PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Claude LeBlanc (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zorba The Dancing Buddha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). LeBlanc comes to the cage accompanied by Professor Green ft. Maverick Sabre - Jungle. The Dancing Buddha is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Zorba Time. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

LeBlanc
vs
The Dancing Buddha

184 cm
27
220 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

190 cm
25
212 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160 (80% laundry)
AnonymouS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Claude LeBlanc!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zorba The Dancing Buddha!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Hirohito Nitta and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
LeBlanc fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
The Dancing Buddha avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
LeBlanc swings away with a body shot that misses
and The Dancing Buddha cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
LeBlanc is looking to score with low kicks.
The Dancing Buddha throws a body punch but LeBlanc moves out of range.
LeBlanc takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
The Dancing Buddha throws a sloppy body shot
and LeBlanc counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
LeBlanc throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
LeBlanc lands with an overhand left.

LeBlanc looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The Dancing Buddha is looking to get back to is feet but LeBlanc passes into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
LeBlanc laying and praying for a moment but The Dancing Buddha takes advantage and regains half guard.
LeBlanc looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Dancing Buddha keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The Dancing Buddha trying to control here.
LeBlanc tries to pass to full mount but The Dancing Buddha defends it.
The Dancing Buddha is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. LeBlanc connects with a nice short shot to The Dancing Buddha's temple.
The Dancing Buddha is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
LeBlanc is taking a breather. The Dancing Buddha says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
LeBlanc missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

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.
LeBlanc wants to lay and pray for a moment but The Dancing Buddha keeps working.
The Dancing Buddha works his way to full guard. Good work.
LeBlanc working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The Dancing Buddha controls LeBlanc momentarily but LeBlanc frees himself.
The Dancing Buddha avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
LeBlanc tries to free his leg and advance position but The Dancing Buddha is retaining full guard.
LeBlanc missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
LeBlanc preventing the sweep.
LeBlanc connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LeBlanc controls from within his opponent's guard.
LeBlanc trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
LeBlanc throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
LeBlanc preventing the sweep.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
LeBlanc cracks The Dancing Buddha with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The Dancing Buddha blocks a head kick by LeBlanc.
The Dancing Buddha misses with an uppercut

and LeBlanc counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The Dancing Buddha makes his way to full guard. A much better position for The Dancing Buddha.
LeBlanc trying to control the position from guard on top but The Dancing Buddha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
LeBlanc is looking to pass into half guard but The Dancing Buddha pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now The Dancing Buddha is in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

LeBlanc looking for submissions from the bottom but instead The Dancing Buddha passes into half guard.
The Dancing Buddha seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
LeBlanc regains full guard. Nicely done.
LeBlanc pulls The Dancing Buddha in close to his closed guard and prevents The Dancing Buddha from doing any damage or advancing position.
The Dancing Buddha wants to control from the top but LeBlanc keeps moving.
LeBlanc wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Claude LeBlanc dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A clash of legs there as LeBlanc blocks the low kick.
The Dancing Buddha avoids the body shot from LeBlanc.
The Dancing Buddha misses with a straight left.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as LeBlanc checks a leg kick.
LeBlanc looks to throw a body kick
and The Dancing Buddha connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The Dancing Buddha defends well against a solid takedown attempt from LeBlanc.
The Dancing Buddha swings and misses with a hook to the body.
LeBlanc fires out a quick counter leg kick but The Dancing Buddha just manages to avoid it.
LeBlanc lands a body shot.
LeBlanc is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that The Dancing Buddha can do to turn this around?
LeBlanc closes the distance and lands a one-two.
We've been told by LeBlanc's head coaches at School Of Fighting that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
The Dancing Buddha throws a jab but it's blocked by LeBlanc.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
LeBlanc throws an overhand right that lands on The Dancing Buddha's shoulder, as The Dancing Buddha tries to avoid the shot.
LeBlanc fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and The Dancing Buddha has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
LeBlanc ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
LeBlanc slips a straight right by The Dancing Buddha.
LeBlanc will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A decent looking body kick lands there for LeBlanc.
The Dancing Buddha lands a right hook to the body.
Zorba The Dancing Buddha is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The Dancing Buddha throws a right and a left that both miss.
LeBlanc changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Claude LeBlanc seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The Dancing Buddha cracks the inside of LeBlanc's front leg.
The Dancing Buddha scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
The Dancing Buddha digs a good hook to LeBlanc's body.
The Dancing Buddha throws an off balance right hand
and LeBlanc counters with an outside leg kick.
The Dancing Buddha uses good head movement to avoid the hook from LeBlanc.
LeBlanc throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
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!
The Dancing Buddha takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

