PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jermain Leaseau (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luca Rinaldi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jermain Leaseau has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Leaseau
vs
Rinaldi

170 cm
27
185 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

180 cm
26
190 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jermain Leaseau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Luca Rinaldi!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Felipe Paraventi and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leaseau shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rinaldi as he avoids it easily.
Leaseau tries for a takedown but Rinaldi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rinaldi keeps the fight on the outside.
Rinaldi shoots and misses
and Leaseau counters with a right hand to the body.

Rinaldi shoots in and gets a takedown into Leaseau's guard.
Rinaldi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Leaseau has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rinaldi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rinaldi with a flurry of punches that miss.

Leaseau has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rinaldi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rinaldi trying to control but Leaseau is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leaseau avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Leaseau controls Rinaldi momentarily but Rinaldi frees himself.
Rinaldi trying to control the position from guard on top but Leaseau is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rinaldi wants to pass the guard but Leaseau is keeping the position.
Rinaldi trying to control but Leaseau is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rinaldi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Leaseau shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Rinaldi eats them both and turns towards Leaseau to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
No luck for Leaseau with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jermain Leaseau. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rinaldi doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rinaldi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice takedown defense from Leaseau. No joy for Rinaldi on that attempt.
Rinaldi misses with a takedown attempt

and Leaseau counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Leaseau prevents Rinaldi from improving his position.
Rinaldi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Leaseau stands up from half guard.
Leaseau stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Leaseau wants it to stay on the feet.
Rinaldi looks winded!
Rinaldi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Leaseau avoids it really well and circles away.

Leaseau clinches up with Rinaldi and pushes him back against the cage.
Leaseau digs a right hand into Rinaldi's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rinaldi's gas tank.
Rinaldi tries for a takedown but Leaseau manages to get underhooks.
A nice left hand lands by Leaseau.
Rinaldi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Leaseau gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Leaseau drags the fight down to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leaseau is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Leaseau throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Leaseau looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Leaseau working a defensive guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Leaseau looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jermain Leaseau dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Leaseau scores with a hook to the body. Rinaldi takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Leaseau has a takedown stuffed.
Rinaldi misses with a takedown attempt - Leaseau sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rinaldi fails with the takedown
and Rinaldi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Rinaldi looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Leaseau!
Rinaldi trying to control the position but Leaseau is working away.
Leaseau is looking to regain half guard here but Rinaldi keeps moving and retains side control.
We've been hearing good reports from Leaseau's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Rinaldi scores with punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Leaseau manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rinaldi's best efforts.
Leaseau moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rinaldi preventing the sweep.
Leaseau is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leaseau wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Rinaldi manages to pass to side control.
Rinaldi is controlling the pace.
Rinaldi is pressing down on Leaseau's thigh, looking to free his foot. Leaseau is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Leaseau does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rinaldi might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Leaseau haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Rinaldi trying to control from Leaseau's half guard. Leaseau has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Leaseau looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rinaldi with a lazy takedown attempt
and Leaseau counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Jermain Leaseau has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luca Rinaldi.
Rinaldi with a lazy takedown attempt

and Leaseau counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rinaldi won't be happy with that.
Leaseau tries to advance to mount but Rinaldi denies him.
Leaseau wants to stand but Rinaldi is controlling his arm.
Rinaldi tries to buck Leaseau off but Leaseau is having none of it.
Rinaldi prevents Leaseau from moving into mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rinaldi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
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 Jermain Leaseau will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rinaldi shoots and misses

so Leaseau counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rinaldi has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Leaseau has passed into side control.

Rinaldi is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Leaseau's leg. Oh but that's left an opportunity for Leaseau! He's got an arm triangle... it looks tight! He's rotating and Rinaldi has tapped! This one is allllll over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:15 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Jermain Leaseau!