PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alpo Wednesday (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nuriel Leonard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Wednesday
vs
Leonard

192 cm
45
162 lbs
60 - 22 - 3

168 cm
41
147 lbs
41 - 21 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Mohito Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 60 - 22 - 3, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alpo Wednesday!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 41 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nuriel Leonard!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Edson Gomes and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slow jab from Leonard misses its intended target.
Leonard lands with a good body shot.
Wednesday on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Nice shot by Leonard.
Leonard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Wednesday was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Wednesday throws a jab when Leonard was well out of range.
Leonard doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Wednesday scores with a crisp jab that stopped Leonard in his tracks.
Wednesday looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Leonard scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Wednesday doesn't seem bothered though.
Leonard throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Wednesday sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nice defenses there by Wednesday.
The fighters circling - Leonard throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A slow jab from Leonard misses its intended target.
Leonard throws a jab when Wednesday was well out of range.
Wednesday misses with a straight left.
Wednesday defending well as Leonard loads up on a big left hand.
Leonard misses with a few strikes there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A punch combination from Wednesday misses.
Nuriel Leonard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wednesday walks into a stiff left hand from Leonard.

Wednesday gets a clinch.
Wednesday swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Leonard is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Wednesday stalling.
Leonard landing knees to the head.
Leonard using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Wednesday has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A right hand to the body from Leonard.
A short left from Wednesday.
A short left from Wednesday.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Leonard as Wednesday tries to tie him up.
Leonard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Leonard misses with a punch to the body.
Wednesday takes a shot to the head.
Leonard taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Leonard.
Wednesday scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wednesday stalling in the clinch but Leonard improves position.
Wednesday tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Wednesday lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Leonard.
Leonard makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Wednesday digs a right hand into Leonard's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Leonard's gas tank.
Wednesday looking to stall.
Leonard tries to land a knee to the head but Wednesday blocks with his arms.
Wednesday tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Leonard's elbow.
A bit of stalling here from Leonard.
Wednesday misses with a punch on the inside.
Leonard is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Wednesday is keeping busy.
Leonard looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Leonard.
Wednesday is trying to maintain a safe position but Leonard gets an underhook and turns Wednesday into the cage.
Leonard blocks a body shot from Wednesday.
Wednesday controlling the action here for a moment.
Wednesday lands a left hand.
Leonard lands a right hand.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Leonard takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Leonard lands with a left to the head.
Wednesday misses with a punch to the body.
Leonard's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Leonard looking to throw knees to the head but Wednesday is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Leonard tries a knee to the head but Wednesday blocks it.
Wednesday swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Leonard with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Leonard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wednesday ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Wednesday throwing a counter right hand but Leonard manages to avoid it.
Wednesday lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wednesday ducks under a wild hook from Leonard.
Alpo Wednesday is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wednesday takes one to the chin there.
Nice cross by Leonard.
Leonard lands with a nice combination. Wednesday backs away looking to recover.
The fighters circling - Leonard throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A shot to the body from Leonard misses

and Wednesday holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Leonard with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Wednesday stalling in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Wednesday scores with a nice short uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nuriel Leonard dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Leonard drives through and clinches with Wednesday against the cage.
Leonard landing knees to the head.
Wednesday lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Nuriel Leonard seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Leonard tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Wednesday avoids it.
Leonard is trying to drag Wednesday to the mat but Wednesday just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Wednesday gets through Leonard's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Leonard manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Leonard looking to throw knees to the head but Wednesday is blocking nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice right hand lands inside from Wednesday.
Leonard avoiding damage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Wednesday.
Wednesday wants to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wednesday misses with some punches.
Wednesday stalls.
Wednesday takes a knee right on the jaw!
Leonard connects with a nasty looking knee right to Wednesday's face.
Wednesday is looking to control Leonard's arms but Leonard gets an underhook and turns him. Now Wednesday has his back to the cage.
Wednesday is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Leonard lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Wednesday cracks Leonard with a nice body shot.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Leonard as Wednesday tries to tie him up.
Leonard lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Wednesday.
Leonard effectively controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Leonard.
Leonard with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Wednesday doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Wednesday misses with some punches.
Wednesday struggles to land a body shot inside as Leonard controls his hands.
Wednesday can't find room to land a body shot as Leonard controls the action.
Wednesday being controlled against the cage.
Wednesday swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Leonard has Wednesday pressed against the cage.
Wednesday misses with a punch on the inside.
Leonard tries to land knees in the clinch but Wednesday avoids the damage to the body.
Leonard is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Wednesday is keeping busy.
Wednesday lands a left hand that snaps the head of Leonard backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard blocks an uppercut.
Wednesday trying to stall but Leonard improves his position.
Wednesday controlling the action here for a moment.
Wednesday looking to stall.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Leonard. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Wednesday goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Leonard is struggling to control the position.
Leonard misses with a knee strike.

