PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ray Leonard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenny White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Kenny White was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Leonard
vs
White

185 cm
25
180 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

191 cm
23
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ray Leonard!
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, Kenny White!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Russell Pearce and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leonard shoots in for a double leg but White sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
White looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Leonard dives in and grabs White's left leg, looking for a takedown. White pushes down on Leonard's head and hops out.
Leonard shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. White defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ray Leonard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Leonard looks for a takedown but White sprawls well.
Leonard dives in for a single leg takedown but White sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leonard shoots in but White avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Leonard fails with a takedown attempt.
As Leonard backs off White throws a huge counter combo but Leonard manages to avoid it all.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Leonard, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Leonard tries to score a power double leg takedown but White sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Leonard somewhat.

Leonard instigates a clinch.
Leonard prevents a takedown attempt there.
Leonard avoids the elbow strike from White, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard blocking some punches.
White tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Leonard smiles and moves away.
Leonard fails with the takedown.
White unleashes a big counter combination but Leonard bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Leonard looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

White fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Leonard to the ground. White is now in Leonard's guard.
Leonard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

White avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
White won't allow Leonard to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White wants to control from the top but Leonard keeps moving.
Leonard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Leonard had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. White defends it easily.
Leonard knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for White on the ground.
Leonard throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Leonard is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. White is aware though and is defending well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Leonard has his takedown stuffed

and White moves into the clinch.

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.
Leonard tries to pull guard but White won't allow it.

Leonard decides to pull guard.
White wants to pass the guard but Leonard is keeping the position.

White got a little sloppy there for a moment and Leonard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, White has managed to get both his arms back between Leonard's legs - danger averted.
Leonard throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Leonard lands an upkick as White stands over him.

Leonard throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

White got a little sloppy there for a moment and Leonard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, White has managed to get both his arms back between Leonard's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny White dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Leonard stuffs the takedown.
White has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
No luck for Leonard with that takedown attempt.
Leonard sets himself, and White steps forward looking for the clinch! Leonard avoids it this time.
No luck for Leonard with that takedown attempt.
Leonard shoots in looking for a takedown but White manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Leonard's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
White wants to counter with a clinch but Leonard pushes him away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ray Leonard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
White tries to clinch
and Leonard counters with a series of strikes. White will be more careful next time no doubt.
Leonard throws a leg kick but White sees it coming and checks it nicely.
White is breathing heavily.

Leonard clinches up with White and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Leonard manages to break the clinch.

Leonard closes the distance and clinches.
White has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Leonard manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Leonard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
White throws a big elbow that misses.
Leonard pulls White in to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
White wants to control from the top but Leonard keeps moving.

Leonard is looking for a triangle but White pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White is looking to stand up but Leonard won't let him.
Leonard is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

White avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
White fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Leonard shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Leonard showed some decent athleticism there.
White wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White is looking to control Leonard's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can White avoid being mounted?
White wants to improve his position but Leonard is controlling well.
Leonard tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Leonard is trying to control. White wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Leonard wants to free his trapped foot but White is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

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

White is defending against the submission attempts here by Leonard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Leonard shoots in for a takedown but White shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Leonard darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
White is not content to let Leonard control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Leonard dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Leonard fails with a takedown attempt.
Leonard tries to bum rush White with a series of wild strikes but White uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
White lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Leonard tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but White swivels and escapes.
Leonard shoots in for a double leg but White sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ray Leonard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
White throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
White throws a right hand that Leonard ducks under and follows up with a left that Leonard also avoids with ease.
Leonard fails with the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard is looking to clinch.
Leonard throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Leonard fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
White is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Leonard tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but White defends well and Leonard ends up having to push White into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

White closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Leonard did well to prevent White getting side control.

Leonard manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. White keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Leonard on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Leonard manages to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
White trying to control but Leonard is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as White accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

White avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Leonard escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. White gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Leonard lands with a heel strike from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White lands a couple of digs.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Leonard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Leonard's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Leonard duly obliges.

Leonard darts in and clinches White up against the cage.

Leonard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Leonard tries for a takedown but White sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nice takedown defense from White. No joy for Leonard on that attempt.
Leonard closes the distance and clinches up with White, looking for a takedown. Leonard pushes White against the cage but White circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

White throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Leonard was covering up waiting for the punch and White finishes the takedown easily into guard.
White wants to pass the guard but Leonard is keeping the position.
Leonard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from White.
White wants to control from the top but Leonard keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Leonard looking for subs off his back but White has passed one foot through into half guard.
Leonard is trying to maintain the position but White is very close to passing his half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ray Leonard.
Well Leonard has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ray Leonard!