PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Taz Devil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nuriel Leonard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Devil comes to the cage accompanied by Motorhead-Enter Sandman. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Devil
vs
Leonard

175 cm
34
148 lbs
28 - 19 - 1

168 cm
32
147 lbs
24 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Merciless Gladiators
Namunamu Clothing

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 28 - 19 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Taz Devil!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 12 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nuriel Leonard!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leonard thows a body shot but no joy.
Leonard jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Leonard lands a slapping body shot.
Leonard lands an overhand right.
Devil looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Leonard, as that shot connected.
Devil ducks under a wild hook from Leonard.
Devil avoids a punch combination nicely.
Leonard looks to land a left hand but Devil moved out of range nicely.
Devil takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Leonard throws the left hand but Devil avoids the punch easily.
Leonard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Leonard fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nuriel Leonard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Devil swats away the attempt to clinch by Leonard.
A head kick misses from Devil.
Leonard shoots for a double leg takedown but Devil sprawls well. He's pushed Leonard's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Leonard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Devil.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Leonard clinches up against the cage.
Devil digs a right hand into Leonard's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Leonard's gas tank.
A short left from Leonard.
Leonard lands a right hand that snaps the head of Devil backwards.

Leonard gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Devil wants to stand and escape but Leonard is having none of it.
Devil is pulling down on Leonard's head to control his posture.
Leonard with a flurry of punches that miss.
Leonard has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Devil wants to stand up but Leonard is controlling him.
Leonard throws a big elbow that misses.
Devil utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Leonard throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard trying to control the position from guard on top but Devil is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Leonard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Devil utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Leonard throws a big right hand that misses.
Leonard wants to pass the guard but Devil is keeping the position.
Leonard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Leonard in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Devil trying to keep a closed guard but Leonard is proving a slippery customer.
Leonard won't allow Devil to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard looking to pass the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Leonard accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Devil keeping full guard, as Leonard tries to pass.
Devil has control of Leonard's left arm, preventing Leonard from doing any damage.
Leonard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Leonard with a nice head shot there.
Devil not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Leonard stops Devil from standing up.
Leonard is looking to work some ground and pound but Devil has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard trying to control but Devil is working from the bottom.
Leonard throwing strikes from guard but Devil blocks nicely.
Leonard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Devil swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Leonard throws a big elbow that misses.
Leonard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Devil swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Leonard throwing strikes from guard but Devil blocks nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Devil keeping moving, preventing Leonard from controlling successfully.
Devil pulls Leonard in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nuriel Leonard dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Devil throws a jab but it's blocked by Leonard.
Leonard swings away with a body shot that misses
and Devil finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Devil slips under a jab.
Leonard sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Devil lands the left hand.
Leonard tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Devil was well out of range. Poor timing from Leonard.
Devil circles away from the clinch attempt.
Leonard throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Devil lunges at Leonard with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Leonard's hand.
Leonard throws a lazy right hand but Devil sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Leonard just misses with a punch to the body.
Leonard lands the left hand.
Devil lands with an overhand left.
Leonard scores with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Devil with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Leonard to score with a decent uppercut.
Leonard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Devil.
Left hook, right uppercut from Leonard.
Leonard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Devil moves away.
Devil tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Devil lands with a nice body punch.
Devil keeps the fight on the outside.
Leonard doesn't manage to clinch there - Devil circles away.

Leonard instigates a clinch.
Devil can't break the clinch.
A body shot lands from Devil.

Devil breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Devil misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Devil fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Leonard has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Leonard doesn't manage to clinch there - Devil circles away.
Devil misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Devil throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Leonard swings for the body but Devil moves out of range.
A solid body kick from Devil.
Devil lands a nice looking body kick.
Devil throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Leonard avoids the head kick by Devil.
Leonard misses the shot to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Leonard there.
Devil swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Devil throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Leonard misses with a looping left.
Leonard lands with a shot to the body.
Devil tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sloppy strikes from Devil. Those never looked like landing.
Leonard displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Devil throws out the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Devil tries to move into range but Leonard moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Leonard looks to land a left hand but Devil moved out of range nicely.
Devil punishes Leonard's body with a nice straight punch.
Nuriel Leonard seems to be getting the better of the standup.
No joy there for Leonard, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Devil tries to work over Leonard's front leg with a kick but Leonard checks it.
Leonard uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Devil.
Leonard fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Leonard lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Nice uppercut there from Devil.
Leonard staying out of range there.
Leonard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Devil misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Devil looks to score with a jab to the body but Leonard is just out of range.
Nice uppercut there from Leonard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Devil throws a nice looking combination but Leonard bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Devil uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Leonard.

Devil gets tackled into the cage by Leonard. Leonard maintains the clinch.
Leonard blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Leonard throws a knee to the head but misses.
Leonard is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Devil is keeping busy.
Devil misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Devil gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Leonard.
Leonard lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Devil backwards.
Leonard landing knees to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Leonard tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Devil wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Leonard has him pressed against the cage.
Leonard has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. So far he's outscoring his opponent in the clinch so it seems to have been worthwhile.
Leonard lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Devil is trying to break the clinch but Leonard is controlling him.
Devil 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 Taz Devil will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Leonard shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Devil sprawls well. Devil wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Leonard gets slowly back to his feet.
Leonard tries to score a power double leg takedown but Devil sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Leonard somewhat.
Leonard keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Leonard just misses with a punch to the body.
Leonard fails with the takedown.
Taz Devil has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nuriel Leonard.
Leonard throws a hook to the side of Devil's head but Devil sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sloppy strikes from Leonard. Those never looked like landing.
Leonard fails with a takedown attempt.
Leonard throws a shot from downtown. Devil moves away and avoids it.
Leonard wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Devil.
Leonard rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Devil moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Leonard lands a nice shot to the body.
Devil with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Leonard to score with a decent uppercut.
Leonard fails with a takedown attempt.
Leonard chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Devil can pounce on him.
Devil slips a jab from Leonard.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Leonard is defended easily by Devil.
Leonard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Devil tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Leonard was well out of range. Poor timing from Devil.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Devil tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Devil scores with a head kick.
Devil lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Leonard shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Devil as he jumps to the side.
A looping hook to the body misses from Leonard. Devil does a little dance to reset his feet.
Leonard misses with a wild body shot.
Leonard moves in looking to clinch but Devil pushes him off.
Devil avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Leonard throws a body punch but Devil moves out of range.
Leonard moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Leonard lunges at Devil with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Devil's hand.
Leonard takes a jab right on the kisser.
Leonard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Leonard throws a right and a left that Devil avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Leonard takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Leonard feints a jab promting Devil to slip. Leonard then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Devil slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Leonard is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Devil.
Leonard misses with a body shot.
Devil goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Leonard looks to throw the jab but Devil is out of range.
Leonard shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Devil as he avoids it easily.
Leonard has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Devil.
Devil tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Leonard misses with a wild body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Leonard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Devil moves away.
Devil dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Devil.
Leonard thows a left - swing and a miss!
Leonard takes a kick to the side of the head.
Leonard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Leonard tries to clinch there but Devil circles away.
Devil tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Leonard shoots in looking for a takedown but Devil manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Leonard's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Devil doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Leonard misses with a straight left.
Devil is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Devil sizes up Leonard with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Devil pulls out of a head kick attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Leonard takes one to the side of the head.
Leonard throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Devil counters with a stiff right hand.
Leonard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Leonard misses the jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taz Devil showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Devil has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Nuriel Leonard!
After the fight, Nuriel Leonard was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.