PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Viktor Gragula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reginald Leslie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Gragula
vs
Leslie

188 cm
26
207 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

195 cm
22
220 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Viktor Gragula!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Reginald Leslie!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Tiny Johnson and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leslie tries to clinch but Gragula moves out of range.

Leslie gets a clinch.
Gragula drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Leslie gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Gragula definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Gragula looking for a takedown.
Leslie prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Viktor Gragula. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gragula tries to break the clinch but Leslie is controlling the position.
Leslie lands an elbow inside that Gragula shrugs off.
Leslie is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Leslie trying to land knees to the body.

Gragula manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Leslie darts in and clinches Gragula up against the cage.
Gragula is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Leslie gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gragula avoids a wild elbow strike from Leslie.
A short right from Leslie.
Gragula on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Leslie misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gragula.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leslie misses with a knee to the head.
Leslie tries to land a knee to the head but Gragula blocks with his arms.
Leslie scores with a nice hook to the head.
Leslie throws an elbow that misses.
Leslie lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Viktor Gragula has been cut.
Leslie trying to land knees to the body.
Leslie lands a body punch.
Leslie throws a knee to the head but misses.
Leslie prevents a takedown attempt there.
Gragula takes a knee to the side of the body.
Gragula is trying to pull guard but Leslie turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Leslie scores with a hook to the body.
Leslie lands a nice knee to the body.
Gragula is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gragula tries to pull guard but Leslie won't allow it.
A shot in the inside from Leslie.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gragula is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Leslie to keep the fight standing.
Leslie lands a nice knee to the body.
Leslie crunches a lovely knee into Gragula's ribcage.
Leslie scores with a hook to the body.
Leslie manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Leslie comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Gragula is trying to break free.
Gragula tries to pull guard but Leslie won't allow it.
A hook to the body from Leslie.
Leslie with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Leslie crunches a lovely knee into Gragula's ribcage.
Leslie putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Gragula in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leslie lands an elbow inside that Gragula shrugs off.
Leslie pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Leslie landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Leslie putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Gragula in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Leslie lands a shot to the body.
Leslie comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Leslie lands a body punch in the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Leslie.
Leslie makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Leslie gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Nice elbow from Leslie.
Leslie lands a nice shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Leslie softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Leslie lands a nice knee to the body.
Knees to the body from Leslie.
Leslie lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Leslie tries to land a knee to the head but Gragula blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gragula drops down looking for an ankle pick but Leslie pulls his leg out and moves away.
Leslie tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gragula paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gragula keeps the fight on the outside.

Leslie takes the fight into the clinch.
Gragula drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Leslie landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Gragula fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Leslie lands with a short shot to the head.
Gragula tries to pull guard but Leslie forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Leslie scores with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reginald Leslie dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Viktor Gragula's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Leslie tries to clinch up but Gragula circles away and keeps his distance.

