PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bernie McLeod (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Freese (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McLeod comes into the arena with Flower of Scotland blaring out of the sound system. Freese has chosen I'm Sexy And I Know It as his entrance music. Craig Freese has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Bernie McLeod's chin.

McLeod
vs
Freese

188 cm
22
182 lbs
7 - 3 - 1

178 cm
28
192 lbs
18 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Bernie McLeod!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Craig Freese!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McLeod misses with a lunging right hand

and Freese moves into the clinch.
Freese avoiding damage.
McLeod can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freese will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning McLeod up against the cage.
McLeod wants to get back to striking at distance but Freese won't allow it.
McLeod tries to break free but Freese pushes him back against the cage.
McLeod tries to break free but Freese pushes him back against the cage.
Freese stalling.

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.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Craig Freese.
McLeod throws an off balance right hand
and Freese makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
A cross from McLeod lands.

It looks like Craig Freese has been cut.
McLeod misses with a right hand
and Freese counters with a thumping low kick.
McLeod rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Freese counters with a nice leg kick.
McLeod swings widly with a right hand
and Freese counters with a slapping leg kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Freese.
Freese is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McLeod misses with a left hand
and Freese counters with a nice leg kick.

Freese rushes McLeod and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
McLeod is trying to force a seperation but Freese has the dominant position.
McLeod wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLeod is trying to push Freese away but Freese has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
McLeod has had enough of the clinch but Freese keeps him there for the moment.
McLeod wants to break the clinch but can't.
McLeod wants to break the clinch but can't.
McLeod wants to break the clinch but can't.
McLeod looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
McLeod looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McLeod wants to break free but Freese has control.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
McLeod tries to circle away but Freese has him pinned against the cage.
McLeod blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Freese displaying some good clinch control by pressing McLeod up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bernie McLeod will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Craig Freese's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Freese walks into a stiff left hand from McLeod.
The fight stays on the outside here - Freese looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
McLeod looks to throw the jab but Freese is out of range.
McLeod checks the leg kick nicely there.
McLeod throws a hook to the side of Freese's head but Freese sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Freese connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Bernie McLeod seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McLeod misses with a lunging right hand
and Freese counters with an inside leg kick.
Freese throws a leg kick but McLeod sees it coming and checks it nicely.
McLeod works the jab nicely.
McLeod throws an off balance right hand

and Freese counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Freese.
Freese keeps control of McLeod as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLeod wants to break the clinch but can't.
McLeod looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Freese content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Freese keeps the fight in the clinch, despite McLeod's efforts to push away.
McLeod wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Freese has McLeod pushed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on Freese's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
McLeod wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Freese has him pressed against the cage.
Freese stalls.
McLeod wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Freese has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freese keeps control of McLeod as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

McLeod breaks the clinch.
McLeod throws a lazy uppercut
and Freese counters with a low kick, right behind McLeod 's knee.
McLeod is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Freese.
Freese ducks under a wild hook from McLeod.
Freese dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on McLeod. That did some damage!
McLeod is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Freese throws a leg kick but McLeod sees it coming and moves out of range.
McLeod rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Freese counters with an inside leg kick.
McLeod throws a right hand that misses
and Freese counters with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freese keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McLeod.
Freese dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on McLeod. That did some damage!
McLeod rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Freese makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
McLeod misses with a lunging right hand
and Freese counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Freese looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
McLeod thows a left - swing and a miss!
McLeod throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Freese counters with a nice leg kick.
McLeod rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Freese counters with a slapping leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Freese lands a leg kick that knocks McLeod off balance momentarily.
McLeod throws an off balance right hand
and Freese counters with a thumping low kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McLeod on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Freese. Freese obviously looking to wear him down.
McLeod throws an off balance right hand
and Freese counters with a low kick, right behind McLeod 's knee.
McLeod swings widly with a right hand
and Freese makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
McLeod throws an overhand right that lands on Freese's shoulder, as Freese tries to avoid the shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Bernie McLeod will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Craig Freese's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

McLeod throws a right hand that misses
and Freese counters with a low kick, right behind McLeod 's knee.
McLeod misses with a hook

and Freese counters by moving into the clinch.
Freese content to slow the pace in the clinch.
McLeod wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLeod being controlled against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Craig Freese.
McLeod throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Freese counters with a low kick, right behind McLeod 's knee.
McLeod misses with an uppercut
and Freese counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
McLeod throws an off balance right hand
and Freese makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
McLeod misses with a right hand
and Freese counters with a nice leg kick.
Freese blocks a jab.
McLeod throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Freese sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McLeod misses with a right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLeod throws a right hand that misses

and Freese holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
McLeod has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Freese holding his opponent close, against the cage.
McLeod has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLeod tries to break the clinch but Freese is controlling the position.
Freese leaning his opponent against the cage.
McLeod wants to break the clinch but can't.

