PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chris Leben (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Salvatore Misawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Salvatore Misawa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Leben
vs
Misawa

175 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
23
173 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chris Leben!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Salvatore Misawa!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leben stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Leben wants it to stay on the feet.
Leben tries to clinch there but Misawa circles away.
Danga de danga de dang - Leben scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Salvatore Misawa has been cut.
Leben doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Misawa to counter with a crisp jab.
Misawa goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Leben wants to clinch up but Misawa keeps it at a distance.

Leben shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Misawa manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Leben wants to control from the top but Misawa keeps moving.

Leben stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Leben stuffs the takedown.
Misawa looks gassed!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Misawa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Leben counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Chris Leben has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Salvatore Misawa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Misawa wants to sweep but no luck.
Leben pushes down on Misawa's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Leben is keen to just control but Misawa is a slippery customer.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Misawa can do anything to dispel that myth.
Misawa won't allow Leben to pass to mount.
Misawa is not content to let Leben control the position.
Leben has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Leben with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Leben lands a big elbow.
A nice elbow there by Leben.
Misawa in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Misawa is trying to escape the mount.
Leben controlling the position easily from mount.
Leben landing strikes from the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Misawa tries to reverse the position but Leben maintains control.
Misawa is squirming around, avoiding Leben's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Leben has hold of Misawa's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Misawa manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Leben working Misawa over with strikes here.
Leben has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Misawa's face.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Leben trying to control but Misawa is having none of it.

Leben working for a submission but Misawa is keeping him at bay.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Leben dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Salvatore Misawa's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Leben shoots in and bounces Misawa off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Misawa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Leben is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Leben gets to his feet - Misawa follows without any prompting.
Misawa with a lazy takedown attempt

and Leben counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Misawa is breathing heavily.

Leben stands up out of the half guard.
Leben tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Misawa moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leben lands a hook that snaps the head of Misawa backwards.

Leben gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Leben missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Leben stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Misawa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Leben trying to control but Misawa is working from the bottom.
Leben is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Misawa is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Leben 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.
Leben is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Misawa keeping moving, preventing Leben from controlling successfully.
Leben might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Misawa trying to control the position.
Leben working some strikes from top position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Leben shoots in for a takedown but Misawa shows good takedown defense.
Misawa tries to clinch up.
Misawa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Leben as he jumps to the side.

Misawa gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Leben to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Misawa can't keep his opponent in guard - Leben advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Leben is trying to control. Misawa wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Misawa trying to control but Leben postures up.

Leben stands up out of the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Leben goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Leben shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Leben showed some decent athleticism there.
Leben controlling the action here.
Leben wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Leben dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Salvatore Misawa's cut.
That's time! Leben's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Leben bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Misawa's head.

Leben looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Leben tries to free his leg and advance position but Misawa is retaining full guard.
Leben is looking to work some ground and pound but Misawa has wrist control.
Misawa wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Leben is now in half guard.
Misawa is looking to improve his position.
Leben trying to control the action but Misawa is working from the bottom.
Misawa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Leben controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leben wants to control but Misawa is keeping him busy.
Misawa trying to control here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Leben tries to clinch up but Misawa circles away and keeps his distance.
Leben looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Misawa is fending him off so far but Leben persists. Nope, Misawa circles away and we're back to standing.
Leben tries to clinch but Misawa moves away

and Misawa decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Leben's guard.
Leben keeping moving, preventing Misawa from controlling successfully.
Leben working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leben is really struggling to control Misawa but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Misawa stops Leben from standing up.
Leben keeping moving, preventing Misawa from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Leben is on top in guard.
Misawa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leben tries to free his leg and advance position but Misawa is retaining full guard.
Misawa looking to control.
Leben forces his way into half guard.
Leben is looking to take a break and control but Misawa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Misawa blocking the ground and pound attempt from Leben.
Leben stalling.
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. Leben connects with a nice short shot to Misawa's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Leben wants to lay and pray for a moment but Misawa keeps working.
Leben controlling the action here.
Misawa is not content to let Leben control the position.
Leben takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Chris Leben.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Leben, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Leben!