PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shinya Nakata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jill Leonard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nakata
vs
Leonard

175 cm
24
135 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

176 cm
21
145 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Shinya Nakata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jill Leonard!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Ian Loll and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leonard fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Nakata swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Leonard.
Leonard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jill Leonard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Leonard feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nakata is on top in guard.
Nakata stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Leonard swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Nakata drops back, looking for a kneebar! Leonard looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Leonard looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Leonard!
Leonard cracks Nakata with a big elbow.
Leonard wants to control but Nakata is keeping him busy.
Nakata dodges the ground and pound from Leonard.
Nakata is trying to improve his position.
Nakata is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nakata looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Leonard is looking to take a break and control but Nakata is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nakata trying to control here.

Leonard is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nakata defends it well.
Nakata is trying to control but can't.
Nakata is looking for a sweep. Leonard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Leonard displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nakata.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Nakata takes a kick to the side of the head.
A head kick misses from Leonard.
Nakata dives in and grabs Leonard's left leg, looking for a takedown. Leonard pushes down on Nakata's head and hops out.
Leonard slips under a jab from Nakata.

Leonard drives through with a takedown into guard.
Leonard lands a couple of digs.
Leonard has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nakata looking to hit a scissor sweep but Leonard is one step ahead there.

Leonard drops back looking for a leg! Nakata is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nakata manages to kick Leonard off! Leonard jumps back into Nakata's guard.

Nakata has his foot on Leonard's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Leonard works his way back into a safe position though.
Nakata is breathing heavily.
Nakata trying to control the position.
Leonard advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard wants to take a breather but Nakata is having none of it.
Ground and pound from Leonard.
Nakata really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Leonard has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Nakata can't escape the position.

Leonard is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Nakata is surviving well by controlling Leonard's body position as best he can.
Nakata is trying desperately to improve position.
Nakata wants to control but Leonard is having none of it.
Leonard has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Nakata's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nakata wants to control but Leonard is having none of it.
Leonard scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Nakata wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Nakata tries to roll but Leonard sticks to his back.
Nakata rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Leonard wants to pass to mount but Nakata is defending the position.
Nakata wants to get back to full guard.
Nakata won't allow Leonard to pass to mount.

Leonard is working for a submission of some sort.
Nakata won't allow Leonard to pass to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Leonard shoots in and drives through. Nakata sprawls well.
Leonard connects with a solid leg kick.
Leonard feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Nakata's calf.
Leonard defending well as Nakata loads up on a big left hand.
Leonard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Leonard tries to close the distance and clinch but Nakata swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Nakata drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Nakata tries to move to mount but Leonard blocks the move with his legs.

Nakata tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nakata has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Leonard tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nakata wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Nakata swings around for an armbar but Leonard sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Nakata's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakata is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Leonard postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Nakata working for submissions but it's allowed Leonard to get to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nice strikes from Leonard there.
Nakata tries to get to full guard but Leonard has control of the leg.
Nakata is looking to control Leonard's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nakata avoid being mounted?
Nakata wants to improve his position but Leonard is controlling well.
Leonard seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nakata does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Leonard trying to pass the guard but Nakata defending well.
Leonard lands strikes from half guard.

Nakata is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Leonard pulls his head out easily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Leonard looks for a takedown but Nakata sprawls well.

Nakata shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Leonard is trying to defend but Nakata finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Leonard gets full guard.
Nakata throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Leonard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Leonard has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nakata can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Nakata lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nakata drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Leonard manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Nakata has Leonard in his guard.
Nakata working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Leonard.
Nakata trying to control the position.
Nakata looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Nakata looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Leonard passes into half guard.
Leonard is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard landing shots from mount.
Nakata sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Leonard looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Leonard drops an elbow to the side of Nakata's head.
Nakata tries to roll over but Leonard keeps him under control.
Leonard wants to pass the guard but Nakata is defending well.
Jill Leonard has got the better of the ground game so far.

Leonard seems to be looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jill Leonard will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

A left lands for Nakata.

Nakata bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Nakata wants to lay and pray for a moment but Leonard keeps working.
Nakata misses with the ground and pound.
Nakata lands an elbow.
Leonard is trying to get back to half guard.

Nakata wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Leonard, who protects the arm well.

Nakata is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Leonard is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nakata trying to control the position but Leonard is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Nakata off and has taken his back!
Leonard looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Nakata tries to escape the position.

Nakata preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Leonard.
Leonard doesn't have the hooks in and Nakata manages to turn into his guard.

Leonard is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nakata is aware though and is defending well.
Nakata trying to control the position from guard on top but Leonard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Leonard wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nakata, who protects the arm well.
Nakata is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Leonard's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Nakata missing with punches from the bottom.
Leonard is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Shinya Nakata has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard lands strikes from half guard.
Nakata throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Nakata works his way to full guard. Good work.
Nakata trying to keep a closed guard but Leonard is proving a slippery customer.
Leonard not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Leonard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Leonard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nakata keeping moving, preventing Leonard from controlling successfully.

Nakata throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Leonard throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nakata not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Leonard wants to control from the top but Nakata keeps moving.
Nakata is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jill Leonard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Leonard controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Nakata working for a triangle but Leonard defends it easily.
Nakata tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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 Shinya Nakata.
Well Leonard has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:30

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