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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chris Leben (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Phoenix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leben's entrance music is Changes. A fine choice. Phoenix is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Oh la!!. Chris Leben has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.
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| 200 cm
26
175 lbs
4 - 2 - 0 |
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180 cm
20
182 lbs
3 - 1 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power |
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BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Determined |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Chris Leben!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Simon Phoenix!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Robert Douchet and Ian Loll.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice body punch from Phoenix.
Leben looks to land a combination but Phoenix avoids it well.
Leben has closed the distance and engaged Phoenix in a clinch.
Leben with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Phoenix blocks an uppercut.
Leben looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Leben stalling the fight.
Leben keeps control of Phoenix as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Leben throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Phoenixs head.
Leben lands a shot to the body.
Still in the clinch, Leben scores with a nice short uppercut.
Phoenix breaks from the clinch.
Leben stuffs the takedown.
Leben really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Leben takes a kick to the side of the head.
Phoenix looks to score with a jab to the body but Leben is just out of range.
No luck for Leben with that takedown attempt.
Leben misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Leben misses with a combination
and Phoenix cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Phoenix connects with a high kick.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix misses with a takedown
and Leben counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Nice strikes from Leben there.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Leben is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Phoenix defends it well.
Phoenix tries to get to full guard but Leben has control of the leg.
Leben is working for a submission of some sort.
Phoenix works his way to full guard. Good work.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leben looking to pass the guard.
Leben working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Leben will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Leben trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Phoenix trying to keep a closed guard but Leben is proving a slippery customer.
Leben drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Phoenix dives on top into guard.
Leben knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Phoenix on the ground.
Phoenix is looking to stand up but Leben won't let him.
Phoenix wants to control from the top but Leben keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Phoenix accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Leben is keeping the position for now.
Leben is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Leben with the ground and pound but Phoenix uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Phoenix is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Leben is aware though and is defending well.
Leben wants to control from the top but Phoenix keeps moving.
Leben wants to get up but he can't break Phoenix's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Phoenix trying to keep a closed guard but Leben is proving a slippery customer.
Phoenix keeping moving, preventing Leben from controlling successfully.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Phoenix is trying to control the position but Leben postures up.
Leben wants to stand and escape but instead Phoenix has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Phoenix tries to free his leg and advance position but Leben is retaining full guard.
Phoenix trying to control but Leben is working from the bottom.
Leben keeping full guard, as Phoenix tries to pass.
Phoenix slips nicely into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Phoenix seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Leben does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Simon Phoenix will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.
Leben lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Leben shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Phoenix pinned against the cage. Phoenix gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Phoenix misses with a wild body shot.
Phoenix dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Leben. That did some damage!
Phoenix misses with a few strikes there.
Phoenix lands a head kick!
Phoenix thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Leben if he has to take too many more of those.
Leben misses with a series of wild punches.
Phoenix lands a head shot.
Phoenix shoots in looking for a takedown but Leben manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Phoenix's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Phoenix shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Leben is trying to defend but Phoenix finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Leben tries to kick Phoenix off but Phoenix keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix is trying to control. Leben wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Simon Phoenix.
The fight stays on the outside here - Leben looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Leben shoots in looking for a takedown. Phoenix tries to sprawl out of it but Leben keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Phoenix manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Leben throws a combination that misses
and Phoenix counters with a straight right hand.
Phoenix throws a sloppy head kick and Leben moves out of range easily.
Leben avoids the head kick by Phoenix.
Phoenix misses with a combination
and Leben counters with a left and a right that stings Phoenix.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix throws a series of punches but Leben avoids them all with ease.
Phoenix lands a head kick. Leben smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
The fighters circling - Phoenix throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Leben takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Phoenix.
Phoenix swinging wildly here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Phoenix. Leben does a little dance to reset his feet.
Chris Leben is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Phoenix dives in and grabs Leben's left leg, looking for a takedown. Leben pushes down on Phoenix's head and hops out.
Chris Leben has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Simon Phoenix.
Leben shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Leben showed some decent athleticism there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Leben is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Phoenix sees it coming and defends easily.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leben trying to control from half guard but Phoenix is working away.
Phoenix trying to hold on to Leben's head to control him but Leben postures up.
Phoenix is trying to get back to full guard.
Leben is looking to stall here but Phoenix recovers full guard.
Leben has gone for a leg lock! Phoenix slips out almost immediately though and dives into Leben's guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Leben is adopting a defensive guard.
Leben trying to keep a closed guard but Phoenix is proving a slippery customer.
Phoenix is pushing down on Leben's leg trying to pass to half guard. Leben is fighting to maintain full guard but Phoenix has managed to sneak the leg through.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Leben is not content to let Phoenix control the position.
Phoenix throwing shots but Leben is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Simon Phoenix showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.
Leben takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Leben closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Phoenix can't break the clinch.
Leben can't break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Leben's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Leben drops down looking for an ankle pick but Phoenix pulls his leg out and moves away.
Leben tries to clinch but Phoenix is having none of it.
Phoenix takes a swing at Leben's ribcage but misses.
Leben moves to clinch but Phoenix breaks away
and Phoenix counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
The fight stays on the outside here - Leben looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Leben tries to clinch but Phoenix is having none of it.
Leben takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Phoenix.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Leben connects with a looping right hand.
Phoenix keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Phoenix loads up on a big right hand but Leben slips the punch.
Leben leaves Phoenix with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Leben tries to clinch up but Phoenix circles away and keeps his distance.
Phoenix avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Phoenix lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
No luck for Leben with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Leben. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Phoenix tries for a takedown but Leben sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Leben misses
and Phoenix counters with a head kick.
Leben changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Phoenix tries to avoid it but Leben manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Phoenix to the ground. Phoenix escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Phoenix lands a leg kick that knocks Leben off balance momentarily.
Phoenix lands a right hook to the body.
Phoenix shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Leben pinned against the cage. Leben gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Leben keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Phoenix fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Phoenix shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Leben pinned against the cage. Leben gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Leben shoots in for a takedown but Phoenix shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Leben takes one to the chin there.
Phoenix lands with a thumping leg kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leben wants to clinch.
Phoenix fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Leben looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Phoenix shoots in and drives through. Leben sprawls well.
Leben fails with an attempt to clinch.
Phoenix closes the distance and clinches up with Leben, looking for a takedown. Phoenix pushes Leben against the ropes but Leben circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Phoenix fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Leben avoids it really well and circles away.
Simon Phoenix is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Phoenix lands a body shot.
Phoenix thumps Leben with a low kick.
Leben tries to clinch but Phoenix moves out of range.
Phoenix will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Leben shoots and misses
and Phoenix counters with a single leg into guard. Leben didn't expect that.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leben wants to sweep here but Phoenix controlling him for the moment.
Phoenix trying to control the position from guard on top but Leben is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Leben controls Phoenix momentarily but Phoenix frees himself.
Phoenix trying to control but Leben is working from the bottom.
Leben not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Phoenix throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Phoenix looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Leben is fending him off so far but Phoenix persists. Nope, Leben circles away and we're back to standing.
Chris Leben has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leben has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Phoenix.
And that's the end of the fight!
Simon Phoenix comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Phoenix winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 28:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Simon Phoenix!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
72% |
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