PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kimo Leonardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Durante Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leonardo comes to the cage accompanied by Amazing. 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.

Leonardo
vs
Durante Jr

182 cm
22
155 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

179 cm
26
165 lbs
8 - 10 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

.: AFFAKETIΘN :.
.: AFFAKETIΘN :.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Kimo Leonardo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 10 - 1, fighting out of London, Ricardo Durante Jr!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Ackerman and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Durante Jr bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Leonardo gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Durante Jr prevents Leonardo from improving his position.
Durante Jr wants to control but Leonardo is keeping him busy.
Leonardo has his hands clasped together around Durante Jr's back. He's all about the action.
Leonardo trying to control but Durante Jr postures up.
Durante Jr not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Leonardo is refusing to be controlled, as Durante Jr sits in half guard.
Leonardo wants to improve his position but Durante Jr is controlling well.
Leonardo trying to control but Durante Jr postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Durante Jr seems to be looking for submissions.
Leonardo trying to control here.
Leonardo is controlling Durante Jr's trapped leg to prevent Durante Jr from advancing to side control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kimo Leonardo.
Durante Jr misses with a takedown
and Leonardo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Durante Jr with a poor takedown
and Durante Jr takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Durante Jr with a lazy takedown attempt
and Leonardo counters with a straight right hand.
Kimo Leonardo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Durante Jr.
Durante Jr misses with a takedown
enabling Leonardo to counter with a crisp jab.
Durante Jr looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durante Jr shoots and misses
and Leonardo counters with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Ricardo Durante Jr has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Leonardo closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Durante Jr to the mat! Durante Jr manages to get full guard.
Leonardo advances position into side control!
Leonardo trying to control the position but Durante Jr is working away.
Leonardo is chipping away with strikes.

Leonardo is trying to get an arm triangle but Durante Jr is defending well.

Leonardo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Durante Jr is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Leonardo controlling from side mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonardo wants to control but Durante Jr is keeping him busy.

Leonardo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Durante Jr knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Durante Jr is trying to improve his position.
Durante Jr is working to avoid the ground and pound but Leonardo connects with a decent elbow.

Leonardo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonardo looks up at the clock and then as Durante Jr takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Leonardo smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Leonardo trying to control the position but Durante Jr is working away.
Leonardo controls the position.
Leonardo in side control lands a decent elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Leonardo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Durante Jr knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Durante Jr is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kimo Leonardo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ricardo Durante Jr's cut.
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.

Durante Jr throws a head kick but Leonardo moves out of range.
Durante Jr tries for a takedown but Leonardo circles away easily

and Leonardo counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Still in half guard, Leonardo seems content to control.
Leonardo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Durante Jr knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Durante Jr is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Leonardo has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Leonardo prevents Durante Jr from getting the reversal.
Leonardo looking to control and managing it successfully.

Leonardo looking to secure an arm triangle but Durante Jr defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonardo trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Leonardo goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Durante Jr turns into him and now he's in Leonardo's guard.
Durante Jr is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Durante Jr won't allow Leonardo to sweep him here.
Durante Jr tries to free his leg and advance position but Leonardo is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Durante Jr is fighting to break Leonardo's control of his arms but Leonardo is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kimo Leonardo.
Leonardo throws a series of punches but Durante Jr moves out of range.
Durante Jr with a poor takedown

and Leonardo counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Leonardo looking to pass the guard.
Leonardo trying to control but Durante Jr is working from the bottom.
Leonardo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonardo wants to pass the guard but Durante Jr is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Durante Jr keeping moving, preventing Leonardo from controlling successfully.

Kimo Leonardo has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Leonardo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Durante Jr moves away.
Ricardo Durante Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Durante Jr with a poor takedown

and Leonardo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Leonardo.
Kimo Leonardo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Durante Jr.
Durante Jr is breathing heavily.
Durante Jr looking to control.
Leonardo is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Leonardo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Leonardo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonardo trying to control the position from guard on top but Durante Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Durante Jr can't keep his opponent in guard - Leonardo advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Leonardo thows a huge punch but Durante Jr dodges it nicely.
Leonardo is keen to just control but Durante Jr is a slippery customer.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Leonardo connects with a nice short shot to Durante Jr's temple.
Durante Jr is not content to let Leonardo control the position.

Durante Jr looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Durante Jr actively working from the bottom here.
Leonardo trying to mount his opponent but Durante Jr defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kimo Leonardo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ricardo Durante Jr's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Durante Jr misses with a takedown

and Leonardo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Leonardo.
Leonardo passes Durante Jr's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Leonardo is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Durante Jr tries to kick Leonardo off but Leonardo keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Leonardo winds up and cracks Durante Jr with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Leonardo wants to control but Durante Jr is keeping him busy.
Durante Jr trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!

Leonardo with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Durante Jr is trying desperately to improve position.
Durante Jr takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Leonardo takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durante Jr is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Leonardo looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Durante Jr looking very determined here, making life difficult for Leonardo.
Kimo Leonardo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Leonardo wants to control but Durante Jr is keeping busy.
Durante Jr tries to break free.
Durante Jr looking very determined here, making life difficult for Leonardo.

Leonardo is looking for the choke from the back position but Durante Jr is controlling his hands well.

Leonardo looking for the choke but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonardo tries to keep control of the position but Durante Jr is staying busy.
Durante Jr tries to roll but Leonardo sticks to his back.
Leonardo landing with strikes.
Will Leonardo go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Kimo Leonardo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Durante Jr looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Durante Jr is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Leonardo.
Leonardo has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Leonardo seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Durante Jr for as long as he can get away with.
I really don't envy Durante Jr right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I would not like to be Durante Jr right now.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Kimo Leonardo just wasn't active enough.
Durante Jr gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Leonardo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Durante Jr won't be happy with that.
Leonardo controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Kimo Leonardo just wasn't active enough.
Leonardo tries to bum rush Durante Jr with a series of wild strikes but Durante Jr uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Durante Jr tries to clinch but Leonardo moves away

and Leonardo decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Durante Jr's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Durante Jr can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Leonardo controls the pace.
Leonardo stands and throws Durante Jr's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Ricardo Durante Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leonardo is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Durante Jr's shoulder. That is not cool.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kimo Leonardo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Leonardo has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paul Tew scores the fight for Kimo Leonardo!
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight for Kimo Leonardo!
Judge William Gold scores the fight for Kimo Leonardo!

Kimo Leonardo wins by unanimous decision!