PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between RIck Brandford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesse Leis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leis is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by No Sleep - Wiz Khalifa. Jesse Leis has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Brandford
vs
Leis

182 cm
23
190 lbs
9 - 6 - 1

188 cm
25
195 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Knockout Nutrition (150Q $35)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, RIck Brandford!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jesse Leis!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leis misses with a takedown attempt - Brandford sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Leis shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Brandford as he jumps to the side.
Leis shoots in for a double leg but Brandford sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
RIck Brandford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesse Leis.

Brandford scores a takedown into full mount!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Brandford throwing strikes but Leis recovers to half guard. A much better position.
Brandford is pressing down on Leis's thigh, looking to free his foot. Leis is holding on for now.
Brandford not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Brandford with the ground and pound but Leis uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Brandford won't allow Leis to sweep him here.
Brandford throws a strike but Leis rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Leis accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Leis drops back looking for a leg! Brandford is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Brandford manages to kick Leis off! Leis jumps back into Brandford's guard.
Leis throws a big right hand that misses.
Leis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Brandford on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Brandford tries to get out of the position.
Brandford avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Leis trying to control but Brandford is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Brandford utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Brandford preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Leis working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Leis trying to control the position from guard on top but Brandford is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leis slips nicely into half guard.
Leis with the ground and pound but Brandford uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Leis postures up in Brandford's guard and throws a big left but Brandford blocks it.
Brandford avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Leis looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Brandford is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leis trying to control but Brandford is working from the bottom.
Brandford working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Leis.
Leis trying to control the position from guard on top but Brandford is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Leis shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Leis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse Leis dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Brandford ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Leis moves away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Leis looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Brandford is fending him off so far but Leis persists. Nope, Brandford circles away and we're back to standing.
Leis tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Brandford swivels and escapes.
Leis shoots for a double leg takedown but Brandford sprawls well. He's pushed Leis's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
RIck Brandford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesse Leis.
Brandford lands a front kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Leis.

Brandford looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Leis!
Leis tries to hold on but Brandford pushes him away.
Brandford is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Brandford punishing his opponent with strikes.

It looks like Jesse Leis has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Brandford cracks Leis with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Leis bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Leis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Brandford is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brandford is trying to control the position but Leis postures up.
Leis throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Brandford wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Leis chips away with some ground and pound.
Leis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Leis working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leis connects with a couple of short punches.
Brandford keeping moving, preventing Leis from controlling successfully.
Brandford trying to keep a closed guard but Leis is proving a slippery customer.
Leis throwing strikes but missing.
Leis is pushing down on Brandford's leg trying to pass to half guard. Brandford is fighting to maintain full guard but Leis has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leis passes to side control.

Leis tries for a kimura but Brandford is defending well.
Leis lands a few punches from side control.

Leis wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Brandford, who protects the arm well.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Leis is trying to get an arm triangle but Brandford is defending well.
Brandford is trying to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Leis wants to control but Brandford is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jesse Leis will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jesse Leis's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Leis moves out of range of the body kick from Brandford.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Leis is defended easily by Brandford.
Leis moves out of range as Brandford throws a body kick.
Leis shoots for a takedown but Brandford saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Brandford looks for the body kick but Leis saw that one coming.
Brandford throws a half hearted mid kick.
Leis fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
RIck Brandford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesse Leis.
A leg kick checked by Leis.
Leis is trying hard to land a takedown here. Brandford sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Leis fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Brandford lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Brandford looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Brandford delivers a nice body kick.
Brandford keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Brandford looks to land a body kick but Leis moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brandford misses with a body shot.
Brandford misses with a wild body shot.

Brandford throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Leis tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Brandford is in Leis's guard.
Brandford throws an elbow that misses. Leis uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Brandford's guard. Nice move by Leis!
Brandford preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Leis throws a big right hand that misses.
Leis throws an elbow that misses. Brandford uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Leis's guard. Nice move by Brandford!
Brandford throws a big elbow that misses.
Brandford pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Leis is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leis avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Leis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Brandford gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Brandford scoring with some ground and pound.
Leis lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Brandford!

