PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hitmon Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miklo Velka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Velka has chosen Cypress Hill - Insane In The Membrane as his entrance music. Miklo Velka acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Lee
vs
Velka

195 cm
38
222 lbs
34 - 23 - 0

188 cm
42
219 lbs
42 - 31 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

GREEN!160

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 34 - 23 - 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 42 - 31 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Miklo Velka!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Leandro Rodrigues and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lee on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Lee 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.
Lee pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A jab lands there for Lee.
Nice defenses there by Lee.
Velka takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
The fighters circling - Velka throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Velka avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Lee takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Velka throws a jab when Lee was well out of range.
Lee connects with a right hand. Velka shakes it off.
Velka lands with a thumping leg kick.
Velka keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Velka has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Velka doesn't manage to clinch there - Lee circles away.
Lee attempts a counter takedown but Velka avoids it well and moves away.
Lee on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Velka. Velka obviously looking to wear him down.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Velka misses with a series of wild punches.
Velka works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Lee moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velka is looking to slow Lee down with leg kicks.
Lee misses the jab.
Velka works the jab nicely.
Lee avoids the head kick by Velka.
An attempted straight right counter from Lee misses the target.
Miklo Velka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big left from Lee misses.
Velka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A quick step to the side and Lee tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lee is looking to clinch but Velka is avoiding it.
Lee throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lee tests Velka's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Lee takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Velka lands a lovely overhand right.
Velka avoids the body shot from Lee.
Miklo Velka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lee ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Velka moves away.
Lee throws a hook but Velka avoids it easily.
Velka on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Velka lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Lee backs up against the cage.
Lee bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Velka's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velka tries to clinch there but Lee circles away.
Lee avoids the head kick by Velka.
Lee fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Lee darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A combination from Lee does no damage.
Velka misses with a head kick.
Lee blocks a leg kick.
Velka throws a jab but it's blocked by Lee.
Velka uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Lee has time to react.
Lee misses the jab.
Lee is looking to chop away at Velka's legs.
Lee uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Velka.
Lee is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Velka keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Velka looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lee drops down looking for a counter takedown but Velka sprawls and moves away.
Velka falls off balance throwing a combination

and Lee counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Lee.

Velka uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Velka lands a nice looking body shot.
Velka lands with a hook. Lee tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Lee fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Velka throws a head kick but Lee moves out of range.
Lee thuds his right hand into Velka's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Lee shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Velka sprawls well. Velka wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lee gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hitmon Lee. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice shot lands for Velka.
Velka drops his hands momentarily and Lee takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Lee scores with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lee scores with a nice strike.
Velka misses with a low kick.
Velka pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Velka buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Lee misses with a looping right.
Lee feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Velkas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Velka takes one to the side of the head.
Velka misses with a hook to the body

and Lee counters by clinching up.
Velka misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lee.
Velka prevents a takedown attempt there.
Lee avoiding damage as Velka throws knees to the body.
Lee just leaning against Velka, taking a breather.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stalling in the clinch from Lee.

Lee escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Velka takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Velka blocks a low kick nicely.
Lee walks into a straight right hand from Velka.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Miklo Velka will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lee avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lee walks into a stiff left hand from Velka.
Velka throws a body punch but Lee moves out of range.
Velka throws a low kick but Lee moves out of range easily.
Lee takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Lee takes a swing at Velka's ribcage but misses.
Velka misses with a hook.
Velka misses with a body shot.
Lee half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Lee defending well as Velka loads up on a big left hand.
Lee takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Velka tries to close the distance and clinch but Lee swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Velka fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lee manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lee fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Lee lands a leg kick that knocks Velka off balance momentarily.
Lee works Velka's body with a nice hook.
Velka scores with a leg kick.
Velka tries to clinch but Lee moves out of range.
Lee throws the left hand but Velka avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velka throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Velka throws a predictable looking body shot
and Lee counters with a three punch combo that has Velka backing up. Velka nods at Lee to acknowledge the strikes.
Lee tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Velka throws a head kick but Lee moves out of range.
Velka throws a head kick that misses
and Lee counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Velka doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Lee connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A head kick misses from Velka.

