PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mo Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karl Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lee comes to the cage accompanied by Snoop Dogg - Who Am I. 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
Banks

168 cm
26
143 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

169 cm
25
140 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Determined

Hell's Kitchen Lab Corp (159.49 $150)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mo Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Karl Banks!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lee misses with a hook. Banks ducked under it nicely.
Lee throws a looping overhand right but Banks ducks down to avoid it.
Sloppy strikes from Banks. Those never looked like landing.
Lee moves out of range of the strikes.

Banks gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Banks swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Banks scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Lee content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Banks doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Banks swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Banks lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Lee lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Lee tries to land a knee to the head but Banks blocks with his arms.
Lee leaning his opponent against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Lee.
Lee lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Lee working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee misses with an elbow over the top.
A head punch on the inside from Banks fails to land.
Lee misses with a punch to the body.
Lee trying to land knees to the body.
Banks doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Banks has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Banks misses with the head strike.
Lee utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Lee leaning against his opponent.
Nice body punch from Lee - that landed with a thud.
Lee trying to land knees to the body.
Lee lands an elbow just above Banks 's eye.
Lee lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Lee scores a nice knee to the body.
Lee manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A hook to the body from Lee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lee comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Lee blocks a body shot from Banks.

Banks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Banks misses with a two punch combination.

Banks pushes Lee up against the cage in a clinch.
Lee lands a hook that snaps the head of Banks backwards.
Banks being controlled against the cage.
Lee gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Banks on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Banks throws a punch but it's blocked by Lee.
Banks swings wildly with an uppercut but Lee uses good head movement to avoid it.
A right hook to the body lands for Lee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lee digs a right hand underneath Banks's ribcage. Banks let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Lee missing with knees to the body.
The referee is keeping an eye on Lee - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Lee is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Banks is defending well for now.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Lee misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Banks.
Lee trying to control the position but instead, Banks has worked for underhooks and has pushed Lee into the cage.
Come on Lee - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Mo Lee.
Banks swings for the body but Lee moves out of range.
Lee throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Banks has Lee up against the cage in a clinch.
Banks misses with the head strike.
Lee missing with knees to the body.
Lee stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Banks lands an uppercut.
Lee misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Banks.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lee scores with a nice hook to the head.
Knees to the body from Lee.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Lee manages to break the clinch.
Banks uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mo Lee dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lee scores with a jab to the head.
Banks has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Lee finds it's way round the side to connect with Banks's head.
Lee looks to score with a jab to the body but Banks is just out of range.
Banks throws a shot from downtown. Lee moves away and avoids it.
Lee uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Banks.
Karl Banks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Banks scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Lee doesn't seem bothered though.
Some wild striking there from Banks.
Lee throws a looping overhand right but Banks ducks down to avoid it.
Lee connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Banks throws a right and a left that both miss.
A jab from Banks finds it's way through Lee's defenses.
Banks waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lee.
Lee throws a front kick aimed at Banks's knee but Banks avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks throws an off balance right hand
and Lee counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Lee misses with a straight left.
Decent striking displayed by Lee there.

Banks closes the distance and clinches.
Banks misses with a punch on the inside.
A short right from Lee on the inside.
Good body shot from Lee.
Lee struggles to land a body shot inside as Banks controls his hands.
Banks tries to break the clinch but Lee is controlling the position.
Lee stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Lee gets through Banks's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Lee creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Banks's defenses.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lee comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Mo Lee has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Lee prevents Banks from breaking the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Lee.
A head punch on the inside from Banks fails to land.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Lee.
Lee tries to land knees in the clinch but Banks avoids the damage to the body.
Banks lands a shoulder strike.
Lee lands a damaging elbow.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Banks.
Banks can't break the clinch.
Lee's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Banks can't break the clinch.
Lee keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Banks's efforts to push away.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Lee.
Banks is trying to push Lee away but Lee has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Banks to work.
Lee landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Banks misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lee working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Lee misses with a body punch.
Lee is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Banks is defending well for now.
Banks tries to circle away but Lee has him pinned against the cage.
Lee stalling.
Banks is looking to control Lee's arms but Lee gets an underhook and turns him. Now Banks has his back to the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Lee - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Banks is looking to break free of the clinch but Lee has double underhooks.
Lee stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Lee trying to land knees to the body.
Banks has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee can't find room to land a body shot as Banks controls the action.
Lee is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Lee tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Banks lands a shoulder strike.
Lee utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Lee unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lee throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Lee leaning his opponent against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lee works on Banks's body with a couple of short punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mo Lee dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Banks defending well as Lee loads up on a big left hand.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Banks 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.
Banks looks for the body kick but Lee saw that one coming.
Lee waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Banks.
Banks scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Lee tries to clinch but Banks is having none of it.
Banks walks into a jab.
Lee connects with a single shot there.
Lee cracks Banks with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Lee throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A right-left combo lands from Lee.

Banks is rocked!
Banks slips under a jab.
Banks is still on wobbly legs! Can Lee finish him?
Lee connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Banks comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
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!
Lee swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mo Lee is winning the standup battle so far.
Lee throws out a loose jab but Banks uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lee throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lee tries a low kick but Banks avoids it.

Lee tries to keep at a distance but Banks has taken the fight into the clinch.
Banks seems to have recovered his senses.
Lee stalling.
Banks tries to work over Lee's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Banks wants to break free but Lee has control.
A frustrated look appears on Banks's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Banks has Lee pushed against the cage.
Banks struggles to land a body shot inside as Lee controls his hands.

Lee manages to break the clinch.
Good shot there by Lee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Banks.
Lee swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lee is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Banks uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lee.
Banks scores with a jab. Lee acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Lee takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Banks misses with a body punch
and Lee counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Banks thinking.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lee bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Lee wants to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lee looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Banks loads up on a big right hand but Lee slips the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks lands a two punch combo.
Lee swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Banks ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lee slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Lee uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Banks.
Lee defending well as Banks loads up on a big left hand.
Karl Banks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lee throws a leg kick but Banks checks it.
Lee jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lee misses with a wild body shot.
Lee's jab looks to have found its range, popping Banks under the eye.
Lee moves away from the strike by Banks.
Lee throws out a loose jab but Banks uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee lands with a shot to the body.
Jab from Lee.
Banks scores with a body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Banks circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lee tries to clinch up but Banks circles away and keeps his distance.
Banks pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Mo Lee is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lee throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Banks throws a right hand that misses
and Lee counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lee throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Banks stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Banks clinches up with Lee and pushes him back against the cage.
Banks tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lee will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Banks up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mo 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mo Lee!
After the big win, Mo Lee made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Hell's Kitchen Lab Corp (159.49 $150) and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.