PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hitmon Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Haku Men (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
Men

195 cm
23
222 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

188 cm
25
205 lbs
10 - 8 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hitmon Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Haku Men!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Emerson Jorge and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Men looks to clinch

and Lee counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Lee.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Men throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Men is looking for a triangle but Lee pushes his legs off easily.
Lee trying to control but Men is working from the bottom.
Lee postures up and lands a big shot to Men's brow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lee postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Men has momentary wrist control but Lee slips an elbow through the middle.

Men is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lee is aware though and is defending well.
Lee seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Lee scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Men is looking for a triangle but Lee pushes his legs off easily.
Lee is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Men is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lee wants to control from the top but Men keeps moving.
Lee controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Men is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Men looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lee accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Lee scoring with punches to the head and body.

Men working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lee doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lee manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Lee's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Lee postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lee seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Lee wants to control from the top but Men keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Lee is looking to work some ground and pound but Men has wrist control.
Men is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lee connects with a couple of short punches.

Men is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lee defends well.

Men working for a triangle but Lee defends it easily.
Men preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Men being controlled here, momentarily.
Lee has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Lee trying to control but Men is working from the bottom.
Men wants to sweep but no luck.

Men is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lee is aware though and is defending well.
Lee is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Men working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lee doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lee manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lee working some strikes from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hitmon Lee dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Men uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lee.
Lee keeps the fight on the outside.
Men is looking to clinch.
Lee misses with a hook. Men ducked under it nicely.
Lee throws a body punch but Men moves out of range.
Lee tries to bum rush Men with a series of wild strikes but Men uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

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 looking to take a break and control but Men is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Men is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Men gets full guard.
Lee lands a couple of elbows.
Lee lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Lee postures up in Men's guard and throws a big left but Men blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Men looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Lee seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Lee avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Lee postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Lee with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Men working a defensive guard here.
Lee looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Men utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Men looking for a guillotine here but Lee defends easily.
Lee is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lee content to stall in guard here.
Lee trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Men is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lee throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Men works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Men keeping moving, preventing Lee from controlling successfully.

Men is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lee postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Lee looking to sit in guard and control but Men gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Lee trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Men drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Men jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Lee throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.
Men is fighting to break Lee's control of his arms but Lee is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Men sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Lee's guard.

Lee looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lee trying to control here.
Lee wants to improve his position but Men is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hitmon Lee dominated that second round.
That's time! Lee's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Men tries to clinch but Lee moves away
and Lee counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Men connects with a high kick.
Men is looking to clinch.
Men tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Lee manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lee cracks Men with an open hand slap.
Nice uppercut lands for Lee. That snapped Men's head back.
Lee keeps the fight on the outside.
Men wants to clinch but Lee slips to the side
and Lee counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Men tries to clinch but Lee is having none of it.
Lee swinging wildly here.
Lee checks a leg kick.
Lee misses with a wild body shot.
Men connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Lee circles away from the clinch attempt.
Men is looking to clinch but Lee is avoiding it.
Lee misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Men doesn't manage to clinch there - Lee circles away.

Men rushes Lee and presses him up against the cage.
The referee calls for Lee to work.
Lee tries to break the clinch but Men is controlling the position.
Men missing with knees to the body.
Lee blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lee leaning his opponent against the cage.
Lee lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Men with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lee takes a knee right on the jaw!
A knee to the head by Men.
Men unloads a knee to the mid-section. Lee lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Men tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Men takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee avoids the elbow strike from Men, against the cage.
Men creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A body shot lands from Lee.
Men throws an elbow but it's blocked.
The referee is keeping an eye on Lee - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Men using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lee has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Men tries to land a knee to the head but Lee blocks with his arms.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lee lands a left hand.
Lee lands an uppercut.
Men is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lee is defending well for now.
Lee lands a right hand that snaps the head of Men backwards.
Men looking to throw knees to the head but Lee is blocking nicely.

Lee lands a takedown into guard.
Men has momentary wrist control but Lee slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee works over Men with some ground and pound from guard.
Lee with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Lee avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Lee is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Men keeping moving, preventing Lee from controlling successfully.

Men looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hitmon Lee overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lee postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Haku Men has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee is in close to Men's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Lee trying to control but Men is working from the bottom.
Lee connects with a couple of short punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lee scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Lee landing with the ground and pound.
Hitmon Lee is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Men is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Lee's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lee preventing the sweep.
Lee postures up in Men's guard and throws a big left but Men blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hitmon Lee showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lee, 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27

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