PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yui Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benjamin Liu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lee comes to the cage accompanied by Waters Of Nazareth. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lee
vs
Liu

182 cm
19
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yui Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Benjamin Liu!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lee lets loose with a powerful body kick. Liu will feel that in the morning.

Lee clinches up against the cage.

Lee ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Lee no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Lee is striking from the bottom but Liu uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Liu throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Lee trying to control from the bottom.
Lee is staying active underneath Liu, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Liu passes to full mount!
Lee working to try and regain half guard.
Lee manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Lee wants to improve his position but Liu is controlling well.
Liu slows the pace down in half guard.
Lee has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Liu is working away from the top position though.
Lee is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Liu is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lee doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Liu.
Lee misses with some strikes from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Lee manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Liu being controlled here momentarily.
Lee wants to stand and escape but Liu is having none of it.
Lee manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Lee is breathing heavily.
The referee warns Liu that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Liu working to try and regain half guard.
Lee trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee punishing his opponent with strikes.
Liu working to try and regain half guard.
Lee lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lee has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Liu's face.

Lee has hold of Liu's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Liu manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Liu is looking to improve his position but Lee isn't that keen on the idea.
Liu tries to hold on but Lee pushes him away.
Lee in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Lee scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Liu?
Lee is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Lee with shots to the head and body - Liu looks very uncomfortable down there.
Liu really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
A nice elbow there by Lee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liu tries to reverse the position but Lee maintains control.
Lee landing shots from mount.

Lee wants to finish this one by submission but Liu is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Lee.
Lee misses with a head shot.
The referee warns Liu that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Lee trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Liu manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Lee is keen to just control but Liu is a slippery customer.
Liu works his way to full guard. Good work.

Liu escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lee gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Lee slips nicely into half guard.
Liu slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lee drops back looking for a leg! Liu is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Liu manages to kick Lee off! Lee jumps back into Liu's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Liu controls Lee momentarily but Lee frees himself.
Lee working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Lee avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Lee trying to control but Liu is working from the bottom.
Liu looking for a sweep. Not yet Liu, not yet.
Liu is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Lee tries to clinch up but Liu circles away and keeps his distance.

Lee closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lee closes this distance looking for a takedown but Liu circles away.
Liu keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Liu.

Liu bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Lee is looking for a sweep.
Lee is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Lee throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Liu wants to pass the guard but Lee is defending well.
Lee tries to kick Liu off but Liu keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Liu is working for a submission of some sort.
Lee connecting with a few gentle strikes.
Lee misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Liu passes the guard and advances to mount!

Liu goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Lee turns into him and now he's in Liu's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Liu throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Liu has his foot on Lee's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lee works his way back into a safe position though.
Lee trying to control but Liu is working from the bottom.

Liu has his foot on Lee's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lee works his way back into a safe position though.
Lee lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Liu working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lee doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lee manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Liu bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lee's guard.
Lee keeping full guard, as Liu tries to pass.
Lee wants to sweep here but Liu controlling him for the moment.
Lee is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Liu sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Lee's guard.

Liu is working for a kimura but Lee is defending it quite comfortably.

Liu postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Lee to stand up.
Lee doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Liu counters with a shoot takedown. Lee fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yui Lee. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lee tries to strike from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liu pushes down on Lee's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Liu is looking for a kimura here.
Lee is pressing down on Liu's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Lee looking to hit a scissor sweep but Liu is one step ahead there.

Lee looking for a guillotine here but Liu defends easily.
Lee lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Liu!
Liu is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Liu working to try and regain half guard.
Lee wants to control the pace but Liu is squirming around nicely.
Liu working to try and regain half guard.

Lee has hold of Liu's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Liu manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Liu really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Liu regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benjamin Liu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Liu looks for a takedown but Lee sprawls well.

Liu shoots in and bounces Lee off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Liu forces his way into half guard.

Lee kicks off Liu and gets to his feet.
Liu closes the distance and clinches up with Lee, looking for a takedown. Liu pushes Lee against the cage but Lee circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lee throws a combination that misses

and Liu counters with a single leg into guard. Lee didn't expect that.
Liu postures up.
Lee is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Liu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lee lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Liu!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Liu tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Lee looking to control and managing it successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liu is desperately trying to improve his position but Lee has a good base and remains in mount.
Lee looking to control but Liu is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Benjamin Liu has got the better of the ground game so far.

Lee looking to secure an arm triangle but Liu defends it well.
Liu tries to hold on but Lee pushes him away.
Lee landing punches.
Lee in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

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.
Lee controlling his opponent.
Lee dominating with strikes here.
Lee content just to control the position here.
Liu tries to reverse the position but Lee maintains control.
Lee scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Liu?
Lee looking to finish Liu with some ground and pound. This is bad for Liu!
Lee is landing with some decent strikes but Liu is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Liu can't escape the position.
Liu regains half guard.

Liu actively working from the bottom here.
Liu is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lee's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lee's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Lee fending off the submission attempt from Liu.
Liu not allowing Lee to control his hands.
Lee breaks Liu's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Lee has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Lee lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Liu had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Lee is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Liu Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Lee's back instead.

Liu is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Lee is defending well though. Liu let's go of the attempt for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liu is hanging on to Lee's back as he tries to escape.

Lee preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Liu.
Lee breaks Liu's hooks off and manages to turn into his 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!
Lee wants to control from the top but Liu keeps moving.

Liu is looking for a triangle but Lee pushes his legs off easily.
Liu has momentary wrist control but Lee slips an elbow through the middle.
Lee pushing down on Liu's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Lee wants to stand up but Liu is controlling the position.
Lee seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Liu does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Liu won't allow Lee to pass to mount.
Liu keeping control of the position.
Lee tries to pass to full mount but Liu defends it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benjamin Liu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Liu 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benjamin Liu!