PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Achilles Leonidas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henry Ngo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leonidas comes into the arena with Best of Me blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Leonidas
vs
Ngo

180 cm
29
193 lbs
12 - 12 - 0

180 cm
35
190 lbs
26 - 23 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Achilles Leonidas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Henry Ngo!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ngo is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Leonidas's half guard.
Leonidas is looking to escape.
Ngo works his way into full mount!
Leonidas tries to control the position but Ngo now has his back.
Leonidas's coaches at Irish Collar-and-Elbow Academy have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Leonidas tries to escape the position.

Ngo is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Leonidas has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Leonidas covering up well and avoiding damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
I really don't envy Leonidas right now.

Ngo is looking for the choke from the back position but Leonidas is controlling his hands well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is taking a good look at Leonidas as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Ngo!
Ngo is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Leonidas breaks Ngo's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Leonidas throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ngo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ngo told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Ngo is trying to control the position but Leonidas postures up.
Leonidas trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ngo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ngo wants to hit a switch here but Leonidas passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Ngo there!
Leonidas is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ngo is in all sorts of trouble here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Leonidas looking to land elbow strikes but Ngo uses the position to regain half guard.
Ngo gets full guard.
Leonidas is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Leonidas loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ngo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Leonidas is looking to stand up but Ngo won't let him.
Ngo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonidas would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Ngo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Leonidas is looking to work some ground and pound but Ngo has wrist control.
Leonidas wants to stand but Ngo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Leonidas misses with a low kick.
Ngo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Leonidas sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Leonidas misses the jab.
Ngo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Leonidas.
An inside leg kick from Leonidas misses.
Leonidas tries a head kick but it misses.
Leonidas is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Ngo closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Leonidas did well to prevent Ngo getting side control.
Leonidas is trying to stand up here but Ngo is controlling him well.
Ngo is thwarting Leonidas's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ngo looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Ngo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Leonidas keeps working.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ngo lands a nice short elbow.
Leonidas slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Ngo dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Oooooh!!! Leonidas has knocked Ngo down with a huge combo! Leonidas steps away and waves a wobbly Ngo back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

It looks like Henry Ngo has been cut.
Ngo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Leonidas circles away.
Ngo blocks a head kick by Leonidas.
Ngo feints the counter takedown.
Leonidas throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Leonidas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ngo shoots in but Leonidas avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Leonidas connects with a leg kick. Ngo looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Leonidas fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ngo fails to land the takedown.
Achilles Leonidas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henry Ngo.
Leonidas throws out a leg kick but Ngo moves out of range and Leonidas only half commits.
Ngo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Leonidas clinches up against the cage.
Leonidas with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ngo fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ngo jumps guard and drags Leonidas to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Ngo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Leonidas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ngo can do to turn this around?

Ngo pushes Leonidas off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Leonidas lands with a nice body kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ngo.
Leonidas tries a head kick but it misses.
Leonidas misses with a leg kick

and Ngo decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Leonidas's guard.
Ngo is looking to work some ground and pound but Leonidas has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonidas wants to stand but Ngo is controlling the position.
Ngo stands and throws Leonidas's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A lull in the action here.
Leonidas gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Ngo is trying to control the action in half guard but Leonidas is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Leonidas tries to get to full guard but Ngo has control of the leg.
Leonidas is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonidas won't allow Ngo to pass to mount.
Leonidas wants to get back to full guard.
Ngo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Leonidas is trying to control but can't.
Ngo trying to control the action but Leonidas is working from the bottom.
Leonidas wants to control but Ngo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ngo prevents Leonidas from improving his position.
Ngo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Leonidas defending well though.

Ngo is looking for a kimura but Leonidas is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ngo to get the leverage.
Leonidas blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ngo.
Leonidas wants to control but Ngo is keeping busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.
Ngo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Leonidas is fending him off so far but Ngo persists. Nope, Leonidas circles away and we're back to standing.
Good leg kick by Leonidas there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Ngo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Leonidas. No joy for Ngo on that attempt.
Leonidas moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ngo avoids the head kick by Leonidas.

Ngo fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Leonidas to the ground. Ngo is now in Leonidas's guard.
Leonidas preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Ngo gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Ngo avoids a kick to the body.
Ngo is looking for the big counter here.
Achilles Leonidas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Leonidas tries to clinch up but Ngo circles away and keeps his distance.
Crunch! Leonidas slams his shin into Ngo's torso.
A slapping leg kick lands for Leonidas.
Leonidas connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Ngo momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Achilles Leonidas dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Henry Ngo's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ngo goes for a double leg but Leonidas avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Leonidas continues to drive forward.
Ngo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Leonidas moves away.

Leonidas closes the distance and clinches.
Leonidas using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ngo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Leonidas gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ngo.
Leonidas lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ngo backwards.
Leonidas swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Leonidas missing with knees to the body.
Leonidas tries a knee to the head but Ngo blocks it.
Leonidas can't find room to land a body shot as Ngo controls the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leonidas with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Leonidas misses with a knee strike.
Leonidas with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ngo tries to score a body lock takedown but Leonidas shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Achilles Leonidas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henry Ngo.
Leonidas with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Ngo drags the fight down to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonidas being controlled here momentarily.
Ngo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ngo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Leonidas wants to stand but Ngo is controlling his posture from full guard.
Leonidas with a flurry of punches that miss.

Ngo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Leonidas has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

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.
Leonidas looking to pass the guard.
Leonidas trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ngo's guard.
Leonidas trying to control but Ngo is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ngo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Leonidas but Leonidas pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ngo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Ngo moves into the clinch successfully.
Ngo tries to pull guard but Leonidas forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Leonidas lands a left hand.
Ngo tries to score a body lock takedown but Leonidas shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ngo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Leonidas lands with a left to the head.
Leonidas lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ngo is trying to pull guard but Leonidas turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
A short left from Leonidas.
Leonidas lands a hook that snaps the head of Ngo backwards.
Ngo takes a knee to the side of the body.
Leonidas pushes Ngo back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Leonidas lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Ngo is rocked!
Leonidas connects with a knee to the head.
Ngo is still on wobbly legs! Can Leonidas finish him?

That has opened up Henry Ngo's cut even more.
Leonidas jerks Ngo's head down, straight into the path of a devastating knee! Ngo drops to the floor in a crumpled heap! Leonidas goes to throw a finishing haymaker but pulls out - good sportsmanship from Leonidas because Ngo was completely out of it. That was a nice finish - just the right level of brutality to send everyone home happy.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knee). Achilles Leonidas!
Achilles Leonidas took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'I want to thank my sponsors and all of my fans! My goal every show is to give the crowd an exciting fight. One day I will become Champion!! '.