PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rock Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Stroganovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Lee
vs
Stroganovic

189 cm
25
189 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Valhalla 160
Valhalla 160

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rock Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Igor Stroganovic!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stroganovic tries to bum rush Lee with a series of wild strikes but Lee uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rock Lee seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lee tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Stroganovic counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Stroganovic.
Stroganovic throws an elbow that misses.
Stroganovic wants to break free but Lee has control.
Stroganovic misses with a knee to the head.

Stroganovic breaks from the clinch.

Stroganovic closes the distance and clinches.
Stroganovic takes a knee to the side of the body.
Stroganovic looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Stroganovic with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

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

Lee drops Stroganovic with a beautiful combination! Stroganovic stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Lee is looking for the KO!

Stroganovic is rocked!

It looks like Igor Stroganovic has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Stroganovic tries to keep at a distance but Lee has taken the fight into the clinch.
Stroganovic is still on wobbly legs! Can Lee finish him?
Stroganovic has had enough of the clinch but Lee keeps him there for the moment.
Stroganovic seems to have recovered his senses.
Stroganovic throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lee blocks it with crossed arms.

Stroganovic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lee wants to clinch

and Stroganovic counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Stroganovic tries to stall but Lee uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Stroganovic throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lee tries to break the clinch but Stroganovic is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stroganovic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Lee moves into the clinch.
Lee stalling the fight.

Stroganovic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stroganovic keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lee wants to clinch.
Lee tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Stroganovic counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Stroganovic.
Stroganovic blocks an elbow strike.
Stroganovic with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Lee is trying to stall.
Stroganovic has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Lee misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stroganovic.

Lee breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stroganovic tries to clinch there but Lee circles away.
Stroganovic fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stroganovic circles away from the clinch attempt

and Stroganovic holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Stroganovic manages to break the clinch.
Igor Stroganovic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lee shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Stroganovic but Stroganovic pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Lee shoots in looking for a takedown but Stroganovic manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lee's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rock Lee. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stroganovic fails with an attempt to clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lee tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Stroganovic clinches up with Lee and pushes him back against the cage.
Stroganovic tries to break the clinch but Lee is controlling the position.
Lee tries to pull guard but Stroganovic forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Lee takes a knee right on the jaw!
Lee tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Stroganovic avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stroganovic using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lee has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Stroganovic throws an elbow that misses.

Stroganovic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lee takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Lee lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Lee walks forward, straight into a front kick from Stroganovic.
Lee is breathing heavily.

Stroganovic clinches up against the cage.
Stroganovic landing knees to the head.
Stroganovic with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Lee with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stroganovic tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lee throws an elbow but it's blocked.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lee blocks an elbow strike.
Stroganovic holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Lee landing knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stroganovic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Left hook, right uppercut from Lee.
Lee is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stroganovic tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lee paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lee tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stroganovic paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stroganovic doesn't manage to clinch there - Lee circles away.
Stroganovic keeps the fight on the outside.
Stroganovic avoids the head kick by Lee.
Stroganovic misses with the combination.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lee takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Lee has closed the distance and engaged Stroganovic in a clinch.
Stroganovic is trying to break the clinch but Lee has him pressed against the cage.
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 Rock Lee will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Igor Stroganovic's cut.
That's time! Lee's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Stroganovic swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rock Lee is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stroganovic tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lee takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Stroganovic tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stroganovic looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lee tries to clinch but Stroganovic is having none of it.

Lee moves into the clinch.
Stroganovic has a couple of punches blocked by Lee.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Lee creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Stroganovic manages to break the clinch.

Stroganovic gets a clinch.
Lee jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Stroganovic walks away with a smile on his face. Lee gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Stroganovic tries to clinch but Lee is having none of it.

Lee rushes Stroganovic and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Stroganovic.
Lee is trying to break free.
Stroganovic throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Stroganovic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stroganovic fails with an attempt to clinch.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Stroganovic in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Lee shoots in but Stroganovic avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Stroganovic tries to clinch up but Lee circles away and keeps his distance.
Stroganovic throws a hook to the side of Lee's head but Lee sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
No joy there for Lee, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Stroganovic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lee is trying hard to land a takedown here. Stroganovic sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rock Lee. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stroganovic clinches with his opponent.

