PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dany Leblond (ranked 2738 p4p, 2535 weight class) and Gen Tenryu (ranked 415 p4p, 387 weight class). Gen Tenryu will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Leblond
vs
Tenryu

170 cm
21
200
3 - 3 - 0

182 cm
20
189
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Great low kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dany Leblond!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gen Tenryu!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Konstantin Menshow and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leblond misses with a low kick.
Tenryu scores with a jab to the jaw.
Tenryu wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Leblond uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tenryu.
Tenryu avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

Leblond shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Tenryu napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Leblond tries to score with some ground and pound. Tenryu controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Leblond postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Leblond in side control, throwing shots but Tenryu defends.
Tenryu struggling a bit here.
Leblond working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Tenryu prevents Leblond from improving position.
Leblond misses with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Tenryu's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ground and pound from Leblond seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Leblond is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Tenryu is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Leblond throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Leblond looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Tenryu is avoiding damage well.
Tenryu holds on to Leblond's head and controls the position momentarily.
The strikes coming from Leblond are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Leblond landing a few strikes.
Tenryu taking a bit of punishment here - Leblond scoring with strikes.
Leblond has knee on belly momentarily but Tenryu bucks him off and regains half guard.

Leblond is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leblond lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Tenryu is trying to maintain the position but Leblond is very close to passing his half guard.
Tenryu tries to get to full guard but Leblond has control of the leg.
Leblond not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tenryu is doing well to control the position and prevent Leblond from advancing to side control.
Leblond throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leblond throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Leblond is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Leblond is nestled in close to Tenryu, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Leblond works his way into side control.

Leblond thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Leblond 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.
Tenryu avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Leblond.

Leblond tries for a kimura but Tenryu is defending well.
Leblond throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leblond lands a nice forearm strike.
Leblond misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Tenryu can't do much from the bottom here.
Leblond working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Leblond is trying to get an arm triangle but Tenryu is defending well.
Tenryu prevents Leblond from moving into mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Leblond cracks Tenryu with a big elbow.
Leblond works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Tenryu is working to avoid the ground and pound but Leblond connects with a decent elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tenryu takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dany Leblond dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Leblond takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Tenryu fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Leblond explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Leblond uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tenryu.
Tenryu fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Leblond looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Tenryu digs a good hook to Leblond's body.
Nice shot lands for Tenryu.
Leblond fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Tenryu checks it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tenryu chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Leblond can pounce on him.
Leblond throws a front kick aimed at Tenryu's knee but Tenryu avoids it well.
Tenryu connects with a jab.
Tenryu scores with a body shot.
Gen Tenryu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tenryu moves out of range of the body kick from Leblond.
Tenryu takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Tenryu steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Leblond.
Gen Tenryu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Tenryu moves into the clinch.
Leblond tries to throw a body punch but Tenryu avoids it by throwing Leblond back against the cage.
Leblond wants to break free but Tenryu has control.
Tenryu pushes Leblond back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Leblond is working Tenryu over against the cage.
Leblond fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tenryu misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short left from Tenryu.
Tenryu swings wildly with an uppercut but Leblond uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tenryu blocks an uppercut.
Leblond has a couple of punches blocked by Tenryu.
Leblond wants to get back to striking at distance but Tenryu won't allow it.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Tenryu.
Leblond lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Tenryu backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leblond is looking to break free of the clinch but Tenryu has double underhooks.
A shot in the inside from Tenryu.
A short left from Tenryu.
Tenryu lands a right hand that snaps the head of Leblond backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Tenryu.
Leblond tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tenryu has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Leblond seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Tenryu can turn it around.
Leblond fails to pull guard.
Tenryu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tenryu misses with a punch on the inside.
Tenryu misses with the head strike.
A short left from Tenryu.
Tenryu misses with a punch to the body.
Leblond blocks a body shot from Tenryu.
Leblond is looking to take this one to the mat.
Tenryu throws a punch but it's blocked by Leblond.
The referee calls for Tenryu to work.
Tenryu misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Tenryu on the inside.
Tenryu scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Leblond is trying to force a seperation but Tenryu has the dominant position.
Tenryu leaning his opponent against the cage.
Tenryu lands with a short shot to the head.
Leblond tries a body shot but Tenryu blocks it.
Leblond wants to take the fight to the mat but Tenryu manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dany Leblond. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tenryu taking a breather.
Leblond misses with some punches.
Leblond can't find room to land a body shot as Tenryu controls the action.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Tenryu looking to slow down the pace here.
Tenryu misses with a body punch.

