PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Fletcher Lee (ranked 7533 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Stroev (ranked 6065 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lee
vs
Stroev

195 cm
18
161 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fletcher Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Victor Stroev!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Ivan Kurochkin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lee fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stroev, pushing him back against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Lee really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Stroev breaks from the clinch.

Stroev moves into the clinch successfully.
Lee tries to stall but Stroev uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Lee trying to stall but Stroev improves his position.

Stroev ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Stroev no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Lee wants to stand but Stroev has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Lee will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Stroev has his hands on Lee's head, controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stroev wants to sweep here but Lee controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee is fighting to break Stroev's control of his arms but Stroev is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Lee wants to stand but Stroev is controlling his posture from full guard.
Stroev preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stroev controlling Lee's posture.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Stroev 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lee is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Stroev is aware though and is defending well.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lee is on top in guard.

Stroev pulls Lee in to control the position.
Stroev's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Stroev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Stroev has control of Lee's left arm, preventing Lee from doing any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Stroev can do anything to dispel that myth.
Stroev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stroev isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Lee stacks Stroev on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Lee!
Stroev is not content to let Lee control the position.
Stroev is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Stroev is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Lee decides to stand back up. Lee steps back and let's Stroev get back to his feet.

Stroev looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lee working for a triangle but Stroev defends it easily.
Stroev working some strikes from top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stroev distracts Lee with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Stroev looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Victor Stroev will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Stroev has closed the distance and engaged Lee in a clinch.
Lee wants to get back to striking at distance but Stroev won't allow it.

Stroev breaks from the clinch.

Lee clinches up against the cage.
The referee calls for Lee to work.

Stroev pulls guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stroev looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stroev keeping moving, preventing Lee from controlling successfully.
Lee trying to stand up but can't free himself from Stroev's guard.

Stroev looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Lee passes into half guard.
Stroev is trying is best to control the position here.
Stroev wants to get back to full guard but Lee has passed into side control.

Lee decides to stand back up. Lee steps back and let's Stroev get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Stroev throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Lee tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Stroev is in Lee's guard.
Stroev lands a couple of elbows.

Lee looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Stroev must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Stroev controlling from the top position.

Lee is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stroev slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Stroev stopping the sweep attempt from Lee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stroev controls from within his opponent's guard.

Stroev got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lee has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stroev has managed to get both his arms back between Lee's legs - danger averted.
Lee keeping full guard, as Stroev tries to pass.
Stroev tries to stand but Lee is controlling from the bottom.
Stroev scoring with punches to the head and body.
Lee looking for a sweep. Not yet Lee, not yet.
Stroev really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lee. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Stroev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Stroev is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Stroev wants to get up but he can't break Lee's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Stroev is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stroev tries a low kick but Lee avoids it.
Stroev tries to clinch up but Lee circles away and keeps his distance.
As Stroev looks to move away, Lee throws a big counter combo but Stroev just gets out of the way.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lee falls off balance throwing a combination

and Stroev counters with a takedown into side control.
Stroev controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Stroev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. And we move into the final round!

Stroev bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stroev scoring with punches and elbows.
Stroev takes a little break here. Lee wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Lee is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Stroev's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Stroev looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lee wants to get back to his feet.
Stroev winds up and cracks Lee with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee is trying to maintain the position but Stroev is very close to passing his half guard.

Stroev is working for a submission of some sort.
Lee tries to roll over but Stroev keeps him under control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Stroev escapes and gets back to his feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Stroev.
Stroev controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stroev is trying to get an arm triangle but Lee is defending well.
Stroev tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Stroev thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Stroev is looking to take a break and control but Lee is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stroev landing strikes.
Lee manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Stroev looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Stroev prevents Lee from standing back up.
Lee is pressing down on Stroev's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Stroev slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Stroev scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Lee wants to sweep here but Stroev controlling him for the moment.
Stroev is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Stroev lands a couple of digs.

Lee escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Stroev gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Stroev distracts Lee with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lee striking off his back but it's not causing Stroev any problems.
Stroev makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Lee looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Fletcher Lee has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Victor Stroev is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Stroev controls from within his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Victor Stroev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Stroev winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Victor Stroev!