Stroganovic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stroganovic tries to clinch but Lee moves away
and Lee counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Lee moves in looking to clinch but Stroganovic pushes him off.
Stroganovic swats away the attempt to clinch by Lee.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Stroganovic tries to clinch there but Lee circles away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stroganovic displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lee.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lee circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stroganovic lands a nice looking kick to the body. Lee takes a step back to recover.
Lee blocks a head kick by Stroganovic.
Stroganovic wants to clinch up but Lee keeps it at a distance.
Lee tries to close the distance and clinch but Stroganovic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Stroganovic has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stroganovic throws an elbow but it misses.
Lee blocking some punches.
Stroganovic wants to stall.

Stroganovic breaks from the clinch.
Lee moves to clinch but Stroganovic breaks away

and Stroganovic counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Stroganovic.
Stroganovic misses with a hook from the clinch.

Stroganovic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lee shoots in and drives through. Stroganovic sprawls well.
Stroganovic will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Lee tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Stroganovic manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Stroganovic looks for the body kick but Lee saw that one coming.
Stroganovic looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Stroganovic fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stroganovic looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lee throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Lee drives through and clinches with Stroganovic against the cage.
Igor Stroganovic seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Lee is struggling to control the position.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Stroganovic.
Lee lands a body punch.
Lee tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Stroganovic breaks from the clinch.

Lee takes the fight into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stroganovic on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Stroganovic prevents a body shot from Lee.

Stroganovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rock Lee is winning the standup battle so far.
Stroganovic swats away the attempt to clinch by Lee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Stroganovic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Igor Stroganovic's cut.
That's time! Lee's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Stroganovic doesn't manage to clinch there - Lee circles away.
Lee doesn't manage to clinch there - Stroganovic circles away.
Lee blocks a low kick nicely.
Stroganovic wants to clinch up but Lee keeps it at a distance.
Lee doesn't manage to clinch there - Stroganovic circles away.
Lee tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Stroganovic manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lee lands a right hook to the body.
Lee tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Stroganovic counters by moving into the clinch.
Lee lands a left hand that snaps the head of Stroganovic backwards.
Stroganovic keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lee's efforts to push away.
Lee lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Lee scores with a knee to the head.
Lee throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stroganovic blocks it with crossed arms.

Stroganovic manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stroganovic tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lee swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lee pushes Stroganovic away with a front kick.
Stroganovic circles away from the clinch attempt
and Stroganovic counters with a nice kick to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stroganovic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lee tries to clinch up.
Lee shoots in and drives through. Stroganovic sprawls well.
Stroganovic falls off balance throwing a combination
and Lee counters with a stiff right hand.
Stroganovic looks for the body kick but Lee saw that one coming.

Stroganovic takes the fight into the clinch.

Stroganovic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stroganovic tries to close the distance and clinch but Lee swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Stroganovic clinches up with Lee and pushes him back against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Stroganovic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stroganovic tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lee tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lee shoots in but no luck this time.
Stroganovic tries to clinch there but Lee circles away.

Lee rushes Stroganovic and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Stroganovic landing knees to the head.

Stroganovic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stroganovic misses with a wild combination.
Stroganovic swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Stroganovic tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lee swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Stroganovic clinches with his opponent.
Lee tries to work over Stroganovic's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Stroganovic manages to break the clinch.
Lee tries to clinch up.
Stroganovic stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stroganovic wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rock Lee. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stroganovic is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lee tries to clinch up.

Stroganovic has Lee up against the cage in a clinch.

Lee breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stroganovic fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lee tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stroganovic paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lee keeps the fight on the outside.
Stroganovic keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Stroganovic fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lee, pushing him back against the cage.
Stroganovic misses with a knee to the head.
Stroganovic doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Stroganovic tries to stall but Lee uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Stroganovic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stroganovic clobbers Lee with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lee tries to bum rush Stroganovic with a series of wild strikes but Stroganovic uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lee wants to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Igor Stroganovic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Stroganovic has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Igor Stroganovic!
Post fight, Igor Stroganovic stared into the camera and said 'I break all. Give me new meatbag.'.