PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kelvin Handleman (ranked 848 p4p, 113 weight class) and Clifton Von Lee (ranked 951 p4p, 126 weight class). Handleman comes to the cage accompanied by Pride FC Theme. Clifton Von Lee has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Kelvin Handleman's chin.

Handleman
vs
Von Lee

176 cm
34
210 lbs
16 - 12 - 0

190 cm
35
210 lbs
27 - 20 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Freebok (85% Laundry)

Urban Fighter

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 16 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kelvin Handleman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Clifton Von Lee!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Leandro Rodrigues and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Handleman throws a nice looking combination but Von Lee bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Handleman rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Von Lee counter with a right hand.
Some wild striking there from Von Lee.
Von Lee lands with a kick to the ribs.
Von Lee throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Von Lee takes a shot to the body in his stride.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Von Lee misses with a body shot
and Handleman counters with a straight right hand.
Handleman swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Handleman has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Handleman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Von Lee was well out of range. Poor timing from Handleman.
Von Lee on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Handleman misses with a lunging right hand
and Von Lee connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A big left from Von Lee misses.
Von Lee throws an overhand right that lands on Handleman's shoulder, as Handleman tries to avoid the shot.
Handleman throws a sloppy body shot
and Von Lee counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Kelvin Handleman has been cut.
A punch lands to the side of Von Lee 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Von Lee fails with the takedown
and Handleman cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Von Lee dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Von Lee shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Handleman napping and manages to drive through into side control!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Von Lee tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Von Lee throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Handleman can't do much from the bottom here.

Von Lee swings around for an armbar but Handleman sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Von Lee's guard.

Von Lee escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Handleman gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Von Lee working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Handleman.
Handleman postures up.
Von Lee wants to sweep but no luck.
Handleman might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Handleman stands up over Von Lee, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Handleman won't allow Von Lee to sweep him here.
Von Lee has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Handleman throws a big right hand that misses.
Von Lee is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Handleman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Handleman trying to control but Von Lee is working from the bottom.
Von Lee seems keen to control Handleman's posture.
Von Lee wants to sweep here but Handleman controlling him for the moment.

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.
Handleman postures up and lands a big shot to Von Lee's brow.
Von Lee is trying to keep Handleman in close.
Handleman wants to control from the top but Von Lee keeps moving.
Von Lee trying to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Handleman drops his hands momentarily and Von Lee takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Handleman takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Handleman throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd cheers as Handleman lands an impressive looking overhand right. Von Lee doesn't seem phased though.
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 Kelvin Handleman will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kelvin Handleman's cut.
That's time! Handleman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

The fighters circle momentarily. Von Lee darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Von Lee lands with an uppercut that bounces Handleman off the cage and back into range.
Von Lee throws a head kick but Handleman moves out of range.
Handleman uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Von Lee.
Handleman looks to score with a jab to the body but Von Lee is just out of range.
Von Lee moves away from the strike by Handleman.
Handleman fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Von Lee checks it well.
A low kick from Von Lee misses
and Handleman connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Von Lee avoids the body shot from Handleman.
Jab from Von Lee.
Handleman throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Handleman misses the target.
Handleman cracks a nice hook into Von Lee's ribs.
Kelvin Handleman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Handleman darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Von Lee slips a jab and a cross from Handleman.
Handleman uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Von Lee.
Handleman scores with a jab.
Handleman misses with a leg kick
and Von Lee counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A combination from Handleman does no damage.
Sloppy strikes from Handleman. Those never looked like landing.
And Von Lee tries to counter it with a takedown but Handleman pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A big right from Von Lee misses.
Von Lee uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Handleman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Handleman shoots in looking for a takedown but Von Lee manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Handleman's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Von Lee rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Handleman counters with a nice body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A looping hook to the body misses from Handleman. Von Lee does a little dance to reset his feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Von Lee enables Handleman to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Von Lee manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Handleman trying to control but Von Lee is working from the bottom.
Handleman is really struggling to control Von Lee but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Handleman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Handleman has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Von Lee controlling Handleman's posture.
Handleman trying to control but Von Lee is working from the bottom.
Handleman lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Von Lee is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Handleman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Von Lee avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Handleman throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Von Lee manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Handleman manages to get himself to full guard.

Von Lee throws a big elbow that misses.
Handleman preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Handleman keeping moving, preventing Von Lee from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Von Lee accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Von Lee trying to control the position from guard on top but Handleman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Von Lee working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Von Lee trying to control the position from guard on top but Handleman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Handleman misses with a hook to the body
and Handleman takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kelvin Handleman dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kelvin Handleman's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Von Lee showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Handleman.
Handleman shoots in but no luck this time.
Handleman takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Handleman looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Von Lee misses with a body shot.
Handleman throws a right and a left that Von Lee avoids nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Von Lee waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Handleman.
Handleman falls off balance throwing a combination
and Von Lee makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Handleman throws a right hand that misses
and Von Lee counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Handleman keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Von Lee.
Handleman half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Handleman slips under a jab.
As Von Lee looks to move away, Handleman throws a big counter combo but Von Lee just gets out of the way.
Von Lee misses with a low kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Von Lee. Handleman does a little dance to reset his feet.
Handleman slips a jab from Von Lee.
Von Lee is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Handleman.
Handleman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Von Lee moves away.
Handleman just misses with a punch to the body.
Handleman just misses with a punch to the body.
A little jabbing left from Von Lee on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Clifton Von Lee seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Handleman shoots in for a double leg but Von Lee sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Handleman stuffs the takedown.
Von Lee is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Handleman.
Handleman jabs Von Lee to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Von Lee throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Von Lee misses the shot to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Von Lee misses the target.
Handleman clobbers Von Lee with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Von Lee misses with a hook
and Handleman counters with a straight right hand.

Von Lee gets a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Handleman wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Handleman wants to get back to full guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Von Lee working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Von Lee trying to pass the guard but Handleman defending well.
Von Lee wants to control but Handleman is keeping him busy.
Clifton Von Lee has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Handleman taking some punishment here, with Von Lee in his half guard.
Von Lee working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Handleman's thigh. Handleman counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Handleman preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Von Lee throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Handleman tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Von Lee throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Handleman works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Handleman tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Handleman keeping moving, preventing Von Lee from controlling successfully.
Von Lee loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Handleman has momentary wrist control but Von Lee slips an elbow through the middle.

Kelvin Handleman's cut is getting worse.
Von Lee throwing strikes from guard but Handleman blocks nicely.
Handleman has momentary wrist control but Von Lee slips an elbow through the middle.
Von Lee throwing strikes from guard but Handleman blocks nicely.
Kelvin Handleman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Von Lee working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Clifton Von Lee.
Well Handleman 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kelvin Handleman!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Kelvin Handleman made sure he mentioned Freebok (85% Laundry), along with how happy he was to win his fight.