PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nuriel Leonard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keni Susi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Susi is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Metallica - Hero of the Day. Nuriel Leonard is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Leonard
vs
Susi

168 cm
32
147 lbs
26 - 12 - 0

175 cm
35
158 lbs
28 - 27 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

TWGC Champion
World class boxer
Granite chin

Merciless Gladiators
Namunamu Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 12 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nuriel Leonard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 27 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Keni Susi!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Susi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Leonard drives through and clinches with Susi against the cage.
Susi letting Leonard take a breather here.
Leonard lands with a right to the head.
Leonard lands a good knee to the midsection. Susi won't want to take too many of those.
Leonard holding his opponent close, against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Nuriel Leonard.

Susi is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Leonard's half guard.
Leonard has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Leonard is looking for a sweep. Susi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Susi is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Susi is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Leonard has managed to free his arm - good work.
Susi trying to pass the guard but Leonard defending well.
Leonard tries to get to full guard but Susi has control of the leg.
Susi wants to pass to mount but Leonard is defending the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Susi is trying to control. Leonard wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Susi prevents Leonard from improving his position.

Susi looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Leonard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Susi stalling away here and it's allowed Leonard to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Susi told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Susi looking to pass the guard.

Susi drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Leonard dives on top into guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Leonard trying to control the position from guard on top but Susi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Susi being controlled here, momentarily.
Susi keeping moving, preventing Leonard from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard passes into half guard.
Leonard looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Susi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Leonard pulls his head out easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Leonard missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Leonard passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Susi!
Leonard working Susi over with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nuriel Leonard dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Leonard scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Susi on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Leonard misses the shot to the body.
Susi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Leonard counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Susi takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Susi with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Leonard to counter with a crisp jab.
Susi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Leonard makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Nuriel Leonard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keni Susi.
Leonard swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Leonard closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Leonard lands in his opponent's guard.
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!

Susi working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Leonard has passed into half guard!
Leonard content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard is trying to control the action in half guard but Susi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Susi is trying to maintain the position but Leonard is very close to passing his half guard.

Leonard moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Susi.
Susi wants to control but Leonard postures up.
Susi gets back to half guard.
Leonard wants to take a breather but Susi is having none of it.
Susi is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Susi trying to control from the bottom.
Susi regains full guard. Nicely done.
Leonard is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Susi working for submissions but it's allowed Leonard to get to half guard.

Susi actively working from the bottom here.
Leonard is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard wants to take a breather but Susi is having none of it.
Susi flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Susi tries to roll over but Leonard keeps him under control.
Leonard wants to control but Susi is keeping him busy.
Leonard controlling the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Nuriel Leonard just wasn't active enough.
Leonard misses with a wild body shot.
Leonard swinging wildly here.
Susi has his takedown stuffed
and Leonard counters with a stiff right hand.
Leonard wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Susi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Leonard changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Susi misses with a takedown attempt
and Leonard counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A swing and a miss from Leonard.
Nice takedown defense from Leonard. No joy for Susi on that attempt.
Susi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Leonard is fending him off so far but Susi persists. Nope, Leonard circles away and we're back to standing.
Susi takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Leonard lands a jab to the nose.
Susi misses with a takedown
and Leonard counters with a straight right hand.
Leonard connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Susi misses with a takedown attempt
and Leonard counters with a nice uppercut.
Leonard thuds his right hand into Susi's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Susi misses with a takedown
and Leonard counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Susi is breathing heavily.
Susi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Leonard counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Leonard scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Leonard with a hook.

Susi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Susi lands in his opponent's guard.
Leonard trying to control the position here.
Leonard's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Susi wants to pass the guard but Leonard is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard is looking to sweep but instead, Susi has passed into half guard.
Leonard has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Susi is working away from the top position though.

Susi is working for a submission of some sort.
Leonard preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard tries to roll over but Susi keeps him under control.
Nuriel Leonard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Susi is trying to work for a kimura but Leonard is defending well.

Susi is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Leonard has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard is trying to get back to full guard.
Leonard is refusing to be controlled, as Susi sits in half guard.

Susi is trying to work for a kimura but Leonard is defending well.
Susi is thwarting Leonard's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Susi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Leonard sees it coming and defends easily.
Leonard wants to improve his position but Susi is controlling well.
Leonard is trying to control but can't.
Nuriel Leonard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Leonard is defending against the submission attempts here by Susi.
Leonard is controlling Susi's position as best he can from this difficult position.

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 Nuriel Leonard.
Well Leonard has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nuriel Leonard!
In his post fight interview, Nuriel Leonard started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.