PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Leblanc (ranked 25072 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Lelis (ranked 5751 p4p, 0 weight class). Anthony Lelis has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Leblanc
vs
Lelis

187 cm
18
151 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

168 cm
22
148 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Raphael Leblanc!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Anthony Lelis!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lelis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Leblanc manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lelis misses with a takedown attempt

and Leblanc counters by moving into the clinch.

Leblanc manages to pull guard.

Leblanc is looking for a triangle but Lelis pushes his legs off easily.
Lelis trying to control the position from guard on top but Leblanc is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Leblanc manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Leblanc blocks a head kick by Lelis.
Leblanc keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lelis fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Raphael Leblanc has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Lelis.

Lelis scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lelis wants to control but Leblanc is keeping him busy.
Leblanc is letting Lelis control him for a moment.
Leblanc is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Lelis off and has taken his back!
Lelis is trying to get back to his feet but Leblanc has full control of the position and if anything, Lelis has just worked his way into a worse spot.
I really don't envy Lelis right now.
Leblanc scores with punches to the body.
Leblanc throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Lelis!
Leblanc controls the action.
Leblanc throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Lelis tries to escape but Leblanc has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Leblanc gets his hands free as Lelis looks to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lelis is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lelis trying to control the position but Leblanc manages to sink in the hooks.
Leblanc will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Leblanc is working the ground and pound. Can Lelis escape?
Lelis avoids the strikes from Leblanc.
Leblanc keeps control of the position as Lelis tries to break free.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lelis rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Lelis manages to get to full guard.
Lelis controlling Leblanc's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lelis is continuing to stall.
Lelis is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Lelis working a defensive guard here.
Leblanc postures up and lands a big shot to Lelis's brow.
Leblanc is looking to work some ground and pound but Lelis has wrist control.
Lelis has control of Leblanc's left arm, preventing Leblanc from doing any damage.
Lelis's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Leblanc throwing strikes from guard but Lelis blocks nicely.

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.
Leblanc trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Leblanc stands up over Lelis, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Leblanc scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Lelis throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Leblanc throwing strikes but missing.
Leblanc preventing the sweep.
Lelis striking off his back but it's not causing Leblanc any problems.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Lelis preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Lelis doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Leblanc counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Leblanc stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Leblanc wants it to stay on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Leblanc dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nice defenses there by Lelis.
Leblanc defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lelis.
A little feinted left hand from Leblanc on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Leblanc is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lelis can do to turn this around?
Lelis throws a head kick that misses.
Lelis misses with a head kick.
Anthony Lelis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Leblanc throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lelis raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Lelis is looking to clinch but Leblanc is avoiding it.
Leblanc dives in and grabs Lelis's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lelis pushes down on Leblanc's head and hops out.
Leblanc avoids the head kick by Lelis.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lelis tries to clinch there but Leblanc circles away.
Lelis fails to land the takedown.
Lelis throws a sloppy head kick

and Leblanc holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lelis is trying to force a seperation but Leblanc has the dominant position.
Leblanc prevents the takedown attempt.
Raphael Leblanc has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Lelis.

Leblanc pulls guard effortlessly.
Lelis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Leblanc swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Leblanc has his foot on Lelis's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lelis works his way back into a safe position though.
Lelis advances to half guard.
Lelis trying to control the pace.
Leblanc is looking for a sweep. Lelis is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leblanc is staying active underneath Lelis, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Leblanc really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Leblanc keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Raphael Leblanc overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lelis is looking to take a break and control but Leblanc is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Leblanc tries to roll over but Lelis keeps him under control.
Leblanc is staying active underneath Lelis, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Leblanc taking some punishment here, with Lelis in his half guard.
Leblanc trying to control here.

Leblanc has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Lelis escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Lelis!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lelis working the head and body with strikes.
Lelis working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Lelis looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Lelis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Leblanc keeps working.

Lelis decides to stand back up.
Leblanc throws a body punch but Lelis moves out of range.
Leblanc slaps away a takedown attempt from Lelis, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Leblanc. No joy for Lelis on that attempt.

Leblanc closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Leblanc tries a knee to the head but Lelis blocks it.
Lelis looking for a takedown.

Leblanc breaks from the clinch.
Lelis slaps away a takedown attempt from Leblanc, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lelis gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Leblanc counters with a lovely shot to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lelis misses with a takedown
and Leblanc counters with a right hand to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Raphael Leblanc will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Leblanc instigates a clinch.
Lelis can't break the clinch.

Lelis has picked Leblanc up - he's going for a ride! Lelis dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Leblanc tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Lelis manages to move to mount!
Lelis won't let Leblanc get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Leblanc looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Lelis is hanging on to Leblanc's back as he tries to escape.
Will Lelis go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Leblanc tries to escape but Lelis has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Leblanc is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Will Lelis go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lelis is cranking Leblanc's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for Leblanc! He's tightened the choke and Leblanc is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Anthony Lelis!