PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Leben (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurt Perrier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leben kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Skrillex - Kyoto. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Leben
vs
Perrier

200 cm
32
280 lbs
9 - 12 - 0

201 cm
27
280 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

STEEL PENN'S 160 OF STEEL $50 Rio

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris Leben!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kurt Perrier!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Jorge Garcia and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leben feints and then cracks Perrier's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Perrier down.

Leben pushes Perrier up against the cage in a clinch.

Leben manages to break the clinch.
Perrier lands with a good body shot.
Leben misses with a body shot.

Leben moves into the clinch.
A short left from Perrier.
Leben looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Perrier pressing his opponent against the cage.
Perrier keeps control of Leben as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Leben tries to land a knee to the head but Perrier blocks with his arms.
Perrier keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Leben's efforts to push away.
Leben landing knees to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Leben connects with a knee to the head.

Leben breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Leben clinches up with Perrier and pushes him back against the cage.
Perrier has a couple of punches blocked by Leben.
Leben blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Leben's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Perrier misses.
Perrier connects with a right hand. Leben shakes it off.
Perrier misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Leben showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Perrier.
Leben looks to land a combination but Perrier avoids it well.

Leben clinches.
Leben working aggressively here.
Perrier manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Leben pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A swing and a miss from Perrier.

Leben has closed the distance and engaged Perrier in a clinch.
Perrier lands a hook to the side of the head.
Leben throws a punch but it's blocked by Perrier.
Leben misses with a hook to the ribs.
Perrier managing to block the knees to the body from Leben.
Leben fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perrier lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Leben.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Leben working Perrier over with knees to the body.
Perrier looks winded!
Perrier takes a knee right on the jaw!
Perrier stalling the fight.

Leben pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Leben instigates a clinch.
Perrier swings wildly with an uppercut but Leben uses good head movement to avoid it.
Leben tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Perrier's elbow.
Perrier on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Leben struggles to land a body shot inside as Perrier controls his hands.
Perrier blocking some punches.
Perrier displaying some good clinch control by pressing Leben up against the cage.

Leben breaks from the clinch.
A combination from Perrier does no damage.

Leben has closed the distance and engaged Perrier in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Leben breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Perrier takes a kick to the side of the head.

Leben clinches up with Perrier and pushes him back against the cage.
Perrier avoiding damage as Leben throws knees to the body.
Perrier has Leben pushed against the cage.

Leben pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Perrier tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Perrier misses with an uppercut. Leben saw that one coming.
Leben bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Leben lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Leben has managed to clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Leben breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Leben.
A head kick misses from Leben.

Leben darts in and clinches Perrier up against the cage.
Leben with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Perrier effectively controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Leben misses with an elbow strike.
Perrier lands with a right to the head.
Perrier slowing the pace effectively.
Perrier on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Leben is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Perrier lands a hook that snaps the head of Leben backwards.
Perrier lands a shoulder strike.

Leben breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Leben takes the fight into the clinch.
Leben is trying to break the clinch but Perrier has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Perrier takes a knee to the side of the body.
Perrier scores with a shoulder strike.
Perrier lands a left hand that snaps the head of Leben backwards.
Leben goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Leben dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Leben defending well as Perrier loads up on a big left hand.

Perrier gets tackled into the cage by Leben. Leben maintains the clinch.
Come on Perrier - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Leben throws an elbow that misses.
Leben is working Perrier over against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Leben.

Leben breaks from the clinch.
Perrier fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Perrier works the jab nicely.
A chopping leg kick lands by Leben.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Leben moves into the clinch.
Leben looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Perrier wants to stall.
Perrier lands with a left to the head.
Leben landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Perrier is breathing heavily.
Leben lands a good knee to the midsection. Perrier won't want to take too many of those.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Leben.
A nice right hand lands inside from Leben.

Leben escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Leben moves into the clinch.
Leben swings away with an uppercut that misses.
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!

Leben breaks the clinch.

Leben has closed the distance and engaged Perrier in a clinch.
Perrier lands a body shot.

Leben breaks from the clinch.
Leben connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Leben pushes Perrier up against the cage in a clinch.
Leben wants to get back to striking at distance but Perrier won't allow it.

Leben's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Perrier manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Leben struggles to land a body shot inside as Perrier controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perrier lands with a left to the head.
Leben lands a good knee to the midsection. Perrier won't want to take too many of those.

Leben breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Leben closes the distance and pushes Perrier back into the cage.

Leben breaks from the clinch.

Perrier gets tackled into the cage by Leben. Leben maintains the clinch.
Perrier misses with a punch to the body.

