PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jason Spezza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Magnus Landeskog (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Landeskog has chosen Warm Shadow - Fink as his entrance music. Magnus Landeskog acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Spezza
vs
Landeskog

178 cm
25
162 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

174 cm
25
147 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry
Fury Nutrition Inc.

Heisenberg

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jason Spezza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Magnus Landeskog!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Steve Smith and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spezza throws a head kick that misses.

Landeskog has managed to clinch.
Spezza wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Landeskog lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Landeskog prevents Spezza from breaking the clinch.
Landeskog lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Spezza stalling the fight.
Landeskog jumps guard but Spezza stands there with Landeskog around his waist. Landeskog gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Landeskog wants a takedown.
Spezza being controlled against the cage.
Landeskog is trying to drag Spezza to the mat but Spezza just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
I was talking to Spezza's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Jason Spezza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Magnus Landeskog.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spezza lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Landeskog working aggressively here.
Landeskog dodges an elbow strike from Spezza.
Spezza swings wildly with an uppercut but Landeskog uses good head movement to avoid it.
Landeskog is trying to maintain a safe position but Spezza gets an underhook and turns Landeskog into the cage.
Landeskog doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Spezza stalling.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Spezza for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Spezza creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Stalling in the clinch from Landeskog.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spezza wants to break free but Landeskog has control.
Spezza scores with a hook to the body.
Landeskog being controlled against the cage.
Landeskog tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Spezza just stands there and leans against the cage.

Spezza breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Spezza misses with a head kick.
Spezza misses with a straight left.
Spezza misses with a hook. Landeskog ducked under it nicely.
Landeskog tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Spezza manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nice sprawl there from Spezza as Landeskog shoots in.
Landeskog scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Magnus Landeskog seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Landeskog fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Spezza throws a sloppy head kick and Landeskog moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Landeskog closes the distance and clinches.

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

Landeskog drives through with a takedown into Spezza's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Spezza utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Spezza tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Landeskog stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Spezza swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Landeskog postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Spezza working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Landeskog.

Landeskog drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Spezza dives on top into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Landeskog working for a triangle but Spezza defends it easily.
Spezza trying to control but Landeskog is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spezza stopping the sweep attempt from Landeskog.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Spezza got a little sloppy there for a moment and Landeskog has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Spezza has managed to get both his arms back between Landeskog's legs - danger averted.
Spezza tries to free his leg and advance position but Landeskog is retaining full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Landeskog looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Spezza passes into side control.
Spezza tries to advance to mount but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Magnus Landeskog dominated that round.
That's time! Spezza's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Landeskog tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Spezza defends well and Landeskog ends up having to push Spezza into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Spezza tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Landeskog's elbow.
Landeskog blocking some punches.
Spezza looking to slow down the pace here.
A shot in the inside from Landeskog.
Landeskog is trying to pull guard but Spezza turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Landeskog tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Spezza smiles and moves away.
Jason Spezza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Magnus Landeskog.
Spezza misses with a head kick.
Landeskog is trying hard to land a takedown here. Spezza sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Landeskog throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Landeskog misses with a looping left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spezza on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Landeskog checks a low kick from Spezza.
Landeskog takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Landeskog throws a shot from downtown. Spezza moves away and avoids it.
Spezza pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Spezza misses with a straight right.
Landeskog chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Spezza can pounce on him.
Landeskog is looking to clinch but Spezza is avoiding it.

Landeskog has managed to clinch.
Landeskog lands a body shot in the clinch.
Spezza blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nice body punch from Landeskog.
Spezza tries to circle away but Landeskog has him pinned against the cage.
Landeskog cracks Spezza with a nice body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Landeskog is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Spezza is defending well.
Spezza struggles to land a body shot inside as Landeskog controls his hands.
Spezza lands an elbow that stopped Landeskog in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Magnus Landeskog has been cut.
Spezza lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Landeskog slows down the pace here.
Spezza prevents a body shot from Landeskog.
Landeskog is trying to pull guard but Spezza has him pressed against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Spezza.
Spezza stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Landeskog wants a takedown.
Landeskog throws a punch but it's blocked by Spezza.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spezza swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Spezza pressing his opponent against the cage.
Landeskog is trying to pull guard but Spezza has him pressed against the cage.
Spezza scores with a shot to the side of Landeskog's head.
Landeskog misses with a punch on the inside.
Landeskog blocking some punches.
Landeskog is looking for a takedown.
Landeskog tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Landeskog. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Landeskog jumps guard but Spezza turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Landeskog tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Spezza's elbow.
Landeskog lands a right hand.

Spezza escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Landeskog takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spezza misses with a looping left.
Spezza fails in his attempt to clinch.
Spezza slaps away a takedown attempt from Landeskog, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Spezza cracks the inside of Landeskog's front leg.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Spezza cracks the inside of Landeskog's front leg.
Spezza lands the left hand.
Landeskog misses with a takedown attempt - Spezza sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Landeskog wants to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Spezza staying out of range there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jason Spezza will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Magnus Landeskog's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Landeskog swats away the attempt to clinch by Spezza.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Spezza.
Spezza throws the left hand but Landeskog avoids the punch easily.
Spezza throws a right hand that misses

and Landeskog moves into the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Spezza misses with a punch on the inside.
Landeskog tries to throw a body punch but Spezza avoids it by throwing Landeskog back against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Landeskog takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Landeskog struggles to land a body shot inside as Spezza controls his hands.
Landeskog jumps guard but Spezza turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Spezza lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spezza is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Landeskog is defending well for now.
Spezza misses with a punch on the inside.
Landeskog changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Spezza fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Landeskog jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Landeskog drops his hands momentarily and Spezza takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Spezza misses with an uppercut
and Landeskog counters with a left to the body.
Landeskog connects with a body shot.
Landeskog takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Landeskog tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Spezza was well out of range. Poor timing from Landeskog.
A punch lands to the side of Spezza 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Landeskog fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Jason Spezza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Magnus Landeskog.
Landeskog shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Landeskog looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Landeskog throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Landeskog is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Landeskog is working for an americana but Spezza has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Landeskog was thinking about the submission.
Landeskog takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Spezza wants to improve his position but instead Landeskog has moved into half guard.

Landeskog is looking for a kimura but Spezza is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Landeskog to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Landeskog looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Spezza is trying to get back to full guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Landeskog working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

Landeskog is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Landeskog seems to be working for a kimura but Spezza defends the submission attempt.
Landeskog prevents Spezza from improving his position.

Landeskog 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Landeskog is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Spezza has managed to free his arm - good work.

Landeskog trying to work for an americana but Spezza has managed to regain full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Landeskog scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Spezza tries to land a sweep but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Magnus Landeskog.
I think Landeskog has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Magnus Landeskog!
Post fight, Magnus Landeskog stared into the camera and said 'Everybody knows that I was robbed against Montana, but unfortunately there's nothing I can do about it now. Keep throwing me other guys and I'll gladly build my way back to the rematch and then my title shot. You know what's coming next.'.