PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rayford Acevedo (ranked 7001 p4p, 0 weight class) and Basilio Leone (ranked 5227 p4p, 0 weight class). Basilio Leone is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Acevedo
vs
Leone

173 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

176 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rayford Acevedo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Basilio Leone!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Bruno Hogan and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leone shoots in but no luck this time.
Acevedo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice takedown defense from Acevedo. No joy for Leone on that attempt.
Acevedo tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Leone manages to circle out of the way.
Leone shoots in looking for a takedown but Acevedo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Leone's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rayford Acevedo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Basilio Leone.

Acevedo shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Acevedo showed some decent athleticism there.
Acevedo thows a huge punch but Leone dodges it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Acevedo stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leone tries to get to full guard but Acevedo has control of the leg.
Leone is looking to escape.
Acevedo perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Leone is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Acevedo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Acevedo drops an elbow to the side of Leone's head.
Leone trying to control here.

Acevedo stands up and beckons Leone to join him on the feet.

Acevedo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Acevedo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Leone working for a triangle but Acevedo defends it easily.

Leone working for submissions but it's allowed Acevedo to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Leone blocking the ground and pound attempt from Acevedo.
Acevedo is taking a breather. Leone says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Leone manages to get to full guard.
Leone is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

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.
Acevedo stays in close to Leone's body and controls the position.

Leone working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Acevedo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Acevedo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Leone throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rayford Acevedo dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Leone shoots for a double leg takedown but Acevedo sprawls well. He's pushed Leone's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Leone misses with a takedown attempt - Acevedo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Acevedo tries to counter with a takedown but Leone is quick to defend against it.
Leone fails with the takedown.
Rayford Acevedo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Basilio Leone.
Acevedo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Leone.
Leone is looking to clinch.
Acevedo shoots in but Leone avoids the takedown attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leone has his takedown stuffed

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Leone breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Acevedo dodges the punch combination from Leone.
Acevedo is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Leone.
Acevedo shoots in for a takedown but Leone shows good takedown defense.
Leone shoots in for a takedown but Acevedo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Acevedo attempts a counter takedown but Leone avoids it well and moves away.
Leone is breathing heavily.
Acevedo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Leone.
Acevedo wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
No luck for Acevedo with that takedown attempt.
Leone shoots for a double leg takedown but Acevedo sprawls well. He's pushed Leone's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Acevedo shoots in but Leone avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Leone looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leone tries to clinch but Acevedo is having none of it.
Acevedo fails with the takedown
and Leone counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Acevedo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Leone sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Acevedo somewhat.
Leone misses with a looping left.

Acevedo scores with a takedown into Leone's guard.
Acevedo throwing strikes from guard but Leone blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Acevedo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Leone wants to stand but Acevedo is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Acevedo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Acevedo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Leone can do to turn this around?
Leone wants to stand but Acevedo is controlling the position.
Acevedo is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Acevedo looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Leone clinches with his opponent.
Acevedo is trying to break the clinch but Leone has him pressed against the cage.
Leone lands an elbow that stopped Acevedo in his tracks for a moment.
Leone fails to pull guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Leone keeps control of Acevedo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Leone pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Acevedo circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Basilio Leone will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Acevedo shoots in looking for a takedown. Leone tries to sprawl out of it but Acevedo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Leone manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Leone misses with an uppercut

and Acevedo counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Leone unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Leone jumps guard but Acevedo turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Leone pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Leone fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Acevedo avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leone misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Acevedo throws a quick counter head kick but Leone was just out of range.
Rayford Acevedo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Basilio Leone.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leone fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Acevedo wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Leone takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Leone fails with the takedown.

Acevedo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Acevedo working the ground and pound but Leone is defending the strikes.
Leone tries to bench press Acevedo off him but Acevedo keeps the position.
Rayford Acevedo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Acevedo decides to stand back up. Acevedo steps back and let's Leone get back to his feet.
Leone goes for a double leg but Acevedo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Acevedo continues to drive forward.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leone keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Leone appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

Acevedo scores with a takedown into Leone's guard.
Leone wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Acevedo manages to pass to side control.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Leone has a hand on Acevedo's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Acevedo takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Acevedo looking to control and managing it successfully.
Acevedo landing shots from mount.
Acevedo controlling from the full mount.
Acevedo putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Leone flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Acevedo controlling from the full mount.
Acevedo is landing with some decent strikes but Leone is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Acevedo with a couple of short strikes.
Acevedo lands a nice shot to the head.
Acevedo dominating with strikes here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Acevedo controlling from the full mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Leone tries to hold on but Acevedo postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rayford Acevedo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Acevedo has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Francis DeMontford scores the fight 30:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:28
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rayford Acevedo!