Leslie has Gragula up against the cage in a clinch.
Leslie landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Leslie.
Leslie throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gragula blocks it with crossed arms.
Leslie tries to work over Gragula's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gragula tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Leslie smiles and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Leslie rushes Gragula and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Reginald Leslie seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Leslie using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gragula is working for takedown but Leslie is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leslie stalling.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Leslie obliges.
Leslie lands an elbow inside that Gragula shrugs off.
Gragula misses with a punch on the inside.
Leslie comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Leslie lands a good knee to the midsection. Gragula won't want to take too many of those.
Leslie lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Leslie lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Gragula.
A body shot lands from Leslie.
Leslie throws a knee to the head but misses.
Leslie lands a hook to the side of the head.
Leslie lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Gragula.
Gragula takes a knee to the side of the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Leslie obliges.
Leslie landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leslie leaning against his opponent.
A short right from Leslie.
Gragula throws an elbow but it misses.
Leslie tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gragula's elbow.
Leslie is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Leslie with a knee to the head.
Leslie lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Leslie.
Gragula goes for a takedown attempt but Leslie pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Viktor Gragula. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Leslie closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gragula takes a knee to the side of the body.
Leslie tries to work over Gragula's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gragula takes a shot to the head.
Leslie doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Leslie lands with a left to the head.
Leslie lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Gragula is working for takedown but Leslie is calmly controlling the position for now.
Leslie lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Leslie tries to land a knee to the head but Gragula blocks with his arms.
Leslie scores with a hook to the body.
Gragula takes a knee to the side of the body.
Leslie leaning his opponent against the cage.
Nice body punch from Leslie - that landed with a thud.
Gragula takes a shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leslie lands a nice knee to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Leslie lands with a right to the head.
Leslie working Gragula over with knees to the body.
Leslie lands a shot to the body.
Leslie crunches a lovely knee into Gragula's ribcage.
Gragula is trying to push Leslie away but Leslie has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Gragula letting Leslie take a breather here.
Leslie is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Leslie lands a hook that snaps the head of Gragula backwards.
Leslie lands a nice shot to the body.
Leslie unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A right hand to the body from Leslie.
A short body shot lands from Leslie as the two fighters clinch.
Leslie is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Leslie lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gragula backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reginald Leslie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Viktor Gragula's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Leslie is looking to clinch.
Gragula circles away from the clinch attempt.
Viktor Gragula is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Leslie tries to clinch but Gragula moves away
and Gragula counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Leslie wants to clinch up but Gragula keeps it at a distance.
Leslie tries to close the distance and clinch but Gragula swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Leslie moves to clinch but Gragula breaks away

and Gragula counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Gragula is keen to just control but Leslie is a slippery customer.
Leslie wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gragula missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Leslie makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Leslie has closed the distance and engaged Gragula in a clinch.
Leslie throws an elbow but it misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gragula is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Leslie obliges.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Leslie crunches a lovely knee into Gragula's ribcage.
Leslie softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Gragula managing to block the knees to the body from Leslie.
Leslie gets through Gragula's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Leslie scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Leslie lands a knee to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Leslie.
Leslie lands a nice shot to the body.
Leslie lands a knee to the body.
Leslie lands an elbow inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Leslie pushes Gragula back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Leslie lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Leslie lands a knee to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Leslie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leslie misses with a punch to the body.
Leslie lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Leslie gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gragula.
Leslie lands a nice knee to the body.
Leslie lands a nice knee to the body.
Leslie creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Gragula's defenses.
Gragula takes a knee right on the jaw!
Leslie works on Gragula's body with a couple of short punches.
A knee to the head by Leslie.
Leslie stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Leslie lands a shoulder strike.
Leslie utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leslie unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gragula lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Leslie scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Leslie with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Leslie lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A knee to the head by Leslie.
Leslie lands a nice knee to the body.
Leslie scores a nice knee to the body.
Gragula prevents a body shot from Leslie.
A right handed body shot lands from Leslie.
Leslie with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Leslie can't find room to land a body shot as Gragula controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leslie lands a body punch in the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Leslie slowing the pace effectively.
Leslie tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Leslie lands a body shot in the clinch.
Leslie slows down the pace here.
Leslie scores with a knee to the head.
Leslie with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Leslie has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Leslie lands a nice knee to the body.
Gragula wants a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reginald Leslie really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Viktor Gragula's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gragula keeps the fight on the outside.
Leslie is looking to clinch but Gragula is avoiding it.

Leslie clinches.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Leslie takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Leslie with a knee to the head.
Leslie misses with a knee to the head.
Leslie stops a takedown attempt from Gragula.
Leslie tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gragula avoids it.
Leslie tries to work over Gragula'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.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gragula.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Leslie obliges.
Leslie missing with knees to the body.
Gragula blocks an elbow strike from Leslie.
Gragula tries to score a body lock takedown but Leslie shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leslie scores with a shoulder strike.
Gragula goes for a takedown in the clinch but Leslie prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Viktor Gragula. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Leslie throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gragula blocks it with crossed arms.
Gragula prevents a body shot from Leslie.
Leslie softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Leslie is looking to control Gragula's arms but Gragula gets an underhook and turns him. Now Leslie has his back to the cage.
Leslie lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Leslie misses with a knee strike.
Leslie struggles to land a body shot inside as Gragula controls his hands.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Leslie.
Leslie struggles to land a body shot inside as Gragula controls his hands.
Leslie using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Leslie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Leslie.
Leslie tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Gragula pulls guard successfully.

