PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Robert Leahy (ranked 4208 p4p, 468 weight class) and Lars Wagner (ranked 3176 p4p, 372 weight class). Lars Wagner will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Leahy
vs
Wagner

188 cm
28
196 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

180 cm
24
185 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Robert Leahy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lars Wagner!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Leahy moves into the clinch.
Leahy tries to pull guard but Wagner holds him up against the cage and eventually Leahy drops back down to his feet.
Leahy tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Leahy jumps guard.

Leahy looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Wagner wants to get up but he can't break Leahy's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Leahy isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Wagner stacks Leahy on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Wagner!
Leahy tries to improve position but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wagner tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Leahy wants to control but Wagner postures up.
My spies in Blanc Fitness Academy inform me that Wagner has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leahy tries to bench press Wagner off him but Wagner keeps the position.
You can see the frustration on Leahy's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Leahy is trying to get back to half guard.
Leahy manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Wagner is defending against the submission attempts here by Leahy.

Leahy seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leahy tries to pass to full mount but Wagner defends it.

Leahy wants to work for an arm triangle but Wagner is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Wagner is not content to let Leahy control the position.
Leahy is pressing down on Wagner's thigh, looking to free his foot. Wagner is holding on for now.
Wagner trying to control from the bottom.
Wagner wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Leahy is working for a kimura but Wagner is defending it quite comfortably.
Leahy is controlling the pace.
Wagner is in trouble now - Leahy has advanced to mount!
Wagner's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Wagner really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Leahy. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Wagner gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leahy is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Leahy works his way into side control.

Leahy tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Leahy has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Wagner prevents Leahy from improving position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Leahy is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Wagner has escaped the position, nice work there.

Leahy tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Leahy dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Wagner shoots in and gets a takedown into Leahy's guard.

Leahy escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Wagner gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Leahy has his foot on Wagner's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Wagner works his way back into a safe position though.
Leahy is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Wagner can do to turn this around?

Leahy looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Wagner is looking to stand up but Leahy won't let him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Leahy has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Wagner can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Leahy has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Wagner should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Leahy has tightened it up now! Wagner should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Robert Leahy!