PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Axel Povjeneks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Povjeneks has chosen The Gentle Art Of Making Enemies as his entrance music. Bruce Lee looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Lee
vs
Povjeneks

185 cm
18
186 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

193 cm
18
188 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bruce Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Axel Povjeneks!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Povjeneks shoots for a takedown but Lee saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Povjeneks fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lee throws a head kick that misses

and Povjeneks counters by clinching up.

Lee has hold of one of Povjeneks's legs. Povjeneks is fighting the takedown attempt but Lee gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Lee would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Povjeneks controls Lee momentarily but Lee frees himself.
Povjeneks wants to stand but Lee is controlling the position.
Povjeneks is trying to keep Lee in close.
Povjeneks 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.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Povjeneks has a closed guard, preventing Lee from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee is breathing heavily.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Povjeneks.
Povjeneks shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lee as he avoids it easily.
Bruce Lee has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Axel Povjeneks.
Povjeneks fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Povjeneks tries to clinch up
and Lee counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Povjeneks tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Lee counters with a head kick. That will keep Povjeneks thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Lee keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Povjeneks shoots for a takedown but Lee saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Povjeneks drives through and clinches with Lee against the cage.

Povjeneks escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Povjeneks throws a left and a right that both miss
and Lee counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Povjeneks rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lee moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lee darts in trying to clinch

and Povjeneks counters by moving into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Povjeneks tries to score a body lock takedown but Lee shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Povjeneks has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Lee avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Lee jumps guard and drags Povjeneks to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Povjeneks content to stall in guard here.
Povjeneks is looking to work some ground and pound but Lee has wrist control.
Lee is looking to stand up but Povjeneks isn't so interested in that idea.
Povjeneks trying to control the position from guard on top but Lee is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Povjeneks pushes down on Lee's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Lee knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Povjeneks on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Povjeneks is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Povjeneks in particular looking to stall.

Povjeneks escapes and gets back to his feet.
Povjeneks wants to clinch.
Povjeneks tries for a takedown but Lee circles away easily
and Lee counters with a head kick. That will keep Povjeneks thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Povjeneks is defended easily by Lee.
Povjeneks throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Povjeneks moves into range and clinches up with Lee.

Lee has hold of one of Povjeneks's legs. Povjeneks is fighting the takedown attempt but Lee gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Povjeneks tries to strike from the bottom.

Povjeneks pushes Lee off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Horrible takedown by Povjeneks or perhaps it was just good defense by Lee which made him look bad.
Povjeneks scores with a decent looking hook.
Nice takedown defense from Lee. No joy for Povjeneks on that attempt.
Povjeneks tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Lee manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Lee.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Povjeneks doesn't manage to clinch there - Lee circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Povjeneks gets control of Lee's arms and successfully pulls guard. Povjeneks will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Povjeneks manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lee manages to get himself to full guard.
Povjeneks 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.
Povjeneks forces his way into half guard.
Povjeneks landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Povjeneks controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Povjeneks landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Lee looks like he's trying to stand up.
Well, if Povjeneks is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Povjeneks is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Lee is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Axel Povjeneks!