PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jordan Tagalog (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randy Lebanez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Tagalog
vs
Lebanez

163 cm
18
147 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

159 cm
25
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jordan Tagalog!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Randy Lebanez!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Skip Squint and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tagalog stalks Lebanez and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Lebanez's face. Lebanez staggers backwards, shaken.
Tagalog has his takedown stuffed
and Lebanez counters with a left to the body.

Lebanez has taken the fight to the clinch.

Lebanez gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Tagalog regains guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Lebanez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
My spies in Cozad MMA Sydney inform me that Lebanez has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Randy Lebanez hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Tagalog closes the distance and clinches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lebanez scoring with punches to the head and body.
Lebanez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Randy Lebanez hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Lebanez shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Tagalog napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Lebanez moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lebanez lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Lebanez moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tagalog knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lebanez on the ground.
Lebanez connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Tagalog some visible discomfort.
Lebanez slows the pace down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Lebanez might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

Randy Lebanez has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Lebanez clinches up against the cage.

Tagalog is fighting off a takedown attempt but Lebanez is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Tagalog to the mat. Tagalog regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Lebanez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Let's hope that Lebanez has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lebanez scoring with some ground and pound.
Lebanez content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lebanez scoring with some ground and pound.
Lebanez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Lebanez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Lebanez stands and throws Tagalog's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Lebanez passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Tagalog!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lebanez content just to control the position here.
Lebanez looks winded!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Lebanez dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Lebanez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Lebanez passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Tagalog!
Lebanez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
A nice elbow there by Lebanez.
Lebanez content just to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Randy Lebanez was stalling too much, according to the referee.
No luck for Lebanez with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tagalog throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lebanez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tagalog.
Tagalog feints and then cracks Lebanez's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Lebanez down.
Lebanez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Lebanez gets the takedown into side control.
Lebanez is breathing heavily.
Lebanez controls the position.
Lebanez works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lebanez taking a breather here.
Tagalog is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Lebanez has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Lebanez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Randy Lebanez has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lebanez working Tagalog over with strikes here.
Lebanez looking to control and managing it successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lebanez breaks from Tagalog's wrist control and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Lebanez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Lebanez shoots in looking for a takedown but Tagalog manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lebanez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Tagalog fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lebanez, pushing him back against the cage.
Lebanez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tagalog pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Lebanez prevents a takedown attempt there.

Lebanez has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Tagalog regains guard immediately.
Lebanez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Lebanez working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Lebanez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Lebanez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lebanez works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Lebanez works his way into full mount!
Lebanez controlling from the full mount.
Lebanez lands a nice shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lebanez controlling the position easily from mount.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Tagalog looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Tagalog really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Randy Lebanez has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Lebanez shoots in for a double leg but Tagalog sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jordan Tagalog has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randy Lebanez.
Tagalog changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lebanez tries to avoid it but Tagalog manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lebanez to the ground. Lebanez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Tagalog gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Tagalog keeping moving, preventing Lebanez from controlling successfully.

Tagalog is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lebanez sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Randy Lebanez.
Lebanez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tagalog but Tagalog pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Lebanez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tagalog.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tagalog fails with a takedown attempt.
Jordan Tagalog has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Lebanez darts in and clinches Tagalog up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randy Lebanez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lebanez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Dean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 26:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Randy Lebanez!