PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nosyaj Rram (ranked 1333 p4p, 154 weight class) and Leo Leka (ranked 1470 p4p, 173 weight class). Rram comes to the cage accompanied by Grace - You Don't Own Me ft. G-Eazy. Leka has chosen For Heavy Metal we will die! as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rram
vs
Leka

164 cm
36
150 lbs
29 - 17 - 2

177 cm
37
162 lbs
15 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 17 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Nosyaj Rram!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Leo Leka!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yuuki Gou and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leka avoids a punch combination nicely.

Leka scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Rram throws Leka to one side and escapes!
Nosyaj Rram seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice takedown defense from Rram. No joy for Leka on that attempt.
Leka throws a head kick that misses.
Leka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rram.
Leka wants to clinch.
Rram has been working on his boxing with his coaches at MMA Dojo in the buildup to the fight.
Leka closes the distance but Rram moves to the side
and Rram counters with a left and a right that stings Leka.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Leka scores with a spinning back kick!
Leka doesn't manage to clinch there - Rram circles away.
Rram throws a right and a left that both miss.

Rram tries to sprawl but Leka drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leka is taking a breather. Rram 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rram is trying is best to control the position here.
Rram wants to control but Leka is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Leka is keen to just control but Rram is a slippery customer.
Rram tries to get to full guard but Leka has control of the leg.
Rram won't allow Leka to pass to mount.
Leka controlling the action here.
Rram works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two 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.
Leka looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Leka connects with a couple of short punches.
Rram wants to get back to his feet but Leka is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Leka tries to free his leg and advance position but Rram is retaining full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Leka accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leka throws a big shot that misses.
Leka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rram manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Leka tries to close the distance and clinch but Rram swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rram throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Leka on the side of the head.

Leka shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rram is trying to defend but Leka finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Leka looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Leka is working for a submission of some sort.
Leka seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leka is thwarting Rram's attempts to control the position.
Rram keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rram keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Rram wants to stand back up but Leka manages to pass into side control.
Leka is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
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 Nosyaj Rram will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Leka shoots in and drives through. Rram sprawls well.
Rram throws a nice looking combination but Leka bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nosyaj Rram is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Leka shoots for a takedown but Rram saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rram's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Rram duly obliges.

Leka closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rram quickly recovers to half guard.
Rram is not content to let Leka control the position.
Leka perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Rram trying to control here.
Rram might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Leka takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Rram is trying to stand back up but Leka is controlling him
Leka is taking a breather. Rram 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.
Leka is continuing to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rram will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rram connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Leka momentarily.
Leka fails with a takedown attempt.
Nosyaj Rram has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leo Leka.
Leka blocks a leg kick.
Leka tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rram swivels and escapes.
Rram walks into a stiff left hand from Leka.
Leka has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rram.
Leka has his takedown stuffed
and Rram counters with a series of strikes. Leka will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rram moves into range and connects with a jab.
Leka avoids the body shot from Rram.
Rram is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Leka can do to turn this around?
Leka tries for a takedown but Rram sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rram fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Leka.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rram throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Leka.
Rram throws a hook to the side of Leka's head but Leka sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rram throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nosyaj Rram is winning the standup battle so far.
Leka checks a low kick from Rram.
Leka swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Leka shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rram but Rram pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rram throws a leg kick

so Leka counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Leka gets to his feet. Rram looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
No joy there for Rram, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Leka tries to counter by closing the distance.
Leka showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rram.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Leka closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rram to the mat! Rram manages to get full guard.

Rram manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Rram tries to circle away but Leka has him pinned against the cage.
Leka looking for a takedown.

Leka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rram fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Leka has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rram throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Leka shoots for a takedown but Rram saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rram goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Leka shoots for a takedown but Rram saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rram misses with a series of wild punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rram misses with a straight left.
Leka is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Rram misses with the combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rram throws a hook to the side of Leka's head but Leka sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Leka takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Leka goes for a double leg but Rram avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rram continues to drive forward.
Rram tries to bum rush Leka with a series of wild strikes but Leka uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rram misses with a hook. Leka ducked under it nicely.
Rram rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Leka moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Leka on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Rram just misses with a punch to the body.
Rram circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rram scores with a nice body kick.
Rram stalks Leka and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Leka's face. Leka staggers backwards, shaken.
Leka tries a low kick but Rram avoids it.
Nosyaj Rram is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rram swings widly with a right hand
and Leka counters with a series of strikes. Rram will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rram lunges at Leka with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Leka's hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nosyaj Rram dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Leka has a takedown stuffed.
Rram throws a hook but Leka avoids it easily.
Leka fails to land the takedown.
Leka throws out a powerful jab.
Leka closes the distance but Rram moves to the side
and Rram counters with a stiff right hand.
Leka with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rram connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nosyaj Rram has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leo Leka.
Rram misses with a low kick.
Leka with the counter takedown but Rram avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Leka shoots in and gets a takedown into Rram's guard.
Leka slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Leka throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rram seems keen to control Leka's posture.
Leka not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rram wants to stand but Leka is controlling the position.

Rram uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Rram lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Rram. No joy for Leka on that attempt.
Rram throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Leka throws a counter combo.
Nice uppercut there from Rram.
Rram misses with a two punch combination.
Rram fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rram looks to land a right hand but Leka moved out of range.
Rram throws a low kick but Leka avoids it.
Rram turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rram takes a swing at Leka's ribcage but misses.

