PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Connor Kelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nuriel Leonard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kelly comes to the cage accompanied by (When) Your Middle Name Is Danger. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kelly
vs
Leonard

183 cm
30
145 lbs
25 - 9 - 1

168 cm
29
147 lbs
21 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $150

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 25 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Connor Kelly!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nuriel Leonard!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Trevor Gratis and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leonard throws a predictable looking body shot
and Kelly counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Kelly circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kelly cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Leonard tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kelly manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kelly lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Leonard darts in and clinches Kelly up against the cage.
Kelly lands with a right to the head.
Leonard tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kelly is stalling here.
A short right from Leonard on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Leonard.
Kelly has Leonard pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard looking to throw knees to the head but Kelly is blocking nicely.
Leonard wants to stall.
Stalling in the clinch from Kelly.
Leonard is looking to control Kelly's arms but Kelly gets an underhook and turns him. Now Leonard has his back to the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kelly misses with a body punch.
Leonard scores with a nice hook to the head.
Leonard tries a knee to the head but Kelly blocks it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A nice right hand lands inside from Leonard.
Kelly misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kelly can't find room to land a body shot as Leonard controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelly misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kelly gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Leonard.
Leonard throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kelly blocks it with crossed arms.
Leonard looking to stall.
Kelly tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kelly taking a breather.
Kelly tries a body shot but Leonard blocks it.
Kelly misses with a punch on the inside.
Kelly misses with a body punch.
Leonard struggles to land a body shot inside as Kelly controls his hands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Leonard will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Kelly up against the cage.
Leonard tries to stall but Kelly uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Leonard misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Kelly or not.
Kelly taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Kelly managing to block the knees to the body from Leonard.
A bit of stalling here from Leonard.
Kelly is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Leonard is keeping busy.
Leonard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Leonard is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Kelly blocks an uppercut.
Kelly looking to stall.
Leonard stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Kelly misses with the head strike.
Leonard trying to stall but Kelly improves his position.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kelly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kelly being controlled against the cage.
Kelly taking a breather.
Leonard is looking to control Kelly's arms but Kelly gets an underhook and turns him. Now Leonard has his back to the cage.

Leonard has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Kelly uses from the top position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Leonard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Leonard wants to stand and escape but Kelly is having none of it.
Kelly really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Leonard seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kelly advances to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Leonard is trying to stand back up but Kelly is controlling him
Kelly trying to control from half guard but Leonard is working away.

Kelly is trying to work for a kimura but Leonard is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nuriel Leonard dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kelly misses with a leg kick
and Leonard counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kelly throws a series of punches but Leonard moves out of range.
Leonard tries to clinch up but Kelly circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Leonard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kelly keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kelly fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Leonard on the side of the head.
Leonard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Leonard tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kelly makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelly waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Leonard.
Leonard just misses with a punch to the body.
Leonard tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kelly manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Leonard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kelly moves away.
Kelly avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Kelly takes the fight into the clinch.
Leonard tries to land knees in the clinch but Kelly avoids the damage to the body.
Kelly tries to throw a body punch but Leonard avoids it by throwing Kelly back against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Leonard swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelly misses with the head strike.
Kelly misses with a body punch.
Leonard is trying to pull guard but Kelly turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Leonard with a knee to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Leonard as Kelly tries to tie him up.
Leonard throws a knee to the head but misses.
Leonard throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kelly blocks it with crossed arms.
Leonard tries to pull guard but Kelly forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kelly creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Leonard tries to land a knee to the head but Kelly blocks with his arms.
Leonard trying to control the position but instead, Kelly has worked for underhooks and has pushed Leonard into the cage.
Kelly lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Leonard can't find room to land a body shot as Kelly controls the action.
Leonard blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kelly managing to block the knees to the body from Leonard.
Leonard avoiding damage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Kelly misses with a punch to the body.
A shot in the inside from Kelly.
Leonard scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kelly tries a body shot but Leonard blocks it.
Kelly dodges an elbow strike from Leonard.
Kelly on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kelly tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Leonard's elbow.
Kelly lands a left hand.
Leonard is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kelly to keep the fight standing.
Connor Kelly has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nuriel Leonard.
Kelly has Leonard pushed against the cage.
Leonard struggles to land a body shot inside as Kelly controls his hands.
Leonard lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard prevents a body shot from Kelly.
Leonard blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kelly trying to stall but Leonard improves his position.
Kelly leaning his opponent against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kelly has a couple of punches blocked by Leonard.
Kelly managing to block the knees to the body from Leonard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kelly blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Leonard misses with a short punch on the inside.
Leonard blocks a body shot from Kelly.
Nuriel Leonard seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kelly.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Leonard is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kelly is defending well for now.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kelly creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kelly misses with some punches.
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 Connor Kelly will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Leonard misses the shot to the body.

Leonard fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kelly, pushing him back against the cage.
Kelly pushes Leonard back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Kelly can't find room to land a body shot as Leonard controls the action.
Leonard is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Kelly is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Leonard lands an uppercut.
Leonard slowing the pace effectively.
Leonard is trying to pull guard but Kelly has him pressed against the cage.
Leonard missing with knees to the body.
Leonard looking for a takedown.
Leonard tries to pull guard but Kelly holds him up against the cage and eventually Leonard drops back down to his feet.
Connor Kelly has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nuriel Leonard.
Kelly lands a left hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelly tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Leonard is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kelly is defending well for now.
Kelly wants to stall.
Leonard prevents a body shot from Kelly.
Leonard lands a hook that snaps the head of Kelly backwards.
Leonard unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Leonard trying to land knees to the body.
Leonard blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Leonard unloads a knee to the mid-section. Kelly lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A short left from Kelly.
Kelly lands a hook that snaps the head of Leonard backwards.
Leonard is trying to stall.
Kelly is looking to control Leonard's arms but Leonard gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kelly has his back to the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelly swings wildly with an uppercut but Leonard uses good head movement to avoid it.

