PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Leissner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hb Pencil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leissner's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, GoToSleep. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Leissner
vs
Pencil

188 cm
22
165 lbs
7 - 4 - 1

180 cm
28
160 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 7 - 4 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gabriel Leissner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hb Pencil!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Dmitry Maklakov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pencil swings widly with a right hand
and Leissner counters with a straight right hand.
Pencil misses with a leg kick
and Leissner counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A telegraphed right hand from Pencil misses the target.
Pencil throws a body punch but Leissner moves out of range.
Pencil misses with a lunging right hand
and Leissner counters with a right hand to the body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pencil.
Leissner really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Leissner lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pencil circles away quickly and effectively.
Leissner connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Pencil throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pencil looks to land a left hand but Leissner moved out of range nicely.
Leissner throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Leissner showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pencil.

Pencil closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Pencil gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Leissner looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Leissner has his foot on Pencil's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pencil works his way back into a safe position though.
Leissner controls Pencil momentarily but Pencil frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leissner can't keep his opponent in guard - Pencil advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Pencil trying to control the pace.
Leissner is looking for a sweep. Pencil is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Leissner has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pencil is working away from the top position though.
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. Pencil connects with a nice short shot to Leissner's temple.
Pencil wants to take a breather but Leissner is having none of it.
Pencil landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Leissner is trying to maintain the position but Pencil is very close to passing his half guard.
Pencil with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Leissner is defending against the submission attempts here by Pencil.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pencil winds up and cracks Leissner with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Leissner tries to kick Pencil off but Pencil keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Leissner is staying active underneath Pencil, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Pencil is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Leissner doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Pencil.
Leissner is looking for a sweep. Pencil is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Pencil is looking for a kimura here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pencil wants to free his trapped foot but Leissner is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pencil seems to be working for a kimura but Leissner defends the submission attempt.

Leissner looking for submissions off his back.

Leissner looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Leissner is looking to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Leissner is looking to control Pencil's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Leissner avoid being mounted?

Pencil is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Leissner has managed to free his arm - good work.
Leissner trying to hold on to Pencil's head to control him but Pencil postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hb Pencil dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Leissner uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pencil.
Pencil misses with an uppercut.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Pencil.
Leissner tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pencil was well out of range. Poor timing from Leissner.
Hb Pencil seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Leissner fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pencil, pushing him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Pencil's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Leissner tries a body shot but Pencil blocks it.
Pencil is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Leissner is keeping busy.
Leissner missing with knees to the body.
Leissner throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Pencil blocks it with crossed arms.

Pencil pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pencil dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Leissner scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Pencil is trying to control Leissner's posture but Leissner avoids it.
Pencil tries to bench press Leissner off him but Leissner keeps the position.
Leissner is looking to take a break and control but Pencil is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pencil regains half guard.
Pencil makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Pencil.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Leissner's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pencil is looking for a triangle but Leissner pushes his legs off easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Leissner wants to control from the top but Pencil keeps moving.
Pencil looking to hit a scissor sweep but Leissner is one step ahead there.

Pencil working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Leissner doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Leissner manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Leissner wants to control from the top but Pencil keeps moving.
Leissner postures up in Pencil's guard and throws a big left but Pencil blocks it.
Leissner tries to free his leg and advance position but Pencil is retaining full guard.
Pencil keeping moving, preventing Leissner from controlling successfully.
Pencil looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pencil has momentary wrist control but Leissner slips an elbow through the middle.
Leissner looking to pass the guard.
Leissner wants to control from the top but Pencil keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Leissner accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Pencil tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Leissner landing with the ground and pound.
Pencil is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Leissner trying to control the position from guard on top but Pencil is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Leissner postures up in Pencil's guard and throws a big left but Pencil blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Leissner avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Pencil looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Leissner has picked Pencil up and slammed him! Pencil can't keep hold of the triangle and Leissner manages to pass to side control!
Leissner working the body and head with strikes.

Leissner working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pencil manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Leissner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hb Pencil has got the better of the ground game so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Leissner wants to control but Pencil is keeping busy.
Pencil is trying to control. Leissner wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Gabriel Leissner will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Pencil tries to bum rush Leissner with a series of wild strikes but Leissner uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Leissner dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Pencil. That did some damage!
Leissner throws a head kick that misses.
Leissner moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Pencil thows a body shot but no joy.
Pencil will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Pencil throws a lazy uppercut

and Leissner counters with a shoot takedown. Pencil fights it but they end up in guard.

Pencil had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Leissner defends it easily.
Leissner trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Leissner got a little sloppy there for a moment and Pencil has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Leissner has managed to get both his arms back between Pencil's legs - danger averted.

Pencil working for submissions but it's allowed Leissner to get to half guard.
Leissner is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Leissner looking to control but Pencil is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Leissner fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Pencil wants to hold on but Leissner pushes him away.
Leissner working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Pencil working to try and regain half guard.
Leissner postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Pencil looks a forlorn figure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leissner lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Leissner landing strikes, looking to finish!
Leissner pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Pencil sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Pencil makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Pencil.

Pencil looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Leissner trying to control but Pencil is working from the bottom.
Pencil is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Leissner wants to control from the top but Pencil keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leissner cracks Pencil with a solid left hand.
Leissner postures up.

Leissner postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Pencil is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Leissner, into his guard.
Leissner will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Leissner has control of Pencil's left arm, preventing Pencil from doing any damage.
Leissner wants to control but Pencil passes easily into half guard.

Pencil stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Pencil takes a swing at Leissner's ribcage but misses.
Hb Pencil is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pencil misses with a kick to the body

and Leissner decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Pencil's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Leissner scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Pencil looking for subs off his back but Leissner has passed one foot through into half guard.
Pencil takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Leissner is trying to control. Pencil wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabriel Leissner showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Leissner has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Gabriel Leissner!
A victorious Gabriel Leissner thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.