PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Reginald Leslie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Investitor Gradnje (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gradnje has chosen Rammstein-Moskau as his entrance music. 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.

Leslie
vs
Gradnje

195 cm
19
220 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

188 cm
19
213 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Bad Man Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Reginald Leslie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Investitor Gradnje!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Cecil Peabody and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leslie tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gradnje manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Leslie looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Leslie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Leslie finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Leslie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gradnje swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Gradnje dives in and scores a takedown into Leslie's guard.
Leslie looking for a sweep. Not yet Leslie, not yet.
Gradnje is looking to stand up but Leslie won't let him.
Gradnje wants to control from the top but Leslie keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gradnje throws a strike but Leslie rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gradnje is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leslie definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Leslie has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gradnje working a defensive guard here.
Leslie wants to stand and escape but instead Gradnje has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Gradnje won't allow Leslie to sweep him here.
Gradnje pushing down on Leslie's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Gradnje is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Leslie has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gradnje tries to pass the half guard into mount. Leslie knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Leslie wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Leslie is defending against the submission attempts here by Gradnje.
Gradnje takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Leslie wants to get back to his feet.
Gradnje trying to control the action but Leslie is working from the bottom.

Gradnje seems to be looking for submissions.

Gradnje is working for a kimura but Leslie is defending it quite comfortably.

Gradnje seems to be working for a kimura but Leslie defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gradnje is looking for a kimura but Leslie is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gradnje to get the leverage.
Gradnje wants to control but Leslie is keeping him busy.

Leslie is defending against the submission attempts here by Gradnje.

Gradnje is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Leslie pushes Gradnje off looking to stand but Gradnje dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gradnje is trying to control. Leslie wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Leslie knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gradnje on the ground.

Gradnje is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Leslie defends it well.

Gradnje is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gradnje looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Gradnje seems to be working for a kimura but Leslie defends the submission attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gradnje is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Investitor Gradnje dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Leslie pivots, looking for a leg kick but Gradnje is out of range and Leslie settles back down.
Leslie tries to clinch but Gradnje is having none of it.
Leslie tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Gradnje counters by moving into the clinch.
Gradnje drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Leslie tries a knee to the head but Gradnje blocks it.
Leslie with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Leslie tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gradnje avoids it.
Gradnje on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Leslie scores a nice knee to the body.
Leslie lands a nice knee to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gradnje fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gradnje is breathing heavily.
Leslie landing knees to the head.
Leslie tries a knee to the head but Gradnje blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leslie with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Leslie scores with a knee to the head.
Leslie tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gradnje avoids it.
Leslie tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gradnje avoids it.
Gradnje is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Leslie pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Reginald Leslie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Investitor Gradnje.
Leslie misses with an elbow over the top.
Leslie lands a nice knee to the body.
Gradnje blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Leslie misses with an elbow over the top.
Gradnje fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gradnje blocking some punches.
Gradnje blocks a body shot from Leslie.
Leslie misses with a punch on the inside.
Leslie landing some nice looking knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Leslie scores with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leslie is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Leslie is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Gradnje takes a knee to the side of the body.
Leslie throws a knee to the head but misses.
Leslie lands a knee to the head.
A shot in the inside from Leslie.
Leslie tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gradnje avoiding damage as Leslie throws knees to the body.
Leslie misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gradnje.
Gradnje blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Leslie makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Gradnje pulls guard effortlessly.
Leslie tries to stand but Gradnje is controlling from the bottom.

Leslie stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leslie tries to clinch up

and Gradnje moves into the clinch.
Leslie gets underhooks to prevent Gradnje's takedown attempt.
A knee to the head by Leslie.
Leslie fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gradnje blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gradnje blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Leslie tries to land knees in the clinch but Gradnje avoids the damage to the body.
Gradnje can't get the takedown.
Leslie swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Gradnje fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leslie lands a good knee to the midsection. Gradnje won't want to take too many of those.

Gradnje pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Leslie forces Gradnje back against the cage and clinches.
Leslie landing knees to the body.
Leslie missing with knees to the body.
Gradnje avoids the elbow strike from Leslie, against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Leslie lands a good knee to the midsection. Gradnje won't want to take too many of those.
Leslie scores with a knee to the head.
Leslie tries to throw a body punch but Gradnje avoids it by throwing Leslie back against the cage.
Leslie landing knees to the body.
A hook to the body from Leslie.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Leslie landing knees to the body.
Leslie scores with a nice hook to the head.
Leslie putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Gradnje in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Leslie tries to clinch but Gradnje is having none of it.
Gradnje misses with a takedown attempt - Leslie sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Leslie pushes Gradnje up against the cage in a clinch.
Leslie tries to land knees in the clinch but Gradnje avoids the damage to the body.
Leslie throws a punch but it's blocked by Gradnje.
Leslie lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gradnje backwards.
Leslie tries a knee to the head but Gradnje blocks it.
Leslie misses with a knee strike.
Gradnje has Leslie pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Leslie manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gradnje.
Leslie misses with a knee strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Leslie using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gradnje has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Leslie with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Leslie lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leslie unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gradnje lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Leslie trying to land knees to the body.
Gradnje managing to block the knees to the body from Leslie.
Leslie misses with a punch to the body.
Leslie tries a knee to the head but Gradnje blocks it.
Leslie trying to land knees to the body.
Leslie tries a knee to the head but Gradnje blocks it.

Gradnje is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Leslie can't fight it off and eventually Gradnje manages to take the fight to the floor. Leslie looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Investitor Gradnje has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gradnje stands and throws Leslie's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Gradnje tries for a kimura but Leslie is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leslie wants to get back to his feet.

Gradnje is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Leslie is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Gradnje tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Leslie is trying to buck Gradnje off.

Gradnje is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Leslie has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gradnje throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Gradnje prevents Leslie from escaping the position.
The ground and pound from Gradnje seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Gradnje wants to control but Leslie is keeping him busy.

Gradnje is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Leslie looks calm but he's in trouble here. Gradnje gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Leslie is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Gradnje lets go of the hold and Leslie can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Investitor Gradnje!
Investitor Gradnje took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.