PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Papa Legba (ranked 1118 p4p, 619 weight class) and Arjan Bhullar (ranked 178 p4p, 91 weight class). Bhullar has chosen Daniel Cormier - All About That Cake as his entrance music. Papa Legba had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Legba
vs
Bhullar

178 cm
28
185
15 - 6 - 1

180 cm
39
185
38 - 23 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

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 15 - 6 - 1, fighting out of London, Papa Legba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 38 - 23 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Arjan Bhullar!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Colin Fotheringham and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Legba closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Legba tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bhullar's elbow.
Still in the clinch, Legba scores with a nice short uppercut.
Legba throws a head punch that misses.
Legba tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bhullar makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Legba has a couple of punches blocked by Bhullar.
Bhullar will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Legba up against the cage.
Legba swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bhullar lands with a left to the head.
We've been informed that Bhullar has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.

Bhullar breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Legba throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Legba takes a swing at Bhullar's ribcage but misses.
A decent looking cross lands there for Legba.
Legba throws a looping overhand right but Bhullar ducks down to avoid it.
Bhullar throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bhullar throws the left hand but Legba avoids the punch easily.
Legba listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bhullar throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bhullar lands the left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legba misses with a straight right.
Legba tries to clinch but Bhullar moves out of range.
A big left from Legba misses.
Legba stuns Bhullar with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Bhullar will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
An attempted straight right counter from Legba misses the target.
Legba throws a hook but Bhullar avoids it easily.
Bhullar swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Legba is looking to counter punch.
Legba moves out of range of the strikes.

Legba closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Legba wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bhullar keeps working.
Bhullar trying to control here.

Bhullar is defending against the submission attempts here by Legba.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bhullar is defending against the submission attempts here by Legba.

Legba is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bhullar sees it coming and defends easily.
Bhullar is staying active underneath Legba, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Legba is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bhullar is just riding it out for now. Legba eventually gives up the hold.

Legba is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bhullar wants to stand back up but Legba manages to pass into side control.

Legba looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Bhullar is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Legba's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
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.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Bhullar is staying active underneath Legba, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Legba is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Bhullar is defending against the submission attempts here by Legba.
Legba wants to take a breather but Bhullar is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Legba stalling.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bhullar keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Legba looking to score a takedown here. Bhullar is defending well but Legba drives through and ends up in Bhullar's guard.
Legba trying to control the position from guard on top but Bhullar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bhullar looking for a sweep. Not yet Bhullar, not yet.
Legba trying to control but Bhullar is working from the bottom.
Bhullar pulls Legba in close to prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bhullar wants to stand up but Legba is controlling him.
Legba trying to control but Bhullar is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legba is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bhullar can do to turn this around?

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A telegraphed right hand from Legba misses the target.
Legba lands with an overhand left.
Bhullar circles away from the clinch attempt.
Legba connects with a good right hand that stumbles Bhullar. Bhullar circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Legba tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bhullar paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bhullar slips a straight right by Legba.
Bhullar looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Legba scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Legba rushes Bhullar and presses him up against the cage.

Bhullar breaks from the clinch.
Legba doesn't manage to clinch there - Bhullar circles away.
Papa Legba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Legba lands with an overhand left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bhullar takes a jab right on the kisser.
Legba looks to land a left hand but Bhullar moved out of range nicely.
Bhullar avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bhullar let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Legba misses with an uppercut.
Legba doesn't manage to clinch there - Bhullar circles away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bhullar looks to land a left hand but Legba moved out of range nicely.
Bhullar catches Legba with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Bhullar misses the shot to the body.
Legba throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bhullar uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Legba.
Bhullar takes a swing at Legba's ribcage but misses.
Bhullar just misses with a punch to the body.
Legba tries to clinch but Bhullar moves away
and Bhullar cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Legba dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Legba takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Papa Legba is winning the standup battle so far.
Bhullar stalks Legba and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Legba's face. Legba staggers backwards, shaken.
A left lands for Legba.
Legba lands a jab to the nose.
Legba lands a nice looking body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bhullar looks to throw the jab but Legba is out of range.
Legba swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Bhullar misses with a body shot.
Legba stuns Bhullar with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Legba scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Bhullar takes one to the chin there.
Nice uppercut lands for Legba. That snapped Bhullar's head back.
Bhullar shoots in but no luck this time.
Bhullar takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Legba lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Bhullar throws a looping overhand right but Legba ducks down to avoid it.
Legba is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bhullar.
Bhullar is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Bhullar moves out of range as Legba strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bhullar takes a swing at Legba's ribcage but misses.
A little feinted left hand from Legba on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Legba digs a good hook to Bhullar's body.
Bhullar throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Legba scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Legba gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Legba working aggressively here.
Bhullar lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Legba backwards.
Bhullar is trying to break free.
Legba lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Bhullar taking a breather.
Bhullar blocks a body shot from Legba.
Legba lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Bhullar backwards.

