PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zeus Leonidas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Salvatore Lucania (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Leonidas
vs
Lucania

195 cm
23
265 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

200 cm
30
283 lbs
17 - 11 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zeus Leonidas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Salvatore Lucania!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A cross from Leonidas lands.
Leonidas misses with a wild body shot.
Lucania looks to land a combination but Leonidas avoids it well.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Leonidas.
A punch combination from Lucania misses.

Lucania clinches up with Leonidas and pushes him back against the cage.
Lucania misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Leonidas tries to circle away but Lucania has him pinned against the cage.
Leonidas wants to break free but Lucania has control.

Lucania breaks from the clinch.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Lucania.
Leonidas comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Leonidas shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lucania defends it nicely.
Leonidas swats away the attempt to clinch by Lucania.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonidas lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Salvatore Lucania has been cut.
Leonidas throws a right and a left that Lucania avoids nicely.
A swing and a miss from Leonidas.
Leonidas connects with a solid leg kick.
Leonidas just misses with a punch to the body.
Leonidas backing away here, and Lucania unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

Lucania drives through and clinches with Leonidas against the cage.
Leonidas has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Leonidas lands a left hand that snaps the head of Lucania backwards.
Lucania lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Lucania manages to break the clinch.
Zeus Leonidas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lucania throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Leonidas keeps the fight on the outside.
A little feinted left hand from Leonidas on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Lucania throws a low kick but it's checked well by Leonidas.

Lucania darts in and clinches Leonidas up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Leonidas struggles to land a body shot inside as Lucania controls his hands.
Lucania keeps control of Leonidas as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonidas throws a head punch that misses.

Leonidas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Leonidas throws a solid leg kick but Lucania takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Leonidas.
Leonidas keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Lucania tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Leonidas manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lucania tries to clinch up but Leonidas circles away and keeps his distance.
Lucania doesn't manage to clinch there - Leonidas circles away.
Leonidas scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Leonidas misses with an uppercut
and Lucania counters with an inside leg kick.
Lucania is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Leonidas.
Leonidas takes a swing at Lucania's ribcage but misses.
Lucania lands a nice leg kick that just misses Leonidas's sensitive parts.
Lucania moves in looking to clinch but Leonidas pushes him off.
Lucania connects with an inside leg kick.
Lucania tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Leonidas paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Leonidas swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonidas stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Leonidas scores with a jab to the body.
Lucania has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A telegraphed right hand from Leonidas misses the target.
A solid leg kick lands there for Lucania.
Leonidas darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Leonidas lands with a good body shot.
Leonidas misses with a looping left.
Leonidas pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lucania tries to move into range but Leonidas moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lucania throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lucania slips a straight right by Leonidas.
Leonidas throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lucania uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Leonidas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonidas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Lucania takes the fight into the clinch.
Leonidas makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Lucania stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Lucania crunches a lovely knee into Leonidas's ribcage.
Leonidas is breathing heavily.
Lucania misses with a hook to the ribs.
Lucania gets through Leonidas's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Lucania tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lucania lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Leonidas backwards.
Knees in the clinch landing for Lucania.
Leonidas tries to circle away but Lucania has him pinned against the cage.

Leonidas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Lucania, right into the meat.
Leonidas throws a body punch but Lucania moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zeus Leonidas dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Salvatore Lucania's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lucania keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Leonidas.
Lucania is looking to clinch.
Leonidas feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Lucania's calf.
Lucania misses with a low kick.
Leonidas feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Lucanias jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Lucania throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
It looked like Leonidas was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Lucania.
Leonidas just misses with a punch to the body.
Leonidas getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Leonidas throws a body punch but Lucania moves out of range.
As Leonidas backs off Lucania throws a huge counter combo but Leonidas manages to avoid it all.
Leonidas tries to work over Lucania's front leg with a kick but Lucania checks it.
Lucania flicks out a counter leg kick but Leonidas steps away.
Lucania tries to clinch up but Leonidas circles away and keeps his distance.
A little feinted left hand from Leonidas on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lucania closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Leonidas tries to circle away but Lucania has him pinned against the cage.
Lucania tries to land a knee to the head but Leonidas blocks with his arms.
A frustrated look appears on Leonidas's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Leonidas wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lucania has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucania keeps control of Leonidas as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Leonidas lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Leonidas blocks an uppercut.
Leonidas wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Leonidas working hard to break the clinch.
Lucania lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Lucania throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Leonidas blocks it with crossed arms.
Lucania tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Leonidas avoids it.

Leonidas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lucania with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Salvatore Lucania is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lucania is looking to clinch.
The fighters circling - Leonidas throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Leonidas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lucania.
Lucania thinks about the counter body kick.
Leonidas chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Lucania can pounce on him.
Leonidas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Leonidas lands a nice shot that snaps Lucania's head back.
Leonidas is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lucania forces Leonidas back against the cage and clinches.
Lucania trying to land knees to the body.
Lucania trying to stall but Leonidas improves his position.
Leonidas lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Leonidas throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Leonidas breaks the clinch.
Nice body kick from Lucania.

