PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dan Leighty (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Sabre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leighty's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Cowboy Dan. 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.

Leighty
vs
Sabre

185 cm
28
193 lbs
21 - 9 - 1

189 cm
35
184 lbs
41 - 16 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Hellbent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Dan Leighty!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 41 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Matt Sabre!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leighty blocks a jab.
Leighty blocks a jab.
Sabre pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Leighty lands with a right hand.
Sabre chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Leighty can pounce on him.
Sabre misses with an uppercut.
Sabre does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Sabre steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Leighty.
Jab, jab by Leighty - just one landing.
Sabre throws a good cross that connects.
Leighty lands with a cross.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sabre takes a swing at Leighty's ribcage but misses.
Sabre throws a nice looking combination but Leighty bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Leighty throws a body punch but Sabre moves out of range.
Leighty keeps the fight on the outside.
Sabre moves out of range of the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sabre throws a nice outside leg kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sabre.
Sabre waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Leighty.
Sabre tries to clinch up but Leighty circles away and keeps his distance.
Leighty misses the shot to the body.
Leighty lands a glancing blow to the side of Sabre's head.
Sabre misses with a looping left.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sabre is defended easily by Leighty.
Leighty lands a nice looking body shot.
Leighty throws an off balance right hand
and Sabre makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Leighty takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Sabre.
Sabre misses with a low kick.
Sabre misses with a low kick.
Leighty connects with an inside leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sabre swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sabre throws a low kick but it's checked well by Leighty.
Leighty misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sabre misses with a lunging right hand
and Leighty counters with a body kick.
Sabre swings for the body but Leighty moves out of range.
Danga de danga de dang - Leighty scores with a four punch combination!
Leighty scores with the left hand. Sabre knows he should have avoided that one.
We've been told by Leighty's head coaches at Sydney Shootfighting that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Sabre tries to clinch but Leighty is having none of it.
Sabre throws a solid leg kick but Leighty takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Sabre.
Leighty lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sabre tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Leighty counters with a low kick, right behind Sabre 's knee.
Matt Sabre seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sabre ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Leighty moves away.
A head kick misses from Sabre.
Leighty lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Leighty looks to land a right hand but Sabre moved out of range.
Leighty looks to land a left hand but Sabre moved out of range nicely.
Sabre will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Leighty takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Leighty looks to land a left hand but Sabre moved out of range nicely.
Sabre walks into a stiff left hand from Leighty.

It looks like Matt Sabre has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leighty jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Leighty takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Sabre lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sabre tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Leighty paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Leighty throws a big shot that misses.
Sabre thows a leg kick but Leighty checks it
and Leighty counters with a leg kick.
A low kick from Sabre misses
and Leighty cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sabre misses with a straight right.
Leighty falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Sabre to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sabre throws a body kick that misses.
Sabre avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sabre with a hook.
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 Dan Leighty will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Matt Sabre's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Leighty takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Sabre has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sabre there as he acknowledges the shot.
That kick from Leighty tenderised Sabre's leg. Sabre is trying to keep his angry face on.
Leighty lands a body shot.
A slow jab from Leighty misses its intended target.
Sabre thows a left - swing and a miss!
Leighty tries to land a front kick but Sabre steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
The fighters circling - Leighty throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Dan Leighty is winning the standup battle so far.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sabre.
Sabre moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Sabre throws an overhand right that lands on Leighty's shoulder, as Leighty tries to avoid the shot.
Sabre throws a series of punches but Leighty avoids them all with ease.
Leighty misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sabre.
Sabre pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leighty ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sabre keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sabre moves out of range as Leighty throws a body kick.
Sabre lands a nice looking body shot.
Sabre takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Sabre misses with a lunging right hand
and Leighty counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Sabre lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Leighty has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Leighty and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Sabre throws out a loose jab but Leighty uses good head movement to avoid it.
A jab from Sabre misses.
Sabre misses with a double jab.
Leighty moves out of range of the body kick from Sabre.
Leighty throws a sloppy head kick and Sabre moves out of range easily.
Sabre throws a leg kick
and Leighty counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sabre takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
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!
Leighty ducks under a wild hook from Sabre.