Leonard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wednesday really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Wednesday ducks under a wild hook from Leonard.
Wednesday misses the jab.
Wednesday moves in looking to clinch but Leonard pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard lands with a good body shot.
Wednesday misses with a series of wild punches.
Leonard misses with a hook.
Wednesday takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Leonard uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Wednesday.
Leonard misses with an uppercut.
Wednesday swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Wednesday on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Leonard scores with a hook to the body. Wednesday takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Leonard throws a body shot but no joy.
Wednesday is looking to clinch but Leonard is avoiding it.
A little jabbing left from Leonard on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Leonard misses with a left hand
and Wednesday counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Wednesday misses with a looping right.
Leonard scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Wednesday with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Leonard to score with a decent uppercut.
Wednesday takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nuriel 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!

Leonard scores with a body shot.

Leonard gets the takedown into side control.
Leonard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Leonard works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Leonard trying to control the action but Wednesday is working from the bottom.
Wednesday takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Leonard throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Wednesday is looking to regain half guard here but Leonard keeps moving and retains side control.
Leonard has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leonard creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Wednesday sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Leonard in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Wednesday's face as Leonard controls the position.
Leonard looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Wednesday is avoiding damage well.
This fight is sponsored by Chainsaw 7. More blood and guts and stuff like that, in cinemas everywhere now!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Leonard throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Wednesday regains half guard, as Leonard was trying to land strikes.
Wednesday wants to get back to full guard.
Leonard lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Leonard slows the pace down in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Leonard is just content to waste time from the top position. Wednesday takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Leonard scoring with some ground and pound.
Leonard controls from within his opponent's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Wednesday keeping moving, preventing Leonard from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard throws a big shot that misses.
Wednesday on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Wednesday steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Leonard.
Wednesday's jab looks to have found its range, popping Leonard under the eye.
Leonard lands a slapping body shot.
Leonard bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Wednesday's head.
Leonard moves out of range of the strikes.
Wednesday misses the jab.
Jab, jab by Leonard - just one landing.
Nuriel Leonard seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Leonard looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Leonard waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Wednesday.
It looked like Wednesday wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Leonard jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nice jab there from Wednesday.
Wednesday uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Leonard.
An attempted straight right counter from Wednesday misses the target.
Leonard swings widly with a right hand
and Wednesday counters with a left to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wednesday gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Leonard.
Leonard scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Wednesday tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Leonard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Wednesday slips a jab from Leonard.
Wednesday connects with a right hand. Leonard shakes it off.
Wednesday misses with a two punch combination.
Leonard throws a looping overhand right but Wednesday ducks down to avoid it.
Wednesday tries to counter by clinching up but Leonard breaks away and moves out of range.
Leonard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Wednesday drops his hands momentarily and Leonard takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Leonard looks to score with a jab to the body but Wednesday is just out of range.
Wednesday connects with a right hand. Leonard shakes it off.
Leonard keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Wednesday.
Leonard drops his hands momentarily and Wednesday takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Leonard throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Wednesday was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Leonard takes a swing at Wednesday's ribcage but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A decent looking cross lands there for Wednesday.
Wednesday moves in looking to clinch but Leonard pushes him off.
Wednesday moves away from the strike by Leonard.
Leonard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Leonard misses the shot to the body.
Leonard missing with a left hand there. Wednesday was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Wednesday was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Leonard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Wednesday seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Wednesday with a jab.
Leonard scores with a nice strike.
Leonard works Wednesday's body with a nice hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wednesday misses with a hook. Leonard ducked under it nicely.
Leonard looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Wednesday misses with a straight left.
Leonard scores with a hook.
Leonard works the jab nicely.
Wednesday throws an overhand right that lands on Leonard's shoulder, as Leonard tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wednesday takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Leonard swings for the body but Wednesday moves out of range.
Wednesday is looking to clinch but Leonard is avoiding it.
Wednesday slips a straight right by Leonard.
Wednesday lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Leonard walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Leonard tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Wednesday defends well and Leonard ends up having to push Wednesday into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Wednesday moves in looking to clinch but Leonard pushes him off.
Leonard moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Wednesday misses with a two punch combination.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Wednesday digs a good body shot into Leonard's ribs.
Leonard throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Wednesday sees it coming and avoids it easily.
As Leonard tries to get set, Wednesday tries to push him back and clinch up but Leonard manages to avoid the attempt.
Leonard scores with a jab.
Wednesday is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Wednesday missing with a left hand there. Leonard was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Leonard throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Wednesday stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Leonard getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Leonard misses with a body shot.
Wednesday takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Wednesday tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wednesday misses with a looping right.
Leonard fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Wednesday misses with a hook. Leonard ducked under it nicely.
Wednesday throws a hook but Leonard avoids it easily.
It seemed like Leonard was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Wednesday moves out of range of the strikes.
Leonard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Wednesday moves away.
No joy there for Wednesday, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wednesday scores with a one two! Leonard had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Wednesday is looking to clinch but Leonard is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard misses with a hook
and Wednesday counters with a stiff right hand.
Leonard misses with a looping right.
Leonard moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Wednesday throws a shot from downtown. Leonard moves away and avoids it.
Leonard lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Leonard throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Wednesday sees it coming and avoids it easily.
It looked like Wednesday was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Leonard.
Wednesday is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Leonard.
A nice side step and Leonard releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Leonard misses with a looping right.
A swing and a miss from Leonard.
Leonard connects with a jab.
Wednesday throws a jab when Leonard was well out of range.
Wednesday avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Leonard misses with a looping left.
It looked like Wednesday wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Wednesday darts in trying to clinch

