PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jutos Kariuo (ranked 4396 p4p, 4401 weight class) and Keith Leons (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kariuo
vs
Leons

166 cm
18
134
0 - 0 - 0

155 cm
18
141
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jutos Kariuo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Keith Leons!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Frank Dennis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kariuo shoots in looking for a takedown. Leons tries to sprawl out of it but Kariuo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Leons manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Kariuo moves into the clinch.
Kariuo prevents a body shot from Leons.

Leons pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kariuo misses with a body shot.

Leons shoots in and bounces Kariuo off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kariuo has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Leons is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Kariuo.
Kariuo being controlled for a moment.
Leons should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leons tries to advance to mount but can't.
Kariuo is letting Leons control him for a moment.
Leons working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Leons in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's two 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.
Kariuo is not content to let Leons control the position.
Leons tries to stand but Kariuo controls the position and pulls Leons into his guard.
Leons content to stall in guard here.
Leons lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Leons wants to stand and escape but instead Kariuo has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Leons is adopting a defensive guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leons wants to sweep here but Kariuo controlling him for the moment.
Kariuo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Leons controls Kariuo momentarily but Kariuo frees himself.
Kariuo stopping the sweep attempt from Leons.
Leons is looking to sweep but instead, Kariuo has passed into half guard.
Leons blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kariuo.

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.
Leons tries to roll over but Kariuo keeps him under control.
Kariuo is trying to control the action in half guard but Leons is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kariuo prevents Leons from improving his position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Kariuo is trying to control the action in half guard but Leons is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nice takedown defense from Leons. No joy for Kariuo on that attempt.
Leons fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Keith Leons will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kariuo stuffs the takedown.
Kariuo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kariuo with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Jutos Kariuo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Leons closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kariuo to the mat! Kariuo manages to get full guard.
Leons controlling from the top position.
Kariuo looking to control.
Leons works a leg free and moves into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kariuo has one foot on Leons's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Leons as Kariuo shoots in.
Kariuo moves in looking to clinch but Leons pushes him off.
Kariuo fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kariuo doesn't manage to clinch there - Leons circles away.

Kariuo gets caught napping as Leons dives in and scores a takedown. Kariuo manages to retain guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Kariuo manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Kariuo is trying to break free.
Leons is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kariuo to keep the fight standing.
Kariuo gets underhooks to prevent Leons's takedown attempt.
Jutos Kariuo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keith Leons.
Leons is breathing heavily.
Kariuo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kariuo is looking to break free of the clinch but Leons has double underhooks.
Kariuo is looking to control Leons's arms but Leons gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kariuo has his back to the cage.
Kariuo tries to pull guard but Leons forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Kariuo is trying to push Leons away but Leons has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leons has Kariuo pushed against the cage.
Kariuo goes for a takedown in the clinch but Leons prevents it.

Leons breaks from the clinch.

Leons feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Kariuo has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Leons off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kariuo or perhaps it was just good defense by Leons, which made it look bad.

Leons gets the takedown into side control.
Leons wants to stand but Kariuo has his arm trapped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leons happy to just control the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kariuo tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Leons tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kariuo manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Leons tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Kariuo.
Kariuo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Leons is working away from the top position though.
Leons prevents Kariuo from improving his position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jutos Kariuo will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're 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.

Kariuo throws the kick towards the body but Leons avoids it.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kariuo or perhaps it was just good defense by Leons, which made it look bad.

Leons closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kariuo did well to prevent Leons getting side control.
Leons passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Kariuo!
BOOM! Leons connects with a massive shot to the dome!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Leons working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Leons cracks Kariuo with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leons working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Kariuo is rocked!
Leons connects with a bit shot that sees Kariuo covering up! More strikes from Leons and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Leons is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Keith Leons!