PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Keni Susi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nuriel Leonard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Susi's entrance music is Metallica - Hero of the Day. A fine choice. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Susi
vs
Leonard

175 cm
35
158 lbs
28 - 26 - 0

168 cm
32
147 lbs
25 - 12 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 - 26 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Keni Susi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 12 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nuriel Leonard!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Susi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Leonard lands a lovely overhand right.
A shot to the liver by Leonard. Beautiful body shot.
Leonard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Susi.
Leonard throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Susi shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Susi closes the distance and clinches up with Leonard, looking for a takedown. Susi pushes Leonard against the cage but Leonard circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Susi tries for a takedown but Leonard sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Susi dives in for a single leg takedown but Leonard sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keni Susi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Susi jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Leonard walks away with a smile on his face. Susi gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Leonard missing with a left hand there. Susi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Leonard stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Susi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Leonard throws a looping overhand right but Susi ducks down to avoid it.
Leonard looks to land a left hand but Susi moved out of range nicely.
Susi misses with a takedown
and Leonard counters with a stiff right hand.
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!
Leonard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Susi manages to avoid it.
Leonard stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Leonard wants it to stay on the feet.
Keni Susi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nice shot by Leonard.
Susi fails with a takedown attempt.
Susi shoots in looking for a takedown but Leonard manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Susi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Leonard lands a jab.
Susi misses with a takedown attempt
and Leonard counters with a nice uppercut.
Susi takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Leonard looks to throw the jab but Susi is out of range.
Susi tries to clinch there but Leonard circles away.
Leonard slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Danga de danga de dang - Leonard scores with a four punch combination!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Leonard scores with a nice strike.
Leonard stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Leonard wants it to stay on the feet.
Leonard lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Leonard scores with a hook to the body. Susi takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Susi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Leonard counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Susi thinking.
Susi is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Susi doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Leonard counter with a right hand.
Susi takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Leonard ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Susi avoids the body shot from Leonard.
Leonard scores with a body shot.
Susi moves out of range of the strikes.
A shot to the liver by Leonard. Beautiful body shot.
Leonard misses with a body shot.

Leonard fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Susi, pushing him back against the cage.
Leonard misses with a punch to the body.
Leonard gets through Susi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Leonard with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Susi's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Leonard gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Leonard working the head and body with strikes.
Susi is trying to control but can't.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Leonard lands a nice short elbow.
Leonard is pressing down on Susi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Susi is holding on for now.
Leonard seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Susi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Leonard connects with a nice short shot to Susi's temple.
Leonard wants to lay and pray for a moment but Susi keeps working.
Leonard missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Leonard seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Susi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Leonard trying to pass the guard but Susi defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Susi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Leonard working over Susi with some ground and pound. Susi looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Leonard thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Leonard with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Susi is not content to let Leonard control the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Leonard is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Susi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Leonard's waist but Leonard gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Susi off to one side.
Susi takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Leonard stuffs the takedown attempt from Susi. Susi gets slowly back to his feet.

Leonard clinches up with Susi and pushes him back against the cage.
Leonard using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Susi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Leonard scores with a hook to the body.
Susi jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Leonard walks away with a smile on his face. Susi gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keni Susi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Leonard just misses with a punch to the body.
Nuriel Leonard seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Susi has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Susi there as he acknowledges the shot.
Susi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Leonard sprawls well. Leonard wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Susi gets slowly back to his feet.
Susi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Leonard cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Leonard misses with a double jab.
Susi misses with a takedown attempt
and Leonard counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Leonard stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Leonard has managed to clinch.
Leonard lands with a right to the head.
Susi takes a knee to the side of the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Leonard stalling against the cage.
Susi tries to pull guard but Leonard holds him up against the cage and eventually Susi drops back down to his feet.
Leonard with a knee to the head.

It looks like Keni Susi has been cut.
Leonard pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard lands a knee to the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Leonard.
Susi is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Leonard to keep the fight standing.
Leonard is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Leonard throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Leonard takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Leonard utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Leonard using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Leonard.
Leonard stalling.
Leonard utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Leonard lands a good knee to the midsection. Susi won't want to take too many of those.

Leonard lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Susi is not content to let Leonard control the position.

Susi looking for a kimura from the bottom but Leonard passes into side control!
Susi taking a bit of punishment here - Leonard scoring with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Leonard controlling the position.
Leonard trying to control the action but Susi is working from the bottom.
Susi taking a bit of punishment here - Leonard scoring with strikes.
Leonard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Leonard working the body and head with strikes.
Susi is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Qube Striking, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Susi manages to work his way to half guard, despite Leonard's best efforts.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Leonard looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Susi looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nuriel Leonard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Keni Susi's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Susi fails with a takedown attempt.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Susi. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Susi shoots in but Leonard avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Susi tries for a takedown but Leonard circles away easily
and Leonard counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keni Susi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Susi shoots and misses

and Leonard holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Susi is fighting off a takedown attempt but Leonard is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Susi to the mat. Susi regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Leonard controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Susi trying to strike off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard lands a couple of digs.
Leonard with a nice head shot there.
Leonard lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Leonard wants to control from the top but Susi keeps moving.
Leonard distracts Susi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Leonard wants to control from the top but Susi keeps moving.

Susi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Leonard can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Leonard sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Susi keeping moving, preventing Leonard from controlling successfully.
Leonard content to stall in guard here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Leonard lands a couple of digs.
Leonard showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Leonard passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Susi moves into full guard.
Leonard trying to control the position from guard on top but Susi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Susi 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.
Leonard is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Leonard landing with the ground and pound.
Leonard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Susi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Leonard wants to control from the top but Susi keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Susi is looking for a triangle here but Leonard uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Leonard scoring with punches and elbows.
Leonard is looking to take a break and control but Susi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nuriel Leonard is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Leonard scores with punches from side control.
Keni Susi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nuriel Leonard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nuriel Leonard!
Nuriel Leonard tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.