PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Van Leeder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kova Naama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leeder comes to the cage accompanied by Pantera - Cowboys From Hell. Naama has chosen The Undivine - Satellite Monarchy as his entrance music. Both these fighters had to take extra time to make weight as they missed the initial 185lb limit. Van Leeder came in at 186.1 and Kova Naama came in at 186.4 but after the extra two hours, both guys managed to get within the one pound allowance. No doubt it will have affected them physically though, so let's see if that has an impact on the fight. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Leeder
vs
Naama

200 cm
22
200 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

187 cm
18
201 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite 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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Van Leeder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kova Naama!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Bruno Lombardi and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Naama tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Leeder paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kova Naama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Naama is looking to clinch.
Naama fails in his attempt to clinch.
Naama tries to close the distance and clinch but Leeder swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Naama looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Naama tries to clinch up.
Naama doesn't manage to clinch there - Leeder circles away.
The fighters circle momentarily. Leeder darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

It looks like Kova Naama has been cut.
Leeder swats away the attempt to clinch by Naama.
Leeder circles away from the clinch attempt.
Leeder circles away from the clinch attempt
and Leeder counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Naama tries to close the distance and clinch up but Leeder swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Naama moves in looking to clinch but Leeder pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naama tries to close the distance and clinch up but Leeder swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Leeder circles away from the clinch attempt.

Leeder shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Naama napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Naama tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Leeder will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Leeder takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Naama is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Naama is working to get back to half guard.
Leeder avoids the attempt from Naama to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leeder controlling his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Leeder is working for a guillotine from mount but Naama frees his head quite easily.
Naama tries to hold on but Leeder postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leeder controlling from mount.
Leeder fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Leeder working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Leeder controlling his opponent.
Leeder looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That has opened up Kova Naama's cut even more.
Naama really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Leeder. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Leeder with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naama tries to hold on but Leeder postures up.
Leeder looking to control and managing it successfully.
Naama is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Naama takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Van Leeder dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kova Naama's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Naama tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Leeder paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Leeder moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Naama tries to clinch but Leeder is having none of it.
Naama moves forwards but Leeder connects with a nice, crisp jab.

The cut above Kova Naama's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Leeder's jab looks to have found its range, popping Naama under the eye.
Van Leeder is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Naama tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Leeder counters by clinching up.
Leeder has had enough of the clinch but Naama keeps him there for the moment.
A shot in the inside from Naama.
A body shot lands from Naama.
Leeder struggles to land a body shot inside as Naama controls his hands.
Naama lands a left hand.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Leeder just misses with a elbow thrown towards Naama's brow.
Naama lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leeder is looking to control Naama's arms but Naama gets an underhook and turns him. Now Leeder has his back to the cage.
Leeder tries to break free but Naama pushes him back against the cage.
Leeder tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Naama just stands there and leans against the cage.
Leeder tries to pull guard but Naama forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Leeder tries a body shot but Naama blocks it.
Leeder's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Naama doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A shot in the inside from Naama.
Leeder looking to stall.
Leeder blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Naama lands a right hand that snaps the head of Leeder backwards.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Naama as Leeder tries to tie him up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Naama.
Naama lands a hook that snaps the head of Leeder backwards.
Naama is struggling to control the position.
Naama lands an elbow inside that Leeder shrugs off.
Naama scores with a shot to the side of Leeder's head.
Naama swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Naama doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Leeder letting Naama take a breather here.
Naama lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Naama throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leeder wants to break the clinch but can't.
Naama swings wildly with an uppercut but Leeder uses good head movement to avoid it.

Leeder pulls guard.
Leeder has a closed guard, preventing Naama from standing up.
Leeder has control of Naama's left arm, preventing Naama from doing any damage.
Naama must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Naama is looking to stand up but Leeder won't let him.
Naama wants to stand and escape but instead Leeder has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naama being controlled here, momentarily.
Leeder postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Naama moves into range and clinches up with Leeder.
Naama misses with an elbow over the top.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Leeder is trying to break free.
Leeder is trying to break the clinch but Naama is controlling him.
Naama keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Leeder's efforts to push away.
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 Van Leeder will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kova Naama's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Naama fails with an attempt to clinch.
Leeder lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Leeder keeps the fight on the outside.

Leeder has taken the fight to the clinch.
Leeder wants to stall.
Leeder misses with a punch to the body.
Leeder has had enough of the clinch but Naama keeps him there for the moment.
Leeder wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Naama fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Naama gets through Leeder's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Naama misses with a hook from the clinch.
Naama lands an elbow inside that Leeder shrugs off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leeder slows down the pace here.
Naama makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Leeder is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Naama is defending well for now.
Naama doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Naama working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Leeder is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Naama.
Kova Naama seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Naama misses with a short punch on the inside.
Naama lands a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naama tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Naama.
Naama lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Leeder tries to throw a body punch but Naama avoids it by throwing Leeder back against the cage.
Leeder is looking to break free of the clinch but Naama has double underhooks.
The referee calls for Naama to work.
Naama is trying to stall.
Naama lands a body punch in the clinch.
Leeder is trying to force a seperation but Naama has the dominant position.
Leeder is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Naama lands a hook that snaps the head of Leeder backwards.

Leeder is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naama lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Leeder backwards.
Oh Leeder is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Naama unloads with a big right hand that wobbles Leeder! He's leaning against the cage trying to keep his feet but Naama is unloading with more strikes now! Leeder drops to his knees and the referee stops the fight for a TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:17 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kova Naama!
Kova Naama bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.