PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Garry Abernethy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Leben (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chris Leben will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Abernethy
vs
Leben

193 cm
19
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
23
265 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Garry Abernethy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Chris Leben!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Alec Ball and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Leben bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Leben decides to stand back up.
Leben scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Garry Abernethy has been cut.
Abernethy tries to clinch up.

A jab-cross combination lands for Leben and sends Abernethy crashing to the mat! Leben follows him down to the mat - Abernethy regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

Abernethy is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Leben has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Leben get's back to his feet.
Abernethy tries to clinch up but Leben circles away and keeps his distance.
Leben misses with an uppercut. Abernethy saw that one coming.
Abernethy lands a nice looking body shot.
Abernethy gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Leben counters with a left and a right that stings Abernethy.

Abernethy shoots in and bounces Leben off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Abernethy pushing down on Leben's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Leben looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leben is refusing to be controlled, as Abernethy sits in half guard.
Leben is trying to control but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Leben looking for submissions off his back.
Abernethy thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Abernethy stops Leben from getting back to his feet.
Abernethy tries to pass to full mount but Leben defends it.

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.
Abernethy is trying to control the action in half guard but Leben is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Abernethy.

Abernethy shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Abernethy controlling from mount.
Abernethy seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Leben is holding on tight.
Leben tries to hold on but Abernethy pushes him away.
Abernethy controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abernethy seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Leben for as long as he can get away with.
Leben tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Leben tries to hold on but Abernethy pushes him away.
Leben is looking to improve his position but Abernethy isn't that keen on the idea.
Abernethy can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Leben is looking to escape.

Abernethy stands up from mount. Strange move.
Abernethy tries to score a power double leg takedown but Leben sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Abernethy somewhat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Abernethy darts in trying to clinch
letting Leben counter with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Leben dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Garry Abernethy's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Abernethy tries for a takedown but Leben circles away easily
and Leben counters with a left and a right that stings Abernethy.
Garry Abernethy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Abernethy shoots in for a double leg but Leben sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Leben ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Chris Leben seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Leben lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Leben.
Leben misses with a double jab.
Chris Leben seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Abernethy shoots and misses
and Leben counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Garry Abernethy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Abernethy dodges the punch combination from Leben.
Abernethy has his takedown stuffed
and Leben counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Nice sprawl there from Abernethy as Leben shoots in.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Leben swats away the attempt to clinch by Abernethy.

Abernethy closes the distance and pushes Leben back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Abernethy successfully pulls guard.
Abernethy trying to strike off his back.

Leben stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Abernethy scores with a kick to the body.
Abernethy takes a head kick and keeps coming.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Leben is defended easily by Abernethy.
Leben looks to land a left hand but Abernethy moved out of range nicely.
Leben shoots in but Abernethy avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Abernethy moves in looking to clinch but Leben pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Abernethy clinches up with Leben and pushes him back against the cage.
Abernethy lands a right hand that snaps the head of Leben backwards.
Abernethy tries for a takedown. No joy.

Abernethy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Leben shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Leben is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Abernethy sees it coming and defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Abernethy is trying to stand up here but Leben is controlling him well.
Leben slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abernethy trying to control from the bottom.
Abernethy controlling the position for now.
Leben prevents Abernethy from improving his position.
Leben is thwarting Abernethy's attempts to control the position.
Abernethy wants to control but Leben passes into side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Abernethy is not content to let Leben control the position.
Leben lands a nice forearm strike.
Abernethy tries to improve position but can't.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Abernethy shoots in looking for a takedown. Leben tries to sprawl out of it but Abernethy keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Leben manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Abernethy forces Leben back against the cage and clinches.
Leben tries for a takedown but Abernethy manages to get underhooks.

Abernethy manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Leben showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Garry Abernethy's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Leben shoots and misses

and Abernethy counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Abernethy jumps guard and drags Leben to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Abernethy looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Abernethy thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Leben wants to control from the top but Abernethy keeps moving.
Abernethy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Leben is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Leben gets to his feet. Abernethy looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Abernethy shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Leben napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Abernethy decides to stand up, so the ref orders Leben to his feet.
Leben displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Abernethy.
Leben throws a head kick that misses

so Abernethy counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Leben looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Abernethy wanted to stand there but Leben had control of the position.
Leben tries to strike from the bottom.

Leben looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abernethy trying to control the position from guard on top but Leben is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Abernethy postures up.
Leben wants to get back to his feet but Abernethy is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Garry Abernethy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Abernethy gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Leben misses with a two punch combination.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Abernethy.
Abernethy misses with a takedown attempt - Leben sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Garry Abernethy. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Abernethy gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Abernethy has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Leben avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Leben is trying to break free.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Abernethy fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Leben is trying to break free.

Abernethy breaks from the clinch.
A head kick misses from Leben.
Leben swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Abernethy counters with a nice low kick that buckles Leben's knee momentarily.

Leben scores a takedown into full mount!
Leben lands a nice shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leben landing shots from mount.
Abernethy tries to lock up and control but Leben gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Abernethy is trying desperately to improve position.

Leben get's back to his feet.
Abernethy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Leben paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Abernethy fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck for Abernethy with that takedown attempt.
Garry Abernethy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chris Leben is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Leben throws a left and a right that both miss

and Abernethy counters with a single leg into guard. Leben didn't expect that.

And that's the end of the fight!
Garry Abernethy showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Leben has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Leben!