PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jay Leonard (ranked 25513 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Patton (ranked 22913 p4p, 0 weight class). Patton has chosen Heart of a Champion - Nelly as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Leonard
vs
Patton

180 cm
25
168 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

174 cm
25
174 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jay Leonard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Craig Patton!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Wesley Smith and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leonard tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Patton was well out of range. Poor timing from Leonard.
Leonard looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Patton chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Patton takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Patton misses with a hook.
A shot to the liver by Leonard. Beautiful body shot.
Leonard uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Patton has time to react.
Leonard throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Patton drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Leonard is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Patton lands a nice forearm strike.
Leonard on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Leonard tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Patton cracks Leonard with a big right hand but Leonard just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Patton looks up at the clock and then as Leonard takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Patton smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Leonard sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Leonard looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Patton pushes past his half guard into mount!
Leonard knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Patton on the ground.
Patton controlling his opponent.

Patton has hold of Leonard's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Leonard manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Leonard is just holding on here. Patton manages to take his back.
Patton controlling from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard tries to break free.
Patton is working the ground and pound. Can Leonard escape?
Patton controls the position.
Patton gets his hands free as Leonard looks to control.

Patton looking for the choke but no joy.

Patton is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Leonard defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
You can see the frustration on Leonard's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Patton is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Leonard is in bad spot here.
Leonard breaks Patton's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Patton controlling Leonard's posture.

Leonard got a little sloppy there for a moment and Patton has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Leonard has managed to get both his arms back between Patton's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Patton has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Leonard trying to control the position from guard on top but Patton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Patton is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Patton is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Leonard is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Patton is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Patton dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Leonard takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

It looks like Jay Leonard has been cut.

Patton feints and as Leonard raises his hands in defense, Patton changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Patton got a little sloppy there for a moment and Leonard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Patton has managed to get both his arms back between Leonard's legs - danger averted.
Leonard looking to control.
Patton postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Leonard had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Patton defends it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leonard looking to control.
Patton trying to control but Leonard is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Patton is stalling in the full guard.
Patton passes Leonard's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Patton seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Patton working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Craig Patton has got the better of the ground game so far.
Leonard is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Patton jumps into side control!
Leonard tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard is trying to control Patton's posture but Patton avoids it.
Patton trying to control the position but Leonard is working away.
Patton creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Patton thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Leonard is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Patton controls the position.
Patton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Leonard keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Patton decides to stand back up. Patton steps back and let's Leonard get back to his feet.
Patton steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Leonard.
Patton now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Patton fails to land with a series of punches.
Leonard lands a glancing blow to the side of Patton's head.
Patton wants to clinch
and Leonard counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Patton pushes Leonard up against the cage in a clinch.
Leonard misses with a hook from the clinch.

Patton decides to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Leonard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Patton escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Leonard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Patton looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Patton has his foot on Leonard's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Leonard works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Patton is trying to control the position but Leonard postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Patton showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jay Leonard's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

No joy there for Patton, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Leonard looks to score with a jab to the body but Patton is just out of range.
Leonard is looking to wear down Patton with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Patton ducks under a wild hook from Leonard.
Craig Patton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Leonard looks to land a right hand but Patton moved out of range.
Donk. Leonard catches Patton right on the button with a cross.
Leonard smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Leonard tries to keep at a distance but Patton has taken the fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Patton jumps guard and drags Leonard to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Patton keeping moving, preventing Leonard from controlling successfully.

Patton is looking for a triangle but Leonard pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Patton not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Patton keeping moving, preventing Leonard from controlling successfully.
Leonard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Patton has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Patton is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Leonard throwing strikes from guard but Patton blocks nicely.
Leonard tries to free his leg and advance position but Patton is retaining full guard.

Leonard thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Patton is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Leonard defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Patton pulls Leonard in to control the position.

Patton looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Leonard throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Patton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Leonard throwing strikes from guard but Patton blocks nicely.
Leonard throws a big right hand that misses.
Patton is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Patton is trying to keep Leonard in close.

Patton working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Leonard doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Leonard manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Patton has Leonard pulled in close to control his posture.
Jay Leonard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leonard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Patton wants to stand up but Leonard is controlling him.

Patton has his foot on Leonard's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Leonard works his way back into a safe position though.
Leonard with a flurry of punches that miss.
Craig Patton is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Leonard throws a big elbow that misses.
Leonard throwing strikes but missing.
Leonard throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Leonard throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Patton escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Leonard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Leonard trying to control the position from guard on top but Patton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Leonard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Patton is looking for a triangle but Leonard pushes his legs off easily.
Patton working a defensive guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Craig Patton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Patton 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 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Craig Patton!
Craig Patton seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.