PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leonide Leclair (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Garreth Hougaard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Leclair
vs
Hougaard

186 cm
25
290 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
23
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Leonide Leclair!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Garreth Hougaard!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Phil Schofield and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hougaard tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Leclair swivels and escapes.
Hougaard throws a sloppy head kick and Leclair moves out of range easily.
Hougaard fails in his attempt to clinch.

Leclair drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Leclair really is a fat lump.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Leclair with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Leclair knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hougaard on the ground.
Hougaard manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Leclair manages to get himself to full guard.
Hougaard trying to control the position from guard on top but Leclair is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hougaard wants to stand but Leclair is controlling his posture from full guard.
Leclair looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Hougaard puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Leclair kicks Hougaard off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leclair avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Leclair takes the fight into the clinch.
Hougaard fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Leclair keeps control of Hougaard as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Leclair tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hougaard fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Leonide Leclair has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Garreth Hougaard.
Leclair is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hougaard pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hougaard creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Hougaard pulls guard effortlessly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leclair throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hougaard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Hougaard looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Leclair throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hougaard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hougaard keeping moving, preventing Leclair from controlling successfully.
Leclair lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hougaard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hougaard had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Leclair defends it easily.
Hougaard looks winded!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Leclair pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hougaard is keeping the position for now.
Leclair landing with the ground and pound.
Leclair makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hougaard avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Leclair postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Leclair has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Leclair forces his way into half guard.

Leclair is looking for a kimura here.
Leclair is nestled in close to Hougaard, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Leclair slips a nice elbow through Hougaard's hands, connecting with Hougaard's forehead.
Hougaard trying to control from the bottom.
Leclair winds up and cracks Hougaard with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Leclair working Hougaard over with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Leclair is nestled in close to Hougaard, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Leclair is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hougaard doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Leclair.
Leclair trying to mount his opponent but Hougaard defends it.
Leclair lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Hougaard is defending against the submission attempts here by Leclair.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Leclair lands with a punch from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonide Leclair dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Leclair doesn't manage to clinch there - Hougaard circles away.
Hougaard shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Leclair counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hougaard won't be happy with that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Leclair tries for a kimura but Hougaard is defending well.
Hougaard on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Leclair stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Hougaard tries to close the distance and clinch up but Leclair swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hougaard throws a body punch but Leclair moves out of range.
Leclair closes the distance and clinches up with Hougaard, looking for a takedown. Leclair pushes Hougaard against the cage but Hougaard circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hougaard tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Leclair paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hougaard tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Leclair paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Leclair closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Leclair lands in his opponent's guard.
Hougaard wants to sweep but no luck.
Hougaard is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Leclair is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Leclair is looking to pass into half guard but Hougaard pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Hougaard is in guard.
Leclair wants to sweep but no luck.
Hougaard slips nicely into half guard.
Hougaard missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leclair avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hougaard.
Hougaard slows the pace down in half guard.
Leclair is looking for a sweep. Hougaard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hougaard wants to control but Leclair is keeping him busy.
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!
Leclair pushes Hougaard off looking to stand but Hougaard dives back in and keeps control.

Leclair kicks off Hougaard and gets to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hougaard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Leclair takes the fight into the clinch.
Leclair tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hougaard gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Leclair.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leonide Leclair. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hougaard wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Leclair has him pressed against the cage.
Hougaard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hougaard prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hougaard stops a takedown attempt from Leclair.
Hougaard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Leclair's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Leclair tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hougaard paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Leclair clinches with his opponent.

Hougaard has picked Leclair up - he's going for a ride! Hougaard dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Hougaard is trying to control the action in half guard but Leclair is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Leonide Leclair overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Leclair is controlling Hougaard's position as best he can from this difficult position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonide Leclair dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Hougaard tries to clinch there but Leclair circles away.

Leclair 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.
Leclair with a nice head shot there.
Leclair throws an elbow that misses. Hougaard uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Leclair's guard. Nice move by Hougaard!
Leclair is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hougaard trying to control the position from guard on top but Leclair is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leclair looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hougaard is one step ahead there.
Hougaard trying to control but Leclair is working from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Garreth Hougaard has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Leclair cracks Hougaard with a good jab.
Leclair keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Leclair gets a takedown into half guard.
Hougaard keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Leclair tries to pass to full mount but Hougaard defends it.
Leonide Leclair is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hougaard tries to kick Leclair off but Leclair keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Leclair working the head and body with strikes.
Nice strikes from Leclair there.
Hougaard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Leclair throwing shots but Hougaard is blocking nicely.
Hougaard trying to control from the bottom.
Leclair uses his free foot to push down on Hougaard's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Hougaard.
Hougaard wants to control but Leclair is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Leclair.
Hougaard takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Hougaard slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Ground and pound from Leclair.
Hougaard trying to control from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hougaard taking some punishment here, with Leclair in his half guard.
Leclair seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Hougaard is rocked!
Leclair missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Leclair takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hougaard is still in real trouble! Can Leclair finish him?
Leclair landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hougaard seems to have recovered his senses.
Leclair working Hougaard over with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leclair seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hougaard can do anything to dispel that myth.

Leclair is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hougaard doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Leclair.
Leclair is nestled in close to Hougaard, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Leclair is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Leclair trying to mount his opponent but Hougaard defends it.
Leclair wants to take a breather but Hougaard is having none of it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Leclair decides to return to a standing position.
Garreth Hougaard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Leclair clinches up with Hougaard and pushes him back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leonide Leclair showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Leclair 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 James Atkins scores the fight for Leonide Leclair!
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight for Leonide Leclair!
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight for Leonide Leclair!

Leonide Leclair wins by unanimous decision!
A very excited looking Leonide Leclair made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.