PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Leach (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Spencer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Leach
vs
Spencer

180 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Matthew Leach!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Spencer!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Ackerman and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Spencer clinches with his opponent.

Spencer's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Leach has taken the fight to the clinch.
Spencer goes for a takedown attempt but Leach pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Leach tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Leach darts in trying to clinch

and Spencer counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Spencer is looking to pass Leach's guard but actually Leach recovers to full guard.
Leach controlling the position.
Spencer sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Leach's guard.

Spencer is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spencer is trying to control. Leach wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spencer might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Leach kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Spencer prevents Leach from improving his position.
Spencer controlling the action here.
Leach gets full guard.

Leach has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Spencer can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Spencer prevents Leach from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Spencer slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Spencer trying to control the position from guard on top but Leach is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Spencer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spencer wants to control from the top but Leach keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Spencer avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Leach tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Spencer counters with a solid body kick.

Spencer feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spencer thows a big elbow that misses.
Spencer is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Leach throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leach seems keen to control Spencer's posture.
Leach working a defensive guard here.
Spencer looking to pass the guard.
Leach wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Leach keeping moving, preventing Spencer from controlling successfully.
Leach is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Spencer dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Leach closes the distance but Spencer moves to the side

and Spencer counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Spencer trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Leach is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Leach keeping moving, preventing Spencer from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Spencer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Spencer seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Spencer decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Leach, up you get!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leach leaves Spencer with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Spencer is breathing heavily.

Leach scores with a takedown into Spencer's guard.
Spencer not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Leach decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Matthew Leach seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Spencer shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Leach as he avoids it easily.
Leach fails with the takedown.
Spencer doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Leach counters with a two punch combo.
Matthew Leach has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Spencer.
Leach stalks Spencer and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Spencer's face. Spencer staggers backwards, shaken.
Leach shoots in for a takedown but Spencer shows good takedown defense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Leach pushes Spencer up against the cage in a clinch.
Spencer tries to pull guard but Leach holds him up against the cage and eventually Spencer drops back down to his feet.
Spencer jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Leach walks away with a smile on his face. Spencer gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Leach wants to clinch.
Leach tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Spencer counters with a takedown into side control.
Leach is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Spencer's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Leach manages to get to full guard.

Leach has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Spencer off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leach wants to clinch

and Spencer counters with a nice double leg into side control. Leach won't be happy with that.
Leach is trying to control Spencer's posture but Spencer avoids it.

Leach explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Leach has managed to clinch.
Spencer has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Leach is leaning against Spencer and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Leach has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Spencer is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Leach holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Leach pushes Spencer back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Spencer fails to pull guard.

Leach manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spencer fails with a takedown attempt.
Spencer shoots and misses

and Leach counters with a single leg into guard. Spencer didn't expect that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Spencer is working an open guard so Leach takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Some wild striking there from Leach.
Spencer tries a head kick but it misses.
Leach throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Spencer's head.
Spencer avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Spencer as Leach shoots in.

Spencer scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Spencer is trying to control the action in half guard but Leach is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Leach is trying to stand up here but Spencer is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Matthew Leach will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Spencer shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Leach finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Leach throws a lazy head kick

and Spencer counters with a shoot takedown. Leach fights it but they end up in guard.
Spencer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Leach keeping moving, preventing Spencer from controlling successfully.
Leach looking to hit a scissor sweep but Spencer is one step ahead there.
Spencer tries to free his leg and advance position but Leach is retaining full guard.
Leach controls Spencer momentarily but Spencer frees himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leach pulls Spencer in close to prevent any damage.
Spencer won't allow Leach to get back to his feet.
Spencer preventing the sweep.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Leach is looking to clinch but Spencer is avoiding it.
Matthew Leach is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Spencer is trying hard to land a takedown here. Leach sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Spencer misses with a takedown attempt

and Leach counters by clinching up.
Matthew Leach has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Spencer.
Leach dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Leach is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Spencer is keeping busy.
Leach trying to land knees to the body.

That's two 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.
Knees in the clinch landing for Leach.
Leach jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Spencer walks away with a smile on his face. Leach gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nice takedown defense from Leach. No joy for Spencer on that attempt.
Leach closes the distance but Spencer moves to the side
and Spencer finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Spencer stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Spencer wants it to stay on the feet.
Leach wants to clinch up but Spencer keeps it at a distance.
Leach is looking to clinch but Spencer is avoiding it.
Spencer shoots in and drives through. Leach sprawls well.
Some wild striking there from Leach.
Spencer fails with a takedown attempt.
Leach throws a head kick but Spencer moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leach fails in his attempt to clinch.
Leach displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Spencer.

Leach rushes Spencer and presses him up against the cage.
Spencer drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Spencer fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Leach looking to slow down the pace here.

Leach breaks from the clinch.
Leach tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Leach drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leach stops Spencer from standing up.
Leach wants to pass the guard but Spencer is keeping the position.
Spencer pulls Leach in close to prevent any damage.
Michael Spencer has got the better of the ground game so far.
Spencer keeping moving, preventing Leach from controlling successfully.

Leach avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Spencer is working an open guard so Leach takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

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 Matthew Leach.
I think Leach 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Matthew Leach!