LeBlanc closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. The Dancing Buddha did well to prevent LeBlanc getting side control.
The Dancing Buddha regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from LeBlanc.
LeBlanc stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. The Dancing Buddha swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Dancing Buddha keeping moving, preventing LeBlanc from controlling successfully.
Our spies down at at Thomas Top Team inform us that The Dancing Buddha has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
LeBlanc makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
LeBlanc looking to sit in guard and control but The Dancing Buddha gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

LeBlanc has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Dancing Buddha trying to control but LeBlanc is working from the bottom.
LeBlanc is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
LeBlanc is working hard here to advance position.
The Dancing Buddha trying to control but LeBlanc is working from the bottom.

LeBlanc throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! The Dancing Buddha escapes and throws LeBlanc's legs to the side, diving into side control!

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.
LeBlanc is looking for a sweep.
Claude LeBlanc overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
LeBlanc is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked The Dancing Buddha off and has taken his back!
LeBlanc has the hooks in. The Dancing Buddha is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
LeBlanc throwing sloppy strikes.
The Dancing Buddha looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
The Dancing Buddha wants to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Claude LeBlanc dominated that second 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

LeBlanc keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
LeBlanc misses with a head kick.
The Dancing Buddha moves out of range of the body kick.

LeBlanc gets the takedown into side control.
The Dancing Buddha dodges the ground and pound from LeBlanc.
LeBlanc trying to control the position but The Dancing Buddha is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
LeBlanc throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and The Dancing Buddha works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The Dancing Buddha is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LeBlanc slips a nice elbow through The Dancing Buddha's hands, connecting with The Dancing Buddha's forehead.
LeBlanc looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from LeBlanc.
The Dancing Buddha moves into full guard.
LeBlanc loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The Dancing Buddha working a defensive guard here.
The Dancing Buddha preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
LeBlanc trying to control but The Dancing Buddha is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Dancing Buddha has LeBlanc pulled in close to control his posture.
LeBlanc postures up in The Dancing Buddha's guard and throws a big left but The Dancing Buddha blocks it.
The Dancing Buddha is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The Dancing Buddha wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
LeBlanc is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
LeBlanc working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of The Dancing Buddha's head.
The Dancing Buddha is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LeBlanc cracks The Dancing Buddha with a solid left hand.
LeBlanc preventing the sweep.
The Dancing Buddha keeps trying to improve his position.
The Dancing Buddha wants to improve his position but instead LeBlanc has moved into half guard.
The Dancing Buddha blocking the ground and pound attempt from LeBlanc.
Zorba The Dancing Buddha has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
LeBlanc throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The Dancing Buddha avoiding damage under a succession of punches from LeBlanc.
LeBlanc missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
LeBlanc is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The Dancing Buddha is looking for a sweep. LeBlanc is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Dancing Buddha trying to hold on to LeBlanc's head to control him but LeBlanc postures up.
LeBlanc throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The Dancing Buddha is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
LeBlanc scoring with strikes to the body and head.
LeBlanc lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Claude LeBlanc is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The Dancing Buddha is not content to let LeBlanc control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The Dancing Buddha blocking the ground and pound attempt from LeBlanc.

And that's the end of the fight!
Claude LeBlanc showed his dominance in that final round.
Well LeBlanc 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Claude LeBlanc!
An out of breath Claude LeBlanc thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.