PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Van Leeder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Nader (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leeder's entrance music is Pantera - Cowboys From Hell. A fine choice. Nader is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: This Means War. Van Leeder had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 186.4lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Van Leeder has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Leeder
vs
Nader

200 cm
29
200 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

185 cm
22
185 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Van Leeder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Frank Nader!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nader tries to close the distance and clinch but Leeder swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Leeder displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nader.
Nader keeps the fight on the outside.
Leeder seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Nader lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Nader has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Leeder is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Leeder lands a nice looking body shot.
Nader gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Leeder counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Leeder wants to clinch up but Nader keeps it at a distance.
Nader shoots in for a takedown but Leeder shows good takedown defense.
Van Leeder has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Nader.
Nader with a poor takedown
letting Leeder counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leeder doesn't manage to clinch there - Nader circles away.
Frank Nader seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nader misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nader shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Leeder sprawls well. Leeder wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nader gets slowly back to his feet.
Nader connects with a leg kick. Leeder looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leeder misses with a shot to the body

and Nader moves into the clinch.
Nader drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Leeder gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Nader lands with a short shot to the head.

Nader breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nader shoots in for a takedown but Leeder shows good takedown defense.
Nader shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nader shoots in looking for a takedown. Leeder tries to sprawl out of it but Nader keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Leeder manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Leeder fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nader avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nader changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Leeder tries to avoid it but Nader manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Leeder to the ground. Leeder escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Leeder is looking to clinch.
Nader lands with a thumping leg kick.
Nader shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Leeder as he avoids it easily.
Nader lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Leeder tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nader was well out of range. Poor timing from Leeder.
Nader closes the distance but Leeder moves to the side
and Leeder counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Leeder lands with a nice body punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nader shoots in for a takedown but Leeder shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Leeder throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Nader counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nader.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nader slips nicely into half guard.
Leeder wants to get back to his feet.

Nader is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Leeder is just riding it out for now. Nader eventually gives up the hold.
Nader missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nader is looking to take a break and control but Leeder is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Leeder avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nader.
Nader is trying to control the action in half guard but Leeder is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ground and pound from Nader.
Nader thows a huge punch but Leeder dodges it nicely.
Nader is trying to control the action in half guard but Leeder is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Nader stops Leeder from getting back to his feet.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Leeder flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nader will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Leeder scores with a jab to the body.
Leeder wants to clinch.
Nader tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Leeder defends well and Nader ends up having to push Leeder into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Van Leeder will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Leeder throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nader darts in looking for a takedown but Leeder gets double underhooks and turns Nader into the cage.
Nader is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Leeder pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Nader is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Leeder pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Van Leeder has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Nader.
Nader jumps guard but Leeder turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Leeder leaning against his opponent.
Leeder throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nader prevents a body shot from Leeder.
Leeder is trying to break free.
Nader tries to work over Leeder's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nader has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Leeder uses from the top position.
Leeder wanted to stand there but Nader had control of the position.

Leeder stands up and waves to Nader to follow him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leeder looks to land a combination but Nader avoids it well.

Nader scores with a takedown into Leeder's guard.
Leeder will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nader forces his way into half guard.
Leeder is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Nader is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Nader frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nader can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Leeder is looking to escape.
Leeder regains half guard.
Leeder gets back to full guard.
Nader wanted to stand there but Leeder had control of the position.
Leeder is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nader is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nader missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Leeder is striking from the bottom but Nader uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Leeder avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nader.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nader missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nader working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Leeder's thigh. Leeder counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Nader throws a strike but Leeder rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Leeder controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Nader is trying to control the position but Leeder postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Leeder wants to pass the guard but Nader is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Frank Nader will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Nader.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nader scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Leeder to see if he's OK.
Leeder is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Nader is working for a kimura but Leeder is defending it quite comfortably.
Nader trying to control the action but Leeder is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nader is working for a kimura but Leeder is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nader is pressing down on Leeder's thigh, looking to free his foot. Leeder is holding on for now.
Leeder manages to get to full guard.
Leeder is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Nader avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Leeder looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nader is one step ahead there.
Nader trying to control the position from guard on top but Leeder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nader is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Leeder is looking to wear down Nader with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Nice sprawl there from Leeder as Nader shoots in.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nader pushes Leeder up against the cage in a clinch.
Nader misses with a body punch.
Leeder tries to break free but Nader pushes him back against the cage.
Leeder goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Leeder working hard to break the clinch.

Leeder escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Van Leeder is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nader looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Leeder is fending him off so far but Nader persists. Nope, Leeder circles away and we're back to standing.
Nader fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Van Leeder has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Nader.
Nader shoots for a takedown but Leeder saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nader tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Leeder defends well and Nader ends up having to push Leeder into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Nader's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leeder throws a series of punches but Nader avoids them all with ease.
Nader tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Leeder paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A punch combination from Leeder misses.
Nader misses with a takedown attempt - Leeder sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nader fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Van Leeder is winning the standup battle so far.
Nader takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Leeder wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Leeder lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Nader backs up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Leeder will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nader chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nader chopping away at his opponent's legs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Van Leeder showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Leeder has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Van Leeder!
Van Leeder decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.