PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hiroshiki Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aruneru Hero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hiroshiki Lee had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 146.4lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lee
vs
Hero

150 cm
22
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
152 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiroshiki Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Aruneru Hero!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Lee as Hero shoots in.
Lee shoots in for a takedown but Hero shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Lee digs a right hand underneath Hero's ribcage. Hero let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Lee tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hero just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Hero misses with a knee strike.
Lee blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hero is pressed up against the ropes. Lee has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hero down to the mat. Hero avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hiroshiki Lee. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hero moves into the clinch successfully.
Hero throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lee blocks it with crossed arms.

Lee has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hero uses from the top position.
Hero wants to pass the guard but Lee is keeping the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hero accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lee throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Lee is looking for a triangle but Hero pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Hero wants to control from the top but Lee keeps moving.
Hero looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Hero stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lee swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hero wants to clinch.

Lee rushes Hero and presses him up against the ropes.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Hero just misses with a elbow thrown towards Lee's brow.
Lee jumps guard but Hero stands there with Lee around his waist. Lee gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hero tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Lee can't get the takedown.
Lee can't break the clinch.
Hero throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hero looks gassed!
Hero misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Lee tries to pull guard but Hero won't allow it.
Lee changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hero fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Hero closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Lee did well to prevent Hero getting side control.
Hero is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Hero is landing with some decent strikes but Lee is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Hero has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hero is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Lee could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hero is landing with some decent strikes but Lee is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Hero looking to finish with strikes here!
Hero blocks Lee's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Lee wants to control but Hero is having none of it.
Hero lands a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee is squirming around, avoiding Hero's attempts to control the action.
Hero cracks Lee with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Lee is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Lee is working hard here to advance position.
Hero with the ground and pound from mount.
Lee wants to use the ropes to get back to his feet here.
Hero takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hero fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hero lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Hero can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lee is looking to escape.
Hero avoids the attempt from Lee to control.
Hero can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lee is looking to escape.
Hero putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Hero landing strikes, looking to finish!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aruneru Hero dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hero tries for a takedown but Lee circles away easily

and Lee counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Lee stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hero swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hero is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hero wants to stand up but Lee is controlling him.
Hero looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hero is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hero is on top in guard.
Hero looking to pass the guard.
Hero slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Lee might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Lee looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hero works over Lee with some ground and pound from guard.
Hero stopping the sweep attempt from Lee.
Hero lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hero postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hero controlling from the top position.
Lee tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hero stops Lee from standing up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hero fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hiroshiki Lee is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hero shoots in for a takedown but Lee shows good takedown defense.
Hiroshiki Lee has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aruneru Hero.
No joy there for Hero, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lee stuffs the takedown attempt from Hero. Hero gets slowly back to his feet.
Lee tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hero closes the distance but Lee moves to the side

and Lee counters by moving into the clinch.
Hero tries to land a knee to the head but Lee blocks with his arms.
Hero has a couple of punches blocked by Lee.
Hero makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hero using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lee has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lee wants a takedown.
Hero gets underhooks to prevent Lee's takedown attempt.
Hero connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lee's face.
Hero scores with a knee to the head.
Hero with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lee avoids the elbow strike from Hero, against the ropes.
Hero throws a head punch that misses.
Hero landing knees to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Lee.
Hero looking to throw knees to the head but Lee is blocking nicely.
Hero tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lee is looking to break free of the clinch but Hero has double underhooks.
Lee wants to break free but Hero has control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hero connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lee's face.
Lee missing with knees to the body.
Lee wants a takedown but no success here.
Hero gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Hero misses with a knee to the head.
Hero landing knees to the head.
Hero using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lee has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A short right from Hero.
Hero lands a good knee to the midsection. Lee won't want to take too many of those.
Lee is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hero lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Lee throws an elbow but misses.
Hero misses with a knee strike.
Hero throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lee blocks it with crossed arms.
Hero throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lee has Hero pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Hero manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Lee avoiding damage as Hero throws knees to the body.
Hero misses with an elbow over the top.
Lee is stalling here.
Hero connects with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiroshiki Lee dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Lee is looking to clinch but Hero is avoiding it.
Hero doesn't manage to clinch there - Lee circles away.
Lee shoots for a double leg takedown but Hero sprawls well. He's pushed Lee's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hero misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hero shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hero is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lee sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Lee has managed to clinch.
Lee lands a nice shot to the body.
Lee is trying to break free.
Lee wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hero landing knees to the head.
A short body shot lands from Hero as the two fighters clinch.
Hero lands an elbow just above Lee 's eye.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lee's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Hero misses with a knee strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hero lands a knee to the head.
Hero throws a punch but it's blocked by Lee.
Hero misses with a knee to the head.
Hero lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hero trying to land knees to the body.
Hero tries a knee to the head but Lee blocks it.
Lee pressing his opponent against the ropes.
Hero misses with a knee to the head.
Hero tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lee managing to block the knees to the body from Hero.
Lee trying to control the position but instead, Hero has worked for underhooks and has pushed Lee into the ropes.
Hero with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lee lands an uppercut.
Hero connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lee's face.
Hero tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hero tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lee is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Hero is keeping busy.
Hero using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hero tries a knee to the head but Lee blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Lee fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hero with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Lee manages to break the clinch.
Hero with a poor takedown

and Lee counters with a single leg into guard. Hero didn't expect that.
Hiroshiki Lee has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aruneru Hero.
Hero manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lee manages to get himself to full guard.
Hero passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Hero cracks Lee with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Lee sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Lee is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hero stops Lee from getting back to his feet.
Hero throwing shots but Lee is blocking nicely.
Hero is taking a breather. Lee says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Hero is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lee is just riding it out for now. Hero eventually gives up the hold.
Hero is keen to just control but Lee is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Hero instigates a clinch.
Hero lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lee backwards.
Hero throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lee blocks it with crossed arms.
Lee fails to pull guard.
Hero stops a takedown attempt from Lee.
Lee tries for a takedown but Hero manages to get underhooks.

Hero's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lee takes a kick to the side of the head.

Lee closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hero did well to prevent Lee getting side control.
Lee is trying to control. Hero wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hero misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Lee is looking to take a break and control but Hero is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hero flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Lee moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Hero.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hiroshiki Lee showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lee has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hiroshiki Lee!