PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hitmon Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabiano DeSilva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). DeSilva has chosen Todd Rundgren - Bang On The Drum All Day as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lee
vs
DeSilva

195 cm
21
222 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

190 cm
30
210 lbs
18 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hitmon Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fabiano DeSilva!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Thiago Cunha and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lee takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
DeSilva misses with a straight left.

Lee closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Lee lands in his opponent's guard.
DeSilva preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lee postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
DeSilva is looking to stand up but Lee isn't so interested in that idea.
Lee thows a big elbow that misses.
DeSilva can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lee controls the pace.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if DeSilva can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeSilva wants to stand and escape but Lee is having none of it.
Lee wants to control from the top but DeSilva keeps moving.
Lee with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lee trying to control but DeSilva is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Hitmon Lee.
Lee throws a wild body kick that DeSilva sees coming a mile off.
DeSilva misses with a right hand
and Lee counters with a stiff right hand.

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.
DeSilva ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lee shoots in for a double leg but DeSilva sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lee swings widly with a right hand
and DeSilva counters with a left and a right that stings Lee.
DeSilva rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Lee counters with a one-two to the body.
DeSilva thuds his right hand into Lee's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
DeSilva lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Lee shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. DeSilva eats them both and turns towards Lee to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

It looks like Fabiano DeSilva has been cut.
Lee uses good head movement to avoid the hook from DeSilva.
Lee throws a left and a right that both miss
and DeSilva counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Lee thinking.
DeSilva misses with a hook
and Lee counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
DeSilva lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
DeSilva moves out of range of the strikes.
Lee takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DeSilva throws a poor cross that misses
and DeSilva takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Fabiano DeSilva is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lee. DeSilva does a little dance to reset his feet.
The fighters circle momentarily. DeSilva darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
DeSilva doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
DeSilva swings widly with a right hand

and Lee counters with a shoot takedown. DeSilva fights it but they end up in guard.
DeSilva working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lee.
Lee has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Lee is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
DeSilva working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lee.
Lee throwing strikes but missing.
Lee postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lee wants to control from the top but DeSilva keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lee accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lee wants to control from the top but DeSilva keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hitmon Lee dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Fabiano DeSilva's cut.
That's time! Lee's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Lee fails to land with a series of punches.
Lee misses with a left hand
and DeSilva counters with a stiff right hand.
Lee shoots in for a takedown but DeSilva shows good takedown defense.
DeSilva lands a jab.
DeSilva pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hitmon Lee is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A combination from DeSilva does no damage.
Lee throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and DeSilva counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A head kick by Lee misses
and Lee takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lee shoots in for a double leg but DeSilva sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lee misses with a head kick.
Lee with a lazy takedown attempt
and DeSilva counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hitmon Lee. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee swinging wildly here.
DeSilva sizes up Lee with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
DeSilva lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Lee on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by DeSilva. DeSilva obviously looking to wear him down.
Lee takes one to the side of the head.
Lee ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lee takes a swing at DeSilva's ribcage but misses.
DeSilva misses with a head kick.
DeSilva might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
DeSilva connects with the punch.
DeSilva pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Good exchange - DeSilva coming out on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
DeSilva connects with a jab.
DeSilva will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
DeSilva connects with the punch.
Lee will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
DeSilva blocks a low kick nicely.
DeSilva swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Some wild striking there from DeSilva.
Lee dodges the punch combination from DeSilva.
Lee misses with a body shot
and DeSilva counters with a stiff right hand.
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!
DeSilva catches Lee with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Hitmon Lee seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Lee scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DeSilva keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Lee throws a strike but DeSilva avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Lee trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lee trying to control but DeSilva is working from the bottom.
DeSilva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four 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.
Lee prevents DeSilva from getting back to his feet.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Lee is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Hitmon Lee just wasn't active enough.
Lee slips under a jab from DeSilva.
Lee throws a poor cross that misses
and DeSilva counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lee misses with an uppercut
and Lee takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabiano DeSilva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Fabiano DeSilva's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Lee connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Lee throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and DeSilva counters with an outside leg kick.
DeSilva keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
DeSilva throws an off balance right hand

and Lee counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
DeSilva wants to get back to his feet but Lee is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Lee working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lee trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lee loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeSilva keeping full guard, as Lee tries to pass.
Lee with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lee is looking to work some ground and pound but DeSilva has wrist control.

DeSilva uses the cage to get back to his feet.
DeSilva lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Lee blocks a low kick nicely.
DeSilva thows a body shot but no joy.

That's two 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.
DeSilva misses with an uppercut
and Lee counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lee needs to keep his hands up - DeSilva had a free shot at his head there.
Lee uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from DeSilva.
DeSilva throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lee misses with a left hand
enabling DeSilva to counter with a crisp jab.

Lee shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches DeSilva napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Lee is looking to take a break and control but DeSilva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lee lands a nice forearm strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DeSilva is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
DeSilva is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Lee is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. DeSilva knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
DeSilva tries to escape but Lee is in control.

That's four 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.
DeSilva defending against the ground and pound.
DeSilva parries the strikes from Lee easily there. Lee is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable DeSilva to escape.
Lee laying and praying for a moment but DeSilva takes advantage and regains half guard.

Lee is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
DeSilva blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lee.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hitmon Lee showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hitmon Lee!