PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matt Leach (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Claus Clausen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leach's entrance music is Wiki - Wikispeaks. A fine choice. Matt Leach had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Leach
vs
Clausen

200 cm
37
195 lbs
21 - 15 - 0

189 cm
37
195 lbs
27 - 28 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matt Leach!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 28 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Claus Clausen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leach throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Clausen counters with a straight right hand.
Clausen looks to score with a jab to the body but Leach is just out of range.
Clausen misses with a hook. Leach ducked under it nicely.
Clausen does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Clausen lands a body shot.
Leach fails to land with a series of punches.
Leach tries to bum rush Clausen with a series of wild strikes but Clausen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A little jabbing left from Clausen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Clausen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Clausen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clausen cracks Leach with a right hand to the side of the head.
A jab from Clausen misses.
It looked like Leach was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Clausen lands with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clausen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Leach.
Leach takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Clausen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Leach moves away.
Clausen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Clausen listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Leach looks to land a combination but Clausen avoids it well.
Clausen throws a body punch but Leach moves out of range.
Clausen throws a sloppy body shot
and Leach counters with a left and a right that stings Clausen.
Leach takes a jab right on the kisser.
Leach misses with a two punch combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Leach displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Clausen throws out the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clausen throws the left hand but Leach avoids the punch easily.
Some wild striking there from Clausen.
Clausen throws a body shot but no joy.
Leach throwing a counter right hand but Clausen manages to avoid it.
Clausen lands a jab to the head.
Clausen throws a big shot that misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Clausen. Leach does a little dance to reset his feet.
It looked like Leach was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
A jab from Clausen misses.
As Clausen looks to move away, Leach throws a big counter combo but Clausen just gets out of the way.
Clausen misses with an uppercut.
Leach avoids the body shot from Clausen.
Clausen smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clausen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Clausen misses with a body shot.
Leach scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Clausen throws a body shot but no joy.
Clausen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Leach moves away.
Leach throws a big counter combination but Clausen scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Clausen rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Leach counters with a one-two to the body.
Leach throws a combination that misses
and Clausen counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Leach steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Clausen.
Leach seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Clausen throws a sloppy body shot

and Leach moves into the clinch.
Clausen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Clausen taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Leach trying to control the position but instead, Clausen has worked for underhooks and has pushed Leach into the cage.
Clausen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Leach.
Leach lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Clausen backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Clausen.
Clausen prevents a body shot from Leach.
Still in the clinch, Leach scores with a nice short uppercut.
Leach lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
I was talking to Leach's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Clausen prevents Leach from breaking the clinch.
Leach softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Clausen takes a shot to the head.

Leach manages to break the clinch.
Clausen lands a glancing blow to the side of Leach's head.
Leach throws a right hand that Clausen ducks under and follows up with a left that Clausen also avoids with ease.
Clausen is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Leach rather than just go for the knockout.
Leach uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Clausen.
Leach went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Clausen misses with a wild body shot.
Clausen misses with a lunging right hand
and Leach counters with a series of strikes. Clausen will be more careful next time no doubt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Claus Clausen will probably get the nod.
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.

