PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cung Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Phoenix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lee's entrance music is Warrior's Theme. A fine choice. 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
Phoenix

185 cm
29
219 lbs
18 - 8 - 1

195 cm
26
275 lbs
6 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Fatty's

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 18 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cung Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Simon Phoenix!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Chris Downing and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phoenix throws a leg kick but Lee sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Phoenix throws a hook to the side of Lee's head but Lee sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lee misses with a looping right.
Lee lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Phoenix misses with a jab to the body
and Lee counters with a nice uppercut.
Phoenix cracks a nice hook into Lee's ribs.
Phoenix throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Lee on the side of the head.
Phoenix misses with a lunging right hand

and Lee moves into the clinch.
Lee throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Phoenixs head.
Lee blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Phoenix swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Phoenix lands a left hand that snaps the head of Lee backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Phoenix.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Phoenix blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Phoenix throws a head punch that misses.
Lee blocks a body shot from Phoenix.
Lee just leaning against Phoenix, taking a breather.
Lee blocks an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee scores with a nice hook to the head.
Phoenix blocks an uppercut.
Phoenix tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Phoenix goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lee throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lee.
Phoenix displaying some good clinch control by pressing Lee up against the cage.
Phoenix blocking some punches.
Phoenix tries to work over Lee's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lee gets through Phoenix's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
I was talking to Lee's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Lee throws a head punch that misses.
A short left from Lee.
Phoenix misses with a hook to the ribs.
Stalling in the clinch from Lee.
Lee lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Phoenix lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Lee or not.
Phoenix blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Lee lands a left hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Phoenix misses with a punch on the inside.
Lee misses with a punch on the inside.
Lee works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A right handed body shot lands from Lee.
Lee throws a punch but it's blocked by Phoenix.
Phoenix misses with a punch on the inside.
Lee blocks a body shot from Phoenix.
Phoenix swings wildly with an uppercut but Lee uses good head movement to avoid it.
Phoenix misses with a punch on the inside.
Lee misses with some punches.
Phoenix tries a body shot but Lee blocks it.
Lee blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Phoenix tries to throw a body punch but Lee avoids it by throwing Phoenix back against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Phoenix.
Nice body punch from Lee - that landed with a thud.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Phoenix.
A short body shot lands from Lee as the two fighters clinch.
A short right from Lee.
Phoenix tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lee's elbow.
Lee gets through Phoenix's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Lee scores with a hook to the body.
Lee blocks a body shot from Phoenix.
Lee scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Phoenix tries to throw a body punch but Lee avoids it by throwing Phoenix back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lee.
Phoenix blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lee tries a body shot but Phoenix blocks it.
Lee effectively controlling the action here.
Lee lands a left hand that snaps the head of Phoenix backwards.
Lee lands a nice uppercut.
Phoenix fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The referee calls for Lee to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee lands a left hand that snaps the head of Phoenix backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short right from Phoenix.
Phoenix lands a right hand that snaps the head of Lee backwards.
Phoenix blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Phoenix fails to land.
Phoenix misses with a punch on the inside.
Lee lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Lee can't find room to land a body shot as Phoenix controls the action.
Lee digs a right hand underneath Phoenix's ribcage. Phoenix let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Lee is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A nice left hand lands by Phoenix.
Phoenix prevents a body shot from Lee.
Lee leaning against his opponent.
Phoenix swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lee swings wildly with an uppercut but Phoenix uses good head movement to avoid it.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Lee throws a punch but it's blocked by Phoenix.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cung Lee dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Phoenix misses with a left hand