Leben manages to break the clinch.
Leben has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Perrier lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Leben circles away quickly and effectively.
Chris Leben seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Leben throws a leg kick which misses Perrier's front leg but catches the back leg as Perrier tries to avoid it.

Leben fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Perrier, pushing him back against the cage.
Leben working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Perrier throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Leben breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Perrier looks to land a right hand but Leben moved out of range.
Perrier is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Leben.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perrier throws the left hand but Leben avoids the punch easily.
Leben misses with a wild combination.

Leben closes the distance and pushes Perrier back into the cage.
Leben is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Leben lands with a short shot to the head.

Leben breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Leben forces Perrier back against the cage and clinches.

Leben breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Leben throws a head kick but Perrier moves out of range.

Leben gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head punch on the inside from Leben fails to land.
Perrier lands a right hand.
With the fighters up against the cage, Leben throws an elbow but misses.
Leben misses with a hook from the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Leben throws an elbow but misses.
Leben is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perrier will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Leben up against the cage.
Perrier blocks an elbow strike.
Perrier throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Lebens head.
Perrier blocks the elbow strike.
Perrier dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Leben pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Perrier misses with a two punch combination.
Leben throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Leben clinches.
Perrier looking to slow down the pace here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Leben pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Leben pushes Perrier up against the cage in a clinch.
Perrier blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Leben lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Leben dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Leben closes the distance and pushes Perrier back into the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Perrier.
Leben has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A short right from Perrier on the inside.
Leben can't find room to land a body shot as Perrier controls the action.
Perrier keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Leben's efforts to push away.
Leben working hard to break the clinch.
Perrier lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Perrier lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Leben breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Leben pivots, looking for a leg kick but Perrier is out of range and Leben settles back down.

Leben forces Perrier back against the cage and clinches.
Leben is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Leben is trying to break the clinch but Perrier is controlling him.
Chris Leben has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Leben with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Perrier lands on the inside with an uppercut.
With the fighters up against the cage, Leben throws an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perrier scores with a nice hook to the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Perrier lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Leben with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A short uppercut from Perrier.
Perrier blocks an elbow strike.
Perrier lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Leben missing with knees to the body.
Perrier is struggling to control the position.
A short left from Perrier.
Leben letting Perrier take a breather here.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Leben utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Perrier breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Leben rushes Perrier and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Perrier has Leben pressed against the cage, preventing Leben from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Perrier lands a left hand that snaps the head of Leben backwards.
Perrier takes a knee right on the jaw!
Perrier blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Leben breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice body punch from Perrier.
Leben throws a head kick that misses.
Perrier misses with a hook.

Leben moves into the clinch.
A hook to the body from Perrier.
Perrier lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Perrier blocking some punches.
Leben is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Perrier is defending well for now.

Leben pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Leben moves into the clinch successfully.
Leben is trying to break the clinch but Perrier is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perrier lands a right hand that snaps the head of Leben backwards.
Leben prevents Perrier from breaking the clinch.
Perrier blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Leben tries to circle away but Perrier has him pinned against the cage.
Perrier pressing his opponent against the cage.

Leben breaks from the clinch.
Perrier connects with the punch.
Good standup being displayed there by Perrier as he connects with a hook.

Leben has taken the fight to the clinch.
Leben is trying to break the clinch but Perrier has him pressed against the cage.

Leben breaks from the clinch.

Leben closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Leben fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Perrier struggles to land a body shot inside as Leben controls his hands.
Leben is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Perrier can do to turn this around?
Perrier keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Leben's efforts to push away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Leben breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Leben clinches with his opponent.
A frustrated look appears on Leben's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A short right from Perrier.
Leben misses with a short punch on the inside.
Perrier is trying to break the clinch but Leben has him pressed against the cage.
Perrier is stalling here.

Leben's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Leben swings for the body but Perrier moves out of range.
Leben moves forwards but Perrier connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Leben scores with a kick to the midsection.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Leben misses with a kick to the body.

Perrier fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Leben, pushing him back against the cage.
Perrier dodges an elbow strike from Leben.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Kurt Perrier just about did enough to take it.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Perrier takes the fight into the clinch.
Perrier looking to stall.
Leben wants to break free but Perrier has control.
Perrier lands a hook to the side of the head.
Perrier lands with a left to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Leben as Perrier tries to tie him up.

Leben breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Chris Leben is winning the standup battle so far.
Perrier lands with a good body shot.
Perrier throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Leben.
Leben misses with a wild combination.

