PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jeff Lee (ranked 1458 p4p, 882 weight class) and Guy River (ranked 188 p4p, 118 weight class). Lee comes to the cage accompanied by Doomsday Clock. The crowd seem to be enjoying River's choice of entrance music: Gabon National Anthem. 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
River

189 cm
25
155
12 - 6 - 0

182 cm
34
156
24 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Brooklyn Apothecary

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

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 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jeff Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Guy River!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Donald Grub and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lee looks to land a body kick but River moved away.
A countering left hand to the body from River misses.
River throws a body punch but Lee moves out of range.
Lee throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Lee lands with a cross.
A head kick misses from Lee.
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.
River misses with a hook.
Lee moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
We've been told by Lee's head coaches at Cope's that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
River plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Lee uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from River.
River on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A jab from Lee does it's job there.
Jeff Lee seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lee throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Lee avoids the head kick by River.
We've been informed that River has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
An inside leg kick lands from Lee.
Lee throws a push kick but River slaps the foot to one side.
River lands with a slapping head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River misses with a low kick.
Lee dips to his left and cracks River with an uppercut!
Lee throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Lee pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Lee throws a head kick that half lands.
Some bone on bone action there as River checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A slow jab from River misses its intended target.
River avoids a kick to the body.
Lee avoids the body shot from River.
Lee throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent River stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
River lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Lee at a distance.
Lee looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Good work by River as he checks the leg kick.
Lee missing with a left hand there. River was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
River throws out a counter right but Lee avoids it with no problem.
Lee throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from River.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lee lands with a straight right. River didn't see that one coming.
Lee is looking to land body kicks.
A good leg kick by River.
River throws a right and a left that Lee avoids nicely.
Lee throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
River avoids the head kick by Lee.
Good shot there by Lee.
River moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
River looks to throw a body kick
and Lee counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lee throws a sloppy head kick and River moves out of range easily.
Lee ducks under a wild hook from River.
Lee lands with a shot to the body.
Lee throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River tries to clinch up.
Lee swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Lee connects with a leg kick.
Lee connects with a leg kick.
Lee misses with a kick to the body.
Lee throws a push kick but River slaps the foot to one side.
River lands a head shot.

River moves into the clinch.
Lee is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Lee prevents a body shot from River.
River is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, River just misses with a elbow thrown towards Lee's brow.
River misses with a punch to the body.
Lee lands an elbow inside.
Lee tries to throw a body punch but River avoids it by throwing Lee back against the cage.
Lee stalling in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lee breaks from the clinch.
Lee misses with a low kick.
Lee pulls out of a head kick attempt.
River moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Lee throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and River counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lee moves out of range of the strikes.
Lee throws a sloppy head kick and River moves out of range easily.
River swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by River.
Lee is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Lee lands with a kick to the temple. River shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Lee throws a head kick but River moves out of range.
And River responds with a good body kick, but Lee manages to step out the way in time.
River walks into a straight right hand from Lee.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A head kick from Lee lands but River takes it in his stride.
A solid body kick from Lee.
Lee lands a head kick. River smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Lee dominated that round.
That's time! Lee's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Lee throws a wild body kick that River sees coming a mile off.
River misses with a wild body shot.
River takes a head kick and keeps coming.
River steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lee.
Lee moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Lee throws a head kick that River semi-blocks.
Lee throws a sloppy head kick and River moves out of range easily.
River wants to clinch up but Lee keeps it at a distance.
River misses with a body shot.
River throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
River misses the shot to the body.
Lee pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lee takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Jeff Lee is winning the standup battle so far.
Lee is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by River.
Lee looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River moves out of range of the body kick from Lee.
Lee backing away here, and River unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Lee works River's body with a nice hook.
Lee tries to score with a low kick but River moves his leg out of the way.
Lee misses with a body kick.
River looks to land a right hand but Lee moved out of range.
River lands with a nice body punch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lee. River does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lee goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
River misses with a kick to the body.
A head kick misses from Lee.
Lee scoring well with a low kick there.
Lee misses with a kick to the body.
Lee throws a hook but River blocks it.
Lee scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee looks to land a body kick but River moved away.
Lee throws a leg kick but River moved away.
River waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lee.
Lee throws a head kick but River moves out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lee avoids a kick to the body.
River misses with a body shot
and Lee counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Lee looks to land a body kick but River moved away.
River only half commits to the counter leg kick.
River changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Lee throws a head kick but River moves out of range.
River on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Lee. Lee obviously looking to wear him down.
River takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Lee has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
River tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
River's corner calls for a 1-2. River obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
River swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Lee counters with a low kick, right behind River 's knee.
Lee scores with a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee tries a head kick but it misses.
Lee blocks a jab.
Lee throws a head kick that misses
and River counters with a left and a right that stings Lee.

