PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dominique Leblanc (ranked 24959 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mahmud Zeynalli (ranked 6567 p4p, 0 weight class). Dominique Leblanc has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Leblanc
vs
Zeynalli

175 cm
25
162 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dominique Leblanc!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mahmud Zeynalli!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Valeri Chadov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zeynalli fails with the takedown

and Leblanc moves into the clinch.
Leblanc lands a hook that snaps the head of Zeynalli backwards.

Leblanc pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zeynalli throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Zeynalli looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Leblanc gets full guard.
Leblanc seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Leblanc is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Zeynalli is controlling him.
Zeynalli throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leblanc wants to stand but Zeynalli is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zeynalli lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Zeynalli is fighting to break Leblanc's control of his arms but Leblanc is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Zeynalli trying to control the position from guard on top but Leblanc is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zeynalli with a flurry of punches that miss.

Leblanc manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Leblanc has clasped his hands together around Zeynalli's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Zeynalli throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Leblanc stands up and we're back to a striking position.
A swing and a miss from Zeynalli.
Mahmud Zeynalli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zeynalli fails to land the takedown.
Zeynalli tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Leblanc is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Zeynalli.
Zeynalli scores with a sloppy right hand. Leblanc should have avoided that one.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Zeynalli throws a right and a left that Leblanc avoids nicely.
Zeynalli tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Leblanc defends well and Zeynalli ends up having to push Leblanc into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Dominique Leblanc has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mahmud Zeynalli.
Zeynalli smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zeynalli dives in for a single leg takedown but Leblanc sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A quick step to the side and Leblanc tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zeynalli looks winded!
Zeynalli moves in looking to clinch but Leblanc pushes him off.
Zeynalli tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zeynalli dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Leblanc. That did some damage!
Leblanc fails with the takedown.
Zeynalli fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Leblanc avoids it really well and circles away.
Leblanc is looking to counter the offense by Zeynalli and move into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zeynalli tries to close the distance and clinch but Leblanc swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Leblanc looks to land a combination but Zeynalli avoids it well.
Nice sprawl there from Leblanc as Zeynalli shoots in.
Leblanc is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Zeynalli.
Leblanc throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zeynalli fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zeynalli tries to clinch up but Leblanc circles away and keeps his distance.
Leblanc shoots in for a takedown but Zeynalli shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Zeynalli jabs Leblanc right on the nose. Leblanc blinks but takes it well.
Leblanc stuffs the takedown.
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 Dominique Leblanc will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Leblanc takes the fight into the clinch.
Leblanc is trying to push Zeynalli away but Zeynalli has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Zeynalli can't get the takedown.
Leblanc avoiding damage.
Leblanc has Zeynalli pushed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Leblanc's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Come on Leblanc - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Leblanc manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zeynalli throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Dominique Leblanc has been cut.
Zeynalli dives in and grabs Leblanc's left leg, looking for a takedown. Leblanc pushes down on Zeynalli's head and hops out.
Leblanc shoots in but Zeynalli avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zeynalli moves out of range of the body kick.
Leblanc sets himself, and Zeynalli steps forward looking for the clinch! Leblanc avoids it this time.
Zeynalli darts in looking for a takedown but Leblanc gets double underhooks and turns Zeynalli into the cage.
Leblanc is looking to counter the offense by Zeynalli and move into the clinch.
Dominique Leblanc has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mahmud Zeynalli.
Zeynalli fails with a takedown attempt.
Zeynalli is breathing heavily.
Zeynalli tries to clinch there but Leblanc circles away.
Zeynalli lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Zeynalli throws a leg kick

and Leblanc counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Leblanc.
Zeynalli tries to pull guard but Leblanc forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zeynalli tries to pull guard but Leblanc holds him up against the cage and eventually Zeynalli drops back down to his feet.
Leblanc is stalling here.
Leblanc displaying some good clinch control by pressing Zeynalli up against the cage.
Zeynalli is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Leblanc stalls.
Leblanc leaning his opponent against the cage.
Zeynalli is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Leblanc to keep the fight standing.

Zeynalli's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zeynalli throws a body kick, spinning off balance

so Leblanc counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Leblanc gets to his feet. Zeynalli looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Leblanc throws a body punch but Zeynalli moves out of range.
Zeynalli has his takedown stuffed

and Leblanc counters by moving into the clinch.
Leblanc scores with a shot to the side of Zeynalli's head.

Leblanc has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Zeynalli uses from the top position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Leblanc is on top in guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Leblanc makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Leblanc postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zeynalli is working an open guard so Leblanc takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Zeynalli uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Leblanc.
Zeynalli fails with a takedown attempt.
Mahmud Zeynalli seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Leblanc throws a right hand that Zeynalli ducks under and follows up with a left that Zeynalli also avoids with ease.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zeynalli looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zeynalli throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Leblanc counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominique Leblanc dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Dominique Leblanc's cut.
That's time! Leblanc's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Leblanc misses with a body kick.
Zeynalli scoring well with a low kick there.
Dominique Leblanc is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zeynalli throws a series of strikes that have Leblanc backpedaling.
Leblanc avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zeynalli fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zeynalli shoots and misses

and Leblanc counters by moving into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zeynalli is trying to maintain a safe position but Leblanc gets an underhook and turns Zeynalli into the cage.
Zeynalli has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Leblanc after a bit of a struggle.
Leblanc trying to land knees to the body.
Zeynalli takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Leblanc displaying some good clinch control by pressing Zeynalli up against the cage.

Leblanc jumps guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zeynalli wants to pass the guard but Leblanc is keeping the position.
Leblanc lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Leblanc is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Leblanc gets to his feet. Zeynalli looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Zeynalli fails with the takedown

and Leblanc holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Dominique Leblanc has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mahmud Zeynalli.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Leblanc manages to pull guard.
Leblanc wants to stand and escape but Zeynalli is having none of it.
Leblanc is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zeynalli can do to turn this around?
Zeynalli is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Leblanc manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zeynalli manages to get himself to full guard.

Leblanc postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Zeynalli wants to control the position but Leblanc says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Leblanc is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Leblanc is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leblanc seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Leblanc looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Leblanc is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zeynalli is looking to control Leblanc's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zeynalli avoid being mounted?
Zeynalli is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Leblanc is staying active.
Leblanc seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Zeynalli has a hand on Leblanc's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Leblanc takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Mahmud Zeynalli has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dominique Leblanc is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zeynalli tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dominique Leblanc showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Leblanc, 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dominique Leblanc!