Leblond escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tenryu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Leblond was well out of range. Poor timing from Tenryu.
Leblond misses with a low kick as Tenryu jumps back.
Tenryu steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Leblond.
Tenryu punishes Leblond's body with a nice straight punch.
Leblond walks into a stiff left hand from Tenryu.
Tenryu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Leblond was well out of range. Poor timing from Tenryu.
Some bone on bone action there as Tenryu checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Tenryu is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Leblond rather than just go for the knockout.
Tenryu fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Leblond looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Tenryu on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Leblond. Leblond obviously looking to wear him down.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tenryu throws a shot to the body.
Tenryu digs a good body shot into Leblond's ribs.
Tenryu throws an off balance right hand

and Leblond counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Tenryu!
Tenryu wants to control but Leblond postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gen Tenryu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Leblond misses with a leg kick

and Tenryu moves into the clinch.
Tenryu has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Tenryu misses with a body punch.
Leblond swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Leblond misses with the head strike.
Tenryu has a couple of punches blocked by Leblond.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Tenryu.
Leblond fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tenryu throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Leblonds head.
Leblond softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Tenryu lands a left hand that snaps the head of Leblond backwards.
Tenryu scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Leblond tries to work over Tenryu's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tenryu stalling.
Leblond tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Leblond blocks an uppercut.
Leblond tries to break free but Tenryu pushes him back against the cage.
Tenryu has a couple of punches blocked by Leblond.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Tenryu.
Leblond's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Leblond tries to stall but Tenryu uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Gen Tenryu seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tenryu.
Tenryu makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Tenryu looking to slow down the pace here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tenryu.
Leblond blocks an uppercut.
Tenryu is looking to control Leblond's arms but Leblond gets an underhook and turns him. Now Tenryu has his back to the cage.
Tenryu scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Leblond lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Tenryu backwards.
Tenryu lands with a short shot to the head.
Leblond misses with some punches.
Leblond scores with a shot to the side of Tenryu's head.
Tenryu throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Leblond blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tenryu working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A shot in the inside from Leblond.
Tenryu tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tenryu struggles to land a body shot inside as Leblond controls his hands.
Good body shot from Leblond.
Tenryu pressing his opponent against the cage.
Leblond lands a nice shot to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Tenryu.
Leblond wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A short right from Leblond on the inside.
Leblond tries a body shot but Tenryu blocks it.
Tenryu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tenryu lands an uppercut.
Leblond stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Tenryu blocks a body shot from Leblond.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Tenryu.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tenryu.
Leblond can't find room to land a body shot as Tenryu controls the action.
Leblond doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tenryu working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Leblond is looking for a takedown.
Tenryu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tenryu takes a shot to the head.
Leblond is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Leblond looking to slow down the pace here.
Tenryu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tenryu blocks a body shot from Leblond.
Tenryu lands with a right to the head.
Tenryu lands with a light punch inside.
Leblond scores with a shot to the side of Tenryu's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tenryu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Leblond lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Tenryu blocks an uppercut.
Tenryu lands an uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tenryu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tenryu lands with a right to the head.
Leblond misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tenryu tries to throw a body punch but Leblond avoids it by throwing Tenryu back against the cage.
Leblond lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Tenryu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Leblond misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tenryu misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tenryu working aggressively here.
Tenryu blocking some punches.
Still in the clinch, Tenryu scores with a nice short uppercut.
Leblond can't find room to land a body shot as Tenryu controls the action.
Tenryu prevents a body shot from Leblond.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gen Tenryu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tenryu has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight for Gen Tenryu!
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight for Gen Tenryu!
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight for Gen Tenryu!

Gen Tenryu wins by unanimous decision!