PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jill Leonard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cleophus Washington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Washington has chosen The Way I Feel as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Leonard
vs
Washington

176 cm
20
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

166 cm
19
136 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Biobonds Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jill Leonard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Cleophus Washington!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Dillan Fox and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Washington closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Jab by Leonard.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Leonard is defended easily by Washington.
Washington uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Leonard.
Leonard throws the kick towards the body but Washington avoids it.
Leonard throws a right hand that Washington ducks under and follows up with a left that Washington also avoids with ease.
Washington avoids the head kick by Leonard.
Washington fails with an attempt to clinch.
Washington looks to land a combination but Leonard avoids it well.
Leonard pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Leonard lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Washington circles away quickly and effectively.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Washington.
Leonard walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Washington fails in his attempt to clinch.
Leonard thows a left - swing and a miss!
Washington checks a low kick from Leonard.
Leonard throws a right and a left that Washington avoids nicely.
Jill Leonard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Leonard throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Washington counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Washington with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Washington connects with a nasty looking knee right to Leonard's face.
Washington is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Washington misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Leonard.
Washington keeps control of Leonard as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Washington gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Washington missing with knees to the body.

Washington manages to pull guard.
Leonard wants to control from the top but Washington keeps moving.
Washington wants to stand but Leonard is controlling the position.
Leonard is working Washington over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Washington wants to get back to his feet but Leonard is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Leonard controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Leonard tries to free his leg and advance position but Washington is retaining full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Leonard throws a big shot that misses.
Washington has his takedown stuffed

and Leonard counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Leonard looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Washington's head.
Washington wants to stand up but Leonard is controlling him.

Washington is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Washington wants a takedown.
Washington is trying to drag Leonard to the mat but Leonard just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Jill Leonard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cleophus Washington.
Washington looks gassed!
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Washington just misses with a elbow thrown towards Leonard's brow.
Washington is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Washington goes for a takedown attempt but Leonard pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Leonard stalks Washington and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Washington's face. Washington staggers backwards, shaken.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Leonard lands with a nice body punch.
Leonard rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Washington moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Leonard throws a combination that misses

and Washington counters by clinching up.
Washington with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Washington connects with a nasty looking knee right to Leonard's face.
With the fighters up against the cage, Washington throws an elbow but misses.

Leonard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Leonard throws a series of punches but Washington moves out of range.
Leonard misses with a combination

and Washington counters with a nice double leg into side control. Leonard won't be happy with that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Leonard is trying to improve his position.
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 Jill Leonard will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Leonard has his takedown stuffed
and Washington counters with an inside leg kick.
Leonard misses with a two punch combination.
Leonard gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Washington counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Leonard!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Washington cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Washington thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Washington trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Leonard taking shots to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Washington is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Washington takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Washington fails in his attempt to clinch.
Leonard throws a head kick that misses

and Washington moves into the clinch.
Leonard is trying to break the clinch but Washington has him pressed against the cage.

Leonard works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Leonard wants to control from the top but Washington keeps moving.
Washington is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Washington tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard postures up in Washington's guard and throws a big left but Washington blocks it.
Washington throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Leonard stands up over Washington, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Washington utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Leonard closes the distance and clinches up with Washington, looking for a takedown. Leonard pushes Washington against the cage but Washington circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jill Leonard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Leonard stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Leonard wants it to stay on the feet.
Leonard pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Washington tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Leonard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The crowd cheers as Leonard lands an impressive looking overhand right. Washington doesn't seem phased though.
A swing and a miss from Leonard.
Leonard throws a combination that misses

and Washington counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Washington.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Washington wants to get up but he can't break Leonard's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Leonard bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Washington's guard.
Leonard stops Washington from standing up.
Washington keeping full guard, as Leonard tries to pass.
Washington wants to stand but Leonard is controlling the position.
Leonard won't allow Washington to sweep him here.
Leonard is looking to work some ground and pound but Washington has wrist control.
Leonard missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Leonard throwing strikes from guard but Washington blocks nicely.
Leonard postures up and lands a big shot to Washington's brow.
Leonard 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Leonard looks to land a combination but Washington avoids it well.

Washington closes the distance and clinches.
Leonard is trying to force a seperation but Washington has the dominant position.
Leonard is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Washington is keeping busy.

Leonard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Leonard throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Washington counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Washington creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Washington pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jill Leonard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Leonard scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Leonard misses with a double jab

and Washington counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cleophus Washington showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Leonard throws a jab but it's blocked by Washington.
Washington shoots in looking for a takedown. Leonard tries to sprawl out of it but Washington keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Leonard manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Leonard looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Washington is fending him off so far but Leonard persists. Nope, Washington circles away and we're back to standing.

Washington shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Leonard tries to get to full guard but Washington has control of the leg.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Washington is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Washington's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Washington's back!
Leonard throwing damaging strikes from the back! Washington could be in trouble here!
Washington trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Leonard lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Leonard has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Washington.
Washington turns into Leonard and is now in his guard.
Leonard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Washington trying to control the position from guard on top but Leonard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Washington stands up from Leonard's guard - Washington perhaps looking for a knockout.
Leonard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Leonard throws a left and a right that both miss
and Washington makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Leonard misses with a two punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Leonard misses.
Washington wants to clinch.
A right-left combo lands from Leonard.
Leonard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Washington wants to clinch
and Leonard connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Leonard tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Washington was well out of range. Poor timing from Leonard.

Washington scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Washington tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Washington decides to stand back up. Washington steps back and let's Leonard get back to his feet.
Washington wants to clinch.
Leonard circles away from the clinch attempt
and Leonard counters with a nice uppercut.

Washington shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Leonard manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Washington stops Leonard from standing up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cleophus Washington comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Washington has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cleophus Washington!