Sabre gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sabre lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Leighty misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sabre lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Sabre blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sabre lands a left hand that snaps the head of Leighty backwards.
Leighty lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sabre backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leighty throws a head punch that misses.
Leighty misses with a hook from the clinch.
Leighty misses with some punches.
Sabre misses with a hook from the clinch.
Leighty connects with a knee to the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Leighty misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Leighty misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sabre stalling in the clinch but Leighty improves position.
A left hand lands to the body for Leighty.
Sabre tries to throw a body punch but Leighty avoids it by throwing Sabre back against the cage.
Leighty has a couple of punches blocked by Sabre.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sabre misses with a punch on the inside.
Leighty avoiding damage.
Leighty lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Sabre stalling.
Sabre swings wildly with an uppercut but Leighty uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short right from Leighty on the inside.
Leighty blocking some punches.
Leighty lands with a short shot to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sabre trying to control the position but instead, Leighty has worked for underhooks and has pushed Sabre into the cage.
Sabre on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Leighty dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Matt Sabre's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Sabre checks a leg kick nicely.
Sabre throws the left hand but Leighty avoids the punch easily.
Leighty thows a leg kick but Sabre checks it
and Sabre counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Sabre takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Leighty throws an overhand right that lands on Sabre's shoulder, as Sabre tries to avoid the shot.
Leighty tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Leighty throws a shot from downtown. Sabre moves away and avoids it.
Sabre throws a nice looking combination but Leighty bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Leighty throws a quick inside leg kick.
Leighty slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Sabre.
Leighty throws a nice inside leg kick.
Leighty on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Leighty blocks the low kick.
Sabre takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A clash of legs there as Leighty blocks the low kick.
Sabre takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Nice cross by Leighty.
No joy there for Sabre, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A head kick misses from Leighty.
Sabre throws a big shot that misses.
Sabre misses with a straight left.
Leighty throws a jab when Sabre was well out of range.
Dan Leighty is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sabre shoots in but no luck this time.
A slow jab from Sabre misses its intended target.
Sabre cracks Leighty with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sabre fails to land with a series of punches.
Sabre needs to keep his hands up - Leighty had a free shot at his head there.
Sabre moves out of range of the body kick from Leighty.
Sabre fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Leighty manages to avoid it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sabre throws a low kick, looking for Leighty's leg but Leighty calmly moves out of range.
Sabre fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sabre lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Leighty circles away quickly and effectively.
Leighty lands the left hand.
Leighty fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Leighty scores with a hook to the body. Sabre takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Leighty throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Leighty lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sabre's sensitive parts.
Matt Sabre has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sabre tries to score a power double leg takedown but Leighty sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sabre somewhat.
Sabre takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Leighty misses with a low kick.
Leighty throws the left hand but Sabre avoids the punch easily.
Leighty lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Sabre walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Sabre shoots in looking for a takedown but Leighty manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sabre's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Dan Leighty has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Sabre.
Sabre shoots in and drives through. Leighty sprawls well.
Sabre's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Sabre chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Leighty can pounce on him.
Sabre takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Sabre looks to score with a jab to the body but Leighty is just out of range.
Nice shot lands for Leighty.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sabre misses with a wild body shot.
A lazy left from Leighty finds it's target.
Sabre has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sabre misses with a wild combination.
Sabre throws a half hearted mid kick.
Sabre wants to clinch.
Leighty scores with a shot to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A low kick from Sabre is predictable there
and Leighty counters with a slapping leg kick.
Leighty throws a wild body kick that Sabre sees coming a mile off.
Leighty lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sabre circles away quickly and effectively.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Leighty showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Leighty 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Leighty!
After winning the bout, Dan Leighty thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.