PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kari Runk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maxwell Leonard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Runk
vs
Leonard

178 cm
21
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Kari Runk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Maxwell Leonard!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Colin Fotheringham and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leonard keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Runk closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Runk lands in his opponent's guard.
Runk tries to free his leg and advance position but Leonard is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Runk looking to sit in guard and control but Leonard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Leonardis looking to pass into half guard but Runk pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Runk is in guard.
Runk trying to control but Leonard is working from the bottom.
Leonard keeping full guard, as Runk tries to pass.
Runk is working hard here to advance position.
Leonard working a defensive guard here.
Runk preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Runk trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Runk drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Leonard dives on top into guard.
Runk looking to control.
Leonard trying to control the position from guard on top but Runk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Runk wants to improve his position but instead Leonard has moved into half guard.
Leonard seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Runk trying to control here.
Leonard wants to lay and pray for a moment but Runk keeps working.

That's two 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.

Leonard is trying to work for a kimura but Runk is defending well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Leonard has taken the fight to the clinch.

Runk pulls guard successfully.
Leonard wants to control from the top but Runk keeps moving.

Runk throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Leonard escapes and throws Runk's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Runk gets back to half guard.
Runk is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Runk is breathing heavily.
Runk has hold of Leonard's hands but Leonard slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Runk tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Runk is staying active underneath Leonard, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Runk moves into full guard.
Runk wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Runk instigates a clinch.
Runk gets underhooks to prevent Leonard's takedown attempt.
Come on Runk - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Leonard wants to break free but Runk has control.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Leonard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Runk manages to pull guard.
Leonard working some strikes from top position.
Leonard trying to control the position from guard on top but Runk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Leonard trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Runk manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Runk with a flurry of punches that miss.

Runk gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Leonard misses with a takedown

and Runk counters with a takedown into side control.
Runk controls the position.
Leonard tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Runk presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Leonard has his takedown stuffed

and Runk counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Leonard's guard now.
Runk is fighting to break Leonard's control of his arms but Leonard is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Runk is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Leonard wants to sweep here but Runk controlling him for the moment.
Leonard trying to control the position.
Runk pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Leonard is keeping the position for now.
Leonard has his hands on Runk's head, controlling the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Leonard tries to strike from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard seems keen to control Runk's posture.
Runk loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nice takedown defense from Leonard. No joy for Runk on that attempt.
Runk shoots and misses

and Leonard counters with a shoot takedown. Runk fights it but they end up in guard.
Kari Runk overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Runk has Leonard pulled in close to control his posture.
Leonard lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Leonard works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Runk wants to sweep but Leonard has passed to side control!
Leonard is looking to take a break and control but Runk is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Runk manages to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Runk keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Runk actively working from the bottom here.
Runk is not content to let Leonard control the position.
Runk is trying to get back to full guard.
Runk gets back to full guard.
Leonard has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Runk is proving hard to escape from.
Runk wants to sweep here but Leonard controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Runk has control of Leonard's left arm, preventing Leonard from doing any damage.
Runk wants to sweep but no luck.
Runk throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Leonard won't allow Runk to sweep him here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Runk feints and as Leonard raises his hands in defense, Runk changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Runk trying to control but Leonard is working from the bottom.

Runk decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Leonard, up you get!

Runk drives through with a takedown into guard.

Leonard working for a triangle but Runk defends it easily.
Leonard not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard wants to stand up but Runk is controlling him.
Leonard bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Runk's guard.

Leonard gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Leonard misses with a two punch combination.
Leonard doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Runk counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Leonard trying to keep a closed guard but Runk is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Runk drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Runk jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Runk trying to control but Leonard is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kari Runk dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Runk scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Leonard is looking to control Runk's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Leonard avoid being mounted?
Leonard is staying active underneath Runk, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Leonard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Runk trying to control the action but Leonard is working from the bottom.
Runk seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Leonard won't allow Runk to pass to mount.
Leonard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Runk looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Leonard is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Runk scores with a couple of nice shots.

Leonard is rocked!

Runk in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Leonard tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Runk!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Kari Runk!