and Leonard counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wednesday is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Leonard wants to take a breather but Wednesday is having none of it.
Leonard drops an elbow to the side of Wednesday's head.
Leonard with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Nuriel Leonard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Wednesday wants to control but Leonard is keeping busy.
Leonard slips a nice elbow through Wednesday's hands, connecting with Wednesday's forehead.
Leonard not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Wednesday ducks under a wild hook from Leonard.
Leonard moves out of range as Wednesday strikes.
Wednesday takes one to the chin there.
Wednesday missing with a left hand there. Leonard was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Leonard throws a jab when Wednesday was well out of range.
Leonard misses with a straight left.
An attempted straight right counter from Wednesday misses the target.
Wednesday avoids the body shot from Leonard.
Leonard bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Wednesday's head backwards.
Leonard throws out a powerful jab.
Leonard throws a right hand that misses
and Leonard takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wednesday looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wednesday uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Leonard.
Leonard looks to score with a jab to the body but Wednesday is just out of range.
Wednesday is looking to counter punch.
Leonard misses with a few strikes there.
Wednesday wants to clinch.
Leonard is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Wednesday with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Leonard lands a glancing blow to the side of Wednesday's head.
Leonard gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Leonard fails with a takedown attempt.
Leonard pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Wednesday was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Wednesday misses with a looping right.
Leonard digs a good body shot into Wednesday's ribs.
Leonard lands a jab to Wednesday's midsection.
Wednesday throws a lazy right hand but Leonard sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Leonard! But no joy.
Nuriel Leonard is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard scores with a punch to the head.
Wednesday slips a straight right by Leonard.
As Leonard tries to get set, Wednesday tries to push him back and clinch up but Leonard manages to avoid the attempt.

Leonard gets a double leg takedown into Wednesday's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wednesday looking to control.
Wednesday is really struggling to control Leonard but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Leonard passes into half guard.
Alpo Wednesday has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Wednesday avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Leonard.
Wednesday moves into full guard.
Leonard with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Leonard trying to control but Wednesday is working from the bottom.
Wednesday avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Wednesday keeping moving, preventing Leonard from controlling successfully.
Wednesday is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Wednesday throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Leonard to regain full guard.
Leonard bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Wednesday's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wednesday wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Wednesday will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Wednesday utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Leonard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Leonard wants to control from the top but Wednesday keeps moving.
Wednesday wants to get back to his feet but Leonard is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Leonard throwing strikes but missing.
Wednesday preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nuriel Leonard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Leonard 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 45:50
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 45:50
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nuriel Leonard!
Nuriel Leonard opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.