PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Keijo Sardiini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and King Leonidas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Sardiini
vs
Leonidas

185 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

184 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Keijo Sardiini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, King Leonidas!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, William Peck and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
An inside leg kick lands from Sardiini.
Leonidas moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Leonidas. That's going to slow Sardiini down.
A slow jab from Sardiini misses its intended target.
Leonidas throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sardiini's waist but Sardiini gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Leonidas off to one side.
Sardiini fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Leonidas checks it well.

Sardiini looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Leonidas!

Sardiini looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Sardiini wants to stand but Leonidas is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Leonidas squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Leonidas is trying to escape the mount.

Sardiini stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sardiini walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Leonidas checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Sardiini swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Leonidas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sardiini paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Leonidas ducks under a wild hook from Sardiini.
Leonidas misses with a head kick.
Leonidas misses with a body kick.
Sardiini lands a nice shot that snaps Leonidas's head back.

It looks like King Leonidas has been cut.
Sardiini misses with a takedown

and Leonidas counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Leonidas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Leonidas chips away with some ground and pound.
Sardiini striking off his back but it's not causing Leonidas any problems.
Leonidas trying to control but Sardiini is working from the bottom.
Leonidas controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sardiini wants to sweep but no luck.
Leonidas looking to sit in guard and control but Sardiini gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sardiini would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Leonidas keeping moving, preventing Sardiini from controlling successfully.
Sardiini seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sardiini works over Leonidas with some ground and pound from guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Leonidas pulls Sardiini in close to prevent any damage.
Sardiini would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Sardiini pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Leonidas is keeping the position for now.
Leonidas pulls Sardiini in close to his closed guard and prevents Sardiini from doing any damage or advancing position.
Leonidas working a defensive guard here.

That's four 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.
Leonidas wants to sweep but no luck.
Sardiini has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Sardiini is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Leonidas uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sardiini.
Sardiini stuffs the takedown.
Leonidas looks gassed!

Sardiini has Leonidas up against the cage in a clinch.

Sardiini pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keijo Sardiini dominated that round.
The cut man is working on King Leonidas's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sardiini misses with a hook. Leonidas ducked under it nicely.
Leonidas shoots in but no luck this time.
Some wild striking there from Sardiini.
Sardiini doesn't manage to clinch there - Leonidas circles away.

Sardiini drives through and clinches with Leonidas against the cage.
Leonidas has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sardiini is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Sardiini breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice sprawl there from Sardiini as Leonidas shoots in.
Keijo Sardiini has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of King Leonidas.
Leonidas throws a head kick that misses.
Nice jab there from Sardiini.
Sardiini scores with a jab to the head.
King Leonidas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sardiini lands a high kick to the side of Leonidas's head that stuns him and send him tumbling down to the canvas! Sardiini dives into guard, looking to finish.

Leonidas is rocked!
Leonidas is breathing heavily.
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!

Sardiini decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Leonidas is still on wobbly legs! Can Sardiini finish him?

Sardiini rushes Leonidas and presses him up against the cage.
Leonidas seems to have recovered his senses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonidas tries to land knees in the clinch but Sardiini avoids the damage to the body.

Sardiini pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sardiini throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Sardiini tries for a takedown but Leonidas circles away easily

and Leonidas counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sardiini is on top in guard.
Sardiini trying to stand up but can't free himself from Leonidas's guard.
Leonidas lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sardiini!
Sardiini blocking the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sardiini holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Leonidas tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Sardiini is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Leonidas looking to ground and pound but Sardiini is blocking nicely.
Sardiini is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Sardiini can't escape the position.
Leonidas tries to control but Sardiini wriggling away.
Sardiini is trying to escape the mount.
Leonidas lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sardiini is looking to get to half guard.
Leonidas controlling the position easily from mount.

Leonidas working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sardiini is looking to improve his position but Leonidas isn't that keen on the idea.

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.
Leonidas avoids the attempt from Sardiini to control.
Sardiini regains half guard.

Leonidas stands up from half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A big left from Sardiini misses.
Sardiini throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keijo Sardiini dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on King Leonidas's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Sardiini doesn't manage to clinch there - Leonidas circles away.
Sardiini lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That has opened up King Leonidas's cut even more.
Leonidas closes the distance but Sardiini moves to the side
and Sardiini counters with a right hand to the body.

Leonidas moves into range and clinches up with Sardiini.

Sardiini manages to break the clinch.
Sardiini avoids the head kick by Leonidas.
Sardiini throws a sloppy head kick and Leonidas moves out of range easily.
Sardiini scores with a jab to the jaw.
Sardiini throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Leonidas throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sardiini counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Jab by Sardiini.
Keijo Sardiini seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sardiini rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Leonidas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A head kick by Sardiini misses

and Leonidas counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sardiini's guard now.
Leonidas tries to free his leg and advance position but Sardiini is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sardiini looking for a guillotine here but Leonidas defends easily.

Leonidas gets to his feet. Sardiini looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Leonidas with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sardiini counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Leonidas doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Leonidas throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sardiini's waist but Sardiini gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Leonidas off to one side.
Sardiini misses with a double jab.

Leonidas darts in and clinches Sardiini up against the cage.

Sardiini escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Leonidas closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sardiini to the mat! Sardiini manages to get full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonidas passes Sardiini's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sardiini tries to roll over but Leonidas keeps him under control.

Sardiini actively working from the bottom here.
Sardiini trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Sardiini tries to lock up and control but Leonidas gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Leonidas trying to control but Sardiini is having none of it.
Leonidas landing strikes from the mount and Sardiini is in trouble!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sardiini is desperately trying to improve his position but Leonidas has a good base and remains in mount.
Sardiini is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Leonidas content just to control the position here.
Sardiini reaches up to try and control the position but Leonidas seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Sardiini rolls and tries to escape and now Leonidas has his back!
You can see the frustration on Sardiini's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Leonidas lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Sardiini looking very determined here, making life difficult for Leonidas.

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.
Leonidas is hanging on to Sardiini's back as he tries to escape.
Leonidas wants to control but Sardiini is keeping busy.
Leonidas controls the position.
Leonidas has the hooks in. Sardiini is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Keijo Sardiini is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Leonidas looking to hold on to the position here but Sardiini rolls and ends up regaining guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sardiini bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Leonidas's head backwards.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Sardiini instigates a clinch.
Sardiini is pressed up against the cage. Leonidas has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sardiini down to the mat. Sardiini avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
King Leonidas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Keijo Sardiini has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of King Leonidas.
Leonidas takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Keijo Sardiini.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sardiini, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keijo Sardiini!