PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jacques Levesque (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Toby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Toby has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Levesque
vs
Toby

173 cm
19
160 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

189 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jacques Levesque!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Toby!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Igor Prikhodko and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Levesque fails with an attempt to clinch.
Toby dodges the punch combination from Levesque.
Levesque walks into a left hand.
Toby scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Levesque throws a looping overhand right but Toby ducks down to avoid it.
Horrible takedown by Levesque or perhaps it was just good defense by Toby which made him look bad.
Levesque fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Toby lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Levesque backs up against the cage.
Toby leaves Levesque with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Levesque doesn't manage to clinch there - Toby circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Levesque is defended easily by Toby.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jacques Levesque. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Toby fails to land with a series of punches.
Levesque throws a combination. Toby tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Toby throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Levesque is looking to clinch.
Toby closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Toby misses with the combination.
Toby swats away the attempt to clinch by Levesque.
Levesque misses with a jab, cross combination.
Toby throws a series of punches but Levesque avoids them all with ease.
Toby just misses with a punch to the body.
Toby with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Levesque to score with a decent uppercut.
Toby throws a series of punches but Levesque moves out of range.
Toby walks into a left hand.
Toby takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Levesque fails with an attempt to clinch.
Toby throws a head kick but Levesque moves out of range.
Levesque throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Toby counters with a three punch combo that has Levesque backing up. Levesque nods at Toby to acknowledge the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Levesque has a takedown stuffed.
Levesque swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Toby throws a hook to the side of Levesque's head but Levesque sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Toby on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Toby scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Levesque doesn't seem bothered though.
Levesque fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Levesque misses with the combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A looping hook to the body misses from Levesque. Toby does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jacques Levesque seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Toby lands with a nice body punch.
Levesque pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Toby back to the cage. Levesque follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Good standup being displayed there by Toby as he connects with a hook.
Toby throws a wild body kick that Levesque sees coming a mile off.
Levesque moves in looking to clinch but Toby pushes him off.
Levesque avoids the body shot from Toby.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Levesque, as that shot connected.
Levesque shoots in for a double leg but Toby sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Levesque wants to clinch up but Toby keeps it at a distance.
Toby moves away from the strike by Levesque.
Levesque shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Toby as he jumps to the side.
Levesque misses with a double jab
and Toby counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Levesque is breathing heavily.
Toby connects with a body shot.
Levesque tries to clinch up.
Toby throws the left hand but Levesque avoids the punch easily.
Toby throws a nice looking combination but Levesque bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Levesque shoots in looking for a takedown but Toby manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Levesque's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Levesque avoids a punch combination nicely.
Levesque fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Toby manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Levesque checks a low kick from Toby.
Levesque tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Toby paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Levesque moves in looking to clinch but Toby pushes him off.
A swing and a miss from Levesque.
Toby ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Levesque moves away.
Levesque feints a jab promting Toby to slip. Levesque then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Toby slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
No joy there for Toby, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Toby lands a slapping body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Toby swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Levesque gets the takedown into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Toby managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Levesque.
Levesque trying to control the position but Toby is working away.
Levesque looks up at the clock and then as Toby takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Levesque smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Toby will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Levesque tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Levesque lands a nice looking body shot.
Toby avoids a punch combination nicely.
Toby takes a jab right on the kisser.
Toby lands a jab to the head.
Levesque tries to close the distance and clinch but Toby swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Levesque fails with the takedown.
Toby shoots in looking for a takedown. Levesque tries to sprawl out of it but Toby keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Levesque manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Toby gets caught napping as Levesque dives in and scores a takedown. Toby manages to retain guard.
Levesque trying to control the position from guard on top but Toby is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Levesque accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Levesque lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Levesque trying to control but Toby is working from the bottom.
Levesque throwing strikes but missing.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Toby can do anything to dispel that myth.
Levesque throws a big right hand that misses.
Levesque lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Levesque trying to control the position from guard on top but Toby is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Levesque has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Toby is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Levesque accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toby utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Levesque accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Levesque throws a big right hand that misses.
Toby preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Toby utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Toby really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Levesque. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Toby keeping moving, preventing Levesque from controlling successfully.
Levesque stops Toby from standing up.
Levesque missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Levesque working some strikes from top position.
Levesque wants to control from the top but Toby keeps moving.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Levesque distracts Toby with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Levesque missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Levesque throws a big right hand that misses.
Toby preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Toby is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Levesque landing with the ground and pound.
Levesque trying to control the position from guard on top but Toby is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Levesque in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Levesque accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Toby wants to get back to his feet but Levesque is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Levesque stands up over Toby, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Toby is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toby preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Levesque trying to control the position from guard on top but Toby is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Levesque connects with a couple of short punches.
Jacques Levesque overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Toby looking for subs off his back but Levesque has passed one foot through into half guard.
Levesque is nestled in close to Toby, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Levesque working over Toby with some ground and pound. Toby looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Levesque lands with a punch from half guard.
Levesque missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacques Levesque dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! 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.

Levesque misses with a double jab.
Toby avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Levesque scores with a three punch combo!
Levesque shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Toby as he avoids it easily.
Levesque shoots in but no luck this time.
Levesque throws a lazy right hand but Toby sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Toby gets caught flat footed, as Levesque shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Levesque working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Toby's head.
Levesque throws a big elbow that misses.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Levesque's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Levesque throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Levesque throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Levesque lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Toby has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Levesque has passed into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Levesque.
Toby managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Levesque.
Toby struggling a bit here.
Toby is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Levesque is putting a hurting on Toby here, landing some big shots from side control.
Levesque throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Levesque trying to control the action but Toby is working from the bottom.
Levesque misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Levesque looks up at the clock and then as Toby takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Levesque smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Levesque throws an elbow but Toby slips to the side and avoids it well.
Levesque sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Toby is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Levesque misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Levesque wants to control but Toby is keeping him busy.
Levesque in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Levesque looks up at the clock and then as Toby takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Levesque smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Toby defending against the ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Levesque is chipping away with strikes.
Levesque lands a nice forearm strike.
Levesque working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Levesque lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Check out the look on Levesque's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Toby dodges the ground and pound from Levesque.
Levesque throws a strike aimed at the side of Toby's head but Toby avoids it well.
Levesque wants to control but Toby is keeping him busy.
Levesque tries to score with some ground and pound. Toby controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Levesque wants to lay and pray for a moment but Toby keeps working.
Levesque throws a strike aimed at the side of Toby's head but Toby avoids it well.
Levesque scores with punches from side control.
Toby managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Levesque.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toby is working to avoid the ground and pound but Levesque connects with a decent elbow.
Levesque throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Toby taking punishment in the form of punches.
Check out the look on Levesque's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Levesque lands a few punches from side control.
Levesque scoring with punches from side control.
Toby regains half guard there - taking advantage of Levesque's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Levesque content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Levesque has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jacques Levesque showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Levesque 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jacques Levesque!
Jacques Levesque was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.