PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jake Belcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuri Leonov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Belcher
vs
Leonov

187 cm
30
215 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

180 cm
21
212 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

KAISER Nutrition (160!/220$)
Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Jake Belcher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Yuri Leonov!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Josh West and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belcher fails with a takedown attempt.
Belcher looks for a takedown but Leonov sprawls well.
Belcher shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Leonov but Leonov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Belcher. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Belcher shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Leonov as he avoids it easily.

Leonov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Belcher looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Belcher is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belcher wants to control but Leonov is keeping busy.

Leonov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Belcher looking for submissions off his back.

Belcher looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Leonov is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Leonov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Leonov slips nicely into half guard.
Leonov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Belcher looks like he's trying to stand up.

Belcher actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belcher is pressing down on Leonov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Leonov looking to pass the guard.
Leonov trying to control the position from guard on top but Belcher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Belcher had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Leonov defends it easily.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Leonov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Belcher swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Belcher shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Leonov defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Leonov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Belcher shoots in and drives through. Leonov sprawls well.
Belcher fails with the takedown.
Leonov scores with a nice head shot.
Belcher shoots in for a double leg but Leonov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Leonov ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Belcher keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jake Belcher seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Leonov lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Good leg kick by Leonov there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Leonov is defended easily by Belcher.
A quick step to the side and Belcher tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Leonov dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Leonov.
Belcher shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Leonov defends it nicely.
Belcher walks into a straight right hand from Leonov.
Belcher fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
And Leonov tries to counter it with a takedown but Belcher pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Leonov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Belcher dives in and scores a takedown into Leonov's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Belcher accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Belcher trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belcher postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Leonov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Leonov trying to keep a closed guard but Belcher is proving a slippery customer.
Belcher stands up over Leonov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Belcher connects with a couple of short punches.
Leonov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Belcher with a flurry of punches that miss.
Belcher looking to pass the guard.
Belcher postures up in Leonov's guard and throws a big left but Leonov blocks it.
Belcher tries to free his leg and advance position but Leonov is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belcher in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Belcher lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Belcher has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Belcher postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Leonov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Belcher missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Leonov fails with a takedown attempt.
Leonov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Belcher fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Belcher. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Leonov fails with a takedown attempt.
Good leg kick by Leonov there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonov throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Belcher stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Leonov throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Belcher stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Belcher tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Leonov swivels and escapes.

Leonov closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Belcher quickly recovers to half guard.

Leonov is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Leonov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Belcher is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Leonov pulls his head out easily.
Leonov uses his free foot to push down on Belcher's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Belcher.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belcher is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Leonov working for a guillotine from mount but Belcher is in no mood to give up.
Leonov is looking to work his way around to Belcher's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Belcher throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Belcher wants to hold on but Leonov pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Leonov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Leonov scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Leonov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Belcher to the ground. Leonov is now in Belcher's guard.
Leonov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Belcher swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Leonov trying to control but Belcher is working from the bottom.
Belcher is trying to hold Leonov in close to prevent damage but Leonov has managed to pass into half guard.

Belcher is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Leonov pulls his head out easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leonov tries to pass the half guard into mount. Belcher knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Leonov is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Belcher!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belcher is working to get back to half guard.
Belcher slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Belcher is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Leonov pulls his head out easily.
Leonov is looking to take a break and control but Belcher is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Leonov looking for a submission but Belcher manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Leonov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Belcher is keeping the position for now.

That's two 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.
Belcher wants to sweep but no luck.

Belcher is looking for a triangle but Leonov pushes his legs off easily.

Belcher has his foot on Leonov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Leonov works his way back into a safe position though.
Leonov trying to control but Belcher is working from the bottom.

Belcher is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Leonov passes Belcher's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonov stalling.
Leonov tries to pass the half guard into mount. Belcher knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Belcher moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Yuri Leonov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Belcher is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Belcher throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Leonov scores with a kick to the midsection.
Yuri Leonov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Belcher is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Leonov's half guard.
Belcher thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Leonov's head.
Leonov taking some punishment here, with Belcher in his half guard.
Belcher throwing shots but Leonov is blocking nicely.
Leonov is staying active underneath Belcher, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Leonov wants to control but Belcher is keeping busy.
Leonov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Belcher.
Jake Belcher has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Leonov tries to get to full guard but Belcher has control of the leg.

Belcher looking for a submission but Leonov manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuri Leonov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Leonov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuri Leonov!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Yuri Leonov made sure he mentioned Arcticus University: London, along with how happy he was to win his fight.