PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bent Leikvold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Drake Saunders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Leikvold
vs
Saunders

170 cm
21
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bent Leikvold!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Drake Saunders!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saunders closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Leikvold is trying to maintain the position but Saunders is very close to passing his half guard.
Saunders looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Leikvold is defending against the submission attempts here by Saunders.
Saunders content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Leikvold avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Saunders.
Leikvold has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Saunders is working away from the top position though.
Leikvold is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leikvold slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Saunders looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Saunders must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Saunders stopping the sweep attempt from Leikvold.
Saunders showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Drake Saunders hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Leikvold stuffs the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saunders dives in and scores a takedown into Leikvold's guard.
Leikvold not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Saunders trying to control but Leikvold is working from the bottom.
Saunders tries to stand but Leikvold is controlling from the bottom.
Leikvold keeping moving, preventing Saunders from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Drake Saunders wasn't active enough on the ground.
Saunders misses with a takedown attempt - Leikvold sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Saunders looks gassed!

Leikvold gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Saunders to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Leikvold trying to control the position.
Saunders being controlled here momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leikvold keeping moving, preventing Saunders from controlling successfully.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Leikvold is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

We're going to have a standup here because Bent Leikvold wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Saunders has managed to clinch.

Saunders manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Leikvold drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Leikvold jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Leikvold might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Saunders wants to stand up but Leikvold is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Drake Saunders dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Leikvold avoids the body shot from Saunders.

Saunders gets a double leg takedown into Leikvold's guard.
Saunders wants to control from the top but Leikvold keeps moving.
Saunders seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Leikvold manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Saunders manages to get himself to full guard.

Leikvold drops back looking for a leg! Saunders is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Saunders manages to kick Leikvold off! Leikvold jumps back into Saunders's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leikvold works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Saunders really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Leikvold. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Saunders is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saunders trying to hold on to Leikvold's head to control him but Leikvold postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Leikvold is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Leikvold is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Leikvold wants to work for an arm triangle but Saunders is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Saunders trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Saunders wants to hold on but Leikvold pushes him away.
Saunders is breathing heavily.
Saunders is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Saunders has left one of his arms exposed and Leikvold doesn't need a second invitation. He's isolated it and locked on a tight armbar. Saunders screams and taps out, obviously in a lot of pain. Hopefully there isn't permanent damage to that arm.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:02 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Bent Leikvold!