River closes the distance and pushes Lee back into the cage.
River misses with a punch on the inside.

Lee breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lee tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and River is able to avoid easily.
Lee is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that River can do to turn this around?
A clash of legs there as Lee blocks the low kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Lee. River shrugs it off though.
Lee swings for the body but River moves out of range.
Lee with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
River turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
River on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
River lands with an uppercut that bounces Lee off the cage and back into range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lee keeps River at a distance using the push kick.
River checks a low kick from Lee.
A head kick misses from Lee.
Lee misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lee lands with a kick to the temple. River shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
River fakes the leg kick and cracks Lee in the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
River throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Lee is looking to counter with head kicks.
Lee misses with a leg kick

and River holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A nice left hand lands by River.

Lee breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lee throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
letting River counter with a right hand.
Lee tries to land a front kick but River steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
River lands with a nice body punch.
River fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jeff Lee will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Lee misses with a body kick.
River feints a counter leg kick.
Lee gets cracked with a nice right hand there by River.
Lee walks forward, straight into a front kick from River.

River drops Lee with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Lee looks back up at him and smiles so River waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

Lee is rocked!
Lee misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Oh Lee is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
This has been an exciting period of action!
River is looking to slow Lee down with leg kicks.

River lands a big uppercut and Lee crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Lee looks OK. River waves Lee back to his feet!
River jabbing away but nothing is landing.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Lee checks a leg kick.
Lee misses with a body kick.
River connects with a leg kick.
River's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Lee keeps the fight on the outside.
Lee seems to have got his legs back now.
River pushes Lee away with a front kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Lee gets tackled into the cage by River. River maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River lands with a short punch from the clinch.
River has Lee pressed against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from River.
River tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lee's elbow.
A quick uppercut on the inside from River.
Lee blocks a body shot from River.
Lee blocks a body shot from River.
Lee tries to circle away but River has him pinned against the cage.
Lee tries to work over River's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
River tries a body shot but Lee blocks it.
River has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Lee.
Lee has a couple of punches blocked by River.

Lee's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

River fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lee, pushing him back against the cage.
River throws a head punch that misses.
River throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River misses with a punch to the body.
Nice elbow from Lee.
Lee is trying to break the clinch but River is controlling him.
Lee trying to control the position but instead, River has worked for underhooks and has pushed Lee into the cage.
River misses with a hook to the ribs.
Lee prevents a body shot from River.
Lee blocks a body shot from River.
Lee looking to slow down the pace here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Lee tries to circle away but River has him pinned against the cage.

River breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Decent striking displayed by River there.
Lee throws a head kick that misses.
It seemed like River was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
River avoids the head kick by Lee.
Guy River has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee uses good head movement to avoid the hook from River.
River throws a leg kick
and Lee counters with a straight right hand.
River connects with a crisp jab.
Lee tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
River doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
River walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
River uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lee.
Lee keeps the fight on the outside.
Lee slips under a jab.
Lee uses good head movement to avoid the hook from River.
Lee lands with an overhand left.
River blocks a head kick by Lee.
River throws a looping overhand right but Lee ducks down to avoid it.

River gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Guy River seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
River lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Lee working hard to break the clinch.
River doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
River lands a left hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
River has Lee pressed against the cage, preventing Lee from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Lee tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lee misses with an elbow strike.
The referee calls for River to work.
River blocks an elbow strike.
Lee tries to circle away but River has him pinned against the cage.
River throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
River scores with a shoulder strike.
A shot in the inside from River.
River tries to work over Lee's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lee wants to stall.
Lee gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Guy River comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeff Lee!
Our winner, Jeff Lee, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.