PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Valentin Adamovic (ranked 1195 p4p, 1101 weight class) and Nikolay Leonov (ranked 154 p4p, 145 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Adamovic
vs
Leonov

185 cm
28
185
8 - 7 - 0

180 cm
39
195
27 - 21 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

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 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Valentin Adamovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 21 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolay Leonov!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Colin Fray and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Leonov.
Leonov keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Adamovic avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Adamovic looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Adamovic connects with a nice looking jab.
Adamovic clobbers Leonov with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Nice uppercut there from Leonov.
The fighters circling - Leonov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Jab by Adamovic.
Leonov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Adamovic displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Leonov throws out the jab.

Adamovic closes the distance and clinches.
Leonov is struggling to control the position.
Leonov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A shot in the inside from Adamovic.
Adamovic misses with a punch to the body.
Leonov taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Leonov working aggressively here.
Leonov blocks an uppercut.
Leonov scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Adamovic misses with a hook to the ribs.
Leonov leaning against his opponent.
Adamovic misses with the head strike.
Adamovic blocks a body shot from Leonov.
Adamovic has a couple of punches blocked by Leonov.

Leonov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Leonov looks to land a body kick but Adamovic moved away.

Adamovic drives through and clinches with Leonov against the cage.
Adamovic misses with a punch on the inside.
Leonov blocking some punches.
Adamovic fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Adamovic tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Leonov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Adamovic drives through and clinches with Leonov against the cage.
Adamovic struggles to land a body shot inside as Leonov controls his hands.
Leonov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A short right from Leonov on the inside.
Leonov controlling the action here for a moment.
Adamovic tries a body shot but Leonov blocks it.
Leonov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Adamovic swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Adamovic tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Leonov pushes Adamovic back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Adamovic working aggressively here.
Leonov is trying to force a seperation but Adamovic has the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Adamovic.
Adamovic scores with a nice hook to the head.

Leonov breaks from the clinch.

Adamovic moves into the clinch.
Adamovic misses with the head strike.

Leonov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Leonov moves forwards but Adamovic connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Leonov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Leonov throws out a leg kick but Adamovic moves out of range and Leonov only half commits.

Adamovic pushes Leonov up against the cage in a clinch.
Leonov lands with a light punch inside.
Leonov displaying some good clinch control by pressing Adamovic up against the cage.
Leonov has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Adamovic seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Leonov can turn it around.
Adamovic working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonov lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Leonov can't find room to land a body shot as Adamovic controls the action.
Leonov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Adamovic blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Leonov blocking some punches.
Adamovic misses with a hook to the ribs.
Adamovic fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Leonov stalling in the clinch but Adamovic improves position.
Adamovic lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Leonov backwards.
Leonov prevents a body shot from Adamovic.
Adamovic lands a hook that snaps the head of Leonov backwards.
Adamovic struggles to land a body shot inside as Leonov controls his hands.
A short left from Adamovic.
Leonov misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Valentin Adamovic will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Adamovic scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Adamovic closes the distance and clinches.
Leonov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Adamovic avoiding damage as Leonov throws knees to the body.
Adamovic goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Leonov in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Adamovic misses with a body punch.
Adamovic letting Leonov take a breather here.

Leonov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Adamovic closes the distance and clinches.
Adamovic blocking some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Leonov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Leonov tests Adamovic's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Leonov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Leonov misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonov misses with a body shot.
Leonov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Adamovic sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Leonov throws a hook to the side of Adamovic's head but Adamovic sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Adamovic looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Adamovic moves out of range of the body kick.
Leonov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nikolay Leonov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Adamovic drops his hands momentarily and Leonov takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Adamovic blocks a jab.
Adamovic tries to counter by clinching up but Leonov breaks away and moves out of range.
Adamovic throws a body punch but Leonov moves out of range.
Leonov throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Adamovic tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Leonov manages to circle out of the way.

Adamovic rushes Leonov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Adamovic softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Leonov breaks the clinch.

Adamovic has Leonov up against the cage in a clinch.
Adamovic tries a body shot but Leonov blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonov wants to stall.
Leonov lands a hook to the side of the head.

Leonov breaks the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Leonov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Adamovic sizes up Leonov with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Leonov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Leonov staying out of range there.

Adamovic darts in and clinches Leonov up against the cage.
Leonov stalling in the clinch.
Adamovic is leaning against Leonov and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Leonov's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Adamovic misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adamovic swings wildly with an uppercut but Leonov uses good head movement to avoid it.

Leonov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Leonov slips a straight right by Adamovic.

Adamovic moves into the clinch.
Valentin Adamovic has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Adamovic softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Leonov lands an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Adamovic fails to land.
Leonov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Adamovic blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Adamovic can't find room to land a body shot as Leonov controls the action.
Leonov blocks a body shot from Adamovic.
Leonov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Adamovic avoids it.
Adamovic tries to work over Leonov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Adamovic working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Leonov.

Adamovic gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Leonov manages to escape and get back to his feet!
A nice leg kick from Leonov, right into the meat of the thigh.
Leonov misses with a straight right.
Adamovic lunges at Leonov with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Leonov's hand.
Leonov looks to throw the jab but Adamovic is out of range.
Adamovic showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Leonov.
Adamovic lands with a hook. Leonov tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Adamovic lands a head shot.

Leonov is rocked!
Adamovic just misses with a punch to the body.
Leonov is still on wobbly legs! Can Adamovic finish him?

Adamovic clinches up with Leonov and pushes him back against the cage.
Leonov seems to have recovered his senses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
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 Valentin Adamovic will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Leonov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Adamovic has time to react.
Leonov looks to score with a jab to the body but Adamovic is just out of range.
Adamovic misses with a lunging right hand
letting Leonov counter with a right hand.
Leonov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Adamovic.
Some wild striking there from Leonov.
Adamovic's jab looks to have found its range, popping Leonov under the eye.
Leonov throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Leonov connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Adamovic gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A shot in the inside from Leonov.
Leonov lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Adamovic or not.
Leonov working hard to break the clinch.
Adamovic fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Adamovic lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonov blocks a body shot from Adamovic.

Leonov breaks the clinch.
Adamovic lands a lovely overhand right.
Adamovic lands a jab to Leonov's midsection.

Adamovic gets a clinch.
Adamovic working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Leonov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Leonov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Leonov lands a body shot in the clinch.

Leonov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Leonov.

Adamovic moves into the clinch successfully.
Leonov creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Adamovic working aggressively here.
Adamovic misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Adamovic doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Leonov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Leonov looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Adamovic clinches up against the cage.
Leonov pressing his opponent against the cage.
Leonov displaying some good clinch control by pressing Adamovic up against the cage.
Adamovic lands with a right to the head.
Leonov wants to break free but Adamovic has control.

Leonov breaks from the clinch.
Adamovic misses with a looping left.
Adamovic uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Leonov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Adamovic clinches up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Leonov.
Nikolay Leonov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A short right from Adamovic on the inside.

Leonov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Adamovic is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Adamovic throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Adamovic instigates a clinch.
Leonov has a couple of punches blocked by Adamovic.
Leonov has Adamovic pushed against the cage.
Valentin Adamovic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Leonov wants to stall.
Leonov is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonov is trying to break the clinch but Adamovic has him pressed against the cage.
Adamovic being controlled against the cage.
Adamovic blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Leonov misses with a punch on the inside.
Leonov looking to slow down the pace here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Valentin Adamovic.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Adamovic, 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valentin Adamovic!
A very excited looking Valentin Adamovic made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.