PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chris Arnold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jordan McLeod (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Chris Arnold has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Arnold
vs
McLeod

175 cm
25
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

176 cm
23
165 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chris Arnold!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jordan McLeod!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arnold throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around McLeod's waist but McLeod gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Arnold off to one side.
Chris Arnold seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arnold has a takedown stuffed.
Arnold throws a head kick that misses.
McLeod steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Arnold.
Arnold feints a jab promting McLeod to slip. Arnold then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. McLeod slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Arnold lands a two punch combo.
Some wild striking there from Arnold.

McLeod fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Arnold to the ground. McLeod is now in Arnold's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McLeod accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McLeod wants to control from the top but Arnold keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLeod postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Arnold keeping moving, preventing McLeod from controlling successfully.
McLeod throws a big right hand that misses.
McLeod looking to pass the guard.
Arnold keeping moving, preventing McLeod from controlling successfully.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
McLeod has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Arnold utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Arnold dives in for a single leg takedown but McLeod sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Arnold. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Arnold fails to land with a series of punches.
McLeod steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Arnold.
Arnold throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
McLeod keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Arnold is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McLeod rushes Arnold and presses him up against the cage.
McLeod goes for a takedown in the clinch but Arnold prevents it.
McLeod pushes Arnold back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
McLeod struggles to land a body shot inside as Arnold controls his hands.
McLeod tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Arnold avoids it.
McLeod tries to throw a body punch but Arnold avoids it by throwing McLeod back against the cage.

McLeod breaks from the clinch.
Arnold misses with a body punch
and Arnold takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Arnold tries to score a power double leg takedown but McLeod sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Arnold somewhat.
McLeod tries to counter with a clinch but Arnold shakes him off and moves away.
Arnold throws a right and a left that McLeod avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
McLeod trying to land knees to the body.

McLeod has hold of one of Arnold's legs. Arnold is fighting the takedown attempt but McLeod gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

McLeod drops back looking for a leg! Arnold is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Arnold manages to kick McLeod off! McLeod jumps back into Arnold's guard.
Arnold keeping moving, preventing McLeod from controlling successfully.
McLeod postures up.
McLeod working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Arnold's head.
McLeod trying to control the position from guard on top but Arnold is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McLeod cracks Arnold with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McLeod with a nice head shot there.
Arnold is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst McLeod is controlling him.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Arnold is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Arnold knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for McLeod on the ground.
McLeod throwing strikes but missing.
We've been hearing good reports from Arnold's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Arnold is looking to stand up but McLeod isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Arnold misses with a double jab
and McLeod counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McLeod ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

McLeod closes the distance and pushes Arnold back into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jordan McLeod dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

McLeod is looking to clinch.
Arnold is looking for a counter combo.
A left and a right from Arnold both land. Nice combination.
Arnold fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
McLeod looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Arnold tries to keep at a distance but McLeod has taken the fight into the clinch.
Arnold can't break the clinch.
McLeod wants to take the fight to the mat but Arnold manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Arnold wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Arnold blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Arnold blocks an elbow strike.
McLeod looking to slow down the pace here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McLeod landing knees to the body.
McLeod lands a good knee to the midsection. Arnold won't want to take too many of those.

Arnold breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A combination from Arnold does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McLeod drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Arnold has momentary wrist control but McLeod slips an elbow through the middle.
McLeod with a flurry of punches that miss.
McLeod is pushing down on Arnold's leg trying to pass to half guard. Arnold is fighting to maintain full guard but McLeod has managed to sneak the leg through.
McLeod is trying to control the action in half guard but Arnold is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Arnold tries to get to full guard but McLeod has control of the leg.
McLeod seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Arnold does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Arnold keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
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. McLeod connects with a nice short shot to Arnold's temple.
McLeod trying to control from half guard but Arnold is working away.
Arnold wants to improve his position but McLeod is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLeod throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Arnold is looking to escape.

McLeod is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Arnold has managed to free his arm - good work.
McLeod throws a strike but Arnold avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
McLeod throws a big right hand that misses.
McLeod showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
McLeod working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
McLeod is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLeod postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Arnold wants to stand up but McLeod is controlling him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Arnold tries to close the distance and clinch but McLeod swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
McLeod dodges the punch combination from Arnold.
McLeod is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Arnold with a body shot.
McLeod misses with a takedown attempt - Arnold sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Arnold throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McLeod.
Arnold throws a combination that misses
and McLeod counters with a nice body shot.
Arnold misses with a two punch combination.
It seemed like McLeod was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
McLeod ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Arnold moves away.

McLeod shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Arnold is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst McLeod is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McLeod working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Arnold's head.
McLeod throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McLeod pushes down on Arnold's leg and manages to get into half guard.
McLeod slows the pace down in half guard.

McLeod is trying to work for a kimura but Arnold is defending well.
McLeod not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
McLeod has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Arnold kicks McLeod off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jordan McLeod showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Arnold throws a hook but McLeod blocks it.
Arnold tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McLeod manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
McLeod circles away from the clinch attempt.

Arnold gets caught napping as McLeod dives in and scores a takedown. Arnold manages to retain guard.
Arnold working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McLeod.
Arnold keeping moving, preventing McLeod from controlling successfully.
McLeod is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
McLeod passes Arnold's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Jordan McLeod has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McLeod not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Arnold is looking to improve his position.

McLeod is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Arnold has managed to free his arm - good work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLeod trying to control the action but Arnold is working from the bottom.
McLeod working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
McLeod sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Arnold defending well though.
McLeod sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Arnold is looking to control McLeod's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Arnold avoid being mounted?
McLeod tries to pass the half guard into mount. Arnold knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

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.
McLeod wants to lay and pray for a moment but Arnold keeps working.
McLeod working Arnold over with strikes.
McLeod stalling.
McLeod not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
McLeod tries to close the distance and clinch up but Arnold swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Arnold half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
McLeod keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Arnold's efforts to push away.
Arnold blocks an elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McLeod lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Arnold scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but McLeod manages to mount him!
McLeod trying to control but he's not successful this time.
McLeod lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Arnold tries to hold on but McLeod postures up.
McLeod misses with a head shot.
McLeod lands a big elbow.
McLeod lands with some strikes.
McLeod unloads with some shots from mount but Arnold bucks and avoids them well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arnold wants to control but McLeod is having none of it.
McLeod throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Arnold because McLeod loaded up on that one.
BOOM! McLeod connects with a massive shot to the dome!
McLeod lands a big elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

McLeod looking to secure an arm triangle but Arnold defends it well.
Arnold is working to get back to half guard.
McLeod lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McLeod unloading with bombs!
Chris Arnold has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jordan McLeod is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
McLeod tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jordan McLeod comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got McLeod 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jordan McLeod!
Jordan McLeod tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.