PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Wei (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lee Denardo (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.

Wei
vs
Denardo

190 cm
20
159 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
20
166 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kevin Wei!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lee Denardo!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Paul Aken and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Wei clinches with his opponent.

Wei breaks the clinch.
Denardo misses with the combination.
Denardo throws a head kick that misses
and Wei finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

Wei shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Wei was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
You can see the frustration on Denardo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Denardo is looking to regain half guard here but Wei keeps moving and retains side control.
Wei wants to lay and pray for a moment but Denardo keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Denardo avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Wei.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wei is looking to take a break and control but Denardo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wei is chipping away with strikes.
Denardo is trying to improve his position.
Denardo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Wei wants to control but Denardo is keeping him busy.

Wei working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Denardo dodges the ground and pound from Wei.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wei throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Denardo is trying to control Wei's posture but Wei avoids it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Denardo is looking to reverse the position.
Wei is looking to take a break and control but Denardo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wei controls the position from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wei working the head and body with strikes.
Denardo is looking to reverse the position.
Wei lands a few punches from side control.
Wei tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Wei really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Wei is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Denardo has escaped the position, nice work there.
You can see the frustration on Denardo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Denardo wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wei swings around for an armbar but Denardo sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Wei's guard.
Denardo controls from within his opponent's guard.
Wei not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Wei keeping moving, preventing Denardo from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Wei dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Denardo closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Denardo throws a wild body kick that Wei sees coming a mile off.
Denardo misses with a double jab.
Denardo lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Denardo stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Denardo throws a shot to the body.
Wei on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Denardo swinging wildly here.
Denardo feints a jab promting Wei to slip. Denardo then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Wei slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Denardo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Denardo shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Wei moves into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denardo advances to half guard.
Denardo wants to pass to mount but Wei is defending the position.
Denardo throwing shots but Wei is blocking nicely.
Denardo trying to control the action but Wei is working from the bottom.
Denardo is taking a breather. Wei says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denardo is keen to just control but Wei is a slippery customer.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
It looks like Denardo is going to stand back up.
Denardo is thwarting Wei's attempts to control the position.

Lee Denardo has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Denardo lands a two punch combo.
Denardo throws a sloppy head kick and Wei moves out of range easily.
Denardo throws a leg kick but Wei sees it coming and moves out of range.
A punch combination from Denardo misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denardo works Wei's body with a nice hook.

Wei closes the distance and clinches.
Denardo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Denardo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Denardo is trying to break free.
Denardo tries to circle away but Wei has him pinned against the cage.
Wei connects with a nasty looking knee right to Denardo's face.

It looks like Lee Denardo has been cut.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Wei obliges.
Denardo is breathing heavily.

Wei jumps guard.

Wei is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Denardo wants to control from the top but Wei keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wei is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wei preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wei is trying to keep Denardo in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lee Denardo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lee Denardo's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Denardo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Wei's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Denardo connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Wei scrambles back to his feet.
Denardo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kevin Wei is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Wei closes the distance and clinches.
Come on Wei - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Wei is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Denardo to keep the fight standing.

Wei manages to break the clinch.
Denardo misses with a two punch combination.

Wei closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Wei looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Wei postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Sloppy strikes there by Wei.
Denardo is looking to reverse the position.
Wei takes a little break here. Denardo wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Wei misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Denardo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denardo sneaks back into half guard.
Denardo is trying to maintain the position but Wei is very close to passing his half guard.
Wei trying to pass the guard but Denardo defending well.
Denardo trying to hold on to Wei's head to control him but Wei postures up.
Wei blocks the strikes from Denardo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denardo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Wei is working away from the top position though.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Lee Denardo was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Denardo jabs at Wei's body.
Wei has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Denardo finds it's way round the side to connect with Wei's head.
Wei cracks the inside of Denardo's front leg.
Wei shoots in looking for a takedown. Denardo tries to sprawl out of it but Wei keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Denardo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Wei shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Denardo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Wei. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wei keeping moving, preventing Denardo from controlling successfully.

Wei escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Denardo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Denardo trying to control the position from guard on top but Wei is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wei is trying to control the position but Denardo postures up.
Denardo throws a big elbow that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wei is trying to keep Denardo in close.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Denardo is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lee Denardo.
I think Denardo 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29

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