and Lee counters by clinching up.
Lee blocking some punches.
Phoenix throws a head punch that misses.
Phoenix can't find room to land a body shot as Lee controls the action.
Lee tries to stall but Phoenix uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Phoenix has a couple of punches blocked by Lee.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lee.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lee.
Phoenix's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Phoenix tries to throw a body punch but Lee avoids it by throwing Phoenix back against the cage.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Lee here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
A nice left hand lands by Phoenix.
Phoenix lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Phoenix scores with a shoulder strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phoenix throws a punch but it's blocked by Lee.
Lee misses with the head strike.
Phoenix misses with a short punch on the inside.
Phoenix fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Phoenix misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lee tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix blocking some punches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Lee.
Phoenix blocking some punches.
Phoenix swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short right from Phoenix.
Phoenix misses with a hook to the ribs.
Lee lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Lee displaying some good clinch control by pressing Phoenix up against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Phoenix.
Lee fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Phoenix lands a left hand.
Lee lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Phoenix misses with a punch to the body.
Phoenix tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lee's elbow.
Phoenix lands a left hand.
Phoenix softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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 gets through Phoenix's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Phoenix can't find room to land a body shot as Lee controls the action.
Lee scores with a shoulder strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lee.
Phoenix working aggressively here.
Lee blocks a body shot from Phoenix.
Phoenix blocks an uppercut.
Lee stalling in the clinch.
Lee doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Phoenix struggles to land a body shot inside as Lee controls his hands.
Lee working aggressively here.
Lee working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Phoenix misses with a punch on the inside.
Phoenix tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lee's elbow.
Phoenix softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Lee pushes Phoenix back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Lee misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix misses with a punch to the body.
Phoenix swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short uppercut from Lee.
Lee leaning his opponent against the cage.
A short right from Phoenix.
Lee stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Phoenix misses with some punches.
Phoenix tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Phoenix misses with a punch on the inside.
Lee lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Phoenix swings wildly with an uppercut but Lee uses good head movement to avoid it.
Phoenix swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Phoenix misses with a hook from the clinch.
The referee calls for Phoenix to work.
Phoenix takes a shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Phoenix fails to land.
Lee fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Phoenix misses with a short punch on the inside.
Phoenix blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Lee has a couple of punches blocked by Phoenix.
Lee throws a head punch that misses.
Lee misses with a short punch on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lee blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Phoenix has a couple of punches blocked by Lee.
Phoenix misses with the head strike.
Phoenix tries to work over Lee's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lee lands with a right to the head.
A short right from Phoenix on the inside.
Phoenix swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Phoenix.
Lee misses with a body punch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Simon Phoenix will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Phoenix does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Phoenix takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Lee avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lee blocks the body kick.
Lee connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Lee throws out a loose jab but Phoenix uses good head movement to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Phoenix. Lee does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lee takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Lee takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Lee keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lee tries to counter by clinching up but Phoenix breaks away and moves out of range.
Jab by Phoenix.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slow jab from Lee misses its intended target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lee looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Phoenix takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix misses with a hook. Lee ducked under it nicely.
Lee explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Phoenix tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Phoenix swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lee wants to clinch up but Phoenix keeps it at a distance.
Phoenix misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lee throws a big counter combination but Phoenix scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Phoenix misses with a wild body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Phoenix. Lee does a little dance to reset his feet.
Phoenix takes a swing at Lee's ribcage but misses.
Lee fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Lee tries to clinch but Phoenix moves out of range.
Phoenix lands a nice looking kick to the body. Lee takes a step back to recover.
Lee blocks a head kick by Phoenix.
Lee seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Phoenix misses with a body punch
and Lee counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lee forces Phoenix back against the cage and clinches.
Nice body punch from Lee - that landed with a thud.
Phoenix tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lee's elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Phoenix lands a hook that snaps the head of Lee backwards.
A short right from Phoenix.
Lee lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Phoenix backwards.
A short left from Lee.
Phoenix presses Lee against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Lee lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Phoenix backwards.
Lee lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Phoenix swings wildly with an uppercut but Lee uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lee lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Lee stalling in the clinch but Phoenix improves position.
Lee misses with a hook from the clinch.
Phoenix lands a right hand that snaps the head of Lee backwards.
Phoenix throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix misses with a punch to the body.
Lee blocks an uppercut.
Lee lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Phoenix backwards.
Phoenix looking to slow down the pace here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Phoenix.
A short right from Phoenix.
Lee lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Phoenix backwards.
A short right from Lee on the inside.
Lee tries to work over Phoenix's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Phoenix being controlled against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Lee as Phoenix tries to tie him up.
Phoenix misses with some punches.
Phoenix misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Phoenix fails to land.
Lee lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Phoenix.
Phoenix misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Phoenix prevents a body shot from Lee.
Phoenix goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Phoenix misses with a punch to the body.
Phoenix misses with a punch on the inside.
Lee digs a right hand underneath Phoenix's ribcage. Phoenix let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Phoenix takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lee misses with some punches.
Phoenix has a couple of punches blocked by Lee.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lee.
Phoenix swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lee lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Phoenix.
Lee swings wildly with an uppercut but Phoenix uses good head movement to avoid it.
Phoenix misses with a hook to the ribs.

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 Cung Lee.
I think Lee has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cung Lee!
During a confident post fight interview, Cung Lee thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.