Leonard has hold of one of Kelly's legs. Kelly is fighting the takedown attempt but Leonard gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Leonard trying to control the position from guard on top but Kelly is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Leonard won't allow Kelly to sweep him here.
Kelly pulls Leonard in close to prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kelly has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Leonard wants to control from the top but Kelly keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kelly needs to keep his hands up - Leonard had a free shot at his head there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nuriel Leonard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Leonard wants to clinch up but Kelly keeps it at a distance.
Leonard doesn't manage to clinch there - Kelly circles away.

Kelly has managed to clinch.
Kelly taking a breather.
Leonard scores with a knee to the head.
Leonard trying to stall but Kelly improves his position.
A hook to the body from Kelly.
Kelly lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Leonard lands a nice shot to the body.
Kelly is looking to control Leonard's arms but Leonard gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kelly has his back to the cage.
A short body shot lands from Leonard as the two fighters clinch.
Kelly on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kelly struggles to land a body shot inside as Leonard controls his hands.
Leonard throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kelly blocks it with crossed arms.
Kelly tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kelly works on Leonard's body with a couple of short punches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kelly blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Leonard is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Leonard seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
Nice body punch from Kelly - that landed with a thud.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Leonard prevents a body shot from Kelly.
Kelly lands with a left to the head.
Kelly tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Nuriel Leonard just about did enough to take it.
That's time! Back to the action!

A jab from Kelly misses.
Leonard wants to clinch up but Kelly keeps it at a distance.

Kelly darts in and clinches Leonard up against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Kelly - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Leonard taking a breather.
Leonard working Kelly over with knees to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Leonard working aggressively here.
Kelly misses with a body punch.
Kelly letting Leonard take a breather here.
Kelly swings wildly with an uppercut but Leonard uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelly tries to work over Leonard's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Leonard landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Leonard stalling against the cage.
Leonard is trying to maintain a safe position but Kelly gets an underhook and turns Leonard into the cage.
Leonard with a knee to the head.
Leonard tries to throw a body punch but Kelly avoids it by throwing Leonard back against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Leonard.
Kelly taking a breather.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Leonard tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kelly scores with a shot to the side of Leonard's head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelly blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Leonard lands a body punch.
Leonard stalling against the cage.
Leonard lands a body shot in the clinch.
Leonard jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kelly walks away with a smile on his face. Leonard gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Leonard blocks a jab.
Kelly swats away the attempt to clinch by Leonard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Leonard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Leonard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kelly works the jab nicely.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kelly.
Leonard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kelly walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Leonard checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Leonard closes the distance and pushes Kelly back into the cage.
Leonard's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Come on Leonard - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kelly scores with a nice hook to the head.
Leonard throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Leonard pressing his opponent against the cage.
Kelly throws a punch but it's blocked by Leonard.
Leonard scores with a hook to the body.
Leonard misses with a punch to the body.
Leonard throws a punch but it's blocked by Kelly.
Leonard lands with a left to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kelly on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Leonard taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Leonard putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Kelly in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Leonard using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kelly has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Leonard prevents a body shot from Kelly.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nuriel Leonard dominated that fourth round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Leonard just misses with a punch to the body.

Kelly closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kelly.
Kelly is looking to control Leonard's arms but Leonard gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kelly has his back to the cage.
Kelly is pushing Leonard up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Kelly stalling in the clinch but Leonard improves position.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kelly.
Leonard lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kelly backwards.
Kelly throws a punch but it's blocked by Leonard.
Leonard tries a body shot but Kelly blocks it.
Leonard tries to land a knee to the head but Kelly blocks with his arms.
Kelly lands a hook that snaps the head of Leonard backwards.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Leonard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Leonard tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Leonard tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kelly avoids it.
Kelly takes a knee right on the jaw!
A right handed body shot lands from Kelly.
Kelly misses with some punches.
Leonard takes a shot to the head.
Leonard is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kelly lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Leonard with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kelly is stalling here.
Kelly is trying to stall.
Kelly stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard misses with a body punch.
Kelly misses with a body punch.
Leonard displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kelly up against the cage.
Leonard blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Leonard trying to land knees to the body.
Kelly doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Leonard's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Leonard working aggressively here.
Kelly fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Leonard fails to pull guard.
Leonard landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kelly has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Leonard stalling in the clinch but Kelly improves position.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kelly.
Kelly blocks an elbow strike.
Kelly lands a nice uppercut.
Kelly is struggling to control the position.
Leonard is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kelly is defending well for now.
Kelly tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Leonard's elbow.
Kelly blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Kelly takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Kelly presses Leonard against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kelly lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kelly is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kelly blocks it with crossed arms.
Kelly will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Leonard up against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Connor Kelly has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kelly gets through Leonard's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Nuriel Leonard is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kelly as Leonard tries to tie him up.
Leonard is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Kelly has denied him.
Kelly tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Leonard's elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Leonard prevents a body shot from Kelly.
Leonard pushes Kelly back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Leonard misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kelly.

And that's the end of the fight!
Connor Kelly showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Leonard has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 47:48
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 47:48
Judge William Peck scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nuriel Leonard!
Nuriel Leonard is the new featherweight champion!
A very excited looking Nuriel Leonard made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.