Bhullar breaks from the clinch.
Legba shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bhullar. Legba does a little dance to reset his feet.
Legba looks to land a right hand but Bhullar moved out of range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Legba.
Legba misses with a hook
and Bhullar counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Legba thinking.
Legba tries to clinch but Bhullar is having none of it.
Bhullar jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bhullar swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Legba swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Legba fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bhullar, pushing him back against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Papa Legba dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Bhullar works Legba's body with a nice hook.
Legba smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Bhullar closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
It looks like Legba has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Legba leaves Bhullar with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Legba connects with a jab.
Bhullar looks to land a right hand but Legba moved out of range.
Legba throws a shot to the body.
Legba avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Legba will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bhullar connects with the punch.
Bhullar throws a big shot that misses.
Legba lands the left hand.
Legba keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Legba comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Bhullar staying out of range there.
Bhullar throws a jab but it's blocked by Legba.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bhullar throws a shot to the body.
Legba throws a lazy right hand but Bhullar sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bhullar thows a left - swing and a miss!
Legba throws out a loose jab but Bhullar uses good head movement to avoid it.
Legba slips under a jab from Bhullar.
Bhullar slaps away a takedown attempt from Legba, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bhullar. Legba does a little dance to reset his feet.
A swing and a miss from Legba.
Bhullar looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A punch lands to the side of Legba 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Legba moves into range and connects with a jab.

Legba instigates a clinch.
A short right from Legba on the inside.

Bhullar breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A big right from Legba misses.
Bhullar misses with a looping left.
A big right from Legba misses.
Legba lands a head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Legba bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Bhullar's head backwards.
Legba ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Legba keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bhullar ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Legba moves away.
Bhullar ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Legba scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Legba lands a nice hook to Bhullar's body. Bhullar takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Bhullar waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Legba.
A little feinted left hand from Legba on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Legba has closed the distance and engaged Bhullar in a clinch.
Legba misses with a body punch.

Bhullar breaks the clinch.
A slow jab from Legba misses its intended target.
Bhullar connects with a body shot that sends Legba's belly button to the back.
Bhullar swats away the attempt to clinch by Legba.
Bhullar looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Bhullar shoots in but Legba avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Legba rushes Bhullar and presses him up against the cage.

Bhullar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bhullar takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Legba tries to close the distance and clinch but Bhullar swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bhullar misses with a looping left.
The fighters circle momentarily. Bhullar darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Bhullar misses with a hook.
Legba misses with a wild body shot.
Bhullar throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bhullar throws a body shot but no joy.
Legba thuds his right hand into Bhullar's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Legba is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A swing and a miss from Bhullar.
Bhullar pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bhullar takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bhullar tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Legba was well out of range. Poor timing from Bhullar.
It looked like Legba wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Legba scores with a nice right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Legba keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bhullar has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Legba throws a predictable looking body shot
and Legba takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bhullar keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Legba.
Legba scores with a nice head shot.
Legba avoids the body shot from Bhullar.
Bhullar misses with a body shot.
Legba throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bhullar steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Legba.
Legba ducks under a wild hook from Bhullar.
Legba throws a hook to the side of Bhullar's head but Bhullar sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Legba throws a hook but Bhullar avoids it easily.
A jab from Legba misses.
Bhullar moves out of range as Legba strikes.
Bhullar works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Legba cracks Bhullar with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Arjan Bhullar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Legba misses with a hook. Bhullar ducked under it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Papa Legba showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Legba 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Papa Legba!
Papa Legba decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.