PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bekzhan Yerzhanov (ranked 4448 p4p, 3543 weight class) and Theo Leoni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Theo Leoni has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Bekzhan Yerzhanov's chin.

Yerzhanov
vs
Leoni

185 cm
18
155
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
25
155
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bekzhan Yerzhanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Theo Leoni!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leoni gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Yerzhanov.
Yerzhanov throws a leg kick that is checked

and Leoni counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Leoni.
Leoni lands a left hand that snaps the head of Yerzhanov backwards.

Leoni breaks the clinch.
Leoni lands a head shot.
Yerzhanov misses with a takedown
and Leoni counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
No joy there for Leoni, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A combination from Leoni does no damage.
Yerzhanov is looking for a counter combo.
Sloppy strikes from Yerzhanov. Those never looked like landing.
Leoni doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Yerzhanov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Leoni counters with a right hand to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Leoni circles away from the clinch attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Leoni! But no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Leoni instigates a clinch.

Yerzhanov breaks from the clinch.
Yerzhanov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Leoni counters with a one-two to the body.
Bekzhan Yerzhanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yerzhanov darts in looking for a takedown but Leoni gets double underhooks and turns Yerzhanov into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bekzhan Yerzhanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yerzhanov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Leoni smiles and moves away.
Yerzhanov throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Leoni closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Yerzhanov is trying to escape back to his feet but Leoni uses the scramble to pass into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yerzhanov tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Leoni easily slips into full mount!
Leoni sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leoni's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Leoni looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
It looks like Leoni might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Yerzhanov is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Yerzhanov is working hard here to advance position.
Leoni looking to control and managing it successfully.
Yerzhanov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Yerzhanov is looking to improve his position but Leoni isn't that keen on the idea.
Leoni controlling his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Theo Leoni dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Yerzhanov moves out of range of the body kick from Leoni.

Leoni gets a takedown into half guard.

Leoni decides to return to a standing position.
Horrible takedown attempt by Yerzhanov or perhaps it was just good defense by Leoni, which made it look bad.
Leoni takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yerzhanov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Leoni but Leoni pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yerzhanov doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Leoni holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bekzhan Yerzhanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Yerzhanov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Leoni scores with the left hand. Yerzhanov knows he should have avoided that one.
Yerzhanov shoots and misses
and Leoni counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Leoni defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Yerzhanov.
Yerzhanov misses the body punch
and Leoni cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Yerzhanov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Leoni counter with a right hand.
Leoni throws a series of punches but Yerzhanov moves out of range.

Leoni rushes Yerzhanov and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yerzhanov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Yerzhanov closes the distance looking to clinch
and Leoni counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Leoni slaps away a takedown attempt from Yerzhanov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Yerzhanov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A nice side step and Leoni releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Yerzhanov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Leoni counters with a left to the body.
Yerzhanov has his takedown stuffed

and Leoni counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Leoni.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Leoni manages to break the clinch.
Leoni lands a glancing blow to the side of Yerzhanov's head.
Bekzhan Yerzhanov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Leoni throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Yerzhanov misses with a takedown
and Leoni counters with a left to the body.
Leoni has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Yerzhanov with a poor takedown

and Leoni counters by clinching up.
Yerzhanov is trying to pull guard but Leoni has him pressed against the cage.

Leoni escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Leoni scores with a jab to the body.
No joy there for Leoni, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Some wild striking there from Leoni.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leoni swinging wildly here.
Yerzhanov pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Leoni back to the cage. Yerzhanov follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Leoni scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Yerzhanov wants to clinch but Leoni slips to the side
and Leoni counters with a nice body shot.

Leoni shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Leoni content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Theo Leoni showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Leoni connects with a body shot.
Yerzhanov takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Yerzhanov checks the leg kick nicely there.
Yerzhanov misses with the body kick

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

Yerzhanov is working an open guard so Leoni takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yerzhanov fails with the takedown
and Leoni counters with a nice uppercut.
Yerzhanov falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Leoni counter with a right hand.

Yerzhanov is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yerzhanov misses with a takedown attempt

and Leoni moves into the clinch.
Yerzhanov is trying to drag Leoni to the mat but Leoni just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bekzhan Yerzhanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Leoni escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Yerzhanov blocks a leg kick.
Yerzhanov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Leoni.
Leoni keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Leoni is looking for the big counter here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yerzhanov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Leoni closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Leoni is taking a breather. Yerzhanov 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.

Leoni stands up out of the half guard.
Leoni fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Yerzhanov is looking to clinch.
Leoni avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A punch combination from Leoni misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yerzhanov shoots in for a double leg but Leoni sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Leoni does no damage.
Yerzhanov misses with a body shot.
Leoni throws a series of punches but Yerzhanov moves out of range.

Yerzhanov instigates a clinch.

Yerzhanov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Yerzhanov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Leoni scores with a three punch combo!
Leoni defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Yerzhanov.
Leoni chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Leoni moves out of range of the body kick.
Some wild striking there from Leoni.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yerzhanov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Leoni pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Yerzhanov back to the cage. Leoni follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Oh Yerzhanov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yerzhanov closes the distance looking to clinch
and Leoni counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Theo Leoni is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Leoni connects with a jab and follows up with a big overhand right! Oh that's hurt Yerzhanov! He's out on his feet! Leoni rushes in and drops Yerzhanov with another big right hand, forcing the referee to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Theo Leoni!