PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Bergen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Owen Leidner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Bergen has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Bergen
vs
Leidner

173 cm
18
240 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

194 cm
24
256 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Bergen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Owen Leidner!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Franklyn Lucas and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bergen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Leidner swivels and escapes.
Bergen really is a fat lump.
Leidner shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bergen defends it nicely.

Leidner drives through and clinches with Bergen against the cage.
Leidner displaying some good clinch control by pressing Bergen up against the cage.

Leidner manages to pull guard.
Bergen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leidner looking for a sweep. Not yet Leidner, not yet.

Bergen gets to his feet - Leidner follows without any prompting.
Leidner tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bergen defends well and Leidner ends up having to push Bergen into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bergen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Leidner is fending him off so far but Bergen persists. Nope, Leidner circles away and we're back to standing.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Leidner has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Bergen uses from the top position.
Leidner looking to control.
Bergen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Leidner wants to control but Bergen passes easily into half guard.
Leidner is staying active underneath Bergen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Bergen stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bergen wants to pass to mount but Leidner is defending the position.

Leidner looking for submissions off his back.
Bergen passes to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leidner is looking for a sweep.
Bergen trying to control the action but Leidner is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Leidner's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Leidner gets back to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Leidner manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

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.
Leidner manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bergen manages to get himself to full guard.

Bergen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Leidner trying to control but Bergen is working from the bottom.

Leidner decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Bergen closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Leidner did well to prevent Bergen getting side control.
Leidner is looking for a sweep. Bergen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Leidner taking some punishment here, with Bergen in his half guard.
Leidner won't allow Bergen to pass to mount.
Leidner flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Owen Leidner will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Leidner shoots for a takedown but Bergen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Leidner closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Leidner lands in his opponent's guard.
Bergen trying to control the position here.

Bergen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bergen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Leidner gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Leidner gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Leidner clinches up with Bergen and pushes him back against the cage.
Leidner wants a takedown.
Leidner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bergen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Leidner has him pressed against the cage.
Bergen is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Leidner is defending well.
Leidner stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Leidner has Bergen pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Leidner pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Bergen tumbling to the mat - Leidner dives into Bergen's guard.
Bergen looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bergen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Leidner doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Leidner manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Leidner postures up.
Leidner keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bergen's head.
Owen Leidner has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bergen trying to control the position.
Leidner is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Leidner wants to control from the top but Bergen keeps moving.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leidner postures up and lands a big shot to Bergen's brow.
Leidner not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Leidner closes the distance and clinches.
Leidner scores with a shot to the side of Bergen's head.
Bergen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Leidner slows down the pace here.
Bergen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bergen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Leidner goes for a takedown attempt but Bergen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
James Bergen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Owen Leidner.
Bergen takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Leidner has Bergen up against the cage in a clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
With the fighters up against the cage, Bergen throws an elbow but misses.
Leidner prevents Bergen from breaking the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Owen Leidner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Leidner fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Bergen.

Bergen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Bergen works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Bergen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Leidner is just riding it out for now. Bergen eventually gives up the hold.
Bergen prevents Leidner from improving his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bergen trying to control the action but Leidner is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bergen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Leidner gets back to full guard.

Leidner looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Bergen gets to his feet. Leidner looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Bergen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Leidner, pushing him back against the cage.

Leidner has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Bergen is trying to keep an underhook but Leidner manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Leidner decides to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bergen throws an off balance right hand
enabling Leidner to counter with a crisp jab.
Leidner shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bergen defends it nicely.
Bergen goes for a double leg but Leidner avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Leidner continues to drive forward.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Leidner throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bergen.
Leidner throws a head kick but Bergen moves out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bergen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Leidner tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bergen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Leidner looks for a takedown but Bergen sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leidner shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bergen as he avoids it easily.
James Bergen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Owen Leidner.
Bergen fails to land with a series of punches.
James Bergen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Leidner fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Leidner tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bergen shoots in looking for a takedown but Leidner manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bergen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bergen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Leidner sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bergen somewhat.
Leidner shoots in for a double leg but Bergen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Bergen appears to be looking for a big counter.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bergen.
Leidner is looking for the big counter here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bergen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Leidner counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Bergen looking to control.

Leidner 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.
Bergen wants to stand and escape but Leidner is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Leidner stands up and waves to Bergen to follow him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Owen Leidner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Leidner 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Owen Leidner!