PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Frank Leone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roberto Federici (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leone comes to the cage accompanied by Mama Said Knock You Out. Federici has chosen Con Te Partiro as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Leone
vs
Federici

185 cm
20
176 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

182 cm
21
177 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

SCP Fight Gear

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Frank Leone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Roberto Federici!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Lou da Vinci and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Leone.

Leone looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Federici is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Leone with a flurry of punches that miss.
Federici throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Federici has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Leone is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Federici.
Federici is trying to improve his position.

Leone decides to stand back up.
Leone misses with a wild combination.
Leone moves out of range as Federici strikes.
Leone shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Federici defends it nicely.
Leone throws a series of punches but Federici avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Federici has Leone up against the cage in a clinch.

Federici breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Federici swinging wilding here.
A combination from Leone does no damage.
Leone looks to land a right hand but Federici moved out of range.
Leone slips a jab and a cross from Federici.

Leone closes the distance and clinches.
Leone tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Leone. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Leone is trying to break free.

Federici breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Leone's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Leone duly obliges.
Federici doesn't manage to clinch there - Leone circles away.
Leone tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Federici makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Leone is breathing heavily.
Leone misses with a takedown attempt - Federici sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Federici throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Federici tries a head kick but it misses.

Federici has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Federici manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Leone stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Federici swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Federici has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Federici looking to hit a scissor sweep but Leone is one step ahead there.
Federici wants to stand but Leone is controlling the position.
Federici avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Leone is pushing down on Federici's leg trying to pass to half guard. Federici is fighting to maintain full guard but Leone has managed to sneak the leg through.
Federici moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Federici pushes Leone off and gets back to his feet.
Federici looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Leone looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Leone wants to pass the guard but Federici is defending well.
Leone missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Leone is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Federici doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Leone.
Leone prevents Federici from standing back up.

Federici kicks Leone off and gets back to his feet.
Federici lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Frank Leone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Leone lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leone tries to close the distance and clinch up but Federici swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Federici pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Federici misses with a body shot.
Federici throws a body punch but Leone moves out of range.
Federici throws a head kick but Leone moves out of range.

Federici gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Leone to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Federici throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Leone stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Federici scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Leone fails to land the takedown.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Federici gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Federici's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Leone scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Leone dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Federici scores with a one two! Leone had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Nice sprawl there from Federici as Leone shoots in.
Leone shoots in and drives through. Federici sprawls well.
Federici throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Leone misses with a takedown attempt

and Federici counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Leone. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Federici tightens his grip and picks Leone up, before dumping him to the ground. Leone manages to land in guard.

Federici gets to his feet. Leone looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Federici stalks Leone and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Leone's face. Leone staggers backwards, shaken.
Frank Leone is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Leone clinches.
Leone has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Federici ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Federici no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Federici is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Leone drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Federici manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Leone has Federici in his guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Leone looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leone is trying to control the position but Federici postures up.
Federici postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Federici decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Leone, up you get!
Federici will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Leone shoots and misses
and Federici counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Leone closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Leone wants to control but Federici is keeping him busy.

Leone tries for a kimura but Federici is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Federici is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Leone has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Federici works to full guard.

Federici scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Federici throws a series of punches but Leone moves out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Federici misses the target.
Leone lands a jab to the head.
Roberto Federici is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Leone drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Federici is trying to control Leone's posture but Leone avoids it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Leone landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Federici manages to work his way to half guard, despite Leone's best efforts.

Leone is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Federici looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Leone decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Leone avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Leone tries to clinch
and Federici counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Leone is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Leone shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Federici counter with a right hand.
Federici looks for the body kick but Leone saw that one coming.
Leone misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Federici throws a head kick but Leone moves out of range.
Leone fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Federici moves into range and clinches up with Leone.

Federici escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Leone tries to clinch there but Federici circles away.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Federici in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Leone shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Federici as he avoids it easily.
Leone looks to land a combination but Federici avoids it well.
Leone showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Federici.
Federici swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Federici throws a right and a left that Leone avoids nicely.
A right-left combo lands from Leone.
Leone throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Federici scores with a jab to the head.

Federici gets caught flat footed, as Leone shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Frank Leone overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Federici is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Federici avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Federici showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Leone moves out of range of the strikes.

Leone gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Leone wants to break free but Federici has control.

Leone has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Federici uses from the top position.

Leone working for submissions but it's allowed Federici to get to half guard.
Federici tries to pass to full mount but Leone defends it.

Federici postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Leone to stand up.
Federici moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Nice defenses there by Federici.
Leone takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Leone dodges the punch combination from Federici.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Federici tries to keep at a distance but Leone has taken the fight into the clinch.

Federici breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Federici lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Leone shoots in looking for a takedown. Federici tries to sprawl out of it but Leone keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Federici manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Leone walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Leone fails in his attempt to clinch.
Federici lands a jab.
Leone avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Leone blocks a low kick nicely.
Federici misses with a body shot.
Federici avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Federici tries to keep at a distance but Leone has taken the fight into the clinch.
Federici goes for a takedown attempt but Leone pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leone preventing the sweep.

Federici working for a triangle but Leone defends it easily.

Leone decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Federici misses with an attempted mid kick.

Federici clinches up against the cage.

Leone turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Leone manages to end up in side control.
Federici regains half guard.

Federici actively working from the bottom here.
Leone working Federici over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leone passes the guard and advances to mount!

Leone is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Federici can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Federici tries to buck Leone off but he can't manage it.
Federici is working to get back to half guard.
Leone lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Federici can't escape the position.
Federici tries to hold on but Leone postures up.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Federici.
Federici will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Leone looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Federici avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Leone.
Federici manages to get to full guard.

Leone stands up and waves to Federici to follow him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Leone connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Federici momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Leone showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Leone has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Leone!