblanc easily slips into full mount!
Leblanc looking to control but Croft is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Leblanc landing punches.
Croft is trying to escape the mount.
Leblanc throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Leblanc misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leblanc can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Croft is looking to escape.
Leblanc has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Croft's face.
Leblanc looking to control but Croft is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Croft tries to reverse the position but Leblanc maintains control.
Leblanc is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Leblanc tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anders Leblanc showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Leblanc has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anders Leblanc!