PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between josh carlson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Quentin Leonard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). josh carlson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

carlson
vs
Leonard

194 cm
22
265 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

187 cm
22
228 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, josh carlson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Quentin Leonard!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Leandro Rodrigues and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Leonard moves into the clinch.
carlson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
carlson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Leonard pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nice defenses there by carlson.
carlson closes the distance and clinches up with Leonard, looking for a takedown. carlson pushes Leonard against the cage but Leonard circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
carlson wants to clinch but Leonard slips to the side

and Leonard counters by clinching up.
carlson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Leonard fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for josh carlson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Leonard lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as carlson backs up against the cage.

It looks like josh carlson has been cut.
Quentin Leonard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A combination from Leonard does no damage.
carlson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Leonard counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps carlson thinking.
Leonard throws a right and a left that carlson avoids nicely.
Leonard leaves carlson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
carlson is breathing heavily.
Leonard fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Leonard uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard misses with a double jab.
Leonard wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Quentin Leonard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Leonard fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with carlson, pushing him back against the cage.
Nice body punch from Leonard - that landed with a thud.
Leonard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
carlson working hard to break the clinch.
Leonard wants to break free but carlson has control.
Leonard stalling against the cage.
Leonard lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down carlson.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Leonard takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Still in the clinch, Leonard scores with a nice short uppercut.
Leonard lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Leonard can't break the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Leonard.
Leonard scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Leonard is trying to force a seperation but carlson has the dominant position.
carlson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Leonard smiles and moves away.

Leonard gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Leonard wants to break free but carlson has control.
Leonard lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
carlson lands with a left to the head.
A short left from Leonard.
Leonard working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
carlson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Leonard's efforts to push away.
A frustrated look appears on carlson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
carlson taking a breather.
carlson has Leonard pressed against the cage, preventing Leonard from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
carlson has Leonard pressed against the cage, preventing Leonard from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
carlson'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.

Leonard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
carlson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
carlson fails with the takedown
and Leonard counters with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Leonard gets a clinch.
Leonard scores with a shot to the side of carlson's head.
carlson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Leonard walks away with a smile on his face. carlson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
carlson throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Leonard throws a one two combo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Leonard swings for the body but carlson moves out of range.
Leonard connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
carlson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Leonard scores with a nice right hand.

Leonard clinches with his opponent.
Leonard is trying to break free.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for carlson. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Leonard lands a nice uppercut.
Leonard wants to break the clinch but can't.
carlson tries to break the clinch but Leonard is controlling the position.
Leonard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Leonard is pressed up against the cage. carlson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Leonard down to the mat. Leonard avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Leonard throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Leonard misses its intended target.
carlson misses with a takedown attempt

and Leonard counters by clinching up.
Leonard taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Leonard.
Leonard pressing his opponent against the cage.
Leonard wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Leonard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
carlson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
carlson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Leonard counters by clinching up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Leonard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Leonard thows a body shot but no joy.
Leonard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from carlson.
Leonard slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Quentin Leonard dominated that round.
The cut man is working on josh carlson's cut.
That's time! carlson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

carlson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Leonard's head.
Quentin Leonard seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Leonard tests carlson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Leonard tries to bum rush carlson with a series of wild strikes but carlson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Leonard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from carlson.
Leonard misses with a double jab
and carlson counters with a low kick, right behind Leonard 's knee.
Nice sprawl there from Leonard as carlson shoots in.
A left lands for Leonard.
carlson slips under a jab.
carlson tries for a takedown but Leonard circles away easily

and Leonard counters by clinching up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
carlson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Leonard smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for josh carlson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
carlson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
carlson moves in looking to clinch but Leonard pushes him off.
carlson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
carlson shoots for a takedown but Leonard saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Leonard lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as carlson backs up against the cage.
Leonard connects with a body shot.
Leonard looks to land a right hand but carlson moved out of range.
Leonard fails to land with a series of punches.
carlson is looking to clinch but Leonard is avoiding it.
carlson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Leonard swivels and escapes.
carlson doesn't manage to clinch there - Leonard circles away.
carlson thows a body shot but no joy.
Leonard misses with a combination
and carlson counters with a one-two to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard throws a hook to the side of carlson's head but carlson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
carlson dives in and grabs Leonard's left leg, looking for a takedown. Leonard pushes down on carlson's head and hops out.
carlson wants to clinch
and Leonard counters with a left to the body.
carlson wants to clinch up but Leonard keeps it at a distance.
Nice sprawl there from Leonard as carlson shoots in.
Leonard rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but carlson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Leonard circles away from the clinch attempt
and Leonard counters with a straight right hand.
A punch combination from Leonard misses.
Leonard tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but carlson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
carlson throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
carlson scores with a one two! Leonard had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
The fight stays on the outside here - carlson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
carlson lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

carlson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Leonard manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Leonard keeping moving, preventing carlson from controlling successfully.
Leonard really doesn't want to stay on the ground with carlson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
carlson slips nicely into half guard.
carlson trying to mount his opponent but Leonard defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
carlson winds up and cracks Leonard with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
carlson wants to pass the guard but Leonard is defending well.
Leonard is refusing to be controlled, as carlson sits in half guard.
carlson uses his free foot to push down on Leonard's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Leonard.
carlson content just to control the position here.
Leonard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
carlson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Leonard hang on?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

josh carlson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on josh carlson's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Leonard swats away the attempt to clinch by carlson.
carlson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Leonard swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Leonard misses with a looping right.
carlson throws a combination that misses
and Leonard counters with a lovely straight right hand!
carlson tries to clinch
and Leonard counters with a stiff right hand.
carlson misses with a takedown attempt
and Leonard counters with a two punch combo.
josh carlson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice body punch from Leonard.
Leonard thows a left - swing and a miss!
Leonard tries to bum rush carlson with a series of wild strikes but carlson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
carlson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Leonard.
Leonard throws a big shot that misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from carlson.
Leonard scores with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Leonard instigates a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
carlson fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for josh carlson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Leonard taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Leonard pushes carlson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Leonard working hard to break the clinch.
carlson is trying to stall.
Leonard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
carlson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Leonard throws a head punch that misses.
Stalling in the clinch from carlson.
Leonard gets underhooks to prevent carlson's takedown attempt.
carlson tries to circle away but Leonard has him pinned against the cage.
carlson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Leonard just stands there and leans against the cage.
carlson swings wildly with an uppercut but Leonard uses good head movement to avoid it.
carlson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Leonard is pressed up against the cage. carlson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Leonard down to the mat. Leonard avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Leonard throws a jab when carlson was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard lands a nice shot to the body.
carlson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A right-left combo lands from Leonard.
Leonard throws a right and a left that both miss.

carlson scores a takedown into full mount!
carlson looking to control but Leonard is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Leonard is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
carlson with good strikes from the mount here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
carlson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Leonard takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Leonard is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
carlson content just to control the position here.
The referee warns Leonard that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Leonard is squirming around, avoiding carlson's attempts to control the action.
Leonard takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Leonard taking shots to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Leonard is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Leonard is squirming around, avoiding carlson's attempts to control the action.
Leonard's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
carlson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
carlson trying to control but Leonard is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Quentin Leonard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Leonard has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Quentin Leonard!