PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Marc Leben (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paolo Gallo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gallo comes into a darkened arena with his song building. B.Y.O.B. kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Leben
vs
Gallo

173 cm
25
148 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marc Leben!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paolo Gallo!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gallo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gallo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gallo has a takedown stuffed.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Leben enables Gallo to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Leben manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Gallo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Gallo working some strikes from top position.
Gallo with a nice head shot there.
Gallo sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Gallo stands and steps away. Leben gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gallo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Leben tries to clinch up but Gallo circles away and keeps his distance.
Gallo keeps the fight on the outside.
Gallo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Leben throws a series of punches but Gallo avoids them all with ease.
Marc Leben seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gallo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Leben defends it nicely.
Marc Leben has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paolo Gallo.
Leben tries to clinch but Gallo is having none of it.
Leben tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Leben gets caught flat footed, as Gallo shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Leben knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gallo on the ground.
Gallo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gallo is stalling in the full guard.
Gallo prevents Leben from getting back to his feet.
Gallo controls from within his opponent's guard.

Gallo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Leben wants to get back to his feet but Gallo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gallo passes into half guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gallo gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Gallo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A thudding body kick lands there by Leben!
Leben fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gallo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leben has his takedown stuffed

and Gallo counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Leben is trying to push Gallo away but Gallo has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Leben using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gallo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Leben scores with a hook to the body.
Leben blocks an uppercut.
Leben stops a takedown attempt from Gallo.
Gallo looks gassed!
Leben with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gallo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Leben is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gallo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Leben working hard to break the clinch.
Gallo dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Leben putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Gallo in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Leben.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Leben prevents the takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Leben throws a series of strikes that have Gallo backpedaling.
Gallo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Leben swivels and escapes.
Gallo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Leben blocks a head kick by Gallo.
Leben moves to clinch but Gallo breaks away

and Gallo decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Leben's guard.
Gallo prevents Leben from getting back to his feet.
Leben working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gallo.
Leben wants to stand up but Gallo is controlling him.
Leben can't keep his opponent in guard - Gallo advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Gallo lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leben wants to get back to his feet.

Gallo maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Leben could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Gallo has cracked it and Leben is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Gallo!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Paolo Gallo!