PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zyke Leonard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kobe Christopher (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.

Leonard
vs
Christopher

182 cm
24
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zyke Leonard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kobe Christopher!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Elvis Blanc and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leonard throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Leonard throws a head kick that misses.
Leonard stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Christopher.

Christopher clinches up with Leonard and pushes him back against the cage.
Leonard looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Leonard misses with a punch on the inside.
Christopher holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Christopher tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Leonard avoids it.
Leonard tries to break free but Christopher pushes him back against the cage.
Christopher putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Leonard in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Leonard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Leonard pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Leonard lands a glancing blow to the side of Christopher's head.
Leonard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Leonard misses with a head kick.
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!
Christopher misses with a head kick.
Leonard connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A head kick misses from Leonard.
Leonard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Leonard is breathing heavily.

Christopher closes the distance and pushes Leonard back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Christopher struggles to land a body shot inside as Leonard controls his hands.
Christopher will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Leonard up against the cage.
Leonard tries to break free but Christopher pushes him back against the cage.
Leonard misses with a short punch on the inside.

Christopher has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Leonard uses from the top position.

Christopher has his feet on Leonard's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Leonard scores with a head kick. Christopher tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Christopher gets a clinch.

Christopher manages to break the clinch.
Leonard throws a head kick that misses

and Christopher moves into the clinch.

Christopher breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Christopher darts in and clinches Leonard up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Christopher tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Leonard avoids it.
Christopher tries to score a body lock takedown but Leonard shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard working aggressively here.
Christopher tries to land knees in the clinch but Leonard avoids the damage to the body.
Christopher throws a knee to the head but misses.
Knees in the clinch landing for Christopher.

Christopher breaks from the clinch.
Christopher is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Christopher darts in and clinches Leonard up against the cage.
Christopher is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Leonard is defending well for now.
Christopher using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Christopher breaks from the clinch.

Christopher closes the distance and pushes Leonard back into the cage.
Christopher avoiding damage.
Christopher has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Leonard after a bit of a struggle.
Leonard blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Knees in the clinch landing for Christopher.
Christopher landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Leonard blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Leonard on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Christopher is trying to maintain a safe position but Leonard gets an underhook and turns Christopher into the cage.
Christopher stalling in the clinch.
Leonard is trying to maintain a safe position but Christopher gets an underhook and turns Leonard into the cage.
Knees to the body from Christopher.
Christopher with a knee to the head.
Leonard avoiding damage as Christopher throws knees to the body.
Leonard can't break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Leonard's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Christopher goes for a takedown in the clinch but Leonard prevents it.
Zyke Leonard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kobe Christopher.
Christopher unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Christopher can't get the takedown.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Christopher misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Leonard.
Christopher prevents Leonard from breaking the clinch.
Christopher keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Leonard's efforts to push away.
Christopher throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Leonard blocks it with crossed arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Christopher looking to slow down the pace here.
Christopher tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Leonard smiles and moves away.
Leonard goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Leonard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Christopher closes the distance and pushes Leonard back into the cage.
Christopher tries to stall but Leonard uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Christopher pulls guard.

Christopher has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Leonard off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Christopher has Leonard up against the cage in a clinch.
Christopher trying to land knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kobe Christopher 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.

A head kick misses from Leonard.
Leonard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Leonard throws a head kick but Christopher moves out of range.
Christopher fails to land with a series of punches.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Christopher has Leonard up against the cage in a clinch.
Christopher misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Leonard.

Leonard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Christopher checks a leg kick.
Leonard throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Leonard looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Christopher throws a counter combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Leonard gets tackled into the cage by Christopher. Christopher maintains the clinch.
Leonard is looking to break free of the clinch but Christopher has double underhooks.
Christopher tries to land knees in the clinch but Leonard avoids the damage to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Christopher doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Christopher misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Leonard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard avoiding damage as Christopher throws knees to the body.
Christopher trying to land knees to the body.
Christopher has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Leonard after a bit of a struggle.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Christopher.
Christopher landing knees to the head.
Christopher landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Leonard tries to break the clinch but Christopher is controlling the position.
Leonard misses with a punch on the inside.

Christopher breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zyke Leonard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Christopher gets a clinch.
Christopher trying to land knees to the body.
Christopher utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Leonard's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Christopher breaks from the clinch.

Christopher forces Leonard back against the cage and clinches.

