PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tico Ponce De Leon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Les Paul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ponce De Leon's entrance music is Los Lobos - Canción Del Mariachi. A fine choice. Paul is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Hell & Back. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Ponce De Leon
vs
Paul

171 cm
26
149 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

160 cm
36
148 lbs
21 - 18 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Solid chin

KAISER

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tico Ponce De Leon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 18 - 1, fighting out of New York, Les Paul!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Bruno Lombardi and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good leg kick by Ponce De Leon there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Ponce De Leon pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ponce De Leon tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Paul moves in looking to clinch but Ponce De Leon pushes him off.
A low kick from Ponce De Leon is predictable there

and Paul counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ponce De Leon's guard now.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Paul wants to stand but Ponce De Leon has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Paul looking to sit in guard and control but Ponce De Leon gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Ponce De Leon stands up from Paul's guard - Ponce De Leon perhaps looking for a knockout.
Ponce De Leon throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Paul keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A swing and a miss from Ponce De Leon.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Ponce De Leon clinches.
Paul is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ponce De Leon is defending well for now.
Ponce De Leon lands with a short shot to the head.
Ponce De Leon lands a hook that snaps the head of Paul backwards.

Ponce De Leon manages to break the clinch.
Ponce De Leon with a nice cross.
Paul tries to clinch but Ponce De Leon moves out of range.

Paul has closed the distance and engaged Ponce De Leon in a clinch.
Ponce De Leon pushes Paul back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Paul tightens his grip and picks Ponce De Leon up, before dumping him to the ground. Ponce De Leon manages to land in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ponce De Leon has Paul pulled in close to control his posture.
Ponce De Leon bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Paul's guard.
Ponce De Leon stops Paul from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponce De Leon looking to sit in guard and control but Paul gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Ponce De Leon working for a triangle but Paul defends it easily.
Ponce De Leon seems keen to control Paul's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Paul slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paul is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ponce De Leon doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Paul.
Ponce De Leon is trying to get back to full guard.
Paul passes the guard and advances to mount!
Paul tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Ponce De Leon is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ponce De Leon is squirming around, avoiding Paul's attempts to control the action.
Ponce De Leon stops Paul from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.

Paul goes for an armbar but Ponce De Leon turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Ponce De Leon.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Paul looking for a sweep. Not yet Paul, not yet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Paul trying to control 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 Tico Ponce De Leon will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ponce De Leon stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Ponce De Leon stuffs the takedown attempt from Paul. Paul gets slowly back to his feet.
Ponce De Leon looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Ponce De Leon throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Ponce De Leon jabs at Paul's body.
Paul wants to clinch but Ponce De Leon slips to the side
and Ponce De Leon counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Paul is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Ponce De Leon tries to close the distance and clinch up but Paul swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ponce De Leon turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ponce De Leon scores with a nice head shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ponce De Leon throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Paul tries to clinch up.
Ponce De Leon avoids the body shot from Paul.
Ponce De Leon scores with a kick to the body.
Ponce De Leon pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ponce De Leon ducks under a wild hook from Paul.
Paul tries to close the distance and clinch but Ponce De Leon swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ponce De Leon throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Paul tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ponce De Leon manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ponce De Leon fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Paul checks it well.
Ponce De Leon throws a low kick but Paul avoids it.
Paul tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ponce De Leon manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Paul misses with an uppercut
and Ponce De Leon counters with a good low kick that Paul was not able to check.
Ponce De Leon paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Tico Ponce De Leon is winning the standup battle so far.
Paul shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ponce De Leon throws a sloppy head kick and Paul moves out of range easily.
Paul is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Paul shoots for a takedown but Ponce De Leon saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tico Ponce De Leon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Les Paul.
Ponce De Leon fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ponce De Leon connects with a crisp jab.
Paul scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Ponce De Leon pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ponce De Leon swats away the attempt to clinch by Paul.
Paul has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Paul there as he acknowledges the shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ponce De Leon. Paul does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ponce De Leon swats away the attempt to clinch by Paul.
Ponce De Leon connects with an inside leg kick.
Paul throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Ponce De Leon counters with a left to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Still in the clinch, Ponce De Leon scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Ponce De Leon.
Ponce De Leon makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ponce De Leon.
Ponce De Leon lands a nice elbow.
Ponce De Leon lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ponce De Leon creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Paul tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ponce De Leon smiles and moves away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Paul looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ponce De Leon misses with a head kick.
Ponce De Leon lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Paul closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ponce De Leon trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paul wants to take a breather but Ponce De Leon is having none of it.
Ponce De Leon trying to control from the bottom.
Paul wants to get back to his feet.
Ponce De Leon is looking to improve his position.
Ponce De Leon trying to control here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Paul is trying to control. Ponce De Leon wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ponce De Leon fakes the leg kick and cracks Paul in the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tico Ponce De Leon dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Ponce De Leon connects with a solid leg kick.
Ponce De Leon is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Ponce De Leon darts in and clinches Paul up against the cage.
Nice elbow from Paul.

Ponce De Leon breaks the clinch.
Paul wants to clinch
and Ponce De Leon counters with a thumping low kick.
Ponce De Leon buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Paul tried to score with a low kick but Ponce De Leon checks it.
Paul wants to clinch but Ponce De Leon slips to the side
and Ponce De Leon makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Paul throws a push kick but Ponce De Leon slaps the foot to one side.
Paul's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Paul tries to clinch but Ponce De Leon moves out of range.
Ponce De Leon tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Paul is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Paul lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Ponce De Leon backs up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Paul tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Paul takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Paul clinches.
Paul drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ponce De Leon gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ponce De Leon is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Paul is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Ponce De Leon breaks the clinch.
Ponce De Leon swats away the attempt to clinch by Paul.
Ponce De Leon connects with a high kick.
Paul doesn't manage to clinch there - Ponce De Leon circles away.
Ponce De Leon lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Paul keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
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!
Ponce De Leon lands with a thumping leg kick.
Paul is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A slapping leg kick lands for Ponce De Leon.
Paul lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Jab from Ponce De Leon.
Paul misses with a hook. Ponce De Leon ducked under it nicely.
Ponce De Leon scores with a body shot.
Ponce De Leon works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Ponce De Leon lands a head kick!
Tico Ponce De Leon is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Paul dives in and grabs Ponce De Leon's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ponce De Leon pushes down on Paul's head and hops out.
Tico Ponce De Leon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Les Paul.
Paul takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ponce De Leon dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Paul. That did some damage!
Tico Ponce De Leon is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ponce De Leon has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ponce De Leon lands an elbow that stopped Paul in his tracks for a moment.
Paul tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ponce De Leon just stands there and leans against the cage.
Paul throws a head punch that misses.
Paul goes for a takedown attempt but Ponce De Leon pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Paul walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Paul is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Ponce De Leon throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Paul fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Paul misses with a low kick.
Paul stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ponce De Leon.
The fight stays on the outside here - Paul looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ponce De Leon fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Paul has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Ponce De Leon forces Paul back against the cage and clinches.
Ponce De Leon pushes Paul back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Ponce De Leon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Paul throws the left hand but Ponce De Leon avoids the punch easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ponce De Leon connects with a single shot there.
Paul takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ponce De Leon thuds his shin into the meat of Paul's side.
Ponce De Leon misses with a head kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Paul scores with a kick to the body.
Ponce De Leon swats away the attempt to clinch by Paul.
Les Paul has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paul takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tico Ponce De Leon showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ponce De Leon, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tico Ponce De Leon!
Tico Ponce De Leon bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.