PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Federico Leblanc (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Selassie (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.

Leblanc
vs
Selassie

162 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
25
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Federico Leblanc!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Victor Selassie!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Paul Tew and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Leblanc shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Selassie's guard.
Leblanc prevents Selassie from getting back to his feet.
Leblanc is fighting to break Selassie's control of his arms but Selassie is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Selassie wants to sweep here but Leblanc controlling him for the moment.
Selassie wants to stand and escape but Leblanc is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Selassie seems keen to control Leblanc's posture.
Selassie bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Leblanc's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leblanc throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Selassie content to stall in guard here.
Leblanc might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Leblanc is trying to keep Selassie in close.
Selassie working some strikes from top position.
Selassie is stalling in the full guard.
Selassie's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Selassie shoots and misses
and Leblanc counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Selassie displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Leblanc.
Selassie fails with a takedown attempt.
Leblanc appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Selassie tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Leblanc swivels and escapes.
Federico Leblanc has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Selassie.

Selassie moves into the clinch.
Selassie is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Good body shot from Leblanc.
Leblanc utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Selassie just leaning against Leblanc, taking a breather.
Leblanc could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Leblanc trying to control the position but instead, Selassie has worked for underhooks and has pushed Leblanc into the cage.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leblanc wants to control but Selassie is keeping busy.
Selassie working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Selassie is looking to stall here but Leblanc recovers full guard.
Selassie slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Selassie's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Selassie is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Selassie wants to get up but he can't break Leblanc's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Selassie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Leblanc keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Selassie lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A right-left combo lands from Leblanc.
Selassie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Leblanc defends it nicely.
Federico Leblanc is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Selassie with a lazy takedown attempt
and Leblanc cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Leblanc throws a right hand that Selassie ducks under and follows up with a left that Selassie also avoids with ease.

Selassie gets a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Selassie being controlled against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leblanc missing with knees to the body.
Leblanc tries to pull guard but Selassie forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Leblanc has Selassie pressed against the cage, preventing Selassie from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Leblanc looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Selassie wants a takedown but no success here.
Federico Leblanc has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Selassie.
Leblanc is looking for a takedown.
Leblanc is trying to maintain a safe position but Selassie gets an underhook and turns Leblanc into the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Selassie drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Leblanc gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Selassie wants to take the fight to the mat but Leblanc manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Leblanc gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Selassie.
Leblanc can't get the takedown.
Leblanc tries to stall but Selassie uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Leblanc tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Selassie just stands there and leans against the cage.
Selassie slowing the pace effectively.

That's two 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.
Leblanc gets underhooks to prevent Selassie's takedown attempt.
Leblanc trying to control the position but instead, Selassie has worked for underhooks and has pushed Leblanc into the cage.

Selassie pulls guard successfully.
Leblanc wants to control from the top but Selassie keeps moving.
Leblanc has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Selassie is proving hard to escape from.
Selassie looking to control.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Selassie is pulling down on Leblanc's head to control his posture.
Selassie is wriggling around but Leblanc manages to pass to half guard.
Selassie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Selassie holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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.
Leblanc throws a head kick that misses.
Selassie shoots in for a takedown but Leblanc shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Selassie shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Leblanc throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Selassie manages to pass to side control.
Selassie tries to move into full mount but can't pass Leblanc's legs.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Leblanc is trying to escape the position but Selassie is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Federico Leblanc will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Selassie misses with a takedown
and Leblanc counters with a three punch combo that has Selassie backing up. Selassie nods at Leblanc to acknowledge the strikes.
Selassie shoots for a double leg takedown but Leblanc sprawls well. He's pushed Selassie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Selassie closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Leblanc's guard.
Leblanc trying to strike off his back.
Leblanc striking off his back but it's not causing Selassie any problems.
Victor Selassie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Selassie wants to control from the top but Leblanc keeps moving.
Leblanc is trying to keep Selassie in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Selassie distracts Leblanc with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leblanc being controlled here, momentarily.
Leblanc trying to strike off his back.
Selassie throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Selassie misses with a takedown attempt
and Leblanc counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Federico Leblanc has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Selassie.
Selassie looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Leblanc moves into range and clinches up with Selassie.
A frustrated look appears on Selassie's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Leblanc is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Selassie is trying to break the clinch but Leblanc has him pressed against the cage.
Leblanc fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Selassie tightens his grip and picks Leblanc up, before dumping him to the ground. Leblanc manages to land in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Leblanc tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Leblanc trying to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Selassie controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Selassie won't allow Leblanc to sweep him here.
Selassie lands a couple of digs.
Selassie is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Selassie scoring with punches to the head and body.
Selassie stays in close to Leblanc's body and controls the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Leblanc stuffs the takedown.

Selassie manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Leblanc on his heels. He'll look to pass Leblanc's guard now, I'm sure.
Leblanc is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Selassie is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Selassie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Leblanc's guard.
Selassie takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Leblanc wants to get back to full guard.
Selassie seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Selassie lands with a punch from half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Selassie lands with a punch from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Victor Selassie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Selassie 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Victor Selassie!