PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mario Leonardo (ranked 1466 p4p, 1560 weight class) and Buck Bolkvadze (ranked 203 p4p, 218 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Leonardo
vs
Bolkvadze

185 cm
20
170
5 - 2 - 0

179 cm
20
170
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Furnace Performance 🔥
Champion Apparel

Hoarse Pills
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mario Leonardo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Buck Bolkvadze!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Konstantin Menshow and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A cross from Bolkvadze lands.
Bolkvadze misses the jab.
Leonardo fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Bolkvadze on the side of the head.
Leonardo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bolkvadze moves away.
Leonardo lands a slapping body shot.
Bolkvadze throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Leonardo looks to score with a jab to the body but Bolkvadze is just out of range.
Leonardo connects with the punch.
Bolkvadze pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Leonardo swings for the body but Bolkvadze moves out of range.
Leonardo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bolkvadze ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A low kick from Bolkvadze misses
and Leonardo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bolkvadze lands with a thumping leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bolkvadze takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Bolkvadze throws a jab when Leonardo was well out of range.
Bolkvadze displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Leonardo throws out the jab.
Good work by Leonardo as he checks the leg kick.
Mario Leonardo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonardo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bolkvadze was well out of range. Poor timing from Leonardo.
Leonardo takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Leonardo seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Bolkvadze scores with a sloppy right hand. Leonardo should have avoided that one.
Bolkvadze takes one on the button.
Bolkvadze misses with a looping left.
Leonardo swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Bolkvadze misses with an uppercut.
Leonardo is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
The crowd cheers as Bolkvadze lands an impressive looking overhand right. Leonardo doesn't seem phased though.
Leonardo throws a body shot but no joy.
Leonardo throws a series of punches but Bolkvadze moves out of range.
Leonardo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bolkvadze moves away.
Leonardo lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bolkvadze uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Bolkvadze takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Bolkvadze slips a straight right by Leonardo.
Bolkvadze looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Nice jab there from Leonardo.
Some wild striking there from Leonardo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bolkvadze throws a looping overhand right but Leonardo ducks down to avoid it.
Leonardo throws the left hand but Bolkvadze avoids the punch easily.
Leonardo lands with a right hand.
Bolkvadze lands the left hand.
Good exchange - Leonardo coming out on top.
Leonardo closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Leonardo lands with a straight right. Bolkvadze didn't see that one coming.
Leonardo defending well as Bolkvadze loads up on a big left hand.
Leonardo misses with a straight left.
Bolkvadze throws out a counter right but Leonardo avoids it with no problem.
Leonardo lands a jab to the nose.

Bolkvadze closes the distance and clinches.
Leonardo lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Bolkvadze backwards.
Bolkvadze throws a punch but it's blocked by Leonardo.
Bolkvadze throws a head punch that misses.
Leonardo blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Bolkvadze fails to land.

Leonardo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolkvadze slips a jab from Leonardo.
Bolkvadze throws a body kick that misses
and Leonardo counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Bolkvadze throws a lazy right hand but Leonardo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
It looked like Leonardo was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Bolkvadze.
Bolkvadze throws a hook but Leonardo avoids it easily.
Leonardo moves out of range as Bolkvadze strikes.
Leonardo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bolkvadze.
Bolkvadze connects with a right hand. Leonardo shakes it off.
Leonardo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bolkvadze looks to land a left hand but Leonardo moved out of range nicely.
Leonardo scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Bolkvadze throws a poor cross that misses
and Leonardo counters with a stiff right hand.
Bolkvadze moves out of range of the strikes.
Bolkvadze swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Leonardo ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Bolkvadze misses with an uppercut. Leonardo saw that one coming.
Leonardo is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Leonardo misses with a body punch
and Leonardo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Leonardo throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonardo lunges at Bolkvadze with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Bolkvadze's hand.
Leonardo throws a hook to the side of Bolkvadze's head but Bolkvadze sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bolkvadze looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Bolkvadze thows a left - swing and a miss!
Leonardo scores with a jab. Bolkvadze acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Bolkvadze motions for Leonardo to come forward. Bolkvadze throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Leonardo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Bolkvadze clobbers Leonardo with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Leonardo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bolkvadze jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bolkvadze misses with an uppercut. Leonardo saw that one coming.
Leonardo scores with a nice strike.
Nice defenses there by Bolkvadze.
Bolkvadze lands the left hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Leonardo lands a slapping body shot.
Bolkvadze takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Bolkvadze throws a hook but Leonardo avoids it easily.
Leonardo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Leonardo misses the target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bolkvadze cracks Leonardo with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Leonardo misses with a wild combination.
Leonardo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bolkvadze pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Leonardo bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Bolkvadze's head.
Nice shot by Leonardo.
Bolkvadze tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Leonardo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Leonardo throws a poor cross that misses
and Bolkvadze counters with a low kick, right behind Leonardo 's knee.
A big right from Bolkvadze misses.
It looked like Leonardo wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Leonardo misses with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leonardo throws an overhand right that lands on Bolkvadze's shoulder, as Bolkvadze tries to avoid the shot.
A jab from Leonardo does it's job there.
Leonardo clobbers Bolkvadze with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Leonardo catches Bolkvadze with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Leonardo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bolkvadze can do to turn this around?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Leonardo walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Leonardo misses with an uppercut
and Bolkvadze counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonardo ducks under a wild hook from Bolkvadze.
Bolkvadze is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Leonardo.
Leonardo is looking to counter punch.
Leonardo works the jab nicely.
Bolkvadze slips a jab from Leonardo.
A little jabbing left from Bolkvadze on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Leonardo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bolkvadze.
Leonardo walks into a straight right hand from Bolkvadze.
Bolkvadze steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Leonardo.
Bolkvadze misses with a low kick.
Leonardo gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Bolkvadze tries to clinch up.
Nice body punch from Leonardo.
Bolkvadze tries to clinch but Leonardo is having none of it.
Leonardo moves away from the strike by Bolkvadze.
Bolkvadze with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Bolkvadze has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Bolkvadze lands with an overhand left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bolkvadze scores with a shot to the body.
Leonardo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bolkvadze moves away.
Bolkvadze swings for the body but Leonardo moves out of range.
Bolkvadze misses with a body kick.
Leonardo fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Leonardo getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Bolkvadze misses with a left hand
and Leonardo counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Bolkvadze throws a body punch but Leonardo moves out of range.
A cross from Leonardo lands.
Mario Leonardo is winning the standup battle so far.
Bolkvadze finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Leonardo looks to land a left hand but Bolkvadze moved out of range nicely.
Bolkvadze keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bolkvadze throws out a powerful jab.
Leonardo lands a jab to the head.
Leonardo throws a body punch but Bolkvadze moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonardo connects with a solid leg kick.
Leonardo misses with an uppercut.
Bolkvadze throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Leonardo swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Leonardo takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Leonardo connects with a looping right hand.
Bolkvadze lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Bolkvadze misses with an uppercut.

