PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Derrick Lewis (ranked 3051 p4p, 3229 weight class) and Lee Van Cleefe (ranked 96 p4p, 111 weight class). Van Cleefe has chosen Classics - The Master (1984) TV series as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Lee Van Cleefe was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Lewis
vs
Van Cleefe

192 cm
33
218
13 - 15 - 0

185 cm
32
255
19 - 25 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Good elbows
Fast

Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Derrick Lewis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lee Van Cleefe!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Richard Clark and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Van Cleefe gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Lewis tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Van Cleefe has Lewis pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lewis manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Lewis wants a takedown but no success here.
Lewis is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Van Cleefe is looking to take this one to the mat.

Van Cleefe has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Lewis regains guard immediately.
Lewis can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Van Cleefe controls the pace.

Lewis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Van Cleefe trying to control but Lewis is working from the bottom.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Van Cleefe working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lewis throws his legs up looking for a submission but Van Cleefe uses it to pass to side control.
Lewis regains half guard there - taking advantage of Van Cleefe's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Van Cleefe wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lewis keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Cleefe is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Lewis has managed to free his arm - good work.

Van Cleefe is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lewis defends it well.
Lewis is looking for a sweep. Van Cleefe is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lewis is pressing down on Van Cleefe's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Lewis seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Van Cleefe makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Van Cleefe pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lewis is keeping the position for now.
Van Cleefe lands a couple of elbows.
Van Cleefe stands and throws Lewis's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Cleefe working the body and head with strikes.

It looks like Derrick Lewis has been cut.

Van Cleefe looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Lewis gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Van Cleefe is trying to work for a kimura but Lewis is defending well.

Van Cleefe seems to be looking for submissions.
Van Cleefe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lewis tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Van Cleefe is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lewis defends it well.
Lewis wants to control but Van Cleefe is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Van Cleefe looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Van Cleefe is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Lewis has hold of Van Cleefe's hands but Van Cleefe slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Lewis is refusing to be controlled, as Van Cleefe sits in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Van Cleefe is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Van Cleefe prevents Lewis from improving his position.

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

Van Cleefe working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Van Cleefe tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Van Cleefe has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Lewis takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Van Cleefe lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Van Cleefe lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Lewis is rocked!

Van Cleefe goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Lewis rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Van Cleefe's guard! Nice work there by Lewis!
Oh Lewis is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Van Cleefe is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lewis defends well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lee Van Cleefe dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Derrick Lewis's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lewis tries to clinch but Van Cleefe moves out of range.
Lewis seems to have got his legs back now.
Van Cleefe misses with a combination
and Lewis counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Van Cleefe tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lewis was well out of range. Poor timing from Van Cleefe.

Lewis closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Van Cleefe to the mat! Van Cleefe manages to get full guard.
Van Cleefe keeping full guard, as Lewis tries to pass.
Lewis trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Cleefe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lewis passes Van Cleefe's left leg - he's now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lewis is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Van Cleefe trying to get back to full guard but Lewis takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Cleefe is trying to reverse the position but instead Lewis has taken his back - oops!
Van Cleefe covering up well and avoiding damage.

Lewis is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Van Cleefe defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Van Cleefe staying busy and making it hard for Lewis to control.
Lewis loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Van Cleefe hold on?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Cleefe is trying to break free.

Lewis working for the choke.
Lewis is trying to stick to Van Cleefe's back but Van Cleefe is turning into Lewis. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Lewis's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Van Cleefe.
Van Cleefe advances to half guard.
Van Cleefe trying to control the pace.

Lewis is defending against the submission attempts here by Van Cleefe.
Van Cleefe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Van Cleefe landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Derrick Lewis's cut is getting worse.
Lewis moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Van Cleefe has gone for a leg lock! Lewis slips out almost immediately though and dives into Van Cleefe's guard.

Van Cleefe looking to control.

Lewis postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Van Cleefe is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Lewis, into his guard.

Van Cleefe chips away with some ground and pound.

Derrick Lewis's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Van Cleefe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lewis pulls Van Cleefe in to control the position.
Van Cleefe is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Lewis avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lewis looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Van Cleefe is defending well. Lewis quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Van Cleefe has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Lewis celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Derrick Lewis!
The defeated Lee Van Cleefe had this to say: 'Old ninjas don't retire they just disappear in a cloud of smoke. '.