PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kelly Leak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Tuesday's Gone. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Leak
vs
James

188 cm
38
217 lbs
24 - 27 - 1

189 cm
38
206 lbs
24 - 20 - 3

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 24 - 27 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kelly Leak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 20 - 3, fighting out of Montreal, Tommy James!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Elvis Blanc and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leak bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Leak swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
James lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
James scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
James avoids the head kick by Leak.
Leak slips under a jab from James.
Leak changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Leak shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Leak slips a jab and a cross from James.
James misses with a straight right.
James throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Leak bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of James's head.
Leak looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
James is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Leak.
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!
Leak misses with a low kick.
Leak misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
James tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Leak has a takedown stuffed.
Leak drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James swinging wildly here.
James lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Leak circles away quickly and effectively.
James takes one to the chin there.
James misses with a wild combination.
James dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
James thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nice defenses there by Leak.
James jabbing away but nothing is landing.
James moves out of range of the body kick from Leak.
James lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Leak scores with a kick to the midsection.
Leak ducks under a wild hook from James.
Leak throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around James's waist but James gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Leak off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kelly Leak. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leak misses the shot to the body.
Leak is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
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!
James throws a looping overhand right but Leak ducks down to avoid it.
Leak tries to close the distance and clinch up but James swats him away and circles back towards the center.
James lands with an overhand left.
Leak walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
James slips a jab from Leak.
James takes one to the chin there.
Kelly Leak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Leak to score with a decent uppercut.
Leak jabs James right on the nose. James blinks but takes it well.
Nice shot by James.
Leak misses with a straight right.
Leak shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense.
James throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A left lands for Leak.
Leak misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leak on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by James. James obviously looking to wear him down.
James misses with a combination
and Leak counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Leak shoots and misses
and James counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Leak fails with the takedown.
James looks to land a left hand but Leak moved out of range nicely.
James looks to score with a jab to the body but Leak is just out of range.
Leak throws the left hand but James avoids the punch easily.
James misses with the combination.
A telegraphed right hand from Leak misses the target.
James swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
James lunges at Leak with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Leak's hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
No joy there for Leak, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Leak gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
James throws a right and a left that Leak avoids nicely.
Leak digs a good body shot into James's ribs.
Leak feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Jamess jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Both fighters circling a little - Leak finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Leak is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.

Leak 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.
Leak is in close to James's body, working some short punches and elbows.
James preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Leak trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
Leak is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because James is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nice defenses there by Leak.
Leak tries a head kick but it misses.
James misses with a right hand
letting Leak counter with a right hand.
Nice uppercut lands for Leak. That snapped James's head back.
Leak ducks under a wild hook from James.
James lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Leak throws a series of punches but James avoids them all with ease.
James misses with an uppercut. Leak saw that one coming.
Leak tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Leak throws an ugly left hook that misses
and James counters with a nice low kick that buckles Leak's knee momentarily.
James throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Leak.
Nice jab there from James.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
James looks for a takedown but Leak sprawls well.
An attempted straight right counter from Leak misses the target.
Nice takedown defense from James. No joy for Leak on that attempt.

Leak gets the takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James parries the strikes from Leak easily there. Leak is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable James to escape.
Leak sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but James is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Leak wants to control but James is keeping him busy.
James manages to work his way to half guard, despite Leak's best efforts.
Leak seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Leak missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
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. Leak connects with a nice short shot to James's temple.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Leak lands with a punch from half guard.
James blocking the ground and pound attempt from Leak.
James is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Leak's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Leak's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Leak to escape the position.
James is punishing Leak with strikes - can he finish him?!
James is not going to allow Leak to sit and survive in this position.
James keeps control of the position as Leak tries to break free.
A lull in the action here.
James lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Leak.
James looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
James trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Leak can't escape the position.
James is trying to stick to Leak's back but Leak is turning into James. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in James's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Leak.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leak trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James trying to control the position.
Leak with a nice head shot there.
Leak trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
James has momentary wrist control but Leak slips an elbow through the middle.
James looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Leak wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
Leak with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
James has Leak pulled in close to control his posture.
Leak postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Leak lands a couple of elbows.
Leak throws a big right hand that misses.
Leak throwing strikes but missing.
Leak sitting in guard here, content to control.
Leak is in close to James's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Leak in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
James is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
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 Kelly Leak will probably get the nod.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Leak showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from James.
James moves forwards but Leak connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Leak avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Leak ducks under a wild hook from James.
Leak is looking to counter punch.
James lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Leak backs up against the cage.
Leak fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt James.
Leak with a hook.

Leak looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Leak postures up in James's guard and throws a big left but James blocks it.
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!
Leak lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Leak keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of James's head.
James keeping moving, preventing Leak from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Leak wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
Leak lands a couple of digs.
James pulls Leak in close to prevent any damage.
Leak missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Leak missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
James manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Leak manages to get himself to full guard.

Leak trying to keep a closed guard but James is proving a slippery customer.
James is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Leak has his foot on James's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. James works his way back into a safe position though.

Leak looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Leak has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Leak is looking for a triangle but James pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
James lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
James landing with the ground and pound.
James is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kelly Leak overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Leak being controlled here, momentarily.
James with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James wants to control from the top but Leak keeps moving.
James lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Leak looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but James is defending well. Leak quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! James has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Leak celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kelly Leak!
An out of breath Kelly Leak thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
Tommy James spoke after the fight, saying 'I want to thank all you fans for coming out tonight, Spartan Nutrition for helping me get strong, Maxo for making me look so good, the gang at Montreal Fighter's Gym, all of my loved ones back home, and Corwin Anstey for letting me fight here in the CEFC!! I really wanted the win tonight, I'll get '.