Leis swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Brandford is now in Leis's guard. A big mistake from Leis there, giving up the dominant position!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leis wants to sweep but no luck.
Brandford postures up in Leis's guard and throws a big left but Leis blocks it.
Brandford missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Leis working a defensive guard here.
Brandford stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Leis swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Leis is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Leis avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Brandford knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Leis on the ground.
Brandford passes Leis's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Leis manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Leis bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Brandford's guard.

Leis drops back looking for a leg! Brandford is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Brandford manages to kick Leis off! Leis jumps back into Brandford's guard.
Brandford wants to stand but Leis is controlling the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Leis throws a strike but Brandford rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but RIck Brandford did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The cut man is working on Jesse Leis's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Brandford walks into a jab.
Leis fails with the takedown.
Leis fails with a takedown attempt.
Brandford's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Leis connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Brandford scrambles back to his feet.
Leis shoots in looking for a takedown but Brandford manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Leis's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
RIck Brandford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesse Leis.
Leis shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Brandford but Brandford pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Brandford scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Leis is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Brandford works his way into side control.
Leis has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Leis regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brandford not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Leis missing with punches from the bottom.
Brandford thows a huge punch but Leis dodges it nicely.
Brandford thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Leis's head.
Brandford throws a strike but Leis avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Brandford working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Leis's head.
Brandford makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Brandford trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Leis bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Brandford's guard.
Leis working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Leis throws a strike but Brandford rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brandford loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Brandford scoring with some ground and pound.
Brandford preventing the sweep.

Leis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Leis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Brandford.
Leis looking to hit a scissor sweep but Brandford is one step ahead there.
Brandford working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Leis's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leis working a defensive guard here.
Brandford throws an elbow that misses. Leis uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Brandford's guard. Nice move by Leis!
Leis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Brandford swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Brandford avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Leis postures up in Brandford's guard and throws a big left but Brandford blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leis is in close to Brandford's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Brandford avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Leis sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Leis throwing strikes but missing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Leis wants to control from the top but Brandford keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Jesse Leis will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jesse Leis's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Brandford lands a slapping body shot.
Leis looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Brandford stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Brandford wants it to stay on the feet.
Leis throws a big shot that misses.
Brandford swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
RIck Brandford seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Leis uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Brandford.
Brandford swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Brandford gets caught flat footed, as Leis shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Brandford keeping moving, preventing Leis from controlling successfully.
Leis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leis looking to pass the guard.
Brandford utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Leis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Brandford is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Leis fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
RIck Brandford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesse Leis.
Brandford misses with a body kick.

Leis gets caught flat footed, as Brandford shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Leis looking to control.
Brandford has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Brandford throwing strikes but missing.

Leis is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Brandford defends well.
Leis is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

Leis has his foot on Brandford's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Brandford works his way back into a safe position though.
Leis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Brandford.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Brandford passes Leis's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Leis avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Brandford.
Leis gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brandford cracks Leis with a solid left hand.
Leis looking for a sweep. Not yet Leis, not yet.
Brandford throwing strikes from guard but Leis blocks nicely.

Leis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Brandford stands up over Leis, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Leis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Brandford.
Brandford is looking to work some ground and pound but Leis has wrist control.

Leis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brandford lands a couple of digs.
Jesse Leis is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Brandford postures up in Leis's guard and throws a big left but Leis blocks it.

Leis is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Brandford defends well.
RIck Brandford has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Brandford lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Leis is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Brandford defends well.
Brandford in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jesse Leis.
I think Leis has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andi Peters scores the fight 46:49
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 46:49
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 49:48

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jesse Leis!
Jesse Leis is the new middleweight champion!
Jesse Leis very nearly forgot to thank BALCO UNIFORM amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.