PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Emre Can (ranked 7367 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo Lionel (ranked 7221 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Can
vs
Lionel

185 cm
19
184 lbs
5 - 9 - 0

180 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Emre Can!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Leo Lionel!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Dirk Anderson and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Lionel.
Can misses with a takedown

and Lionel counters by moving into the clinch.

Lionel is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Can can't fight it off and eventually Lionel manages to take the fight to the floor. Can looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lionel looking to pass the guard.
Lionel looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lionel stands and throws Can's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lionel taking a breather here.

Lionel goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Can has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Lionel but great work by Can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lionel wants to control but Can postures up.
Lionel looks to move to half guard but instead Can has passed into mount! Damn!
Lionel is desperately trying to improve his position but Can has a good base and remains in mount.
Can avoids the attempt from Lionel to control.
Can tries to control but Lionel wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lionel is trying to escape the mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lionel can do anything to dispel that myth.
Can avoids the attempt from Lionel to control.
Lionel tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Lionel tries to lock up and control but Can gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Lionel is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Lionel wants to control but Can is having none of it.
Can looking to control but Lionel is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Lionel holds on to Can as tight as he can, avoiding damage.
Lionel wants to hold on but Can pushes him away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Can tries to control but Lionel wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Emre Can will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lionel scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Can trying to control here.
Lionel throws a strike but Can avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Can being controlled here, momentarily.
Lionel stopping the sweep attempt from Can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lionel tries to free his leg and advance position but Can is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Can is trying to keep Lionel in close.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Can throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Can closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Leo Lionel has been cut.
Emre Can is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lionel shoots in looking for a takedown. Can tries to sprawl out of it but Lionel keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Can manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Can tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lionel manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lionel tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Can avoids the head kick by Lionel.

Lionel moves into the clinch.
Can misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lionel.
Lionel wants to break the clinch but can't.
Can prevents Lionel from breaking the clinch.
Can trying to land knees to the body.
Lionel lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lionel is trying to drag Can to the mat but Can just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Lionel lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Can backwards.
Can wants to get back to striking at distance but Lionel won't allow it.
Can throws a head punch that misses.
Can fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lionel dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Can misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lionel.
Can gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lionel.
Emre Can has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leo Lionel.
Can softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Can has been working on his balance at Play House, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Lionel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lionel wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Can has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Can's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Lionel is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Can lands with a left to the head.
Can tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lionel tries to circle away but Can has him pinned against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Can.
Can swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Can swings wildly with an uppercut but Lionel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lionel tries to pull guard but Can holds him up against the cage and eventually Lionel drops back down to his feet.
Lionel is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Can gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Lionel is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Lionel wants the takedown. Can is fighting it off but Lionel persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Can's guard against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lionel sitting in guard here, content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lionel working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Can is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lionel trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Can manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Can is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lionel can do to turn this around?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lionel 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.
Can wants to control from the top but Lionel keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emre Can dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Leo Lionel's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Can tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lionel was well out of range. Poor timing from Can.
Can tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lionel swats away the attempt to clinch by Can.

Lionel moves into the clinch successfully.
Lionel tries to break the clinch but Can is controlling the position.
Can changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Lionel fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Can throws a looping overhand right but Lionel ducks down to avoid it.

Can tries to keep at a distance but Lionel has taken the fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lionel looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Lionel holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Can is pressed up against the cage. Lionel has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Can down to the mat. Can avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Can scores with a nice head shot.

Can tries to keep at a distance but Lionel has taken the fight into the clinch.
Can digs a right hand into Lionel's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Lionel's gas tank.
Can tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Can wants to break the clinch but can't.
Can is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Lionel is defending well.
Can doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lionel is looking to take this one to the mat.
Can wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Emre Can. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lionel blocks a body shot from Can.
Can misses with a short punch on the inside.
Can has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Lionel after a bit of a struggle.
Can working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Lionel is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Emre Can is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lionel tries to break the clinch but Can is controlling the position.
Can keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lionel's efforts to push away.
Can has Lionel pressed against the cage, preventing Lionel from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Lionel is working for takedown but Can is calmly controlling the position for now.
Lionel wants to get back to striking at distance but Can won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lionel is trying to push Can away but Can has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Lionel is looking for a takedown.
Lionel has Can pressed against the cage.
Lionel tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Can throws a head punch that misses.
Lionel has Can pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Can manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Can tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lionel can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Lionel tries to break free but Can pushes him back against the cage.
Lionel wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Lionel is trying to break the clinch but Can has him pressed against the cage.
Lionel is stalling here.
Lionel prevents the takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
With the fighters up against the cage, Lionel throws an elbow but misses.
Leo Lionel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Can dodges an elbow strike from Lionel.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Leo Lionel.
Well Can 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 30:27

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