PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paul Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JC Hiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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
Hiro

180 cm
24
195 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

183 cm
21
186 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Paul Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, JC Hiro!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shigeki Fujiwara and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lee closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Lee is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hiro is just riding it out for now. Lee eventually gives up the hold.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hiro can do anything to dispel that myth.
Lee trying to control from half guard but Hiro is working away.
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.
Lee is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hiro is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Lee is looking to advance position but Hiro won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hiro is trying to control but can't.
Hiro keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hiro is trying to maintain the position but Lee is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Hiro gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hiro blocking some punches.
Hiro avoids a wild elbow strike from Lee.
Lee doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lee effectively controlling the action here.
Hiro blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

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.
Hiro wants to break the clinch but can't.
Lee slowing the pace effectively.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Hiro creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Lee displaying some good clinch control by pressing Hiro up against the ropes.
Lee gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
A nice left hand lands by Lee.
Hiro misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lee.
Lee is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Lee looking to throw knees to the head but Hiro is blocking nicely.
Hiro is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee misses with a body punch.
Lee looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hiro tries for a takedown. No joy.
Lee has Hiro pushed against the ropes.
Hiro blocks the elbow strike.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Lee.
Lee tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hiro's elbow.
Lee misses with a hook to the ribs.
Lee stops a takedown attempt from Hiro.
Paul Lee has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of JC Hiro.
Hiro managing to block the knees to the body from Lee.
Lee prevents a takedown attempt there.
Hiro avoiding damage as Lee throws knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
The referee is keeping an eye on Lee - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Hiro is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hiro has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hiro tries to score a body lock takedown but Lee shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Hiro goes for a takedown attempt but Lee pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Lee leaves Hiro with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Lee clinches.
Hiro can't get the takedown.
Hiro tries for a takedown but Lee manages to get underhooks.
Hiro looks gassed!
Hiro drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Lee gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Lee misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lee tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hiro avoids it.
Lee leaning against his opponent.
Hiro swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lee lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hiro backwards.
Hiro has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Lee avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Lee has Hiro pressed against the ropes.
Hiro is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Lee pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's six 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 stalling.
A short right from Lee.
The referee is keeping an eye on Lee - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Paul Lee.

Lee shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Lee controlling from the top position.
Lee stops Hiro from standing up.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Lee trying to control the position from guard on top but Hiro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hiro wants to stand up but Lee is controlling him.
Hiro can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lee controls the pace.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hiro looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lee is one step ahead there.
Lee slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Paul Lee.
Hiro swings for the body but Lee moves out of range.
Lee with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hiro counters with a nice double leg into side control. Lee won't be happy with that.
Sloppy strikes there by Hiro.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Lee regains half guard.
Lee moves into full guard.
Lee wants to improve his position but instead Hiro has moved into half guard.
Lee works his way to full guard. Good work.
Hiro throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lee works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hiro being controlled here momentarily.
Hiro preventing the sweep.
Hiro must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Lee trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Lee dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Lee shoots in and bounces Hiro off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Lee pushing down on Hiro's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hiro is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lee is looking to take a break and control but Hiro is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lee is controlling the pace.
Lee wants to free his trapped foot but Hiro is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Paul Lee.
Hiro dives in and grabs Lee's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lee pushes down on Hiro's head and hops out.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Lee is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hiro's half guard.

Lee is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Lee moves nicely into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee trying to control the position but Hiro is working away.

Lee tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Lee is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hiro knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lee is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hiro knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Lee in side control, throwing shots but Hiro defends.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hiro wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Lee trying to control the position but Hiro is working away.
Lee sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Hiro is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Lee tries for a kimura but Hiro is defending well.
Paul Lee overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lee scores with punches from side control.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Lee goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Hiro rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Lee's guard! Nice work there by Hiro!
Hiro trying to control but Lee is working from the bottom.
Hiro throws a big right hand that misses.
Lee has control of Hiro's left arm, preventing Hiro from doing any damage.
Hiro trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Lee looking to control.
Lee keeping moving, preventing Hiro from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Lee throws out a leg kick but Hiro moves out of range and Lee only half commits.
Lee has his takedown stuffed

and Hiro counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hiro.

Lee is looking for a triangle here but Hiro uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hiro lands a few punches from side control.
Lee is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Hiro is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Lee sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
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 Hiro is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hiro not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hiro missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Lee is looking to improve his position.
Lee desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Lee blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hiro.
Lee is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hiro's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hiro's back!
Hiro trying to control the hands but Lee breaks the grip.
Lee is controlling the position but Hiro somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
Lee seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hiro avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lee.
Lee working the head and body with strikes.
Hiro is staying active underneath Lee, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hiro taking some punishment here, with Lee in his half guard.
Lee performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Lee not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lee is looking to take a break and control but Hiro is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Lee seems content to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Paul Lee.
Lee has his takedown stuffed

and Hiro counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Lee throws a head punch that misses.
Hiro tries for a takedown. No joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Lee showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lee has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight for Paul Lee!
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Paul Lee!
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Paul Lee!

Paul Lee wins by unanimous decision!