PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between James Leary (ranked 1609 p4p, 2144 weight class) and Blake Souza (ranked 124 p4p, 156 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Leary
vs
Souza

172 cm
20
140
4 - 1 - 0

170 cm
19
143
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Powerful

Pulling Guard
Wrestler Wayfare

Conquest Nutrition™ (160Q) $48

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, James Leary!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Blake Souza!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Darius Henderson and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Souza takes the fight into the clinch.

Leary manages to break the clinch.
Souza throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Leary counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The fighters circling - Leary throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Souza will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Souza shoots in but Leary avoids the takedown attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souza is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Souza keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Leary does no damage.
Souza throws a body shot but no joy.
Souza throws a leg kick but Leary checks it.
Souza fails with the takedown
and Souza takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
James Leary has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blake Souza.
Souza throws a body punch but Leary moves out of range.
Leary throwing a counter right hand but Souza manages to avoid it.
Souza throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
An attempted straight right counter from Leary misses the target.
Leary looks to land a left hand but Souza moved out of range nicely.
Souza throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A little feinted left hand from Leary on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza defending well as Leary loads up on a big left hand.
Leary throws out a powerful jab.
Souza will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
It looked like Leary wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Souza looks to score with a jab to the body but Leary is just out of range.
Leary swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Souza misses with a double jab.
Leary checks a leg kick.
Leary keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Souza.
It looked like Leary wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Leary moves out of range of the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A looping hook to the body misses from Souza. Leary does a little dance to reset his feet.
Leary throwing a counter right hand but Souza manages to avoid it.
Souza fails in his attempt to clinch.
Leary went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Leary scores with a nice head shot.
Souza needs to keep his hands up - Leary had a free shot at his head there.
Souza tries to clinch up but Leary circles away and keeps his distance.
Leary throwing a counter right hand but Souza manages to avoid it.
Souza throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Leary's waist but Leary gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Souza off to one side.
Leary throwing a counter right hand but Souza manages to avoid it.
Souza tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Leary counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza throws a poor cross that misses
and Leary counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Souza tried to score with a low kick but Leary checks it.
Leary appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Leary misses with an uppercut. Souza saw that one coming.
James Leary is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Souza looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Leary throws a looping overhand right but Souza ducks down to avoid it.
Souza changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Souza throws a body shot but no joy.
A slow jab from Leary misses its intended target.
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!
Souza looks to score with a jab to the body but Leary is just out of range.
Leary throwing a counter right hand but Souza manages to avoid it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Leary 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.

Souza throws a body punch but Leary moves out of range.
Leary swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A shot to the body from Souza misses
and Leary counters with a straight right hand.
Souza wants to clinch.
Leary steps in with a hook that catches Souza right on the chin and knocks him to the floor! Leary follows him down with more strikes and that's all she wrote! Souza looks absolutely devastated.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). James Leary!
James Leary retains his bantamweight title!
In his post fight interview, James Leary started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.