PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Blake Leopoldo (ranked 3191 p4p, 4509 weight class) and Josh Garner (ranked 450 p4p, 578 weight class). Blake Leopoldo could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Josh Garner's chin.

Leopoldo
vs
Garner

185 cm
25
180
4 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
180
1 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Brooklyn Apothecary

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Blake Leopoldo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Josh Garner!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Sam Margolis and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leopoldo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Garner counters by clinching up.

Leopoldo pulls guard successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Garner accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Garner accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Leopoldo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Garner working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Leopoldo's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garner working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Leopoldo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Garner is aware though and is defending well.
Garner works over Leopoldo with some ground and pound from guard.
Garner content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Leopoldo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garner landing with the ground and pound.

Garner avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Garner with a nice head shot there.

Leopoldo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Garner defends well.
Garner scoring with punches to the head and body.
Garner working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Garner avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Garner really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Leopoldo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garner postures up and lands a big shot to Leopoldo's brow.
Garner lands a couple of digs.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Garner stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Leopoldo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Garner lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Garner content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Leopoldo definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Leopoldo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Garner gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Garner is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Garner scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garner is looking to advance position but Leopoldo has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Leopoldo jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Garner manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Garner manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Garner trying to control from the bottom.

Leopoldo seems to be working for a kimura but Garner defends the submission attempt.

Garner is defending against the submission attempts here by Leopoldo.
Garner trying to hold on to Leopoldo's head to control him but Leopoldo postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Leopoldo is trying to work for a kimura but Garner is defending well.

Leopoldo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Leopoldo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Garner sees it coming and defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Blake Leopoldo will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Leopoldo moves into the clinch successfully.
Leopoldo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Garner just stands there and leans against the ropes.

Garner gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Leopoldo regains guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Garner landing some decent shots from guard.

Leopoldo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Josh Garner has got the better of the ground game so far.
Garner distracts Leopoldo with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garner works over Leopoldo with some ground and pound from guard.

Garner got a little sloppy there for a moment and Leopoldo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Garner has managed to get both his arms back between Leopoldo's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Leopoldo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Garner doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Leopoldo is tightening it up a little... Garner has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Garner reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Garner taps out! Nice BJJ there by Leopoldo!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Blake Leopoldo!
Blake Leopoldo decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.