PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Reid (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Leonard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steve Leonard is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Reid
vs
Leonard

180 cm
20
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
180 lbs
4 - 0 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ryan Reid!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Steve Leonard!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Thiago Cunha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leonard looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Reid is fending him off so far but Leonard persists. Nope, Reid circles away and we're back to standing.

Reid darts in and clinches Leonard up against the cage.
Reid is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Leonard is trying to drag Reid to the mat but Reid just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Reid manages to break the clinch.
Ryan Reid seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Leonard gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Reid counters by moving into the clinch.
Ryan Reid has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Leonard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leonard drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Reid is trying to break the clinch but Leonard has him pressed against the cage.
Reid goes for a takedown in the clinch but Leonard prevents it.
Reid is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Leonard pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reid has Leonard pressed against the cage.
Leonard prevents the takedown attempt.
Leonard is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Reid is defending well.
Reid stops a takedown attempt from Leonard.
Leonard is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Reid gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Leonard goes for a takedown attempt but Reid pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Reid throws a sloppy head kick

and Leonard decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Reid's guard.
Reid is pulling down on Leonard's head to control his posture.

Leonard got a little sloppy there for a moment and Reid has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Leonard has managed to get both his arms back between Reid's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Leonard connects with a couple of short punches.
Leonard throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard postures up and lands a big shot to Reid's brow.
Reid preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Leonard landing some decent shots from guard.
Leonard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Leonard drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Reid manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Leonard has Reid in his guard.

Reid with a flurry of punches that miss.
Leonard is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard looking for a sweep. Not yet Leonard, not yet.
Leonard has a closed guard, preventing Reid from standing up.
Leonard keeping moving, preventing Reid from controlling successfully.
Reid is really struggling to control Leonard but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Leonard looking for subs off his back but Reid has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Reid is looking to pass Leonard's guard but actually Leonard recovers to full guard.
Leonard keeping moving, preventing Reid from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Leonard has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Reid can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Leonard looking for a sweep. Not yet Leonard, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ryan Reid will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Reid tries to score a power double leg takedown but Leonard sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Reid somewhat.
Leonard is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A head kick by Reid misses

and Leonard counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Leonard.
Leonard is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Leonard 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.
Leonard working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Reid wants to stand but Leonard is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leonard working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Reid's head.
Leonard lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Steve Leonard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Leonard passes Reid's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Leonard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Reid tries to get to full guard but Leonard has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Leonard is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Leonard looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Reid with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ground and pound from Leonard.
Leonard is thwarting Reid's attempts to control the position.

Leonard is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Leonard lands strikes from half guard.

Leonard is working for a kimura but Reid is defending it quite comfortably.
Leonard working Reid over with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard slips a nice elbow through Reid's hands, connecting with Reid's forehead.
Reid is looking to escape.

Leonard is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Reid as he works his way to full guard.
Reid manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Leonard manages to get himself to full guard.

Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Reid stopping the sweep attempt from Leonard.

Leonard looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Reid wants to control from the top but Leonard keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard keeping full guard, as Reid tries to pass.
Reid is looking to stand up but Leonard won't let him.
Leonard wants to sweep here but Reid controlling him for the moment.
Reid being controlled here momentarily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Leonard is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Leonard drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Reid manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Leonard has Reid in his guard.

Leonard keeping moving, preventing Reid from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Reid wants to pass the guard but Leonard is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Leonard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Reid tries to clinch but fails miserably

so Leonard counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Leonard postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Leonard cracks Reid with a solid left hand.
Leonard connects with a couple of short punches.

Leonard drops back, looking for a kneebar! Reid looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Reid looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Reid!

Reid goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Leonard rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Reid's guard! Nice work there by Leonard!
Leonard scoring with some ground and pound.

Leonard postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Reid is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Leonard, into his guard.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Reid is looking to pass into half guard but Leonard pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Leonard is in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reid is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Leonard wants to control but Reid is keeping busy.
Leonard wants to improve his position but Reid is controlling well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Leonard manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard seems keen to control Reid's posture.
Reid wants to control from the top but Leonard keeps moving.

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

Leonard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Reid manages to get himself to full guard.

Leonard scoring with some ground and pound.
Leonard scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Leonard lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Leonard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Reid wants to stand but Leonard has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reid scoring with some ground and pound.
Leonard is pulling down on Reid's head to control his posture.
Reid postures up in Leonard's guard and throws a big left but Leonard blocks it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Reid wants to get up but he can't break Leonard's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Reid works over Leonard with some ground and pound from guard.
Reid trying to control the position from guard on top but Leonard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Leonard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Leonard 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29

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