PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Donny Leonard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Horse Bucco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Horse Bucco has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Leonard
vs
Bucco

197 cm
23
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

166 cm
24
150 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Donny Leonard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Horse Bucco!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Dillan Fox and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leonard moves out of range of the leg kick from Bucco.
Bucco looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Leonard lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Bucco closes this distance looking for a takedown but Leonard circles away.
Bucco fails with the takedown
and Leonard counters with a two punch combo.

Leonard shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Bucco is trying to defend but Leonard finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Leonard is looking for a kimura but Bucco is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Leonard to get the leverage.
Leonard missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Leonard is nestled in close to Bucco, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Nice strikes from Leonard there.

Leonard is working for a kimura but Bucco is defending it quite comfortably.
Leonard throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Leonard lands strikes from half guard.
Bucco taking some punishment here, with Leonard in his half guard.
Leonard working the head and body with strikes.
Leonard thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Leonard drops an elbow to the side of Bucco's head.
Leonard throwing shots but Bucco is blocking nicely.
Nice strikes from Leonard there.
Leonard lands strikes from half guard.
Leonard seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Bucco blocking the ground and pound attempt from Leonard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Leonard in particular looking to stall.

Leonard looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Leonard takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bucco wants to control but Leonard is keeping busy.
Bucco has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Blackzilians Fighting Gym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Nice strikes from Leonard there.
Leonard landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Leonard sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Leonard is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bucco has managed to free his arm - good work.
Bucco blocking the ground and pound attempt from Leonard.
Bucco avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Leonard.

Leonard looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Leonard scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Bucco trying to get back to full guard but Leonard takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Leonard looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Leonard controlling the pace for now.
Leonard has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Leonard dominating with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donny Leonard dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bucco tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Leonard counters by clinching up.
Bucco jumps guard but Leonard stands there with Bucco around his waist. Bucco gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Leonard jumps guard but Bucco stands there with Leonard around his waist. Leonard gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Bucco prevents a takedown attempt there.
Bucco blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Leonard tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Bucco is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bucco is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Leonard drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donny Leonard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Leonard works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Bucco has momentary wrist control but Leonard slips an elbow through the middle.
Leonard chips away with some ground and pound.
Leonard really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Leonard is working Bucco over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Leonard scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Leonard lands a couple of digs.
Leonard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Leonard won't allow Bucco to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Leonard drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Bucco manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Leonard has Bucco in his guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Leonard wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Leonard looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Leonard wants to stand and escape but Bucco is having none of it.
Leonard keeping moving, preventing Bucco from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Leonard is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bucco is aware though and is defending well.
Leonard controlling Bucco's posture.
Bucco prevents Leonard from getting back to his feet.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Leonard looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Leonard is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bucco wants to get up but he can't break Leonard's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bucco postures up.

Leonard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Leonard is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bucco is controlling him.
Bucco throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bucco stops Leonard from standing up.
Bucco wanted to stand there but Leonard had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donny Leonard dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Leonard gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Leonard is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Bucco is looking to break free of the clinch but Leonard has double underhooks.
Leonard'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.
Bucco tries to pull guard but Leonard forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Leonard fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Bucco takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Leonard goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bucco prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donny Leonard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard tries to pull guard but Bucco won't allow it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bucco.
Leonard is trying to drag Bucco to the mat but Bucco just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Leonard jumps into guard, dragging Bucco to the mat.
Leonard wants to stand and escape but Bucco is having none of it.
Bucco must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bucco wanted to stand there but Leonard had control of the position.

Leonard has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bucco can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard wants to stand but Bucco is controlling the position.
Donny Leonard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bucco pushes down on Leonard's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Bucco wants to pass the guard but Leonard is defending well.

Leonard is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bucco pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard looks like he's trying to stand up.
Bucco is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Leonard reverses the position - he's now on top in Bucco's guard.
Bucco is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Leonard landing with the ground and pound.
Leonard throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard with a nice head shot there.
Leonard stands up over Bucco, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Leonard is in close to Bucco's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bucco not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Leonard lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Leonard is looking to stand up but Bucco won't let him.
Leonard postures up and lands a big shot to Bucco's brow.
Leonard landing some decent shots from guard.
Leonard scoring with some ground and pound.
Horse Bucco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Donny Leonard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Leonard will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Leonard drops back looking for a leg! Bucco is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bucco manages to kick Leonard off! Leonard jumps back into Bucco's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Donny Leonard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Leonard has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Donny Leonard!