PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Leben (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johan Svenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johan Svenson will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Leben
vs
Svenson

187 cm
23
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

205 cm
22
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

Malicious Intent Fight Gear - The Pit Inc
Demonic Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris Leben!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johan Svenson!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Jonathan Paton and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leben throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Svenson throws out a leg kick but Leben moves out of range and Svenson only half commits.
The fight stays on the outside here - Leben looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice body kick from Leben.
Leben moves in looking to clinch but Svenson pushes him off.
Svenson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Leben circles away.
Leben misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Leben is looking to clinch but Svenson is avoiding it.

Svenson shoots in and bounces Leben off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Svenson slips nicely into half guard.
Svenson prevents Leben from improving his position.
Leben is staying active underneath Svenson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Leben looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leben is looking to escape.
Svenson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Svenson slips a nice elbow through Leben's hands, connecting with Leben's forehead.
Svenson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Svenson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Leben might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Leben tries to clinch but Svenson moves out of range.
Leben takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Leben fails in his attempt to clinch.
Svenson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Leben avoids it really well and circles away.
Leben doesn't manage to clinch there - Svenson circles away.
Leben tries to clinch there but Svenson circles away.

That's two 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.
Leben tries to clinch there but Svenson circles away.
Svenson lands a glancing blow to the side of Leben's head.
Svenson ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Leben is looking to clinch but Svenson is avoiding it.
Svenson avoids the head kick by Leben.
Leben tries to clinch but Svenson moves out of range.
Svenson blocks a head kick by Leben.
Leben throws a head kick that misses.
Svenson swings for the body but Leben moves out of range.
Chris Leben seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Svenson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Leben napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Leben tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Leben wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svenson in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Leben taking punishment in the form of punches.
Leben tries to escape but Svenson is in control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Leben struggling a bit here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Leben takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Svenson scoring with punches from side control.
Leben taking punishment in the form of punches.
You can see the frustration on Leben's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Svenson lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Svenson working the head and body with strikes.
Svenson landing strikes.
Leben is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Svenson is controlling him well.
Svenson creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Leben is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Svenson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Svenson prevents Leben from standing back up.
Leben has hold of Svenson's hands but Svenson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Svenson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Svenson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Leben trying to control but Svenson postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johan Svenson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Svenson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Leben taking punishment in the form of punches.
Svenson controls the position.
Leben is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Svenson landing a few strikes.
Svenson scoring with punches from side control.
Leben manages to get back to half guard.
Leben is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Svenson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Svenson's back!
Leben struggling to keep hold of the position.
Leben not allowing Svenson to control his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Svenson can't escape the position.

Leben is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Svenson is defending well though. Leben let's go of the attempt for now.
Svenson manages to reverse the position and now he's in Leben's guard. Nice work there by Svenson.

Leben is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Svenson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

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.
Svenson pushing down on Leben's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Svenson not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Leben looking for submissions off his back.
Svenson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Svenson working the head and body with strikes.
Svenson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Svenson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Leben keeps working.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Svenson connects with a nice short shot to Leben's temple.
Svenson is nestled in close to Leben, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Leben makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Leben tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Svenson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Svenson swings for the body but Leben moves out of range.
Leben slips a straight right by Svenson.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Leben.
Svenson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Leben was well out of range. Poor timing from Svenson.
Svenson is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Leben rather than just go for the knockout.
Svenson misses with a body shot.
Svenson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Svenson throws a body punch but Leben moves out of range.
Svenson has a takedown stuffed.
Leben moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Leben, right into the meat.
Leben wants to clinch up but Svenson keeps it at a distance.
Svenson swats away the attempt to clinch by Leben.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leben pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Leben tries to clinch but Svenson is having none of it.
Leben avoids the body shot from Svenson.
Leben doesn't manage to clinch there - Svenson circles away.
Leben takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A left lands for Svenson.
Svenson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Leben.
Svenson is looking to score with low kicks.
Leben is looking to clinch.
Leben tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Svenson is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Leben tries to clinch up.
Svenson throws a leg kick
and Leben finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Leben tries to clinch but Svenson moves out of range.
Leben wants to clinch up but Svenson keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johan Svenson 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Svenson missing with a left hand there. Leben was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A lazy left from Svenson finds it's target.
Leben pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Svenson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Svenson drives through with a takedown into guard.
Svenson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Leben looking to control.
Svenson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Leben keeping moving, preventing Svenson from controlling successfully.
Leben trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Leben is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Svenson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leben preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Johan Svenson has got the better of the ground game so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Leben moves in looking to clinch but Svenson pushes him off.
Svenson blocks a head kick by Leben.
Svenson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Leben.
Leben misses with an attempted mid kick.
Leben tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Svenson shoots in and bounces Leben off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Leben not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Leben had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Svenson is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Leben Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Svenson's back instead.
Svenson prevents Leben from getting a body triangle.
Chris Leben has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Svenson trying to control the position but Leben manages to sink in the hooks.

Leben working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Leben is trying to stick to Svenson's back but Svenson is turning into Leben. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Leben's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Svenson.

Leben had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Svenson is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Leben Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Svenson's back instead.
Svenson rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Svenson moves into full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Svenson can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svenson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Johan Svenson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Svenson trying to control the position here.
Leben is looking to stand up but Svenson won't let him.
Svenson looking for a sweep. Not yet Svenson, not yet.
Svenson pulls Leben in to control the position.
Svenson looking for a sweep. Not yet Svenson, not yet.
Svenson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Svenson has a closed guard, preventing Leben from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Leben tries to close the distance and clinch up but Svenson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Leben tries to clinch up.
Leben throws a head kick but Svenson moves out of range.
Leben tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Leben uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Svenson.
Leben is looking to clinch.
Leben tries to clinch up but Svenson circles away and keeps his distance.
Svenson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Svenson.

Svenson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johan Svenson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Svenson 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johan Svenson!