Lucania moves into the clinch.
Lucania wants to stall.

Lucania breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Leonidas throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Lucania fails with an attempt to clinch.
Leonidas lands a body shot.
Lucania throws a nice looking combination but Leonidas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonidas misses with the combination.
Lucania on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Leonidas ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lucania moves away.
Leonidas misses with a looping left.

Lucania rushes Leonidas and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Lucania has Leonidas pressed against the cage, preventing Leonidas from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Lucania is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Leonidas is keeping busy.
Lucania misses with a punch on the inside.
Lucania stalls.
Lucania misses with an elbow strike.
Lucania lands a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Leonidas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Lucania rushes Leonidas and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Leonidas is trying to push Lucania away but Lucania has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Lucania is pressed up against the cage. Leonidas has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Lucania down to the mat. Lucania avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Lucania displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Leonidas.

Lucania has managed to clinch.
Lucania tries to land knees in the clinch but Leonidas avoids the damage to the body.
Salvatore Lucania seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Lucania lands with a left to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Leonidas looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Leonidas doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lucania lands an elbow just above Leonidas 's eye.

It looks like Zeus Leonidas has been cut.
Lucania goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lucania misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Leonidas.

Leonidas manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Salvatore Lucania will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Lucania uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Leonidas.
Leonidas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Despite the aggression on Lucania's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Leonidas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lucania avoids the body shot from Leonidas.
Lucania throws a counter combo.
Leonidas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lucania manages to avoid it.
Lucania tries to close the distance and clinch up but Leonidas swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Leonidas misses with a few strikes there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Leonidas. Lucania does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lucania keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Leonidas throws a jab but it's blocked by Lucania.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leonidas keeps the fight on the outside.
Lucania doesn't manage to clinch there - Leonidas circles away.
It looked like Leonidas wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Lucania drives through and clinches with Leonidas against the cage.
Lucania lands a good knee to the midsection. Leonidas won't want to take too many of those.
Lucania tries to land knees in the clinch but Leonidas avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucania misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Leonidas.
Lucania misses with an elbow strike.
Lucania throws a knee to the head but misses.

Lucania breaks from the clinch.
Leonidas throws a looping overhand right but Lucania ducks down to avoid it.
Leonidas is looking to wear down Lucania with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
An inside leg kick from Lucania misses.

Lucania darts in and clinches Leonidas up against the cage.
Lucania landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lucania tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Lucania lands a nice elbow.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Leonidas misses with a punch to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Leonidas creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Leonidas has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Leonidas wants to take the fight to the mat but Lucania manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Lucania using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucania gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Lucania can't find room to land a body shot as Leonidas controls the action.
Leonidas looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Lucania utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lucania comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Lucania lands a nice elbow.

Zeus Leonidas's cut is getting worse.
Lucania lands a left hand that snaps the head of Leonidas backwards.
Lucania lands with a left to the head.
Lucania is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Leonidas is defending well for now.
Lucania keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Leonidas's efforts to push away.
Lucania cracks Leonidas with a nice body shot.

Lucania breaks the clinch.
Zeus Leonidas is winning the standup battle so far.

Lucania closes the distance and clinches.

Lucania pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonidas will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Leonidas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lucania manages to avoid it.

Lucania moves into the clinch successfully.
Lucania can't find room to land a body shot as Leonidas controls the action.
Lucania tries to land knees in the clinch but Leonidas avoids the damage to the body.
Lucania with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Lucania creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Leonidas's defenses.

Zeus Leonidas's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Lucania lands with a right to the head.
Lucania tries to throw a body punch but Leonidas avoids it by throwing Lucania back against the cage.
Leonidas wants to break free but Lucania has control.

Lucania escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Leonidas throws a head kick but Lucania moves out of range.

Lucania clinches up with Leonidas and pushes him back against the cage.
Lucania tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Leonidas tries to break free but Lucania pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lucania keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Leonidas's efforts to push away.
Lucania lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lucania lands an elbow inside that Leonidas shrugs off.
Leonidas can't break the clinch.
Leonidas is looking to break free of the clinch but Lucania has double underhooks.
Lucania lands a knee to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Leonidas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Lucania gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Leonidas manages to break the clinch.
Lucania scores with a head kick. Leonidas tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Jeez, Zeus Leonidas's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Salvatore Lucania is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A telegraphed right hand from Leonidas misses the target.
Lucania doesn't manage to clinch there - Leonidas circles away.
Leonidas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lucania manages to avoid it.
Leonidas just misses with a punch to the body.
Lucania thinks about the counter body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Salvatore Lucania comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lucania 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Salvatore Lucania!
Salvatore Lucania spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.