Leka shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Leka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rram is keeping the position for now.
Rram avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rram swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Leka seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Rram wants to stand and escape but Leka is having none of it.
Leka wants to control from the top but Rram keeps moving.
Leka stops Rram from standing up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rram is pulling down on Leka's head to control his posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice uppercut there from Leka.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Leka doesn't succeed with the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Leka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rram paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A counter left hand to the body from Rram misses its target.
Rram throws a leg kick which misses Leka's front leg but catches the back leg as Leka tries to avoid it.
Leka walks into a jab.
Leka lands a lovely overhand right.
Leka takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Some wild striking there from Rram.
Leka has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Leka dodges the punch combination from Rram.
Leka on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Leka shoots in for a takedown but Rram shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nosyaj Rram clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rram throws a right and a left that both miss.
Leka throws a counter combo.
Rram misses with a double jab.
Leka dodges the punch combination from Rram.
Leka tries to counter with a clinch but Rram shakes him off and moves away.
Leka fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rram.
Leka shoots in for a takedown but Rram shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Leka fails with the takedown.
Rram tries to bum rush Leka with a series of wild strikes but Leka uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rram scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Rram lands a nice looking body shot.
Leka shoots in looking for a takedown but Rram manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Leka's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nosyaj Rram has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leo Leka.
Rram misses with a jab, cross combination.
Leka wants to counter the offense by Rram and move into the clinch position.
Rram throws a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leka shoots in and drives through. Rram sprawls well.
Rram went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Leka's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Leka is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Rram misses with a few strikes there.
Rram moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromLeka.
Leka takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A leg kick checked by Leka.
Rram defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Leka.
Rram lands with a nice body punch.
Rram uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Leka has time to react.
Rram misses with a straight left.
Rram lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Leka backs up against the cage.
A slapping body kick lands there for Rram.
No luck for Leka with that takedown attempt.
A lazy left from Rram finds it's target.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rram scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rram takes a swing at Leka's ribcage but misses.
Leka moves out of range as Rram throws a body kick.
That kick from Rram tenderised Leka's leg. Leka is trying to keep his angry face on.
A head kick misses from Leka.

Leka looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Leka looking to pass the guard.

Rram has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Leka off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Rram throws a jab but it's blocked by Leka.
Rram thumps Leka with a low kick.
Leka looks for a takedown but Rram sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leka takes one to the chin there.
Leka throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rram's waist but Rram gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Leka off to one side.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rram.
Rram tries to bum rush Leka with a series of wild strikes but Leka uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rram lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Leka moves out of range as Rram throws a body kick.
Rram sets himself, and Leka steps forward looking for the clinch! Rram avoids it this time.
Rram thows a body kick. Leka tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Rram throws a series of punches but Leka avoids them all with ease.
Rram misses with a two punch combination.
Rram slaps away a takedown attempt from Leka, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Leka has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Leka on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rram throws a leg kick
and Leka counters with a one-two to the body.
Rram throws a leg kick but Leka checks it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A thudding body kick lands there by Rram!
Leka has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Rram buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Leka shoots in but no luck this time.
Rram thumps Leka with a low kick.
The crowd cheers as Rram lands an impressive looking overhand right. Leka doesn't seem phased though.
Danga de danga de dang - Rram scores with a four punch combination!
Leka slips a jab and a cross from Rram.
Leka feints the counter takedown.

Leka looking to score a takedown here. Rram is defending well but Leka drives through and ends up in Rram's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Leka gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Leka throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nosyaj Rram had his way with Leo Leka in that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rram misses with a combination
enabling Leka to counter with a crisp jab.
Rram throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rram fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Leka drives through with a takedown into Rram's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Rram has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Leka has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Leka lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rram backwards.

Leka breaks the clinch.
Leka throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rram's waist but Rram gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Leka off to one side.
Rram is looking to counter punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A leg kick checked by Leka.
Leka looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Leka is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Leka has his takedown stuffed
and Rram counters with a stiff right hand.
Nosyaj Rram has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leo Leka.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Leka 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Rram throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Leka steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Rram.

Leka moves into the clinch.
Rram scores with a shoulder strike.

Leka lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Leo Leka has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rram trying to control from the bottom.
Rram is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rram wants to get back to his feet.

Leka is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Rram is holding on to half guard well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rram wants to stand back up but Leka manages to pass into side control.
Leka is looking to take a break and control but Rram is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Rram's face as Leka controls the position.

Leka decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leka fails with the takedown.
Rram misses with a low kick as Leka jumps back.
Leka let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Rram stuns Leka with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Rram misses with a series of wild punches.
Rram looks to land a combination but Leka avoids it well.
Leo Leka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rram misses with a wild combination.

Leka clinches up against the cage.
Leka prevents Rram from breaking the clinch.

Rram breaks the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Rram as Leka shoots in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leka takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Leka tries to clinch there but Rram circles away.
Rram appears to be looking for a big counter.
Rram will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rram goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Leka has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rram.
Nosyaj Rram is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rram fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rram scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Rram misses with a jab, cross combination.

Leka darts in and clinches Rram up against the cage.
Rram stops a takedown attempt from Leka.
Leka jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rram walks away with a smile on his face. Leka gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rram misses with a series of wild punches.
It seemed like Leka was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nosyaj Rram showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rram, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 50:45
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 50:45
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nosyaj Rram!
Nosyaj Rram got down on his knees post fight and begged the management for a title shot. 'Please, I want that title shot so bad! Give it to me!'