PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lee Denardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johan Bauwens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johan Bauwens has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Denardo
vs
Bauwens

179 cm
20
158 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Tab Out Clothes

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lee Denardo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Johan Bauwens!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paulsen Ambrosius and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Denardo lands with an uppercut that bounces Bauwens off the cage and back into range.
Denardo lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Bauwens walks into a stiff left hand from Denardo.

Bauwens drives through and clinches with Denardo against the cage.
Denardo tries to break free but Bauwens pushes him back against the cage.
Denardo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Bauwens is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Denardo swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Bauwens has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Denardo regains guard immediately.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Denardo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bauwens with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Denardo trying to keep a closed guard but Bauwens is proving a slippery customer.
Bauwens trying to control but Denardo is working from the bottom.
Bauwens must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denardo looking to control.
Bauwens is looking to work some ground and pound but Denardo has wrist control.
Denardo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Denardo looking to control.

We're going to have a standup here because Lee Denardo wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Denardo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Denardo wants it to stay on the feet.
Lee Denardo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Denardo connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Bauwens avoids the head kick by Denardo.

Bauwens gets caught flat footed, as Denardo shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Bauwens throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Denardo works over Bauwens with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denardo is looking to work some ground and pound but Bauwens has wrist control.
Denardo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Bauwens is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Denardo is aware though and is defending well.
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!
Denardo passes Bauwens's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Bauwens looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Denardo trying to control from half guard but Bauwens is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Denardo seems to be working for a kimura but Bauwens defends the submission attempt.
Denardo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bauwens does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bauwens gets full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Denardo passes into half guard.
Bauwens wants to get back to full guard.
Bauwens trying to hold on to Denardo's head to control him but Denardo postures up.

Bauwens looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Bauwens is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bauwens blocking the ground and pound attempt from Denardo.
Bauwens trying to hold on to Denardo's head to control him but Denardo postures up.
Denardo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Denardo scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Bauwens is not content to let Denardo control the position.
Bauwens is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Denardo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Denardo's back!
Bauwens controlling well, preventing Denardo from escaping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Bauwens is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Denardo has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Bauwens is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Denardo knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Denardo for a finish.
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 Lee Denardo will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Denardo stalks Bauwens and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Bauwens's face. Bauwens staggers backwards, shaken.
Denardo's corner calls for a 1-2. Denardo obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Denardo scores with a nice strike.
Bauwens drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A head kick by Denardo misses
and Bauwens counters with a nice kick to the body.
Denardo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bauwens circles away quickly and effectively.
A cross from Denardo lands.
Denardo scores with a nice strike.
Denardo lands a head shot.
A jab lands there for Denardo.
Denardo throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Bauwens stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denardo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bauwens moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Denardo lands a really nice looking cross but Bauwens seems unphased.
Denardo scores with a jab to the head.
Denardo throws a sloppy head kick
and Bauwens counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Denardo is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Denardo with a poor takedown
and Bauwens counters with an inside leg kick.
Lee Denardo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Decent striking displayed by Denardo there.
Bauwens checks a leg kick.
Bauwens defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Denardo.
A slow jab from Denardo misses its intended target.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bauwens shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Denardo pinned against the cage. Denardo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Denardo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bauwens pinned against the cage. Bauwens gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lee Denardo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bauwens decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Bauwens is looking for a kimura here.
Denardo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bauwens is controlling the pace.

Denardo is defending against the submission attempts here by Bauwens.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Denardo looking for submissions off his back.

Bauwens is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Denardo has managed to free his arm - good work.
Bauwens looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Bauwens missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Johan Bauwens has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bauwens is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Denardo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Bauwens is looking to advance position but Denardo won't allow it.
Denardo trying to hold on to Bauwens's head to control him but Bauwens postures up.
Bauwens wants to control but Denardo is keeping him busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Bauwens is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Denardo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bauwens pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Johan Bauwens will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Bauwens scores with a takedown into Denardo's guard.
Denardo keeping moving, preventing Bauwens from controlling successfully.
Bauwens postures up.
Bauwens in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Bauwens drops back, looking for a kneebar! Denardo looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Denardo looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Denardo!
Bauwens is trying to get back to half guard.
Denardo controlling from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Denardo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Denardo working the ground and pound.
Bauwens tries to buck Denardo off but Denardo is having none of it.
Bauwens throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Bauwens sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Bauwens is pressing down on Denardo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denardo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Denardo trying to control the position from guard on top but Bauwens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Denardo trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Bauwens manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Denardo looking for a sweep. Not yet Denardo, not yet.
Denardo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Bauwens postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Denardo is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Bauwens, into his guard.

Bauwens has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Denardo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denardo sitting in guard here, content to control.

Denardo stands up and waves to Bauwens to follow him.
Denardo misses with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denardo tests Bauwens's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Denardo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bauwens circles away quickly and effectively.
Bauwens avoids a kick to the body.
Denardo tries for a takedown but Bauwens circles away easily
and Bauwens counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Denardo misses with a head kick.

Bauwens moves into range and clinches up with Denardo.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Bauwens gets control of Denardo's arms and successfully pulls guard. Bauwens will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Bauwens is striking from the bottom but Denardo uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Denardo is keen to just control but Bauwens is a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Johan Bauwens.
I think Bauwens 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 29:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Johan Bauwens!
Johan Bauwens made sure to mention his sponsor, Tab Out Clothes in his post fight interview.