PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Moon Jung Lee (ranked 4710 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksandr Candovski (ranked 24927 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Jung Lee
vs
Candovski

179 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
25
158 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Moon Jung Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Aleksandr Candovski!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Columbo Gatti and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Lee dodges an elbow strike from Candovski.
Lee changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Candovski fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Lee fails with a takedown attempt.
Lee tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Candovski manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Candovski circles away from the clinch attempt.
Candovski tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lee manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Lee is trying to drag Candovski to the mat but Candovski just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Moon Jung Lee. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lee is looking to break free of the clinch but Candovski has double underhooks.
Lee is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee looking for a takedown.
Candovski tries to break free but Lee pushes him back against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Candovski.
Candovski tries to pull guard but Lee holds him up against the cage and eventually Candovski drops back down to his feet.

Candovski pulls Lee into guard.
Lee stopping the sweep attempt from Candovski.
Lee postures up in Candovski's guard and throws a big left but Candovski blocks it.
Lee wants to control from the top but Candovski keeps moving.
Lee engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee trying to control the position from guard on top but Candovski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lee controls from within his opponent's guard.
Lee forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee slows the pace down in half guard.
Lee works his way into full mount!
Candovski wants to get back to his feet.
Candovski tries to hold on but Lee pushes him away.
Candovski wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Candovski.
Candovski just trying to survive but Lee is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Candovski tries to break free.
Lee punches the canvas rather than the man.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Candovski is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Lee gets his way!
Lee controlling well, preventing Candovski from escaping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Candovski drives through and clinches with Lee against the cage.
Lee tries to pull guard but Candovski forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Candovski wants to take the fight to the mat but Lee manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Lee has Candovski pushed against the cage.
Lee unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Candovski is trying to pull guard but Lee has him pressed against the cage.
Lee has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Candovski avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Lee's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Candovski fails in his attempt to clinch.
Candovski shoots in for a double leg but Lee sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Moon Jung Lee has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksandr Candovski.
Lee shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Candovski checks a leg kick nicely.

Candovski drives through and clinches with Lee against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee wants a takedown.
Candovski prevents the takedown attempt.

Lee breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Candovski moves in looking to clinch but Lee pushes him off.
Lee looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
No luck for Candovski with that takedown attempt.
A big right from Lee misses.
Lee shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Candovski pinned against the cage. Candovski gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Candovski doesn't manage to clinch there - Lee circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Candovski as Lee shoots in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Candovski slaps away a takedown attempt from Lee, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A little jabbing left from Candovski on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Lee fails with the takedown.
Candovski tries to counter with a clinch but Lee shakes him off and moves away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lee shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Candovski as he avoids it easily.
Candovski closes the distance and clinches up with Lee, looking for a takedown. Candovski pushes Lee against the cage but Lee circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lee tries for a takedown but Candovski sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Lee fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Candovski lands a nice hook to Lee's body. Lee takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Candovski fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Candovski lands a jab-cross combination.
Lee fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Candovski plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Candovski defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lee.

Candovski clinches up against the cage.
Lee tries for a takedown but Candovski manages to get underhooks.
Lee is trying to pull guard but Candovski turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Candovski scores with a nice hook to the head.
Candovski wants to take the fight to the mat but Lee manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Candovski tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Lee tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Candovski just stands there and leans against the cage.
Candovski jumps guard but Lee stands there with Candovski around his waist. Candovski gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Lee misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Candovski.
Aleksandr Candovski seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Candovski tries for a takedown. No joy.

Lee has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Candovski uses from the top position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Candovski drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Lee manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Candovski has Lee in his guard.

Lee wants to control from the top but Candovski keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksandr Candovski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Lee's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Lee digs a good body shot into Candovski's ribs.
Lee tries for a takedown but Candovski sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Candovski shoots in and drives through. Lee sprawls well.
Candovski is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lee moves in looking to clinch but Candovski pushes him off.
Candovski leaves Lee with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from Lee as Candovski shoots in.
Lee looks to land a combination but Candovski avoids it well.
Candovski looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Candovski fails with a takedown attempt.
Moon Jung Lee has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksandr Candovski.
Candovski takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lee forces Candovski back against the cage and clinches.

Lee pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Lee forces Candovski back against the cage and clinches.

Lee pulls guard successfully.
Lee trying to control the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lee is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lee has gone for a leg lock! Candovski slips out almost immediately though and dives into Lee's guard.

Lee is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Candovski trying to stand up but can't free himself from Lee's guard.
Candovski trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Candovski trying to control the position from guard on top but Lee is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Candovski loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lee not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Lee throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lee has a closed guard, preventing Candovski from standing up.
Lee controls Candovski momentarily but Candovski frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Lee is controlling Candovski's posture.
Candovski with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Lee looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Candovski looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lee was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Horrible takedown attempt by Lee or perhaps it was just good defense by Candovski, which made it look bad.
Moon Jung Lee is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Candovski closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Moon Jung 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Moon Jung Lee!
Moon Jung Lee seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.