PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dex Illing (ranked 4101 p4p, 5601 weight class) and Jae Lee (ranked 249 p4p, 0 weight class). Jae Lee has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Illing
vs
Lee

170 cm
25
140
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
20
135
4 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dex Illing!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jae Lee!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Daniel Franklin and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Illing stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Illing wants it to stay on the feet.
It looked like Illing was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Lee tries to keep at a distance but Illing has taken the fight into the clinch.
Illing is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Illing breaks the clinch.
Lee has his takedown stuffed

and Illing counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Illing prevents the takedown attempt.
Dex Illing has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jae Lee.
Lee goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Illing pushes off an throws an elbow but Lee leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Lee is pressed up against the cage. Illing has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Lee down to the mat. Lee avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lee has his takedown stuffed

and Illing counters by moving into the clinch.

Illing pulls guard successfully.
Lee wants to control from the top but Illing keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Illing controls Lee momentarily but Lee frees himself.
Lee is fighting to break Illing's control of his arms but Illing is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Illing keeping moving, preventing Lee from controlling successfully.
Lee postures up.
Lee working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Illing looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Illing is on top in guard.

Illing might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Illing 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Illing trying to control the position from guard on top but Lee is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Lee is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Illing is aware though and is defending well.
Illing seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Lee controls Illing momentarily but Illing frees himself.
Illing wants to control from the top but Lee keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Illing avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lee shoots in for a takedown but Illing shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Illing displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lee.
Illing tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Lee defends well and Illing ends up having to push Lee into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Illing gets underhooks to prevent Lee's takedown attempt.
Illing looking for a takedown.
Illing has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Lee is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Illing's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A punch combination from Illing misses.
Illing blocks a head kick by Lee.
Jae Lee seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lee closes this distance looking for a takedown but Illing circles away.
Lee looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Illing shoots for a double leg takedown but Lee sprawls well. He's pushed Illing's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Illing sets himself, and Lee steps forward looking for the clinch! Illing avoids it this time.

Illing moves into range and clinches up with Lee.
Lee on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Illing breaks the clinch.
Illing shoots in looking for a takedown. Lee tries to sprawl out of it but Illing keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lee manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Lee has taken the fight to the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Illing breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lee fails with a takedown attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dex Illing dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Illing clinches up against the cage.
Illing is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lee can do to turn this around?
Lee is trying to push Illing away but Illing has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Lee has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Illing is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Illing manages to break the clinch.
Illing fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Illing lands with a kick to the temple. Lee shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Illing shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lee defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Illing shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lee but Lee pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dex Illing. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lee looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Illing is fending him off so far but Lee persists. Nope, Illing circles away and we're back to standing.
Lee is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Illing keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee tries to clinch there but Illing circles away.
Lee tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Horrible takedown attempt by Lee or perhaps it was just good defense by Illing, which made it look bad.
Lee is breathing heavily.
Lee misses with a takedown attempt - Illing sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lee tries to clinch but Illing is having none of it.
Lee darts in looking for a takedown but Illing gets double underhooks and turns Lee into the cage.
Illing shoots in for a double leg but Lee sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lee doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Illing leaves Lee with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Illing looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lee is fending him off so far but Illing persists. Nope, Lee circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Illing instigates a clinch.
Lee tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Illing just stands there and leans against the cage.
Lee tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Illing jumps guard.

Illing pushes Lee off and scrambles back to his feet.
Illing is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lee sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Illing shoots in for a takedown but Lee shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Illing fails to land the takedown.
Illing swats away the attempt to clinch by Lee.
Lee tries to clinch up but Illing circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee fails with the takedown
and Illing counters with a head kick. That will keep Lee thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Illing darts in looking for a takedown but Lee gets double underhooks and turns Illing into the cage.
Lee looking for a takedown.

Illing gets control of Lee's arms and successfully pulls guard. Illing will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Illing is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Illing is looking for a triangle but Lee pushes his legs off easily.
Illing 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.
Lee slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Illing being controlled here, momentarily.
Lee wants to pass the guard but Illing is keeping the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lee 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.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dex Illing dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Lee tries to clinch there but Illing circles away.
Lee displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Illing.
Illing thows a body kick. Lee tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Illing with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Lee stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lee wants it to stay on the feet.

Illing rushes Lee and presses him up against the cage.
Lee managing to block the knees to the body from Illing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lee gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Illing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dex Illing. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lee has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Illing avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Illing breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee fails with a takedown attempt.

Illing gets a clinch.
Illing lands a left hand.
Dex Illing has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Lee tries for a takedown but Illing manages to get underhooks.

Illing breaks from the clinch.
Dex Illing is winning the standup battle so far.
Lee shoots for a takedown but Illing saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Illing changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lee tries to avoid it but Illing manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lee to the ground. Lee escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Illing shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lee but Lee pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Illing has Lee up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee is trying to maintain a safe position but Illing gets an underhook and turns Lee into the cage.
Illing gets underhooks to prevent Lee's takedown attempt.

Illing breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Illing moves into the clinch.
Lee is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Illing pulls guard.
Lee trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Illing is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Lee looking to sit in guard and control but Illing gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Illing engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Illing postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Illing trying to control the position from guard on top but Lee is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Illing decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Illing fails to land the takedown.

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.
Illing fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lee shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Illing sprawls well. Illing wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lee gets slowly back to his feet.
Lee looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Illing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Illing shoots in but Lee avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jae Lee has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dex Illing is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lee defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Illing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dex Illing showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Illing 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dex Illing!