Christopher breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Christopher blocks a head kick by Leonard.
Leonard throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Christopher checks the leg kick nicely there.
Christopher blocks a head kick by Leonard.
Christopher drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Leonard defends it well.
This has been an exciting period of action!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Christopher has Leonard pressed against the cage, preventing Leonard from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Christopher is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Christopher tries for a takedown but Leonard manages to get underhooks.
Christopher trying to stall but Leonard improves his position.
Leonard has Christopher pushed against the cage.
Leonard avoiding damage as Christopher throws knees to the body.
Leonard gets underhooks to prevent Christopher's takedown attempt.
Zyke Leonard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kobe Christopher.
Leonard stalling in the clinch but Christopher improves position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard managing to block the knees to the body from Christopher.
Leonard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Christopher is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Leonard is defending well for now.
Leonard misses with a knee strike.
Christopher has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Leonard is trying to break the clinch but Christopher is controlling him.
Leonard tries to stall but Christopher uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Christopher leaning his opponent against the cage.
Leonard avoiding damage as Christopher throws knees to the body.
Leonard looking to stall.
Leonard wants to break free but Christopher has control.
Leonard tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Christopher escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Leonard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Christopher scores with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Christopher blocks a head kick by Leonard.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Christopher. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Christopher moves into the clinch successfully.
Christopher stalls.
Leonard wants to break free but Christopher has control.
Christopher missing with knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Leonard's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Christopher tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Leonard avoids it.
Leonard misses with the head strike.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Christopher obliges.
Leonard taking a breather.
Christopher tries to land knees in the clinch but Leonard avoids the damage to the body.
Leonard has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Christopher missing with knees to the body.
Christopher landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Leonard misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kobe Christopher showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Leonard throws a head kick but Christopher moves out of range.
Christopher tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Leonard avoids the head kick by Christopher.
Leonard plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Leonard misses with a body kick.
Leonard misses with a head kick.
Leonard throws a sloppy head kick and Christopher moves out of range easily.
Christopher shoots in looking for a takedown but Leonard manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Christopher's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Christopher moves into the clinch successfully.
Still in the clinch, Christopher scores with a nice short uppercut.
Christopher misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Leonard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leonard on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Christopher crunches a lovely knee into Leonard's ribcage.
Christopher misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Leonard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Christopher breaks the clinch.

Christopher closes the distance and pushes Leonard back into the cage.
Christopher tries to land knees in the clinch but Leonard avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Christopher unloads a knee to the mid-section. Leonard lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Leonard is trying to break free.
Christopher tries to stall but Leonard uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Christopher tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Leonard avoids it.
Christopher displaying some good clinch control by pressing Leonard up against the cage.
Leonard avoiding damage as Christopher throws knees to the body.
Leonard is trying to break the clinch but Christopher is controlling him.
Christopher has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Leonard after a bit of a struggle.
Christopher tries to land knees in the clinch but Leonard avoids the damage to the body.
Leonard can't break the clinch.
Christopher will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Leonard up against the cage.
Christopher has Leonard pressed against the cage.
Christopher tries to land knees in the clinch but Leonard avoids the damage to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard is trying to break free.

Christopher breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Leonard walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Christopher checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Christopher tries for a takedown but Leonard sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Zyke Leonard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kobe Christopher.
Christopher takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
A head kick misses from Leonard.
Leonard misses with a head kick.

Christopher fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Leonard, pushing him back against the cage.
Leonard is trying to break the clinch but Christopher is controlling him.

Christopher decides to pull guard.

Christopher manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Christopher tries to stall but Leonard uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Leonard throws a head punch that misses.
Christopher tries to land knees in the clinch but Leonard avoids the damage to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Leonard wants to break free but Christopher has control.
Christopher tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Leonard avoids it.
Leonard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Christopher tries for a takedown. No joy.
Christopher is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Leonard is defending well for now.
Leonard misses with the head strike.
Leonard wants to break free but Christopher has control.
Knees to the body from Christopher.

Christopher escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Christopher stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Leonard.
Christopher blocks a head kick by Leonard.
Leonard misses with a head kick.
Leonard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Leonard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Leonard throws a head kick that misses

and Christopher counters by clinching up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard wants to stall.
Leonard misses with a knee strike.
Leonard blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Leonard has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Leonard is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Christopher is keeping busy.
Christopher scores a nice knee to the body.
Leonard is trying to break the clinch but Christopher is controlling him.
Christopher misses with a body punch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Christopher obliges.
Zyke Leonard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Christopher misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Leonard.
Christopher blocks an uppercut.
Christopher looking to slow down the pace here.
Christopher keeps control of Leonard as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kobe Christopher is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Christopher trying to land knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kobe Christopher comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Christopher winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight for Kobe Christopher!
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight for Kobe Christopher!
Judge William Peck scores the fight for Kobe Christopher!

Kobe Christopher wins by unanimous decision!