PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chris Leben (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyle Winchester (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Winchester's choice of entrance music: pan pan americano. Kyle Winchester will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Leben
vs
Winchester

184 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
191 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

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 2 - 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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kyle Winchester!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Hugh Johnson and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leben ducks under a wild hook from Winchester.
Leben with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Leben misses with the combination.
Winchester lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Leben circles away quickly and effectively.
Leben blocks a head kick by Winchester.
Leben misses with a double jab.
Leben avoids the head kick by Winchester.
Leben stuffs the takedown attempt from Winchester. Winchester gets slowly back to his feet.
Winchester lunges at Leben with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Leben's hand.
Winchester looks for a takedown but Leben sprawls well.
Leben throws a nice looking combination but Winchester bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Winchester takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

It looks like Kyle Winchester has been cut.
Leben throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Leben lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Winchester circles away quickly and effectively.
The fight stays on the outside here - Winchester looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Leben tries to bum rush Winchester with a series of wild strikes but Winchester uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Some wild striking there from Leben.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leben throws a series of punches but Winchester avoids them all with ease.
Leben swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Winchester counters with a series of strikes. Leben will be more careful next time no doubt.
Winchester throws a low kick but it's checked well by Leben.
Winchester looks gassed!
Winchester does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Winchester changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Leben tries to avoid it but Winchester manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Leben to the ground. Leben escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Chris Leben has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyle Winchester.
Leben falls off balance throwing a combination
and Winchester connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Leben swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Winchester paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Leben throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Winchester counters with a nice uppercut.
Winchester shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Leben as he avoids it easily.
Winchester moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Leben falls off balance throwing a combination
and Winchester counters with a left and a right that stings Leben.
A looping hook to the body misses from Leben. Winchester does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Winchester just misses with a punch to the body.
Leben swinging wildly here.
Leben lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Winchester circles away quickly and effectively.
A combination from Leben does no damage.
Winchester pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Chris Leben is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Leben scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Winchester tries to clinch up but Leben circles away and keeps his distance.
Winchester fails in his attempt to clinch.
Leben takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Leben darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Winchester tries to clinch up but Leben circles away and keeps his distance.
Leben throws a series of punches but Winchester moves out of range.
Winchester moves in looking to clinch but Leben pushes him off.
Leben throws a right hand that Winchester ducks under and follows up with a left that Winchester also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leben throws a series of punches but Winchester moves out of range.
Leben takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Good exchange - Winchester coming out on top.
Winchester ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Leben moves away.
Winchester misses with an uppercut. Leben saw that one coming.
Winchester thows a body shot but no joy.
Winchester fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Leben manages to avoid it.
Leben throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kyle Winchester seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Leben misses with the combination.
Leben looks to land a combination but Winchester avoids it well.
Winchester is looking to clinch but Leben is avoiding it.
Winchester tries to clinch but Leben moves out of range.
Leben throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Winchester.
Leben keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A shot to the liver by Winchester. Beautiful body shot.

That's four 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 swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Winchester cracks the inside of Leben's front leg.
Leben throws a lazy right hand but Winchester sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Leben looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Winchester lands a front kick.
Winchester throws a predictable looking body shot
and Leben counters with a two punch combo.
Winchester steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Leben.
The fight stays on the outside here - Winchester looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Winchester tries to clinch but Leben moves out of range.
Leben keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Winchester tries a head kick but it misses.
Leben fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Leben uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Winchester.
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 Chris Leben will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kyle Winchester's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Winchester throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Winchester lands a jab to Leben's midsection.
A punch combination from Leben misses.
Leben throws a combination. Winchester tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Leben wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Leben lands a jab-cross combination.
Winchester looks to clinch
letting Leben counter with a right hand.
Winchester is looking to clinch.