Clausen throws a low kick but it's checked well by Leach.
As Clausen looks to move away, Leach throws a big counter combo but Clausen just gets out of the way.
Clausen misses with a lunging right hand
and Leach counters with a left and a right that stings Clausen.
Leach steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Clausen.
Clausen cracks Leach with a good jab.
Leach throws a right hand that Clausen ducks under and follows up with a left that Clausen also avoids with ease.
Clausen punishes Leach's body with a nice straight punch.
Clausen throws a shot to the body.
Clausen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Leach.
Leach seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Claus Clausen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clausen tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Leach is able to avoid easily.
Leach went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Clausen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Claus Clausen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Leach swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Clausen misses with a body shot.
Leach is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Clausen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clausen throws a looping overhand right but Leach ducks down to avoid it.
Clausen misses with a looping left.
Leach throws a quick counter head kick but Clausen was just out of range.
Leach uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Clausen.
Leach was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Leach misses with a series of wild punches.
Clausen misses the shot to the body.
Leach throws a big counter combination but Clausen scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Clausen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Leach checks the leg kick nicely there.
Clausen throws a hook but Leach avoids it easily.
Leach throws a big counter combination but Clausen scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Nice shot by Clausen.
Matt Leach is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Clausen scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Leach doesn't seem bothered though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Clausen misses.
Clausen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Clausen throws a lazy uppercut
and Leach counters with a series of strikes. Clausen will be more careful next time no doubt.
Leach ducks under a wild hook from Clausen.
Leach appears to be looking for a big counter.
Clausen throws a leg kick but Leach sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Clausen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Leach moves away.
Leach went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Clausen misses with a straight left.
Leach misses with a wild combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Clausen loads up on a big right hand but Leach slips the punch.
As Clausen looks to move away, Leach throws a big counter combo but Clausen just gets out of the way.
Clausen throws a looping overhand right but Leach ducks down to avoid it.
As Clausen looks to move away, Leach throws a big counter combo but Clausen just gets out of the way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leach looks to land a combination but Clausen avoids it well.
Claus Clausen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A leg kick checked by Leach.
Leach is looking for a counter combo.
Clausen misses with a lunging right hand
and Leach counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Leach lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Clausen shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Clausen throws a looping overhand right but Leach ducks down to avoid it.
A counter left hand to the body from Leach misses its target.
Clausen misses with a low kick.
It looked like Leach was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Clausen misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Leach counters with a three punch combo that has Clausen backing up. Clausen nods at Leach to acknowledge the strikes.
A punch combination from Leach misses.
Clausen misses with a body shot.
A low kick from Clausen is predictable there
and Leach counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

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!
Clausen misses with a straight left.
Clausen finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Clausen scores with a jab to the body.
Leach takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Leach closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Clausen throws a series of punches but Leach moves out of range.
Clausen misses the shot to the body.
Leach blocks a jab.
Clausen looks to score with a jab to the body but Leach is just out of range.
Leach misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Claus Clausen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Clausen swings for the body but Leach moves out of range.
Clausen misses with a hook.
Leach lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Clausen circles away quickly and effectively.
Clausen appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Leach checks a leg kick.
Clausen looks to land a left hand but Leach moved out of range nicely.
Leach went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Clausen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Leach. That did some damage!
Clausen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Leach.
Leach throws a big counter combination but Clausen scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Clausen swings for the body but Leach moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clausen misses with a jab to the body
and Leach counters with a three punch combo that has Clausen backing up. Clausen nods at Leach to acknowledge the strikes.
Leach really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Clausen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Leach moves away.
Clausen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Leach manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clausen misses with a low kick.
Clausen misses with a shot to the body
and Leach counters with a left and a right that stings Clausen.
Clausen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Leach stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Leach lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Clausen circles away quickly and effectively.
Leach keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Clausen.
Leach uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Clausen.
Clausen throws a body punch but Leach moves out of range.
Leach misses with a two punch combination.
Clausen misses the jab.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Clausen, right into the meat.
Clausen throws a jab but it's blocked by Leach.
As Clausen tries to get set, Leach tries to push him back and clinch up but Clausen manages to avoid the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clausen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Leach tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Clausen manages to circle out of the way.
Leach misses with a two punch combination.
Clausen misses with a body shot.
Clausen throws a leg kick
and Leach counters with a one-two to the body.
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!
Leach keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Clausen.
Leach takes one to the chin there.
Clausen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Clausen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Leach counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Leach is working the combinations to good effect here.
Clausen throws a right hand that misses
and Leach counters with a series of strikes. Clausen will be more careful next time no doubt.
Clausen misses with a series of wild punches.
Leach is looking for a counter combo.
Matt Leach has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leach misses with a series of wild punches.
Clausen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
and Leach counters with a three punch combo that has Clausen backing up. Clausen nods at Leach to acknowledge the strikes.
Leach shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
No joy there for Leach, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Clausen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Leach.
Clausen punishes Leach's body with a nice straight punch.
Leach slips under a jab from Clausen.
Leach went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Leach takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Some wild striking there from Leach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clausen connects with a nice looking jab.
Clausen throws an overhand right that lands on Leach's shoulder, as Leach tries to avoid the shot.
A combination from Clausen does no damage.
Clausen misses with an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Some wild striking there from Leach.
Claus Clausen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Clausen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Clausen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Leach manages to avoid it.
Leach is looking to counter the offense by Clausen and move into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Matt Leach.
I think Clausen 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Claus Clausen!