Lee drives through with a takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lee lands a couple of digs.
Velka pulls Lee in to control the position.
Lee slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Lee scores with punches from side control.

Velka is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee wants to control but Velka is keeping him busy.
Lee working the strikes but Velka uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Lee missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lee misses with a head shot. Velka uses the momentum to regain guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lee tries to free his leg and advance position but Velka is retaining full guard.
Lee wants to control from the top but Velka keeps moving.
Lee throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Velka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee wants to pass the guard but Velka is keeping the position.
Lee throws an elbow that misses. Velka uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lee's guard. Nice move by Velka!

Velka wants to control from the top but Lee keeps moving.
Lee being controlled here, momentarily.
Lee controls Velka momentarily but Velka frees himself.
Lee is controlling Velka's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Lee looking for a guillotine here but Velka defends easily.

Lee working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Velka doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Velka manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Velka wants to stand but Lee has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Velka throws a push kick but Lee slaps the foot to one side.
Lee tries to counter with a takedown but Velka is quick to defend against it.
Lee throws out a leg kick but Velka moves out of range and Lee only half commits.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Hitmon Lee will probably get the nod.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Velka tries to clinch but Lee is having none of it.
Lee swats away the attempt to clinch by Velka.
It looked like Lee wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Velka keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Velka with a hook.
Velka misses with a right hand

and Lee counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Lee.

Velka wriggles free and stands up.
Velka throws a body kick that misses.
Lee half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Lee stalks Velka and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Velka's face. Velka staggers backwards, shaken.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Lee!
Velka buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Lee lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Lee misses with a hook. Velka ducked under it nicely.
Velka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lee stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Velka.
Velka throws a jab when Lee was well out of range.
Lee throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velka misses with a body kick.
Lee appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Lee takes one to the chin there.
Velka avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Velka misses with a straight left.
Lee misses with an uppercut.
Velka connects with the punch.
Lee digs a good body shot into Velka's ribs.
Lee throws a right hand that Velka ducks under and follows up with a left that Velka also avoids with ease.
Velka catches Lee with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Lee throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Velka appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Velka.
Velka tries to clinch but Lee moves out of range.
Lee lunges at Velka with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Velka's hand.
Lee throws a hook but Velka avoids it easily.
Lee backing away here, and Velka unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Lee throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A slow jab from Lee misses its intended target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
An inside leg kick lands from Velka.
Hitmon Lee is winning the standup battle so far.
The fighters circle momentarily. Velka darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Lee slips under a jab from Velka.
Lee is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Velka throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Velka throws a front kick that sends Lee stumbling back into the cage.
Lee throws an overhand right that lands on Velka's shoulder, as Velka tries to avoid the shot.
Velka throws out a counter right but Lee avoids it with no problem.
A jab from Velka does it's job there.
Velka lands a nice shot that snaps Lee's head back.
Lee throws a jab when Velka was well out of range.
Lee digs a good body shot into Velka's ribs.
Lee fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Velka misses with a head kick.
Lee jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A nice leg kick lands there from Velka.
Lee fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Velka has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Lee scoring well with a low kick there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velka getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Velka misses with a double jab
and Lee counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Lee tries to land a leg kick but Velka saw it coming and moves away.

Lee feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Lee trying to control the position from guard on top but Velka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lee postures up.
Velka looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Lee postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee trying to control but Velka is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Velka scores with a jab to the body.
Velka has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

Lee feints and as Velka raises his hands in defense, Lee changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lee trying to control the position from guard on top but Velka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lee throws an elbow that misses. Velka uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lee's guard. Nice move by Velka!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Hitmon Lee.
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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hitmon Lee!
A very excited looking Hitmon Lee made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.