Leslie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gragula has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Leslie has managed to get both his arms back between Gragula's legs - danger averted.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Leslie has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gragula is proving hard to escape from.

Gragula is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Leslie defends well.
Leslie wants to get up but he can't break Gragula's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Gragula wants to stand and escape but Leslie is having none of it.
Gragula looking to control.
Gragula has a closed guard, preventing Leslie from standing up.

Leslie stands and steps away. Gragula gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leslie tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gragula paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Gragula closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Leslie's guard.
Leslie wants to stand up but Gragula is controlling him.
Gragula wants to control from the top but Leslie keeps moving.
Leslie wants to stand up but Gragula is controlling him.
Gragula wants to pass the guard but Leslie is keeping the position.
Gragula wants to control from the top but Leslie keeps moving.
Gragula stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Leslie swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gragula prevents Leslie from getting back to his feet.
Gragula wants to control from the top but Leslie keeps moving.
Gragula stops Leslie from standing up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Leslie has taken the fight to the clinch.
Leslie putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Gragula in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Gragula takes a knee right on the jaw!
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Knees to the body from Leslie.
Leslie throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Gragula looking for a takedown.
Gragula letting Leslie take a breather here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reginald Leslie dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Viktor Gragula's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Leslie tries to clinch but Gragula is having none of it.
Leslie tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Gragula counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Leslie connects with a knee to the head.
Leslie stalling in the clinch.
Gragula tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Leslie smiles and moves away.
Leslie stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Leslie wants it to stay on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leslie tries to clinch up but Gragula circles away and keeps his distance.
Leslie tries to clinch there but Gragula circles away.
Leslie tries to clinch there but Gragula circles away.
Leslie tries to close the distance and clinch but Gragula swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gragula swats away the attempt to clinch by Leslie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leslie tries to clinch but Gragula moves out of range.
Gragula shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Leslie but Leslie pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Viktor Gragula. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Leslie tries to clinch up.
Gragula closes the distance and clinches up with Leslie, looking for a takedown. Gragula pushes Leslie against the cage but Leslie circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Leslie tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gragula manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Leslie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gragula swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Leslie defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gragula.

Leslie closes the distance and clinches.
Gragula drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Gragula wants to get back to striking at distance but Leslie won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leslie lands a knee to the head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Leslie.
Gragula jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Leslie walks away with a smile on his face. Gragula gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Leslie tries to clinch up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Leslie tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gragula avoids it.
Leslie tries to throw a body punch but Gragula avoids it by throwing Leslie back against the cage.
Leslie misses with a knee strike.
Leslie with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Leslie working Gragula over with knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Leslie works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Leslie is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Leslie tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gragula's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leslie lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Leslie presses Gragula against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Leslie lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gragula backwards.
Leslie with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Leslie lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Leslie scores with a knee to the head.
Gragula tries to pull guard but Leslie won't allow it.
Leslie lands an elbow just above Gragula 's eye.
Leslie looking to throw knees to the head but Gragula is blocking nicely.
Gragula blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Leslie gets underhooks to prevent Gragula's takedown attempt.
Gragula blocks an elbow strike from Leslie.
Leslie cracks Gragula with a nice body shot.
Leslie scores a nice knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A hook to the body from Leslie.
Leslie lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Leslie digs a right hand underneath Gragula's ribcage. Gragula let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Nice elbow from Leslie.
The referee is keeping an eye on Leslie - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Leslie is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Leslie unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Leslie tries a body shot but Gragula blocks it.
Leslie lands an elbow inside.
A nice left hand lands by Leslie.
Gragula is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Leslie pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Viktor Gragula has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Gragula as Leslie tries to tie him up.
Leslie lands a body punch in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reginald Leslie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Leslie winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge George Francis scores the fight 43:50
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 43:50
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 43:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reginald Leslie!
Reginald Leslie is the new light heavyweight champion!
Viktor Gragula was interviewed post fight and said 'I hate werewolves'.