Bolkvadze moves into range and clinches up with Leonardo.
Leonardo tries to work over Bolkvadze's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Leonardo is trying to break the clinch but Bolkvadze is controlling him.

Leonardo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bolkvadze is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Leonardo connects with a body shot.
Leonardo takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
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!
Leonardo scores with a hook to the body. Bolkvadze takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A big left from Leonardo misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonardo avoids the body shot from Bolkvadze.
Bolkvadze throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Leonardo slips under a jab.
Leonardo swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Leonardo darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Bolkvadze throws a lazy uppercut
and Leonardo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A jab from Bolkvadze misses.
Leonardo clobbers Bolkvadze with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
A telegraphed right hand from Bolkvadze misses the target.
Leonardo stalks Bolkvadze and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Bolkvadze's face. Bolkvadze staggers backwards, shaken.
Bolkvadze misses with a looping left.
Leonardo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bolkvadze sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Leonardo checks the leg kick nicely there.
Leonardo half committed to a counter leg kick.
Bolkvadze throws a jab when Leonardo was well out of range.
Nice straight punches there by Bolkvadze. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Bolkvadze.
Bolkvadze looks to clinch
and Leonardo counters with a nice uppercut.
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 Mario Leonardo will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Leonardo's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Leonardo duly obliges.
Buck Bolkvadze has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leonardo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A jab from Bolkvadze misses.
Bolkvadze misses with an uppercut
and Leonardo counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Leonardo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bolkvadze.
Leonardo defending well as Bolkvadze loads up on a big left hand.
Bolkvadze fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Leonardo scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Leonardo fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Bolkvadze is out of range.
Bolkvadze listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Bolkvadze walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bolkvadze misses with an uppercut. Leonardo saw that one coming.
A big left from Bolkvadze misses.
Leonardo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Bolkvadze goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Leonardo is rocked!
Leonardo misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice leg kick from Leonardo, right into the meat of the thigh.
Bolkvadze tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Leonardo takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Leonardo fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Bolkvadze on the side of the head.
Bolkvadze misses with a hook
and Bolkvadze takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bolkvadze misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A low kick from Bolkvadze misses
and Leonardo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bolkvadze gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Leonardo swats away the attempt to clinch by Bolkvadze.
Bolkvadze finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A right-left combo lands from Leonardo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Leonardo lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Leonardo lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Bolkvadze throws a jab when Leonardo was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bolkvadze pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bolkvadze takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Leonardo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bolkvadze.
Bolkvadze misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Leonardo to counter with a crisp jab.
Bolkvadze lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Leonardo changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Leonardo moves out of range as Bolkvadze strikes.
Leonardo lands a right hook to the body.
Leonardo misses the jab.
Bolkvadze lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Bolkvadze misses with a leg kick.
Bolkvadze ducks right into an uppercut from Leonardo.
Bolkvadze ducks under a wild hook from Leonardo.
Bolkvadze attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Leonardo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Bolkvadze thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonardo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bolkvadze sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Leonardo cracks Bolkvadze with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Leonardo misses the shot to the body.
A big left from Bolkvadze misses.
Bolkvadze stuns Leonardo with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Leonardo throws a body shot but no joy.
Leonardo misses the jab.
Leonardo moves out of range as Bolkvadze strikes.
Bolkvadze misses with a hook.
Bolkvadze looks to land a left hand but Leonardo moved out of range nicely.
Bolkvadze throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Bolkvadze avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Leonardo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bolkvadze.
Leonardo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bolkvadze moves away.
Bolkvadze looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bolkvadze scoring well with a low kick there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonardo ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mario Leonardo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bolkvadze falls off balance throwing a combination
and Leonardo counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Bolkvadze thinking.
Leonardo defending well as Bolkvadze loads up on a big left hand.
Leonardo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bolkvadze.
Leonardo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Leonardo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice shot by Leonardo.
Bolkvadze moves away from the strike by Leonardo.
Bolkvadze connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Leonardo takes one on the button.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bolkvadze tries to clinch up.
Bolkvadze jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Leonardo fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mario Leonardo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Leonardo, 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mario Leonardo!
Our winner, Mario Leonardo, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.