PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lee McKinney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyler Vandam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

McKinney
vs
Vandam

190 cm
22
204 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

189 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lee McKinney!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tyler Vandam!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Bruno Lombardi and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McKinney shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vandam as he avoids it easily.
Vandam misses with a head kick.

McKinney shoots in and bounces Vandam off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
McKinney 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.
Vandam is looking to stand up but McKinney isn't so interested in that idea.
McKinney trying to control but Vandam is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKinney stops Vandam from standing up.
McKinney tries to stand but Vandam is controlling from the bottom.
Vandam preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vandam avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two 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.

McKinney stands and steps away. Vandam gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Vandam fails to land with a series of punches.
McKinney circles away from the clinch attempt.
Vandam thows a body shot but no joy.
McKinney blocks a head kick by Vandam.
Vandam tries a head kick but it misses.

Vandam has taken the fight to the clinch.

McKinney has picked Vandam up - he's going for a ride! McKinney dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
McKinney is pressing down on Vandam's thigh, looking to free his foot. Vandam is holding on for now.
Vandam avoiding damage under a succession of punches from McKinney.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McKinney decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
McKinney fails with the takedown.
McKinney is breathing heavily.
McKinney misses with an attempted mid kick.
Vandam just misses with a punch to the body.
Vandam lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Vandam takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Vandam misses with a jab, cross combination.
Vandam is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vandam drives through and clinches with McKinney against the cage.
McKinney fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lee McKinney. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Vandam breaks from the clinch.

Vandam fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with McKinney, pushing him back against the cage.
McKinney tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
McKinney drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Vandam manages to break the clinch.
McKinney is looking to clinch.

Vandam pushes McKinney up against the cage in a clinch.
McKinney is looking to control Vandam's arms but Vandam gets an underhook and turns him. Now McKinney has his back to the cage.
McKinney tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Vandam avoids it.

Vandam escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McKinney looks to clinch
and Vandam counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
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 Lee McKinney will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Vandam moves into range and clinches up with McKinney.

Vandam breaks the clinch.
Vandam stuffs the takedown.
Lee McKinney is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Vandam moves into range and clinches up with McKinney.

Vandam pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McKinney dodges the punch combination from Vandam.
A combination from Vandam does no damage.
McKinney shoots for a double leg takedown but Vandam sprawls well. He's pushed McKinney's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
McKinney throws a head kick that misses
and Vandam counters with a series of strikes. McKinney will be more careful next time no doubt.
McKinney takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Vandam closes the distance and pushes McKinney back into the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vandam stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Vandam breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McKinney slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Vandam!

It looks like Lee McKinney has been cut.
Tyler Vandam is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vandam looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Vandam is looking to clinch.
McKinney avoids the body shot from Vandam.
Vandam throws a sloppy head kick and McKinney moves out of range easily.
Vandam fails to land with a series of punches.

Vandam closes the distance and pushes McKinney back into the cage.

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

Vandam darts in and clinches McKinney up against the cage.

Vandam pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McKinney avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Vandam fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Vandam will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vandam works over McKinney's head and body with a nice combination.
Vandam lands a front kick.
Vandam is looking to slow McKinney down with leg kicks.
Vandam throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
McKinney avoids the head kick by Vandam.
McKinney misses with a double jab
and Vandam counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vandam swinging wilding here.

Vandam has closed the distance and engaged McKinney in a clinch.

Vandam manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vandam moves into the clinch successfully.
Vandam digs a right hand into McKinney's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on McKinney's gas tank.

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

Vandam gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Vandam's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McKinney shoots for a double leg takedown but Vandam sprawls well. He's pushed McKinney's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lee McKinney. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vandam throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Vandam takes a swing at McKinney's ribcage but misses.

Vandam closes the distance and pushes McKinney back into the cage.

Vandam breaks from the clinch.

Vandam rushes McKinney and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Vandam pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Vandam rushes McKinney and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vandam pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Vandam throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vandam misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McKinney.
McKinney on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Vandam. Vandam obviously looking to wear him down.

Vandam gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Vandam's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vandam is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down McKinney rather than just go for the knockout.
Vandam scores with a three punch combo!
Vandam throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nice body kick from Vandam.
Vandam lets loose with a powerful body kick. McKinney will feel that in the morning.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vandam scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from McKinney is defended easily by Vandam.

Vandam takes the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Vandam showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lee McKinney's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Vandam plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Tyler Vandam seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Vandam connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
McKinney clinches but Vandam breaks the clinch

and Vandam counters by clinching up.

Vandam manages to break the clinch.
McKinney looks for a takedown but Vandam sprawls well.
Vandam fails in his attempt to clinch.
McKinney fails in his attempt to clinch.
McKinney keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vandam.
Vandam jabs at McKinney's body.
Vandam fakes the leg kick and cracks McKinney in the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vandam connects with a body shot.
Vandam displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Vandam takes the fight into the clinch.

Vandam breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vandam misses with a head kick.
Vandam turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Vandam, right into the meat.
Vandam tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Vandam.

Vandam closes the distance and clinches.

Vandam pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Vandam throws a lazy head kick

and McKinney decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Vandam's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vandam wants to stand up but McKinney is controlling him.
McKinney postures up in Vandam's guard and throws a big left but Vandam blocks it.
McKinney trying to control but Vandam is working from the bottom.
McKinney prevents Vandam from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKinney working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Vandam keeping moving, preventing McKinney from controlling successfully.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Vandam can do anything to dispel that myth.
Vandam wants to stand but McKinney is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Vandam cracks the inside of McKinney's front leg.
Vandam throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Vandam clinches.

Vandam breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vandam fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. McKinney looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Vandam closes the distance and pushes McKinney back into the cage.
Vandam looking to throw knees to the head but McKinney is blocking nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Vandam breaks the clinch.
McKinney shoots in and drives through. Vandam sprawls well.
Vandam pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tyler Vandam comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Vandam 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 27:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tyler Vandam!