PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Leonard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rowdy Frank (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Leonard
vs
Frank

190 cm
18
278 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

200 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Raphael Leonard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rowdy Frank!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Valeri Chadov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Frank tries to clinch but Leonard moves away
letting Leonard counter with a right hand.
A head kick misses from Leonard.
Frank connects with an inside leg kick.
Rowdy Frank seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Frank tries to clinch but Leonard moves away

and Leonard counters by clinching up.

Frank decides to pull guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Leonard postures up and lands a big shot to Frank's brow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Frank utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Leonard lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Frank working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Leonard.
Frank working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Leonard.
Leonard works over Frank with some ground and pound from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Leonard with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Leonard stands and steps away. Frank gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Frank lands a body shot.
Frank lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Frank cracks the inside of Leonard's front leg.
Leonard fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Frank looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Frank darts in trying to clinch

and Leonard counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Leonard.
Leonard prevents Frank from breaking the clinch.

Leonard manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Leonard could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Leonard tries to strike from the bottom.

Leonard has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Frank can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Leonard is looking to stand up but Frank isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Frank throws a big elbow that misses.
Frank looks winded!
Leonard seems keen to control Frank's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Leonard scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
Frank throwing strikes from guard but Leonard blocks nicely.
Frank slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Frank tries to stand but Leonard controls the position and pulls Frank into his guard.

Leonard pushes Frank off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Raphael Leonard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Frank throws a solid leg kick but Leonard takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Frank.
Leonard thows a body shot but no joy.
Leonard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Frank moves away from the strike by Leonard.
Frank ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Leonard closes the distance and pushes Frank back into the cage.

Leonard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Frank takes one on the button.
Frank fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Leonard manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Frank moves out of range as Leonard strikes.

Frank drives through with a takedown into Leonard's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Leonard is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Frank is aware though and is defending well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Leonard manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Frank manages to get himself to full guard.
Leonard is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Leonard working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Frank's head.
Frank is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Leonard lands a couple of digs.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Leonard stands up over Frank, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Leonard stands and steps away. Frank gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Leonard dominated that 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.

Leonard lands a nice hook to Frank's body. Frank takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Frank moves to clinch but Leonard breaks away
and Leonard counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Frank looks to clinch
and Leonard counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nice defenses there by Frank.

Leonard clinches.
Leonard keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Frank's efforts to push away.
Frank takes a knee to the side of the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Leonard works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Leonard postures up.
Frank is breathing heavily.

Leonard decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Leonard throws a front kick aimed at Frank's knee but Frank avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Frank chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Leonard can pounce on him.
Leonard connects with the punch.
Leonard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Leonard punishes Frank's body with a nice straight punch.
Leonard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Frank can do to turn this around?
A head kick misses from Leonard.
Leonard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Leonard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Frank moves away.
Leonard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Frank.
Frank takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Frank throws a body punch but Leonard moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Leonard. Frank does a little dance to reset his feet.
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 is looking to chop away at Frank's legs.
Leonard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Frank moves away.
Leonard motions for Frank to come forward. Leonard throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Leonard. Frank does a little dance to reset his feet.
Leonard misses with a body shot.
Frank avoids the head kick by Leonard.
Leonard is looking to wear down Frank with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Leonard scores with a crisp jab that stopped Frank in his tracks.

Frank gets tackled into the cage by Leonard. Leonard maintains the clinch.

Leonard breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard throws a lazy right hand but Frank sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Leonard throws a lazy right hand but Frank sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Leonard dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Frank. That did some damage!
Leonard connects with a right hand. Frank shakes it off.

Leonard gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Leonard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Leonard jabs at Frank's body.
Frank throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Raphael Leonard is winning the standup battle so far.
Leonard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Leonard has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Frank.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Frank drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Frank wants to control from the top but Leonard keeps moving.
Frank is fighting to break Leonard's control of his arms but Leonard is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Raphael Leonard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Frank with a flurry of punches that miss.

Leonard scrambles and gets back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Frank lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Leonard dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ouch! a nice leg kick from Frank, right into the meat.
Leonard throws a sloppy head kick and Frank moves out of range easily.
Frank is looking to clinch.

Frank closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Leonard did well to prevent Frank getting side control.
Leonard is looking to escape.
Leonard wants to get back to full guard.
Frank is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Leonard manages to get to full guard.
Frank would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Leonard has control of Frank's left arm, preventing Frank from doing any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Leonard is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Leonard tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Frank was well out of range. Poor timing from Leonard.
Frank throws a right and a left that both miss.
Frank walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Frank tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Leonard counters by clinching up.

Leonard drags the fight down to the ground.
Leonard throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard wants to sweep but no luck.

Leonard throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Frank pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Leonard is keeping the position for now.
Frank throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Leonard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Frank looking to sit in guard and control but Leonard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Leonard gets to his feet. Frank looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Frank. Leonard does a little dance to reset his feet.
Frank takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Leonard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Leonard. Frank does a little dance to reset his feet.
Frank checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Leonard throws a leg kick that misses.
Leonard takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Frank moves out of range as Leonard strikes.

Frank fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Leonard sprawls well initially but Frank persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Frank throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Frank is stalling here. Leonard is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Frank seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Leonard has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Leonard is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Frank has escaped the position, nice work there.
Leonard looks up at the clock and then as Frank takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Leonard smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Frank struggling a bit here.
Leonard working the body and head with strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Leonard is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Leonard tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raphael 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27

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