PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Keaton Villanova (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Martin Leon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Villanova comes to the cage accompanied by Lose Yourself-Eminem. Martin Leon told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Villanova
vs
Leon

185 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 3 - 1

190 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 0 - 3 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Keaton Villanova!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Martin Leon!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Michael Johnstone and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Villanova falls off balance throwing a combination
and Leon counters with a nice body shot.
Villanova looks to land a combination but Leon avoids it well.
Villanova dives in for a single leg takedown but Leon sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Villanova is trying to break free.
Villanova wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Leon tries to pull guard but Villanova holds him up against the cage and eventually Leon drops back down to his feet.
Leon stalling the fight.
Villanova takes a shot to the head.
Villanova definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Leon manages to break the clinch.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Leon!
Villanova misses with a leg kick

and Leon counters by moving into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Leon pulls guard successfully.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Villanova is looking to stand up but Leon won't let him.

Leon is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Villanova presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Villanova is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Villanova avoiding damage as Leon throws knees to the body.

Leon breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Villanova closes this distance looking for a takedown but Leon circles away.
Villanova throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Leon.
Villanova swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Villanova misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Villanova goes for a double leg but Leon avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Leon continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keaton Villanova. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A shot in the inside from Leon.
Leon is trying to pull guard but Villanova turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Leon jumps guard but Villanova stands there with Leon around his waist. Leon gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Villanova tries to circle away but Leon has him pinned against the cage.
Villanova wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villanova tries to break free but Leon pushes him back against the cage.

Leon manages to break the clinch.
Villanova throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Leon keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Villanova misses with the combination.
Villanova throws a left and a right that both miss
and Leon counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A bone on bone clash there as Leon blocks the leg kick.
Leon blocks a low kick nicely.
Villanova throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Villanova is breathing heavily.
A punch combination from Leon misses.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Leon - that will leave a mark!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leon is looking to slow Villanova down with leg kicks.
A shot to the liver by Leon. Beautiful body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Villanova. Leon does a little dance to reset his feet.
Villanova throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Leon.
Keaton Villanova seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Leon fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Villanova avoids it really well and circles away.
Leon ducks under a wild hook from Villanova.
Good exchange - Leon coming out on top.
Leon takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A low kick from Villanova is predictable there

and Leon counters by moving into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Villanova drops down looking for an ankle pick but Leon pulls his leg out and moves away.
Villanova misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Martin Leon will probably get the nod.
That's time! Villanova's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Villanova shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Leon fails with an attempt to clinch.
Leon throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Villanova pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Leon back to the cage. Villanova follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Leon changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Villanova tries to avoid it but Leon manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Villanova to the ground. Villanova escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Villanova fails to land the takedown.
Villanova throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Leon.
Leon scores with a three punch combo!
Villanova takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Leon wants to clinch.
Villanova throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Leon.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Villanova looks for a takedown but Leon sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keaton Villanova. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Leon avoids a punch combination nicely.
Leon rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Villanova moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Villanova misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Villanova shoots in and drives through. Leon sprawls well.
Leon misses with a head kick.
Villanova swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Leon counters by moving into the clinch.
Leon slows down the pace here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leon creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Villanova's defenses.

Leon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Leon misses with a body shot.
Leon darts in looking for a takedown but Villanova gets double underhooks and turns Leon into the cage.

Villanova jumps into guard, dragging Leon to the mat.
Leon throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leon missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Leon has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Villanova avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Leon trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Villanova is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Leon sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Villanova's guard.
Leon thows a huge punch but Villanova dodges it nicely.
Leon missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Leon is working for a kimura but Villanova is defending it quite comfortably.
Leon wants to take a breather but Villanova is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Villanova avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Leon.
Villanova is staying active underneath Leon, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Leon gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Villanova misses with a double jab.
A head kick misses from Villanova.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Villanova misses with a few strikes there.
Leon shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Villanova sprawls well. Villanova wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Leon gets slowly back to his feet.
Leon tries to clinch but Villanova moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin Leon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Villanova misses with a jab, cross combination.
Villanova throws a right hand that Leon ducks under and follows up with a left that Leon also avoids with ease.
Villanova throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Villanova throws a sloppy head kick
and Leon counters with a left to the body.
Villanova shoots in looking for a takedown. Leon tries to sprawl out of it but Villanova keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Leon manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Villanova is defended easily by Leon.
Leon fails with the takedown.
Leon tries to bum rush Villanova with a series of wild strikes but Villanova uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leon tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Villanova manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Leon closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Leon's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Villanova throws a nice looking combination but Leon bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Leon instigates a clinch.
Villanova can't break the clinch.
Villanova wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Leon pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Leon avoids a punch combination nicely.
Leon throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Leon instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leon lands a right hand.
Leon's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Leon manages to break the clinch.
Villanova is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Leon.
Leon defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Villanova.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keaton Villanova. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Villanova shoots in but Leon avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Leon wants to clinch up but Villanova keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leon throws a nice head kick!
Villanova throws a head kick that misses
and Leon counters with a one-two to the body.
Leon tries to close the distance and clinch but Villanova swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Villanova shoots in for a takedown but Leon shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Leon feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Villanovas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Leon dives in and grabs Villanova's left leg, looking for a takedown. Villanova pushes down on Leon's head and hops out.
Villanova looks for a takedown but Leon sprawls well.
Leon lands a head shot.
Leon moves in looking to clinch but Villanova pushes him off.
Leon scores with a sloppy right hand. Villanova should have avoided that one.

Leon clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leon lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Villanova is trying to break the clinch but Leon is controlling him.
Martin Leon is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Leon looking for a takedown.
Leon slowing the pace effectively.
Leon jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Villanova walks away with a smile on his face. Leon gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Horrible takedown by Villanova or perhaps it was just good defense by Leon which made him look bad.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Leon wants to clinch.
Keaton Villanova has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Villanova throws a head kick but Leon moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Martin Leon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Leon 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Martin Leon!