Winchester clinches.
Winchester has had enough of the clinch but Leben keeps him there for the moment.
Winchester tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Leben smiles and moves away.
Winchester avoids a punch combination nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Winchester throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Leben throws a right and a left that Winchester avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leben blocks a head kick by Winchester.
Winchester looks to land a left hand but Leben moved out of range nicely.
A slow jab from Winchester misses its intended target.
Winchester is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Leben displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Winchester throws out the jab.
Leben throws a combination that misses
and Winchester counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Leben is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Leben throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Winchester.
Some wild striking there from Leben.
Winchester lands a head kick. Leben smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Leben swinging wildly here.
Winchester fails with a takedown attempt.
Winchester scores with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Winchester falls off balance throwing a combination
and Leben counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Winchester thinking.
Leben takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Leben misses with a two punch combination.
Leben throws a series of punches but Winchester moves out of range.
Winchester misses with a takedown attempt - Leben sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Chris Leben has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyle Winchester.
Winchester wants to clinch but Leben slips to the side
and Leben counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Chris Leben is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A clash of legs there as Leben blocks the low kick.
Winchester finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Leben fails to land with a series of punches.
Leben throws a series of punches but Winchester avoids them all with ease.
Leben swats away the attempt to clinch by Winchester.
Nice takedown defense from Leben. No joy for Winchester on that attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leben throws a nice looking combination but Winchester bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Winchester tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Leben paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Winchester darts in trying to clinch
and Leben counters with a straight right hand.
Winchester is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Winchester dips to his left and cracks Leben with an uppercut!
Winchester tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Winchester shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Leben sprawls well. Leben wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Winchester gets slowly back to his feet.
Winchester pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Winchester misses with a hook. Leben ducked under it nicely.
A combination from Leben does no damage.
Winchester tries to clinch but Leben is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Winchester is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Winchester clinches but Leben breaks the clinch
and Leben counters with a two punch combo.
Leben fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Leben avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Winchester tries to clinch but Leben moves away
enabling Leben to counter with a crisp jab.
Winchester is looking to clinch but Leben is avoiding it.
Leben dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Leben throws a nice looking combination but Winchester bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Leben lands a two punch combo.
Winchester tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Winchester tries to clinch up.
Winchester fails with a takedown attempt.
Winchester ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
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 Kyle Winchester's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Leben rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Winchester moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Leben circles away from the clinch attempt.
Winchester throws a head kick but Leben moves out of range.
Winchester looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Winchester closes this distance looking for a takedown but Leben circles away.
Leben throws a combination. Winchester tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Leben swinging wildly here.
Chris Leben is winning the standup battle so far.
Winchester tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Leben paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Leben throws a right hand that Winchester ducks under and follows up with a left that Winchester also avoids with ease.
Leben tries to bum rush Winchester with a series of wild strikes but Winchester uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Winchester connects with a good right hand that stumbles Leben. Leben circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Winchester has Leben up against the cage in a clinch.
Leben has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Winchester breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Leben on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leben takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Leben misses with a jab, cross combination.
No luck for Winchester with that takedown attempt.
Winchester dodges the punch combination from Leben.
Winchester shoots in but no luck this time.
Chris Leben has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyle Winchester.
Winchester tries to clinch up but Leben circles away and keeps his distance.
A left lands for Leben.
Some wild striking there from Winchester.
Winchester throws a head kick that misses.
A jab from Winchester misses.
Winchester ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Leben lands a really nice looking cross but Winchester seems unphased.
Kyle Winchester has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Winchester throws a sloppy head kick and Leben moves out of range easily.
Leben throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Winchester.
Leben takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
A head kick misses from Winchester.
Leben misses with a series of wild punches.
Winchester showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Leben.
Leben blocks a head kick by Winchester.
Winchester shoots for a double leg takedown but Leben sprawls well. He's pushed Winchester's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Leben throws a right hand that Winchester ducks under and follows up with a left that Winchester also avoids with ease.
Leben avoids a punch combination nicely.
Winchester tries to clinch up.
Winchester doesn't manage to clinch there - Leben circles away.
Leben swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Winchester counters with a three punch combo that has Leben backing up. Leben nods at Winchester to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winchester tries to clinch up but Leben circles away and keeps his distance.
Leben fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Winchester manages to avoid it.
Leben takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Winchester throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Leben throws a nice looking combination but Winchester bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A right-left combo lands from Leben.
Leben keeps the fight on the outside.
Leben misses with a wild combination.
Winchester lands a nice looking body shot.
Winchester is looking to clinch but Leben is avoiding it.
Winchester swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Leben throws a lazy right hand but Winchester sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Leben swinging wildly here.
Leben walks into a left hand.

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.
Winchester tries to move into range but Leben moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Leben throws a right and a left that Winchester avoids nicely.
Winchester lands a right hook to the body.
Winchester fails in his attempt to clinch.
A decent looking cross lands there for Winchester.
Winchester throws a sloppy head kick
and Leben counters with a three punch combo that has Winchester backing up. Winchester nods at Leben to acknowledge the strikes.
Leben takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Winchester wants to clinch.
Leben misses with a wild combination.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Winchester fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Leben manages to avoid it.
Chris Leben is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Winchester avoids a punch combination nicely.

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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:28
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:29

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