PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yang Leiden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Todd Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Leiden
vs
Black

191 cm
23
218 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Yang Leiden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Todd Black!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Elvis Blanc and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Black shoots for a double leg takedown but Leiden sprawls well. He's pushed Black's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Leiden gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Leiden avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Black is looking to work some ground and pound but Leiden has wrist control.
Leiden managing to control the position.
Leiden manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Black manages to get himself to full guard.
Black looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Leiden sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Leiden passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Leiden takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Black is looking for a sweep. Leiden is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Black has a hand on Leiden's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Leiden takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Black is desperately trying to improve his position but Leiden has a good base and remains in mount.
Black is trying to reverse the position but instead Leiden has taken his back - oops!

Leiden has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Black has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Black tries to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Leiden controls the action.
Black tries to escape the position.
Black is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Black looks gassed!
Leiden biding his time, looking for the opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black is in bad spot here.
Leiden has good solid back control here.
Black is keeping busy.
Black is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Leiden controls the action.
Leiden's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Black tries to escape but Leiden has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Leiden just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Yang Leiden just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Leiden is looking to slow Black down with leg kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yang Leiden dominated that 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.

Black throws a right and a left that Leiden avoids nicely.
Black tries to bum rush Leiden with a series of wild strikes but Leiden uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A slapping body kick lands there for Leiden.

Leiden clinches.
Leiden crunches a lovely knee into Black's ribcage.
Leiden scores with a knee to the head.
Leiden lands a knee to the body.
Leiden lands a knee to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Knees to the body from Leiden.
Leiden digs a right hand underneath Black's ribcage. Black let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Leiden lands a nice knee to the body.
Leiden lands a body punch.
A right hook to the body lands for Leiden.
Leiden softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A body shot lands from Leiden.
Still in the clinch, Leiden scores with a nice short uppercut.
Leiden lands a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Leiden scores a nice knee to the body.
Leiden lands a nice uppercut.
Leiden connects with a nasty looking knee right to Black's face.
Leiden lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Black.
Leiden unloads a knee to the mid-section. Black lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Leiden cracks Black with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Leiden.
Black drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Black wants a takedown but no success here.
Leiden prevents a takedown attempt there.
Yang Leiden has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Todd Black.
Leiden with a knee to the head.
Black is looking to break free of the clinch but Leiden has double underhooks.
Black takes a knee right on the jaw!
Leiden prevents the takedown attempt.
Leiden unloads a knee to the mid-section. Black lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Black drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Black changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Leiden fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Black throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Todd Black seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Leiden throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black catches Leiden with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Leiden fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Black.
Leiden lands a head kick. Black smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
A slapping leg kick lands for Leiden.
Leiden lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Leiden gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Leiden unloads a knee to the mid-section. Black lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Leiden lands a knee to the body.
Black tries for a takedown. No joy.
Black jumps guard but Leiden stands there with Black around his waist. Black gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Leiden digs a right hand into Black's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Black's gas tank.
Leiden using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Black fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Leiden is leaning against Black and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Black wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Leiden has him pressed against the cage.
Leiden lands a knee to the head.
Black wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Leiden has him pressed against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Leiden.
Black wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Leiden.
Black wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Black can't break the clinch.
Leiden lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Black or not.
Leiden scores with a knee to the head.
Leiden landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Black wants a takedown.
Leiden scores a nice knee to the body.
Black changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Leiden fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Leiden stuffs the takedown attempt from Black. Black gets slowly back to his feet.
Leiden lands a nice shot to the body.
Black on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Leiden. Leiden obviously looking to wear him down.
A low kick from Black is predictable there
and Leiden counters with a left to the body.
Black throws a leg kick that is checked
and Leiden counters with a nice low kick that buckles Black's knee momentarily.
Black closes this distance looking for a takedown but Leiden circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Leiden gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Leiden landing knees to the body.
Leiden lands with a light punch inside.
Leiden landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Leiden lands an uppercut.
Leiden connects with a nasty looking knee right to Black's face.
Yang Leiden has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Leiden prevents Black from breaking the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Leiden.
Black looking for a takedown.
Knees in the clinch landing for Leiden.
Leiden lands a knee to the body.
Black fails to pull guard.
Leiden unloads a knee to the mid-section. Black lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Black has Leiden pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Leiden manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A right hand to the body from Leiden.
Leiden landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Leiden lands a nice knee to the body.
Leiden lands a knee to the body.
Leiden lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Leiden.
Black tries for a takedown but Leiden manages to get underhooks.
Leiden lands a knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yang Leiden dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Leiden throws a quick inside leg kick.
Leiden moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Black 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.
Leiden keeping moving, preventing Black from controlling successfully.
Black working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Black stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Leiden swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Leiden has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Leiden looking to hit a scissor sweep but Black is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Black stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Leiden swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Leiden pulls Black in close to prevent any damage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Leiden lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Leiden with a nice cross.
Leiden keeps Black at a distance using the push kick.
Black's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Leiden throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Leiden moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leiden connects with a knee to the head.
Leiden stalling against the cage.
Leiden lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Black or not.
Leiden tries to work over Black's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Black has Leiden pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Leiden manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Leiden just leaning against Black, taking a breather.
Black wants a takedown but no success here.
Leiden leaning against his opponent.
Leiden trying to stall but Black improves his position.
Leiden landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Black has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Leiden avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Yang Leiden has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Todd Black.
Black is trying to break the clinch but Leiden has him pressed against the cage.
Nice body punch from Leiden - that landed with a thud.
Knees to the body from Leiden.
Leiden using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Leiden with a knee to the head.
Leiden lands a knee to the head.
Black tries to pull guard but Leiden holds him up against the cage and eventually Black drops back down to his feet.
Nice body punch from Leiden - that landed with a thud.
Leiden with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Black is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Leiden pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black can't get the takedown.
Black goes for a takedown attempt but Leiden pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Yang Leiden is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Black darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Black is thwarting Leiden's attempts to control the position.
Leiden is trying to get back to full guard.
Black looks to land a strike but Leiden avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black is looking to work some ground and pound but Leiden has wrist control.
Black thows a big elbow that misses.
Black stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Leiden swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Black throws and elbow that misses. Leiden uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Black's guard. Nice move by Leiden!
Black can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Leiden controls the pace.
Leiden preventing the sweep.
Todd Black has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leiden stays in close to Black's body and controls the position.

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 Yang Leiden.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Leiden, 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 William Peck scores the fight 30:26
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:26
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yang Leiden!