PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrei Shleifer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lee
vs
Shleifer

190 cm
21
221 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

193 cm
19
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Solid chin

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Andrei Shleifer!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Matheus Silva and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shleifer is looking to clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Shleifer as Lee shoots in.
Shleifer tries to clinch up

and Lee counters with a single leg into guard. Shleifer didn't expect that.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Shleifer controls Lee momentarily but Lee frees himself.
Shleifer keeping full guard, as Lee tries to pass.
Shleifer controlling Lee's posture.
Lee throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shleifer works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shleifer wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Shleifer 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 ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Andrei Shleifer wasn't active enough on the ground.

Lee closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
You can see the frustration on Shleifer's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Lee tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Lee has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Shleifer is looking for a sweep.
Shleifer on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Shleifer is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Lee's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Shleifer avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lee.
Lee trying to mount his opponent but Shleifer defends it.
Lee thows a huge punch but Shleifer dodges it nicely.
Shleifer avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lee.
Shleifer preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Lee seems to be working for a kimura but Shleifer defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shleifer avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lee.
Lee sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shleifer defending well though.
Shleifer gets full guard.
Shleifer wants to control the position but Lee says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shleifer is staying active underneath Lee, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Lee is looking for a kimura but Shleifer is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Lee to get the leverage.

Shleifer is defending against the submission attempts here by Lee.
Shleifer trying to control but Lee postures up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Shleifer can do anything to dispel that myth.

Lee is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Shleifer sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shleifer avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lee.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shleifer trying to hold on to Lee's head to control him but Lee postures up.
Lee looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Shleifer is pressing down on Lee's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Lee stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shleifer swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Lee thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Lee throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shleifer is trying to control the position but Lee postures up.
Shleifer is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Shleifer wants to sweep here but Lee controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shleifer swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lee distracts Shleifer with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Shleifer working a defensive guard here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Shleifer is on top in guard.
Shleifer wants to control from the top but Lee keeps moving.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lee wants to control the position but Shleifer says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shleifer is trying to control. Lee wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Lee is looking to improve his position.
Shleifer wants to control but Lee is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Lee dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A head kick misses from Shleifer.

Lee gets a takedown into half guard.
Lee wants to pass the guard but Shleifer is defending well.
Lee throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Lee controlling the action here.
Shleifer tries to get to full guard but Lee has control of the leg.
Shleifer trying to hold on to Lee's head to control him but Lee postures up.

Shleifer is defending against the submission attempts here by Lee.
Shleifer trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michael Lee overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Shleifer is pressing down on Lee's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Lee passes Shleifer's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Lee trying to pass the guard but Shleifer defending well.
Shleifer trying to hold on to Lee's head to control him but Lee postures up.
Shleifer tries to kick Lee off but Lee keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Lee trying to mount his opponent but Shleifer defends it.
Shleifer is staying active underneath Lee, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lee is working for a submission of some sort.
Shleifer regains full guard. Nicely done.
Lee content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Lee stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shleifer swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Shleifer lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Lee!
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!
Shleifer tries to control but Lee wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Lee trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Lee is wriggling around trying to escape.
Shleifer is stalling here but it's allowed Lee to get half guard.
Shleifer moves nicely into side control.
Lee trying his best to control but Shleifer has mounted him.
Lee wants to hold on but Shleifer pushes him away.
Lee can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shleifer can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lee is looking to escape.
Lee tries to lock up and control but Shleifer gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Shleifer trying to control but he's not successful this time.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lee is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Shleifer sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lee is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Michael Lee will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Lee shoots in for a double leg but Shleifer sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Shleifer tries to close the distance and clinch but Lee swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shleifer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shleifer fails with an attempt to clinch.
Shleifer tries to clinch but fails miserably

so Lee counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Shleifer is on top in guard.
Shleifer wants to control from the top but Lee keeps moving.
Shleifer slips nicely into half guard.
Lee is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Shleifer jumps into side control!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lee is looking to regain half guard here but Shleifer keeps moving and retains side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shleifer laying and praying for a moment but Lee takes advantage and regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee is looking for a sweep. Shleifer is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Shleifer trying to control the pace.
Lee is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Lee is trying to maintain the position but Shleifer is very close to passing his half guard.
Shleifer trying to control from half guard but Lee is working away.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Shleifer stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Andrei Shleifer wasn't active enough on the ground.
Shleifer wants to clinch up but Lee keeps it at a distance.
Shleifer fails with an attempt to clinch.
Shleifer tries to clinch there but Lee circles away.
Lee looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Shleifer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Andrei Shleifer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shleifer tries to clinch there but Lee circles away.
Shleifer tries to clinch there but Lee circles away.
Andrei Shleifer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Lee has managed to clinch.
Lee dodges an elbow strike from Shleifer.
Shleifer scores a nice knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Shleifer smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Lee. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shleifer 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.
Shleifer plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Michael Lee has been cut.
Shleifer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lee swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shleifer tries to clinch but Lee moves away

and Lee counters with a single leg into guard. Shleifer didn't expect that.
Lee looking to pass the guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Shleifer is on top in guard.
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!

Shleifer gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Shleifer wants to clinch up but Lee keeps it at a distance.
Shleifer tries to close the distance and clinch but Lee swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shleifer pressing his opponent against the cage.
Shleifer gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lee.
Lee wants a takedown but no success here.
Shleifer throws an elbow but it misses.
Shleifer scores with a knee to the head.
Shleifer trying to stall but Lee improves his position.
Lee takes a knee right on the jaw!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shleifer blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shleifer with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Andrei Shleifer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael Lee is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shleifer using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lee has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrei Shleifer 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28

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