PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joe Congo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam Leahy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leahy comes into a darkened arena with his song building. DMX kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Congo
vs
Leahy

160 cm
18
135 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

169 cm
23
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Joe Congo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Liam Leahy!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, David Hoff and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Congo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Leahy manages to avoid it.
Congo darts in looking for a takedown but Leahy gets double underhooks and turns Congo into the cage.
Congo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Leahy has hold of one of Congo's legs. Congo is fighting the takedown attempt but Leahy gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Congo trying to keep a closed guard but Leahy is proving a slippery customer.
Congo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Leahy manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leahy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Leahy escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Congo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Congo wants to control from the top but Leahy keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Joe Congo has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Leahy fails with an attempt to clinch.

Congo gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Congo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Leahy throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Congo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Leahy trying to control but Congo is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Leahy accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leahy controls from within his opponent's guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Liam Leahy has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Leahy lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Congo shoots in and drives through. Leahy sprawls well.
Congo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Leahy sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Congo somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Congo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Leahy fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Congo. No joy for Leahy on that attempt.
Congo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Leahy wants to clinch.
Congo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Congo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Leahy but Leahy pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Congo misses with a takedown attempt
and Leahy counters with a left and a right that stings Congo.
Leahy keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Congo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Leahy looking to score a takedown here. Congo is defending well but Leahy drives through and ends up in Congo's guard.
Leahy chips away with some ground and pound.
Leahy looking to sit in guard and control but Congo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Leahy has an active guard here but Congo has managed to pass into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Leahy looking for submissions off his back.
Leahy wants to improve his position but Congo is controlling well.
Leahy is still trying to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Congo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Leahy defending well though.
Leahy tries to kick Congo off but Congo keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Congo is trying to control. Leahy wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Leahy wants to control but Congo is keeping busy.
Leahy is trying to get back to full guard.

Leahy with the active half guard here but Congo passes nicely into side control.
Leahy is breathing heavily.

Congo tries for a kimura but Leahy is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leahy is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Congo postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Congo wants to stand but Leahy has his arm trapped.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Congo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Leahy is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Leahy is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Congo's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Leahy flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Congo wants to control but Leahy is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liam Leahy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Leahy throws a head kick but Congo moves out of range.

Congo bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Leahy tries to bench press Congo off him but Congo keeps the position.
Leahy gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Leahy tries to get to full guard but Congo has control of the leg.
Leahy blocking the ground and pound attempt from Congo.
Leahy moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Congo trying to control but Leahy is working from the bottom.
Leahy keeping full guard, as Congo tries to pass.

Leahy looking for subs off his back but Congo has passed one foot through into half guard.
Congo lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leahy tries to roll over but Congo keeps him under control.
Congo is looking to take a break and control but Leahy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Leahy manages to get to full guard.
Leahy keeping moving, preventing Congo from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Congo passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Congo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Leahy gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leahy wants to get back to his feet.
Leahy keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Joe Congo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leahy is trying to get back to full guard.
Leahy is trying to maintain the position but Congo is very close to passing his half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Congo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Leahy has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:29
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Liam Leahy!