Leben clinches up against the cage.
Perrier tries to stall but Leben uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Leben lands a right hand that snaps the head of Perrier backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leben tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Perrier avoids it.
Leben is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Leben looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Leben's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Leben throws a right and a left that both miss.
Perrier lands a slapping body shot.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Leben drives through and clinches with Perrier against the cage.
Leben misses with a knee strike.
Perrier holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Perrier is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Leben scores with a shot to the side of Perrier's head.
Leben tries to land knees in the clinch but Perrier avoids the damage to the body.

Leben breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Perrier blocks a head kick by Leben.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Leben clinches.
Leben wants to get back to striking at distance but Perrier won't allow it.
Perrier managing to block the knees to the body from Leben.
Perrier avoiding damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Perrier blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nice body punch from Perrier - that landed with a thud.
Perrier stalling against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Perrier scores with a nice short uppercut.
Perrier lands an uppercut.
Perrier lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Perrier.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Leben landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leben struggles to land a body shot inside as Perrier controls his hands.
Leben is trying to push Perrier away but Perrier has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Leben lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Leben goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Perrier is looking to control Leben's arms but Leben gets an underhook and turns him. Now Perrier has his back to the cage.
Leben wants to break free but Perrier has control.
Perrier is pushing Leben up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Perrier lands an uppercut.
Leben with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Leben tries to break free but Perrier pushes him back against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Perrier keeps control of Leben as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perrier looking to slow down the pace here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Perrier.
Still in the clinch, Perrier scores with a nice short uppercut.

Leben breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Perrier smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A left hand lands to the body for Leben.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Knees to the body from Leben.

Leben breaks from the clinch.
Leben misses with a jab, cross combination.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Leben throws a front kick that sends Perrier stumbling back into the cage.
Perrier avoids a punch combination nicely.
Perrier throws a shot from downtown. Leben moves away and avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Chris Leben will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Leben gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Leben has had enough of the clinch but Perrier keeps him there for the moment.
Leben is trying to push Perrier away but Perrier has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Leben breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Perrier missing with a left hand there. Leben was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Perrier thows a body shot but no joy.
Perrier takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Perrier takes a kick to the side of the head.
Perrier tries to clinch there but Leben circles away.

Leben takes the fight into the clinch.
Leben lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Perrier.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Perrier has Leben pressed against the cage, preventing Leben from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Leben pushes off an throws an elbow but Perrier leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Leben with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Perrier is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

Leben's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Leben misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Leben clinches up against the cage.
Perrier taking a breather.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Perrier.
Leben lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A head punch on the inside from Leben fails to land.
Leben is trying to force a seperation but Perrier has the dominant position.
Leben lands a shoulder strike.
Leben tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Perrier lands a right hand that snaps the head of Leben backwards.
Perrier lands a body shot.
A right hook to the body lands for Perrier.
Perrier has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Leben is trying to break the clinch but Perrier has him pressed against the cage.
Perrier is looking to control Leben's arms but Leben gets an underhook and turns him. Now Perrier has his back to the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Perrier lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Perrier wants to break free but Leben has control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leben wants to break free but Perrier has control.
Perrier blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short right from Perrier on the inside.
Leben wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Perrier has him pressed against the cage.
Perrier has Leben pressed against the cage, preventing Leben from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Leben tries a body shot but Perrier blocks it.
Nice body punch from Perrier.
A short right from Perrier.
Perrier lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Leben backwards.
Perrier keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Leben's efforts to push away.
Leben has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Perrier keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Leben's efforts to push away.
Perrier throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Lebens head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Leben.
Perrier stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Perrier.
Leben throws an elbow that misses.
Perrier trying to control the position but instead, Leben has worked for underhooks and has pushed Perrier into the cage.
Perrier managing to block the knees to the body from Leben.
Perrier prevents a body shot from Leben.
Kurt Perrier has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leben has had enough of the clinch but Perrier keeps him there for the moment.
Perrier blocks a body shot from Leben.
Perrier avoiding damage as Leben throws knees to the body.
Perrier content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Perrier breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Perrier misses with a body shot.
Chris Leben is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Leben throws a jab when Perrier was well out of range.

Leben pushes Perrier up against the cage in a clinch.
Perrier tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leben with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Perrier lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Perrier is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Perrier lands a hook to the side of the head.
Perrier stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Perrier lands with a short shot to the head.

Leben breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Leben.
Perrier punishes Leben's body with a nice straight punch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Perrier pushes Leben up against the cage in a clinch.
Perrier lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Perrier content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Perrier lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Perrier throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Lebens head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kurt Perrier comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Leben 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 48:47
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 48:47
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Leben!
Chris Leben retains his heavyweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Chris Leben thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.