McLeod's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McLeod is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's four 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.
McLeod throws a right hand that misses
and Freese counters with an inside leg kick.
McLeod throws a right hand that misses
and Freese counters with a nice low kick that buckles McLeod's knee momentarily.
McLeod throws a right hand that misses
and Freese makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
McLeod misses with a right hand
and Freese counters with a nice low kick that buckles McLeod's knee momentarily.
McLeod getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
McLeod misses with a left hand
and Freese counters with a slapping leg kick.
McLeod throws a lazy uppercut
and Freese counters with an inside leg kick.
McLeod rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Freese counters with a good low kick that McLeod was not able to check.
McLeod throws an off balance right hand
and Freese counters with a good low kick that McLeod was not able to check.

Freese pushes McLeod up against the cage in a clinch.
McLeod wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Freese has McLeod pushed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Freese really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Craig Freese's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

McLeod scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A telegraphed right hand from McLeod misses the target.
McLeod throws a right hand that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
McLeod swings widly with a right hand
and Freese counters with a leg kick.
McLeod throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Freese is looking to slow McLeod down with leg kicks.
McLeod throws a shot from downtown. Freese moves away and avoids it.
McLeod throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Freese counters with a thumping low kick.

Freese moves into the clinch.
Freese is stalling here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLeod looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
McLeod managing to block the knees to the body from Freese.
McLeod wants to break free but Freese has control.
Freese taking a breather.

That's two 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.
Freese keeps control of McLeod as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Freese keeps the fight in the clinch, despite McLeod's efforts to push away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freese prevents McLeod from breaking the clinch.
Freese leaning against his opponent.
Freese prevents McLeod from breaking the clinch.
McLeod can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Freese keeps the fight in the clinch, despite McLeod's efforts to push away.
Stalling in the clinch from Freese.
Freese tries to land knees in the clinch but McLeod avoids the damage to the body.
McLeod tries to break free but Freese pushes him back against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Freese takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Craig Freese.
Freese lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Craig Freese will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Craig Freese's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

McLeod throws a right hand that misses
and Freese counters with an inside leg kick.
Freese tries to work over McLeod's front leg with a kick but McLeod checks it.
Freese moves forwards but McLeod connects with a nice, crisp jab.
McLeod throws a right hand that misses
and Freese counters with a leg kick.
McLeod rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Freese counters with a leg kick.
McLeod throws an off balance right hand
and Freese makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
McLeod misses with a hook
and Freese counters with a nice leg kick.
The fighters circling - McLeod throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
McLeod throws an off balance right hand
and Freese counters with a low kick, right behind McLeod 's knee.
McLeod throws an off balance right hand
and Freese counters with a slapping leg kick.
McLeod misses with an uppercut
and Freese counters with a low kick, right behind McLeod 's knee.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McLeod throws a right hand that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Freese doesn't manage to clinch there - McLeod circles away.
McLeod rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Freese counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLeod swings widly with a right hand
and Freese counters with a slapping leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Freese. That's going to slow McLeod down.
Freese lands a leg kick that knocks McLeod off balance momentarily.
McLeod throws a lazy uppercut
and Freese counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
McLeod rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Freese moves into the clinch.
Freese stalling the fight.
Freese continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Craig Freese seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLeod is trying to force a seperation but Freese has the dominant position.
McLeod tries to circle away but Freese has him pinned against the cage.
Freese leaning against his opponent.
Freese keeps the fight in the clinch, despite McLeod's efforts to push away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLeod looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Freese prevents McLeod from breaking the clinch.
Freese misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from McLeod.
Freese is stalling here.

That's four 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.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Craig Freese.
McLeod misses with an uppercut. Freese saw that one coming.
McLeod swings widly with a right hand

and Freese counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Freese.
Freese keeps the fight in the clinch, despite McLeod's efforts to push away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McLeod wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Craig Freese.
I think Freese 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 49:46
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 48:48
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 47:49

The fight is ruled a draw!