PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yang Leiden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesse Dardar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dardar has chosen Trial by Fire as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Leiden
vs
Dardar

191 cm
31
218 lbs
20 - 7 - 0

185 cm
32
205 lbs
22 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bushido Clothing

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 20 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yang Leiden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jesse Dardar!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Wesley Smith and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Leiden.
Dardar tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Leiden was well out of range. Poor timing from Dardar.
Dardar swings for the body but Leiden moves out of range.
A slow jab from Leiden misses its intended target.
Leiden tries to clinch but Dardar moves out of range.
Dardar throws the left hand but Leiden avoids the punch easily.
Dardar takes one on the button.
Dardar misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dardar misses with the combination.

Leiden looking to score a takedown here. Dardar is defending well but Leiden drives through and ends up in Dardar's guard.
Leiden looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dardar is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Dardar fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Leiden.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Dardar.
Dardar keeps Leiden at a distance using the push kick.
Dardar lands a leg kick that knocks Leiden off balance momentarily.
Dardar throws a head kick that misses.
Leiden takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Leiden will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dardar looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Dardar throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Leiden's head.

It looks like Yang Leiden has been cut.
Nice straight punches there by Dardar. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Dardar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Leiden closes the distance and pushes Dardar back into the cage.
A short left from Dardar.
Leiden misses with a punch on the inside.

Dardar breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Leiden scores with a head kick.
Dardar swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Dardar misses with an uppercut. Leiden saw that one coming.
Leiden staying out of range there.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Leiden, as that shot connected.
Dardar throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A big left from Dardar misses.
Dardar lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Dardar throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Leiden counters with a thumping low kick.
Dardar on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Dardar fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Leiden manages to avoid it.
Dardar checks a leg kick.
A jab from Dardar does it's job there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dardar uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Leiden.

Dardar drops Leiden with a nice combination! Dardar dives into Leiden's guard, looking to finish!

Leiden is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Dardar stands and steps away. Leiden gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Oh Leiden is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Dardar avoids a punch combination nicely.
Leiden seems to have got his legs back now.
Dardar throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Leiden.
Leiden gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Dardar dodges the punch combination from Leiden.
Dardar throws a big shot that misses.
Leiden checks a low kick from Dardar.

Dardar drops Leiden with a left right combo! Dardar follows him down to the ground into side control.
Leiden is trying to control Dardar's posture but Dardar avoids it.
Leiden gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leiden tries to hold on but Dardar postures up.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Dardar is looking to stand but Dardar has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse Dardar dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Yang Leiden'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.

Dardar throws a one two combo.
The fighters circle momentarily. Leiden darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Dardar misses with a wild body shot.
Leiden uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Dardar.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Dardar connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Jesse Dardar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A telegraphed right hand from Dardar misses the target.
Dardar fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Leiden manages to avoid it.
Leiden lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Leiden.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dardar blocks a jab.
Leiden on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Dardar throws a body kick that misses.
Leiden throws a head kick but Dardar moves out of range.
Dardar misses with a wild body shot.
Jesse Dardar seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Leiden throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Dardar.
Dardar lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Leiden circles away quickly and effectively.
Leiden avoids a punch combination nicely.
Leiden blocks the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dardar throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dardar swings for the body but Leiden moves out of range.
Dardar misses with a low kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Dardar.
Leiden getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Dardar throws a lazy uppercut

and Leiden counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Dardar!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Leiden trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Leiden controlling from the full mount.
Leiden trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dardar keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Dardar is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dardar is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dardar sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Leiden trying to mount his opponent but Dardar defends it.
Leiden has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Dardar is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dardar is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Dardar is squirming around, avoiding Leiden's attempts to control the action.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dardar is controlling an arm, preventing Leiden from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jesse Dardar will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Yang Leiden's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, 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.

Decent striking displayed by Leiden there.
Dardar tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A cross from Leiden lands.
Leiden throws a leg kick but Dardar sees it coming and checks it nicely.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Leiden.
Leiden fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Dardar is out of range.
Leiden takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Dardar throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Dardar stuffs the takedown attempt from Leiden. Leiden gets slowly back to his feet.
Dardar swats away the attempt to clinch by Leiden.
Dardar moves out of range as Leiden strikes.
Dardar swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nice defenses there by Dardar.
A head kick misses from Leiden.
Dardar fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Leiden on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leiden misses with a hook.
Leiden fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dardar manages to avoid it.
A telegraphed right hand from Dardar misses the target.
Leiden moves away from the strike by Dardar.
Dardar takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
The crowd cheers as Dardar lands an impressive looking overhand right. Leiden doesn't seem phased though.
Dardar misses with a combination
and Leiden counters with a series of strikes. Dardar will be more careful next time no doubt.
Dardar misses with a jab, cross combination.
Leiden misses with an uppercut.
Dardar fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Leiden.
Dardar misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dardar misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dardar throws a hook but Leiden blocks it.
Dardar misses with a body kick.
Good exchange - Leiden coming out on top.
Jesse Dardar is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dardar connects with a leg kick. Leiden looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dardar scores with a spinning back kick!
Leiden takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Dardar misses with a body shot.
Leiden misses with a body kick.
Dardar on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Leiden. Leiden obviously looking to wear him down.
Leiden tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Dardar manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Leiden shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Dardar as he jumps to the side.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Leiden blocks a head kick by Dardar.
Leiden turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Leiden misses the shot to the body.
Leiden avoids a punch combination nicely.
Leiden connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dardar misses with a head kick.
Dardar cracks Leiden with a good jab.
Yang Leiden has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leiden takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A left and a right from Dardar both land. Nice combination.
Dardar misses with a head kick.
Leiden throws a right hand that Dardar ducks under and follows up with a left that Dardar also avoids with ease.
Leiden loads up on a big right hand but Dardar slips the punch.
Leiden throws a nice outside leg kick.
Dardar throws a body kick that misses.
Leiden connects with a looping right hand.
Dardar lands a lovely overhand right.
Leiden misses the jab.
Dardar checks the leg kick nicely there.
Dardar swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Dardar moves out of range as Leiden strikes.
An inside leg kick lands from Dardar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dardar throws a leg kick but Leiden sees it coming and moves out of range.
Dardar misses with a jab, cross combination.
Leiden blocks a head kick by Dardar.
Leiden buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Leiden chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Leiden fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yang Leiden. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Leiden throws a sloppy head kick and Dardar moves out of range easily.
Leiden takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Leiden ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dardar moves away.
Leiden 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.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dardar feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Leiden's calf.
Dardar throws a series of punches but Leiden avoids them all with ease.
Nice uppercut there from Dardar.
Leiden fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dardar manages to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jesse Dardar.
I've got Dardar winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesse Dardar!