PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Leblanc (ranked 25030 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Young (ranked 7977 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Leblanc
vs
Young

187 cm
18
151 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

162 cm
17
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Raphael Leblanc!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Young!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Young tries a head kick but it misses.
Leblanc lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
No joy there for Young, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Leblanc is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Young.
Young wants to clinch
and Leblanc counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Leblanc changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Young looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Leblanc looks up at the clock and then as Young takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Leblanc smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Young on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Young is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Leblanc has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Leblanc in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Young taking a bit of punishment here - Leblanc scoring with strikes.
Leblanc grinds an elbow into Young's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leblanc lands some shots froms side control.
Leblanc cracks Young with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Young looks winded!
Leblanc in side control lands a decent elbow.
Leblanc really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Young is working to avoid the ground and pound but Leblanc connects with a decent elbow.
Leblanc taking a breather here.
Leblanc creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Leblanc working the head with strikes.

Leblanc is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Young has escaped the position, nice work there.
Young is trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Young tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Leblanc presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Leblanc controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Young really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Young taking shots to the head.
Leblanc scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Young?
Leblanc lands a heavy elbow.
Leblanc controlling his opponent.
Leblanc landing shots from mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Young is bucking up trying to escape but Leblanc cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Leblanc will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Leblanc scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Leblanc controlling his opponent.
Leblanc with a couple of short strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Young is trying to escape the mount.
Leblanc is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Young can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Leblanc lands with some strikes.
Leblanc wants to take Young's back but he can't do it this time.
Leblanc is landing with some decent strikes but Young is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Leblanc connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Leblanc scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Young?
Leblanc landing shots from mount.
Leblanc with the ground and pound from mount.
Leblanc controlling from the full mount.
Leblanc lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leblanc takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Leblanc putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Leblanc scores with a couple of good head shots there.
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!
Leblanc lands a couple of good shots and Young has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Leblanc lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Young.
Leblanc lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Leblanc lands punches and elbows.
Leblanc scores with punches from the back.

Young is rocked!
Leblanc scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Young is looking for a way out.
Young is still in real trouble! Can Leblanc finish him?
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

Leblanc has managed to slip his arm under Young's chin. This could be all over... yep, Young is tapping out! Submission win for Leblanc.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Raphael Leblanc!