PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Will Whitney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maxim Leskin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Whitney
vs
Leskin

212 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Will Whitney!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maxim Leskin!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Ivan Kurochkin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Whitney defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Leskin.

Leskin moves into the clinch successfully.

Leskin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Leskin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Leskin misses with a double jab.

Leskin bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Leskin trying to control the position but Whitney is working away.
Whitney is trying to control Leskin's posture but Leskin avoids it.
Leskin tries to advance to mount but can't.

Leskin goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Whitney rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Leskin's guard! Nice work there by Whitney!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitney postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Leskin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Whitney. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Whitney missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Whitney stops Leskin from standing up.
Whitney trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Whitney throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Leskin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Whitney loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Leskin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Whitney is looking for a sweep. Leskin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Leskin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Leskin thows a huge punch but Whitney dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Leskin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Leskin is trying to control the action in half guard but Whitney is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Whitney is trying to stand.
Whitney is looking for a sweep. Leskin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Leskin is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Leskin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Whitney controls Leskin momentarily but Leskin frees himself.
Leskin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitney being controlled here, momentarily.

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

Leskin darts in and clinches Whitney up against the cage.

Leskin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Leskin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Whitney as he jumps to the side.

Leskin takes the fight into the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Leskin creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Whitney tries a body shot but Leskin blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Leskin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Leskin throws an off balance right hand

and Whitney moves into the clinch.
Whitney tries to pull guard but Leskin holds him up against the cage and eventually Whitney drops back down to his feet.
Leskin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Leskin lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Leskin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Leskin misses with a double jab.
Whitney is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Leskin.

Leskin has managed to clinch.
A short right from Whitney.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Leskin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Whitney misses with a hook from the clinch.
Leskin softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Leskin tries to land a knee to the head but Whitney blocks with his arms.

Leskin manages to break the clinch.
Leskin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maxim Leskin dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Leskin tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Whitney swivels and escapes.

Leskin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Whitney, pushing him back against the cage.
Leskin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Leskin pulls Whitney into guard.
Whitney postures up and lands a big shot to Leskin's brow.
Whitney trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Leskin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Whitney stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Leskin shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Leskin was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Whitney tries to improve position but can't.
Whitney stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Whitney has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Leskin decides to stand back up. Leskin steps back and let's Whitney get back to his feet.
Whitney really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leskin misses with a takedown

and Whitney counters by clinching up.
Leskin is breathing heavily.
Leskin can't break the clinch.
Whitney misses with a knee to the head.
Whitney lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Leskin backwards.

Leskin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Maxim Leskin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Whitney connects with a jab.
Leskin throws a sloppy head kick
enabling Whitney to counter with a crisp jab.
Leskin throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Whitney's waist but Whitney gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Leskin off to one side.
Whitney is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Leskin.
Will Whitney has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maxim Leskin.
Leskin has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Whitney finds it's way round the side to connect with Leskin's head.
Leskin shoots and misses
and Whitney counters with a two punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Whitney fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Leskin, pushing him back against the cage.

Whitney pulls guard successfully.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Leskin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Whitney is controlling Leskin's posture.

Whitney is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Leskin presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Whitney jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Leskin walks away with a smile on his face. Whitney gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Leskin closes the distance and clinches.

Leskin breaks from the clinch.

Leskin drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Leskin controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitney 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.
Leskin is pushing down on Whitney's leg trying to pass to half guard. Whitney is fighting to maintain full guard but Leskin has managed to sneak the leg through.
Leskin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Whitney wants to get back to his feet.
Leskin is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Whitney manages to get to full guard.

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.
Leskin postures up.
Whitney will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Leskin wanted to stand there but Whitney had control of the position.

Leskin decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Leskin shoots in for a takedown but Whitney shows good takedown defense.

Whitney gets caught napping as Leskin dives in and scores a takedown. Whitney manages to retain guard.

Whitney pushes Leskin off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Whitney dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Leskin throws a combination that misses
and Whitney counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Leskin thinking.
Leskin has his takedown stuffed

and Whitney holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Whitney has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Leskin after a bit of a struggle.
Whitney throws a punch but it's blocked by Leskin.
Whitney can't find room to land a body shot as Leskin controls the action.
Whitney tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Leskin just stands there and leans against the cage.
Whitney looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Whitney fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Will Whitney. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Whitney tries to pull guard but Leskin won't allow it.
Maxim Leskin seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leskin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Whitney smiles and moves away.

Leskin closes the distance and pushes Whitney back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitney misses with some punches.

Leskin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Leskin has managed to clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Leskin connects with a nasty looking knee right to Whitney's face.

Whitney is rocked!
Leskin lands a big right hand that drops Whitney! The killer instinct kicks in and Leskin finishes his opponent with a series of strikes from mount. A dominating finish by Leskin!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:29 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Maxim Leskin!