PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Lee (ranked 1708 p4p, 3238 weight class) and Mac Bandini (ranked 199 p4p, 332 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Lee
vs
Bandini

160 cm
24
146
9 - 3 - 0

179 cm
27
153
6 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Hardcore Sports Nutrition
Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mac Bandini!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Illya Tyunina and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bandini tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lee swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bandini cracks Lee with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
We've been hearing reports that Lee has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Mac Bandini seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bandini throws a body shot but no joy.
Lee seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
A jab lands there for Lee.
Bandini 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.
Nice cross by Bandini.
Bandini shoots in for a takedown but Lee shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Bandini keeps the fight on the outside.
Bandini misses with a straight left.
A shot to the liver by Bandini. Beautiful body shot.
Bandini tries to clinch but Lee moves away
and Lee cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bandini scores with a nice right hand.
Bandini lands with a straight right. Lee didn't see that one coming.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Lee has Bandini up against the cage in a clinch.

Bandini gets control of Lee's arms and successfully pulls guard. Bandini will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Bandini has momentary wrist control but Lee slips an elbow through the middle.
Lee wants to pass the guard but Bandini is keeping the position.

Bandini has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Lee is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bandini has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Bandini manages to break the clinch.
Bandini throws the left hand but Lee avoids the punch easily.
A bone on bone clash there as Lee blocks the leg kick.
Bandini avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bandini jabs at Lee's body.
Bandini blocks a jab.
Bandini jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lee takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Lee tries to clinch but Bandini is having none of it.
Lee tries to close the distance and clinch but Bandini swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Donk. Lee catches Bandini right on the button with a cross.
Bandini lands a nice leg kick that just misses Lee's sensitive parts.
Lee tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bandini was well out of range. Poor timing from Lee.
Lee wants to clinch
and Bandini counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bandini throws an off balance right hand
and Lee counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bandini has closed the distance and engaged Lee in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lee throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bandini blocks it with crossed arms.
Bandini is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Lee has a couple of punches blocked by Bandini.

Bandini escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lee throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lee tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bandini swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bandini pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bandini scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Bandini.

Bandini clinches up against the cage.
Lee tries to throw a body punch but Bandini avoids it by throwing Lee back against the cage.
Bandini is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Bandini breaks from the clinch.
A slapping leg kick lands for Bandini.
Lee walks into a jab.

Lee gets a double leg takedown into Bandini's guard.
Lee looking to pass the guard.
Lee might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Bandini is wriggling around but Lee manages to pass to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee is looking to take a break and control but Bandini is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bandini is trying to stand.

Lee wants to work for an arm triangle but Bandini is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Bandini is looking for a sweep. Lee is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bandini trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Lee cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Lee landing strikes from the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bandini is in all sorts of trouble here.
Bandini is bucking up trying to escape but Lee cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Bandini tries to hold on but Lee pushes him away.
Bandini is wriggling around trying to escape.
The referee warns Bandini that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Bandini is trying desperately to improve position.
Lee with shots to the head and body - Bandini looks very uncomfortable down there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bandini is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lee postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Bandini looks a forlorn figure.
Lee lands a heavy elbow.

Bandini is rocked!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mac Bandini will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bandini misses with a straight right.
Bandini tries to clinch but Lee is having none of it.
Bandini swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Lee.
Bandini misses with an uppercut. Lee saw that one coming.
Bandini walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Lee slips under a jab.
Bandini tries to clinch up but Lee circles away and keeps his distance.
Bandini with a hook.
Lee lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Bandini is still on wobbly legs! Can Lee finish him?
Lee tries to clinch up but Bandini circles away and keeps his distance.
Bandini seems to have recovered his senses.
Lee on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Lee on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Lee uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bandini.
Bandini looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lee is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Bandini.
Lee swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Bandini scoring well with a low kick there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bandini scores with a jab to the body.
Lee steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bandini.
Lee changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Bandini misses with a straight right.
Lee lands with an uppercut that bounces Bandini off the cage and back into range.
Bandini is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Lee lands with a slapping head kick.
Bandini displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lee throws out the jab.
Bandini fails with a takedown attempt.
Bandini is looking to clinch but Lee is avoiding it.
Bandini has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Bandini connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Bandini uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Bandini walks into a stiff left hand from Lee.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Bandini, as that shot connected.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice sprawl there from Bandini as Lee shoots in.
Bandini misses with a looping right.
A slapping body kick lands there for Bandini.
Mac Bandini seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Bandini misses its intended target.
Jab from Bandini.
Lee takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Lee lands a jab to the head.
Bandini jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lee feinted with a counter takedown.
Lee fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bandini looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bandini connects with a looping right hand.
Jab, jab by Bandini - just one landing.
Bandini swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Lee.
Bandini changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Bandini moves out of range as Lee strikes.
Bandini misses with an uppercut. Lee saw that one coming.
Bandini moves away from the strike by Lee.
Lee swats away the attempt to clinch by Bandini.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bandini swings widly with a right hand
and Lee counters with a nice uppercut.
Lee fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Lee. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lee tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bandini manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lee walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Bandini looking to score a takedown here. Lee is defending well but Bandini drives through and ends up in Lee's guard.
Bandini lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Lee lands some strikes from the bottom.
Lee tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lee has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Lee trying to control the position.
Bandini is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bandini trying to control but Lee is working from the bottom.
Lee doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Lee working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
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!
Bandini is trying to stand up here but Lee is controlling him well.
Bandini is staying active underneath Lee, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Lee is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bandini doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lee.
Lee takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mac Bandini 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Lee sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
The crowd cheers as Bandini lands an impressive looking overhand right. Lee doesn't seem phased though.
Lee looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Lee takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A left lands for Bandini.
Lee walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Bandini has a takedown stuffed.
Bandini scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Bandini throws a sloppy head kick and Lee moves out of range easily.
Bandini stuffs the takedown attempt from Lee. Lee gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lee throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Bandini was covering up waiting for the punch and Lee finishes the takedown easily into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bandini trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee tries to free his leg and advance position but Bandini is retaining full guard.
Lee loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lee with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Lee lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Lee pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bandini is keeping the position for now.

Bandini is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lee is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Lee stays in close to Bandini's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Lee won't allow Bandini to get back to his feet.
Lee in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lee tries to free his leg and advance position but Bandini is retaining full guard.
Lee is stalling in the full guard.
Lee works over Bandini with some ground and pound from guard.
Bandini wants to stand and escape but Lee is having none of it.
Lee cracks Bandini with a solid left hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bandini keeping moving, preventing Lee from controlling successfully.
John Lee has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee lands a couple of elbows.
Lee postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Bandini throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lee trying to control the position from guard on top but Bandini is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lee with a nice head shot there.
Lee scoring with punches to the head and body.
Lee won't allow Bandini to sweep him here.
Lee trying to control but Bandini is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Lee looking to pass the guard.
Mac Bandini is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Lee lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Bandini wants to stand up but Lee is controlling him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bandini keeping moving, preventing Lee from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lee with a flurry of punches that miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Lee showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bandini 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mac Bandini!
A less than humble Mac Bandini misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.