PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nuriel Leonard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Esteban Vega (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vega has chosen Dead N Gone as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Leonard
vs
Vega

168 cm
28
147 lbs
19 - 6 - 0

170 cm
31
155 lbs
29 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nuriel Leonard!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Esteban Vega!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Alec Ball and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vega throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Leonard wants to slow Vega down by chopping away at his legs.
Leonard slips under a jab.
Vega ducks under a wild hook from Leonard.
Vega thuds a left hand into Leonard's body.
Vega lands with a cross.
Vega is looking to land body kicks.
Leonard thuds his right hand into Vega's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Leonard lands a jab.
Vega misses with a left hand
and Leonard counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vega scores with a hook.
Horrible takedown by Leonard or perhaps it was just good defense by Vega which made him look bad.
Vega lands a jab to Leonard's midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard throws a nice outside leg kick.
Leonard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vega ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Leonard moves away.
Leonard tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vega was well out of range. Poor timing from Leonard.
A punch combination from Leonard misses.
A slow jab from Leonard misses its intended target.
Vega uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Leonard.
Leonard misses with a right hand
and Vega counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Vega uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Leonard has time to react.
Vega connects with a crisp jab.
Vega uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Leonard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Leonard.
Leonard slips a jab from Vega.
Leonard misses with a body punch
and Vega counters with an outside leg kick.
Vega misses the shot to the body.
Vega misses with a two punch combination.
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!
Leonard throws a predictable looking body shot
and Vega counters with a body kick that stops Leonard in his tracks momentarily.
Vega looks to land a body kick but Leonard moved away.
Vega misses with a series of wild punches.
Vega lands with a good body shot.
Vega misses with a lunging right hand
and Leonard counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard misses with a looping right.
Leonard throws the left hand but Vega avoids the punch easily.
Leonard moves forwards but Vega connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Leonard has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nuriel Leonard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vega cracks Leonard with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Leonard lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Leonard blocks a head kick by Vega.
Leonard misses with a looping left.
Vega throws a looping overhand right but Leonard ducks down to avoid it.
Leonard tries to close the distance and clinch but Vega swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Vega walks into a straight right hand from Leonard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vega fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Leonard just misses with a punch to the body.
Vega throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vega uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Leonard.

Leonard closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Vega did well to prevent Leonard getting side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Leonard throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Leonard missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Vega wants to control but Leonard is keeping busy and won't allow it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Leonard misses with a head shot. Vega uses the momentum to regain guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Leonard throws a strike but Vega rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Esteban Vega will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Leonard tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vega was well out of range. Poor timing from Leonard.
Leonard wants to clinch but Vega slips to the side
and Vega counters with a low kick, right behind Leonard 's knee.
Vega is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vega rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Leonard moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Vega misses with a kick to the body
and Leonard counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Vega thinking.
Leonard takes a swing at Vega's ribcage but misses.
Leonard just misses with a punch to the body.

Leonard looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Vega!
Vega tries to reverse the position but Leonard maintains control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard 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.
Leonard 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.
Leonard looking to ground and pound but Vega is blocking nicely.
Vega is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Leonard throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Leonard looking to ground and pound but Vega is blocking nicely.
Vega is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Leonard scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Vega tries to hold on but Leonard postures up.
Leonard prevents Vega from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Vega tries to reverse the position but Leonard maintains control.
Leonard connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Leonard avoids the attempt from Vega to control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vega avoids a strike by Leonard and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Leonard's guard! Fantastic escape!
Leonard looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Vega puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Leonard is trying to stand up here but Vega is controlling him well.
Leonard is looking to improve his position.
Vega stops Leonard from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard is looking for a sweep. Vega is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Leonard is looking to control Vega's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Leonard avoid being mounted?
Leonard tries to get to full guard but Vega has control of the leg.
Vega trying to pass the guard but Leonard defending well.

Vega stands up out of the half guard.
Vega tries to clinch but Leonard moves away
and Leonard counters with a left to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vega looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Vega on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Leonard tries to keep at a distance but Vega has taken the fight into the clinch.
Come on Leonard - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Vega stalling in the clinch.
Leonard blocks the elbow strike.
Vega goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Vega lands with a short shot to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Vega as Leonard tries to tie him up.
Leonard lands a nice uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Leonard lands a nice knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nuriel Leonard dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Vega connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Vega misses the jab.
Leonard throws a body punch but Vega moves out of range.
Esteban Vega seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Vega tries to clinch up.
Leonard takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Vega looks to land a right hand but Leonard moved out of range.
A big left from Vega misses.
Vega bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Leonard tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Vega manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Vega digs a good body shot into Leonard's ribs.
Esteban Vega seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Leonard avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Vega just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vega throws a left and a right that both miss
and Leonard counters with a two punch combo.

Leonard throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Vega was covering up waiting for the punch and Leonard finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Vega wants to sweep but no luck.
Leonard postures up.
Leonard being controlled here momentarily.
Vega utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Leonard trying to control but Vega is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vega looking to hit a scissor sweep but Leonard is one step ahead there.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Vega utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Leonard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vega is keeping the position for now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vega working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Leonard.
Leonard is looking to work some ground and pound but Vega has wrist control.
Leonard wants to pass the guard but Vega is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard preventing the sweep.
Leonard throws a strike but Vega rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Vega won't allow Leonard to sweep him here.
Leonard has Vega pulled in close to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Nuriel Leonard has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Vega tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Leonard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Esteban Vega is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Leonard misses the jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nuriel Leonard clearly takes that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Vega cracks the inside of Leonard's front leg.
Vega throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Leonard.
Vega misses with an uppercut
and Leonard counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Vega thinking.
Leonard lands a nice hook to Vega's body. Vega takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Leonard misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Vega counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Vega misses with a hook.
Leonard punishes Vega's body with a nice straight punch.

Leonard scores a takedown into full mount!
Leonard looking to ground and pound but Vega is blocking nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vega holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Leonard tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vega tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Leonard with a couple of short strikes.
Leonard cracks Vega with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Vega squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Leonard postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Vega looks a forlorn figure.
Leonard raining down hammerfists from mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Leonard lands with some strikes.

Vega is rocked!
Vega in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Vega is still in real trouble! Can Leonard finish him?
Leonard avoids the attempt from Vega to control.
Vega is in a horrible position here. Leonard smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Vega in real trouble here! The ref calls for Vega to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:24 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nuriel Leonard!
Nuriel Leonard retains his featherweight title!
Nuriel Leonard thanked the fans post fight for their support.