PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dexter Fielding (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Lee told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Fielding
vs
Lee

210 cm
20
239 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

190 cm
24
221 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dexter Fielding!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Lee!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Mauricio Rocha and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lee wants to clinch up but Fielding keeps it at a distance.
Fielding misses with a hook. Lee ducked under it nicely.
Fielding misses with a straight right.
Fielding throws a wild body kick that Lee sees coming a mile off.
Lee tries to clinch but Fielding is having none of it.
Lee cracks the inside of Fielding's front leg.

Lee has managed to clinch.
Lee keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Fielding's efforts to push away.
Lee trying to land knees to the body.
Fielding's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Fielding breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lee tries to close the distance and clinch but Fielding swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fielding avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fielding digs a good body shot into Lee's ribs.
Fielding keeps the fight on the outside.
Michael Lee seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Lee has closed the distance and engaged Fielding in a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Lee breaks from the clinch.
Fielding sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

Fielding drives through and clinches with Lee against the cage.
Lee lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Dexter Fielding has been cut.
Lee misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Fielding.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fielding misses with a punch to the body.
Lee has Fielding pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Fielding's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Lee leaning his opponent against the cage.
Fielding blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Fielding manages to break the clinch.
Lee lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Fielding backs up against the cage.
Lee wants to clinch up but Fielding keeps it at a distance.
Fielding avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Michael Lee is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice shot lands for Fielding.
Lee fails with an attempt to clinch.
Fielding throws a chopping leg kick but Lee manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Lee moves out of range of the leg kick from Fielding.
Lee is looking to clinch but Fielding is avoiding it.
Lee pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A telegraphed right hand from Fielding misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fielding throws a right hand that Lee ducks under and follows up with a left that Lee also avoids with ease.
Fielding scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lee keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Some bone on bone action there as Lee checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Lee fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lee avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lee tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fielding swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lee is looking to clinch.
Fielding throws a chopping leg kick but Lee manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Fielding shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Lee's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fielding throws a big elbow that misses.
Lee keeping moving, preventing Fielding from controlling successfully.
Fielding postures up in Lee's guard and throws a big left but Lee blocks it.
Fielding throwing strikes from guard but Lee blocks nicely.
Fielding will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Lee throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee working a defensive guard here.

Fielding avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Fielding in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Fielding working some strikes from top position.
Fielding throws a strike but Lee rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lee tries to stand but Fielding is controlling from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lee gets to his feet - Fielding follows without any prompting.
Fielding keeps the fight on the outside.
Lee is looking to clinch but Fielding is avoiding it.

Lee clinches up with Fielding and pushes him back against the cage.
Fielding lands with a light punch inside.

Lee's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lee fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Fielding has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Lee misses with an uppercut. Fielding saw that one coming.
Lee tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Fielding manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nice body kick there by Fielding.
Lee throws a head kick that misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Fielding feints a jab promting Lee to slip. Fielding then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Lee slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Michael Lee has been cut.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fielding can't get the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Michael Lee will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Fielding misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lee.
Fielding lands with a nice combination. Lee backs away looking to recover.

Fielding feints and as Lee raises his hands in defense, Fielding changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fielding trying to control the position from guard on top but Lee is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fielding throws a strike but Lee rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Fielding has his foot on Lee's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lee works his way back into a safe position though.

Lee stands and steps away. Fielding gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Fielding scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fielding fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fielding throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Lee can't do much from the bottom here.
Fielding has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The strikes coming from Fielding are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Lee manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Lee throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Fielding to regain full guard.
Lee postures up.
Lee throws an elbow that misses. Fielding uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lee's guard. Nice move by Fielding!
Lee striking off his back but it's not causing Fielding any problems.
Fielding postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lee keeping moving, preventing Fielding from controlling successfully.
Lee has momentary wrist control but Fielding slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fielding sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Fielding loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Fielding wants to control from the top but Lee keeps moving.

Lee had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Fielding defends it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fielding working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Fielding throwing strikes from guard but Lee blocks nicely.
Fielding is looking to work some ground and pound but Lee has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Fielding advances position into side control!
Fielding working away.
Fielding scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Lee to see if he's OK.
Lee taking punishment in the form of punches.
Fielding throws a strike aimed at the side of Lee's head but Lee avoids it well.
Lee defending against the ground and pound.

Fielding tries for a kimura but Lee is defending well.
You can see the frustration on Lee's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fielding works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fielding misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Lee is looking to regain half guard here but Fielding keeps moving and retains side control.
Fielding with the ground and pound but Lee regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Lee tries to get to full guard but Fielding has control of the leg.

Fielding is working for a submission of some sort.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fielding looks to land a strike but Lee avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dexter Fielding dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Lee dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Fielding. That did some damage!
Fielding throws a looping overhand right but Lee ducks down to avoid it.

Lee moves into range and clinches up with Fielding.
Lee is trying to stall.
Lee misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lee tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lee just leaning against Fielding, taking a breather.

Lee manages to break the clinch.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Fielding.
Fielding fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Lee looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A head kick misses from Lee.
Lee moves away from the strike by Fielding.
Fielding avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fielding throws out a loose jab but Lee uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lee works over Fielding's head and body with a nice combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lee tries a head kick but it misses.
Fielding misses the shot to the body.
Lee doesn't manage to clinch there - Fielding circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Lee scores with a sloppy right hand. Fielding should have avoided that one.
Lee tries to clinch up.
Lee scores with a head kick. Fielding tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Lee tries to clinch but Fielding is having none of it.
A good leg kick by Fielding.
Lee throws a push kick but Fielding slaps the foot to one side.
Lee moves away from the strike by Fielding.
Lee throws a body kick that misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Lee clinches up against the cage.
Lee lands a knee to the head.

Lee breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fielding throws a push kick but Lee slaps the foot to one side.
Lee tries to clinch up but Fielding circles away and keeps his distance.
Lee tries to close the distance and clinch but Fielding swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fielding throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fielding. Lee does a little dance to reset his feet.

Fielding shoots in and gets a takedown into Lee's guard.
Dexter Fielding overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fielding throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lee working a defensive guard here.
Fielding throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Fielding trying to control the position from guard on top but Lee is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fielding tries to free his leg and advance position but Lee is retaining full guard.
Fielding trying to control but Lee is working from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Dexter Fielding just wasn't active enough.
Fielding will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lee wants to clinch up but Fielding keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee looks to land a body kick but Fielding moved away.
Lee goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Fielding shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lee sprawls well. Lee wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Fielding gets slowly back to his feet.
Lee throws a lazy right hand but Fielding sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Michael Lee seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Lee gets tackled into the cage by Fielding. Fielding maintains the clinch.
Lee with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Knees to the body from Lee.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lee lands a body shot in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Lee breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fielding takes one to the side of the head.
Lee fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dexter Fielding is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lee pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Fielding back to the cage. Lee follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Fielding shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lee as he avoids it easily.
Lee moves in looking to clinch but Fielding pushes him off.

Lee rushes Fielding and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Michael Lee seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee tries to throw a body punch but Fielding avoids it by throwing Lee back against the cage.

Lee breaks the clinch.
Fielding pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Fielding keeps the fight on the outside.
Lee tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Fielding paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fielding tries to bum rush Lee with a series of wild strikes but Lee uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Fielding throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
The fighters circling - Fielding throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Lee fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Fielding has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Lee moves into range and clinches up with Fielding.
Fielding tries to work over Lee's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lee utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Lee pressing his opponent against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lee lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Lee comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lee 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Lee!
In his post fight interview, Michael Lee started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.