PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chris Leben (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Calvin Abueva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leben has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Leben
vs
Abueva

184 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

186 cm
25
183 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Chris Leben!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Calvin Abueva!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Bruno Hogan and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abueva fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Leben avoids it really well and circles away.
Leben stuffs the takedown.
Leben throws a series of punches but Abueva moves out of range.
Abueva shoots in and drives through. Leben sprawls well.
Chris Leben has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Calvin Abueva.
Abueva shoots in for a takedown but Leben shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Abueva is defended easily by Leben.
Abueva shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Leben defends it nicely.
Abueva shoots for a takedown but Leben saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leben tries to score with a low kick but Abueva moves his leg out of the way.
Abueva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Leben as he avoids it easily.
Leben looks to land a combination but Abueva avoids it well.
Abueva shoots in but no luck this time.
Abueva shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Leben as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leben leaves Abueva with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Leben misses with a wild combination.
Leben leaves Abueva with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Abueva looks gassed!
Abueva fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Abueva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Leben as he avoids it easily.
Abueva fails with the takedown.
Leben throws a nice looking combination but Abueva bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Leben throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Abueva.
Leben lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Abueva shoots in but Leben avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leben goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Nice sprawl there from Leben as Abueva shoots in.
No joy there for Leben, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Abueva shoots in but Leben avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Leben throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Abueva fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Leben!
Leben throws a hook to the side of Abueva's head but Abueva sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Leben lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Abueva circles away quickly and effectively.
Leben misses with the combination.
Leben stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Leben wants it to stay on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leben throws a nice looking combination but Abueva bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Horrible takedown by Abueva or perhaps it was just good defense by Leben which made him look bad.
Abueva shoots in but no luck this time.
Abueva shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Leben pinned against the cage. Leben gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Leben scores with a one two! Abueva had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Abueva fails with a takedown attempt.
Leben scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Abueva shoots for a takedown but Leben saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Leben keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

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.
Leben rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Abueva moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Abueva is defended easily by Leben.
Abueva closes the distance and clinches up with Leben, looking for a takedown. Abueva pushes Leben against the cage but Leben circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Leben is working the combinations to good effect here.
Abueva closes the distance and clinches up with Leben, looking for a takedown. Abueva pushes Leben against the cage but Leben circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Abueva fails to land the takedown.
Leben fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Abueva shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Abueva gets a takedown into half guard.
Abueva stops Leben from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Leben dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nice sprawl there from Leben as Abueva shoots in.
Leben misses with a two punch combination.
Abueva fails with a takedown attempt.
Abueva fails with a takedown attempt.
Chris Leben has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Calvin Abueva.
Leben leaves Abueva with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Some wild striking there from Leben.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck for Abueva with that takedown attempt.
Abueva shoots in for a double leg but Leben sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Leben rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Abueva moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abueva dodges the punch combination from Leben.
Abueva has a takedown stuffed.
Leben throws a right and a left that both miss.
Abueva looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Horrible takedown by Abueva or perhaps it was just good defense by Leben which made him look bad.
Abueva tries for a takedown but Leben sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Abueva walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Chris Leben is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Abueva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Leben as he avoids it easily.
Leben swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Abueva fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Leben avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Leben slaps away a takedown attempt from Abueva, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Abueva shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Leben keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Leben fails to land with a series of punches.
Leben just misses with a punch to the body.
Leben stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Leben wants it to stay on the feet.
Abueva shoots for a double leg takedown but Leben sprawls well. He's pushed Abueva's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Abueva dives in and grabs Leben's left leg, looking for a takedown. Leben pushes down on Abueva's head and hops out.
Abueva looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Abueva shoots in and drives through. Leben sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leben misses with a jab, cross combination.
Abueva shoots in and drives through. Leben sprawls well.
Abueva closes the distance and clinches up with Leben, looking for a takedown. Abueva pushes Leben against the cage but Leben circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Leben looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Abueva fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Leben avoids it really well and circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Leben as Abueva shoots in.

Abueva shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Leben is trying to defend but Abueva finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Leben pushes Abueva off looking to stand but Abueva dives back in and keeps control.
Abueva lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abueva winds up and cracks Leben with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Leben pushes Abueva off and gets back to his feet.
Abueva is trying hard to land a takedown here. Leben sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Abueva fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Abueva fails with a takedown attempt.

Abueva bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Leben wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Abueva working the head with strikes.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Abueva working the head with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Leben dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Leben throws a series of punches but Abueva moves out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Abueva.
Leben stuffs the takedown.
Leben fails to land with a series of punches.
Leben throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Leben keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Chris Leben has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Calvin Abueva.
Abueva shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Leben goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leben throws a series of punches but Abueva moves out of range.

Leben gets caught flat footed, as Abueva shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Abueva postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Leben wants to stand up but Abueva is controlling him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abueva must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Abueva cracks Leben with a solid left hand.
Leben is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Abueva postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Abueva tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Leben swivels and escapes.
Abueva defending well as Leben loads up on a big left hand.
No luck for Abueva with that takedown attempt.
Abueva tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Leben swivels and escapes.
Abueva shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Leben but Leben pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two 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.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Abueva.
A punch combination from Leben misses.
Leben fails to land with a series of punches.
Leben stuffs the takedown attempt from Abueva. Abueva gets slowly back to his feet.
Leben scores with a one two! Abueva had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Abueva changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Leben tries to avoid it but Abueva manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Leben to the ground. Leben escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Abueva fails with a takedown attempt.
Leben stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Leben wants it to stay on the feet.
Chris Leben is winning the standup battle so far.
Abueva shoots in and drives through. Leben sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abueva looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Leben misses with the combination.
Abueva changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Leben tries to avoid it but Abueva manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Leben to the ground. Leben escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Leben will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Abueva closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Leben did well to prevent Abueva getting side control.
Leben is trying to stand.
Chris Leben is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Abueva sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Leben defending well though.
Abueva missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Leben looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abueva is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Abueva missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Leben stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Leben wants it to stay on the feet.
Abueva shoots in for a takedown but Leben shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Abueva fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Leben avoids it really well and circles away.
Leben rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Abueva moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Abueva throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Leben was covering up waiting for the punch and Abueva finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Leben wants to get back to his feet but Abueva is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Calvin Abueva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Calvin Abueva.
I think Leben 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 John Mangel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27

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