PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brock Lenny (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Flinch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Robert Flinch enters the cage!

Lenny
vs
Flinch

160 cm
18
170 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
19
167 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Brock Lenny!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Robert Flinch!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Shimada and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lenny shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Flinch defends it nicely.
Flinch looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
No luck for Lenny with that takedown attempt.
Lenny throws a sloppy head kick and Flinch moves out of range easily.
Lenny tries to land a front kick but Flinch steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Lenny really is a fat lump.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lenny with a nice cross.
Lenny shoots in for a takedown but Flinch shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brock Lenny. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lenny fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Flinch tries to sprawl but Lenny drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Lenny trying to pass the guard but Flinch defending well.
Lenny is trying to control. Flinch wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Flinch blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lenny.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lenny tries to stand and escape but Flinch is controlling the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Brock Lenny wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Lenny keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lenny shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Flinch as he jumps to the side.
Lenny displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Flinch.
Flinch stuffs the takedown.
Lenny dives in and grabs Flinch's left leg, looking for a takedown. Flinch pushes down on Lenny's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lenny shoots in but no luck this time.
Flinch keeps the fight on the outside.

Lenny shoots in and bounces Flinch off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Flinch keeping moving, preventing Lenny from controlling successfully.
Flinch is trying to control the position but Lenny postures up.
Lenny has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Brock Lenny has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Lenny scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Lenny fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Flinch avoids it really well and circles away.

Lenny rushes Flinch and presses him up against the cage.
Lenny drops down looking for an ankle pick but Flinch pulls his leg out and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lenny shoots in looking for a takedown but Flinch manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lenny's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Lenny fails to land with a series of punches.
Lenny throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Flinch.
Lenny throws a leg kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lenny has his takedown stuffed

and Flinch counters with a takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lenny manages to get back to half guard.
Lenny might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Lenny keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Flinch is breathing heavily.
Flinch missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Flinch not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lenny makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Lenny.
Lenny working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Flinch.
Flinch is looking to work some ground and pound but Lenny has wrist control.
Lenny striking off his back but it's not causing Flinch any problems.
Flinch throws a big right hand that misses.
Lenny working a defensive guard here.
Lenny working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Flinch.
Lenny throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lenny is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Flinch is aware though and is defending well.
Flinch postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Flinch throws a big right hand that misses.
Flinch is in close to Lenny's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Lenny working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Flinch.
Flinch trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Flinch loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lenny utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Flinch postures up in Lenny's guard and throws a big left but Lenny blocks it.
Lenny looking to control.
Flinch lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Flinch lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Lenny avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lenny manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Lenny controlling his opponent.
Lenny tries to control but Flinch wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flinch holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Lenny tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Brock Lenny overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Flinch is squirming around, avoiding Lenny's attempts to control the action.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Robert Flinch will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Lenny will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lenny is looking to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lenny is defended easily by Flinch.
Lenny misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Flinch takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lenny throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lenny shoots for a takedown but Flinch saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brock Lenny. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lenny throws a head kick but Flinch moves out of range.
Lenny tries for a takedown but Flinch sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Lenny misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Flinch.
Lenny looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Flinch is fending him off so far but Lenny persists. Nope, Flinch circles away and we're back to standing.
Lenny shoots in for a double leg but Flinch sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lenny stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lenny wants it to stay on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lenny fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Flinch avoids it really well and circles away.

Lenny gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Flinch with a flurry of punches that miss.

Lenny working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Flinch doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Flinch manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Flinch has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Flinch throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flinch with a nice head shot there.
Lenny avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Flinch scoring with some ground and pound.
Lenny utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Flinch is in close to Lenny's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Flinch scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Flinch keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Lenny's head.
Lenny working a defensive guard here.
Lenny avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Flinch missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Flinch throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lenny works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flinch throwing strikes but missing.
Flinch content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Flinch throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lenny works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lenny trying to control the position.
Lenny is controlling Flinch's posture.
Flinch scoring with some ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Flinch trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Flinch makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Flinch accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Flinch scoring with some ground and pound.
Flinch scoring with some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert Flinch comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Flinch 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert Flinch!
Post fight, Robert Flinch took to the microphone: 'I have respect for my opponent but theirs always gonna be one winner... ME'.