PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andre Leftwich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Terry Overhood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Leftwich
vs
Overhood

186 cm
23
197 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

187 cm
23
198 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Andre Leftwich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Terry Overhood!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Dirk Anderson and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leftwich tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Overhood manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Overhood jabs Leftwich right on the nose. Leftwich blinks but takes it well.
Overhood scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Overhood rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Leftwich moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Overhood closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Overhood lands in his opponent's guard.

Leftwich working for a triangle but Overhood defends it easily.
Overhood throwing strikes but missing.
Overhood must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Leftwich keeping moving, preventing Overhood from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leftwich lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Overhood has his hands on Leftwich's head, controlling the position.

Leftwich drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Leftwich jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Leftwich stopping the sweep attempt from Overhood.
Leftwich trying to control the position from guard on top but Overhood is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Leftwich stops Overhood from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Leftwich throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Leftwich pushing down on Overhood's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Overhood is trying to stand.

Leftwich wants to work for an arm triangle but Overhood is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Overhood wants to get back to full guard.

Leftwich is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Leftwich stops Overhood from getting back to his feet.
Leftwich is keen to just control but Overhood is a slippery customer.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Leftwich seems to be looking for submissions.
Overhood really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Leftwich. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leftwich wants to control but Overhood is keeping him busy.

Leftwich is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Overhood has managed to free his arm - good work.
Leftwich sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Overhood defending well though.
Overhood is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Leftwich is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Leftwich definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Leftwich not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Overhood is looking to control Leftwich's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Overhood avoid being mounted?
Leftwich takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Leftwich is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Overhood sees it coming and defends easily.
Overhood keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Leftwich trying to control the action but Overhood is working from the bottom.
Leftwich works his way into full mount!
Overhood is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Leftwich looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Leftwich dominated that round.
That's time! Leftwich's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Leftwich shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Overhood looking to control.
Leftwich wants to control from the top but Overhood keeps moving.
Overhood wants to sweep but no luck.
Leftwich is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leftwich trying to control the position from guard on top but Overhood is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Leftwich is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Overhood is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Andre Leftwich overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Overhood wants to stand and escape but Leftwich is having none of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Overhood shoots in and gets a takedown into Leftwich's guard.

Leftwich is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Leftwich is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Leftwich looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Leftwich is trying to control the action in half guard but Overhood is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leftwich winds up and cracks Overhood with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Overhood has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Leftwich is working away from the top position though.

Leftwich stands up and beckons Overhood to join him on the feet.

Leftwich closes the distance and clinches.
Overhood working hard to break the clinch.

Overhood has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Leftwich is trying to keep an underhook but Overhood manages to get the takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Overhood prevents Leftwich from improving his position.
Overhood throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Leftwich to regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Leftwich pushes Overhood off and scrambles back to his feet.
A nice combination there by Leftwich.
Overhood throws a chopping leg kick but Leftwich manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Leftwich fails with a takedown attempt.
Leftwich's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Overhood connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Leftwich scrambles back to his feet.
Leftwich tries to clinch there but Overhood circles away.
Overhood tries to counter by closing the distance.

Leftwich rushes Overhood and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Overhood fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Leftwich sprawls well initially but Overhood persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Overhood thows a huge punch but Leftwich dodges it nicely.
Overhood is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Leftwich manages to get to full guard.
Leftwich has a closed guard, preventing Overhood from standing up.

Leftwich looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Overhood trying to control the position from guard on top but Leftwich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Leftwich dominated that second 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. And we move into the final round!

Leftwich blocks a head kick by Overhood.
Overhood swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Overhood shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Overhood showed some decent athleticism there.
Leftwich makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Leftwich.
Leftwich looking to hit a scissor sweep but Overhood is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Leftwich has his foot on Overhood's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Overhood works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Leftwich is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Overhood looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Leftwich had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Overhood defends it easily.
Overhood is looking to work some ground and pound but Leftwich has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Overhood decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Leftwich, up you get!
Terry Overhood seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice jab there from Overhood.

Overhood dives in and scores a takedown into Leftwich's guard.
Leftwich has a closed guard, preventing Overhood from standing up.
Leftwich looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Overhood stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Leftwich swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Overhood postures up in Leftwich's guard and throws a big left but Leftwich blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Overhood stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Leftwich is trying hard to land a takedown here. Overhood sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Overhood throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Leftwich tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Overhood is in Leftwich's guard.

Leftwich has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Overhood has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Overhood takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Overhood tries to break the clinch but Leftwich is controlling the position.
Overhood is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Overhood manages to break the clinch.
Terry Overhood is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Overhood shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Leftwich eats them both and turns towards Overhood to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Leftwich moves in looking to clinch but Overhood pushes him off.

Leftwich gets caught napping as Overhood dives in and scores a takedown. Leftwich manages to retain guard.

Leftwich is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Leftwich is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Overhood can't fight it off and eventually Leftwich manages to take the fight to the floor. Overhood looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Overhood is trying to keep Leftwich in close.
Leftwich trying to control but Overhood is working from the bottom.
Overhood seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Terry Overhood has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Overhood has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Leftwich can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Andre Leftwich.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Leftwich, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:28
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andre Leftwich!