PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nuriel Leonard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carl Menger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Menger has chosen Bring Back The Music - by Sweatshop Union as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Nuriel Leonard has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Leonard
vs
Menger

168 cm
29
147 lbs
20 - 7 - 0

170 cm
31
157 lbs
19 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nuriel Leonard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Carl Menger!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Robert Douchet and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Menger swings for the body but Leonard moves out of range.
Leonard throws an overhand right that lands on Menger's shoulder, as Menger tries to avoid the shot.
Menger throws a right hand that misses
and Leonard counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Menger swings for the body but Leonard moves out of range.

Menger throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Leonard tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Menger is in Leonard's guard.
Menger stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Leonard swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Leonard wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Menger looking to pass the guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Leonard holds on and takes a little breather.
Menger trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Leonard is looking to stand up but Menger isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Menger lands a couple of digs.
Leonard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Leonard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Menger is looking to work some ground and pound but Leonard has wrist control.

Menger is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Leonard is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Leonard has escaped and now he's on top!
Menger has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Leonard has passed into side control.
Menger is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard working the ground and pound but Menger is defending the strikes.
Menger is looking for a sweep.
Leonard in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Leonard grinds an elbow into Menger's temple.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Menger takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Menger is looking for a sweep.
Menger has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Leonard creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Leonard working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Menger tries to bench press Leonard off him but Leonard keeps the position.
You can see the frustration on Menger's face as Leonard controls the position.
Menger is looking to regain half guard here but Leonard keeps moving and retains side control.
Leonard is looking to take a break and control but Menger is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard working the head with strikes.
Leonard in side control lands a decent elbow.
Leonard is putting a hurting on Menger here, landing some big shots from side control.
Menger tries to buck Leonard off but Leonard is having none of it.
Leonard remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Leonard wants to control but Menger is keeping him busy.
Leonard is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Menger is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Menger manages to get back to half guard.
Menger is looking to control Leonard's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Menger avoid being mounted?
Menger is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Menger actively working from the bottom here.
Menger is refusing to be controlled, as Leonard sits in half guard.
Leonard is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Leonard throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Menger moves into full guard.
Leonard working some strikes from top position.
Leonard won't allow Menger to sweep him here.
Menger keeping moving, preventing Leonard from controlling successfully.

Menger has his foot on Leonard's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Leonard works his way back into a safe position though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Menger throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Leonard stays in close to Menger's body and controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nuriel Leonard will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Leonard misses with a looping left.
Menger ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Menger slips under a jab.
Menger throws the left hand but Leonard avoids the punch easily.
Nice defenses there by Menger.
Menger shoots in for a takedown but Leonard shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Menger lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Leonard circles away quickly and effectively.
Menger jabs Leonard right on the nose. Leonard blinks but takes it well.
Menger fails with the takedown
and Leonard counters with a right hand to the body.
Leonard scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Leonard slips under a jab from Menger.
Leonard ducks under a wild hook from Menger.
Menger has his takedown stuffed
and Leonard counters with a straight right hand.
Nuriel Leonard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carl Menger.
Menger throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Leonard counters with a series of strikes that sends Menger to the canvas! Leonard follows down into guard, looking to finish the fight!

Menger is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menger tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Menger is still in real trouble! Can Leonard finish him?
Leonard sitting in guard here, content to control.
Leonard stands up over Menger, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Leonard seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Menger trying to control the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Leonard's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Menger manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Leonard is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Leonard slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Leonard makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Menger lands with a nice combination. Leonard backs away looking to recover.
Nuriel Leonard is winning the standup battle so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Menger gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Leonard counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Menger is breathing heavily.
Leonard looks to throw the jab but Menger is out of range.
Menger with a lazy takedown attempt
and Leonard cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

It looks like Carl Menger has been cut.
A punch combination from Menger misses.
Leonard throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Menger sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Leonard throws out a loose jab but Menger uses good head movement to avoid it.
Leonard throws an overhand right that lands on Menger's shoulder, as Menger tries to avoid the shot.
A slow jab from Leonard misses its intended target.
Leonard throws a lazy right hand but Menger sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Menger throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Leonard counters with a huge left! Menger is in big trouble! He's backing up but Leonard isn't giving him chance to recover. Under a barage of punches the ref has to step in to save Menger from any more damage. A dominating finish by Leonard!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nuriel Leonard!
Nuriel Leonard seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.