PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nuriel Leonard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Equinox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nuriel Leonard has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Leonard
vs
Equinox

168 cm
42
147 lbs
44 - 23 - 0

172 cm
49
147 lbs
64 - 34 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Sin City Allstars
MayheM sportswear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 44 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nuriel Leonard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 64 - 34 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Equinox!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Alexandre Firmino and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leonard scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Equinox has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Leonard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Leonard misses with a hook to the body
and Equinox counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Leonard cracks Equinox with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Leonard drives through with a takedown into guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Leonard's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Leonard throws a big right hand that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Leonard accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Equinox keeping full guard, as Leonard tries to pass.
Leonard missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Leonard is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Leonard throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Equinox keeping moving, preventing Leonard from controlling successfully.
Leonard is looking to work some ground and pound but Equinox has wrist control.
Leonard postures up in Equinox's guard and throws a big left but Equinox blocks it.
Leonard scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Leonard postures up in Equinox's guard and throws a big left but Equinox blocks it.
Equinox keeping moving, preventing Leonard from controlling successfully.
Leonard throwing strikes but missing.
Leonard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Leonard looking to pass the guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Leonard trying to control the position from guard on top but Equinox is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Leonard shoots in but Equinox avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A little jabbing left from Equinox on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Leonard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Leonard feints a jab promting Equinox to slip. Leonard then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Equinox slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
John Equinox is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Equinox stuffs the takedown.
Equinox looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Equinox tries to clinch there but Leonard circles away.
Equinox slips a jab from Leonard.
Equinox swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
The fighters circling - Leonard throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard scores with a body shot.
Leonard cracks Equinox with a good jab.
Equinox showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Leonard.
Leonard is looking to clinch but Equinox is avoiding it.
Equinox wants to counter the offense by Leonard and move into the clinch position.
Leonard feints a jab promting Equinox to slip. Leonard then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Equinox slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Leonard throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Equinox throws out a counter right but Leonard avoids it with no problem.
Leonard lands a right hook to the body.
Leonard throws a body punch but Equinox moves out of range.
Leonard misses with a lunging right hand
letting Equinox counter with a right hand.
The crowd cheers as Leonard lands an impressive looking overhand right. Equinox doesn't seem phased though.
Leonard throws a sloppy body shot

and Equinox counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Equinox throws a punch but it's blocked by Leonard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard looking to throw knees to the head but Equinox is blocking nicely.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Equinox.
Equinox tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Equinox struggles to land a body shot inside as Leonard controls his hands.
Leonard tries to land a knee to the head but Equinox blocks with his arms.
Leonard is trying to maintain a safe position but Equinox gets an underhook and turns Leonard into the cage.
Equinox taking a breather.
Equinox stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Equinox lands a right hand that snaps the head of Leonard backwards.
Equinox swings wildly with an uppercut but Leonard uses good head movement to avoid it.

Leonard manages to break the clinch.
Leonard jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Equinox looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Leonard thuds his right hand into Equinox's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
The fighters circle momentarily. Leonard darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Equinox gets a clinch.
Leonard using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Equinox has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Equinox misses with a hook from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nuriel Leonard dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Equinox tests Leonard's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Equinox uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Leonard.
Equinox tries to close the distance and clinch up but Leonard swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Leonard closes this distance looking for a takedown but Equinox circles away.
Equinox uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Leonard.
Leonard lands a two punch combo.
Leonard's corner calls for a 1-2. Leonard obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Leonard throws a predictable looking body shot
and Equinox counters with a stiff right hand.
Leonard throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Equinox swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Leonard cracks Equinox with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Leonard moves out of range as Equinox strikes.
Equinox looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Leonard moves into range and connects with a jab.
Equinox wants to clinch up but Leonard keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Equinox moves in looking to clinch but Leonard pushes him off.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Leonard.
Equinox wants to counter the offense by Leonard and move into the clinch position.
Leonard ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Equinox stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nuriel Leonard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Leonard misses with a looping right.
Leonard moves out of range of the strikes.
Nuriel Leonard is winning the standup battle so far.
Leonard throws a predictable looking body shot
and Equinox cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nuriel Leonard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Leonard lands a nice looking body shot.
A combination from Leonard does no damage.
Leonard misses with a looping left.
Equinox throws a lazy right hand but Leonard sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard misses the shot to the body.
Equinox might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Leonard lands with a straight right. Equinox didn't see that one coming.
Leonard connects with a single shot there.

Leonard closes the distance and clinches.
Leonard lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
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!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Leonard.
Leonard stalling in the clinch but Equinox improves position.
Equinox swings wildly with an uppercut but Leonard uses good head movement to avoid it.
Equinox misses with some punches.
Equinox lands a left hand that snaps the head of Leonard backwards.

Leonard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Equinox connects with a looping right hand.
Leonard misses with a looping left.
Good standup being displayed there by Leonard as he connects with a hook.
Equinox fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Leonard manages to avoid it.
Leonard half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard missing with a left hand there. Equinox was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Equinox unleashes a big counter combination but Leonard bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Leonard misses with a body shot.
It seemed like Equinox was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Equinox drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Equinox gets tackled into the cage by Leonard. Leonard maintains the clinch.

Leonard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Leonard throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Equinox to counter with a crisp jab.
Equinox keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Leonard.
Leonard throws a combination. Equinox tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Equinox tries to close the distance and clinch but Leonard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Equinox takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Leonard ducks under a wild hook from Equinox.
Leonard throws a shot from downtown. Equinox moves away and avoids it.
Leonard cracks Equinox with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Leonard.
Leonard wants to clinch but Equinox slips to the side
and Equinox counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Equinox tries to close the distance and clinch up but Leonard swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Equinox takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Leonard closes the distance and clinches.
Equinox throws a head punch that misses.
Leonard tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Equinox throws a head punch that misses.
John Equinox seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Leonard blocks an uppercut.
Equinox swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Equinox misses with a punch on the inside.
Equinox misses with a short punch on the inside.
Leonard tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Equinox tries to work over Leonard's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Equinox on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Leonard works Equinox's body with a nice hook.

Equinox gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Leonard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Equinox works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Leonard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Leonard throws a big elbow that misses.
Equinox keeping moving, preventing Leonard from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Equinox trying to keep a closed guard but Leonard is proving a slippery customer.
Equinox looking to hit a scissor sweep but Leonard is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Equinox is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Equinox is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Nuriel Leonard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Leonard has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Equinox is working away from the top position though.
Equinox wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Leonard uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
Equinox has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Leonard is proving hard to escape from.
Leonard lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

John Equinox has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nuriel Leonard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Equinox preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Leonard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Leonard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Equinox can do to turn this around?
Leonard trying to control but Equinox is working from the bottom.
Leonard stays in close to Equinox's body and controls the position.
Leonard throwing strikes but missing.
Equinox keeping moving, preventing Leonard from controlling successfully.
Equinox looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Equinox tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Leonard looking to sit in guard and control but Equinox gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Equinox trying to stand up but can't free himself from Leonard's guard.
Equinox is looking to work some ground and pound but Leonard has wrist control.
Equinox trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Equinox wants to pass the guard but Leonard is keeping the position.

That's four 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.
Leonard lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Leonard sitting in guard here, content to control.
Leonard looking to sit in guard and control but Equinox gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Equinox throws an elbow that misses. Leonard uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Equinox's guard. Nice move by Leonard!

Leonard slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Leonard works a leg free and moves into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nuriel Leonard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Leonard, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nuriel Leonard!
Nuriel Leonard took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.