PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lotay Wangchuck (ranked 1534 p4p, 3040 weight class) and Lee Van Cleefe (ranked 184 p4p, 319 weight class). Van Cleefe has chosen Classics - The Master (1984) TV series as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Wangchuck
vs
Van Cleefe

190 cm
32
255
13 - 10 - 0

185 cm
24
255
11 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Good elbows
Powerful

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Lotay Wangchuck!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lee Van Cleefe!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Kenichi Hosakawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wangchuck dodges the punch combination from Van Cleefe.
Van Cleefe connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

It looks like Lotay Wangchuck has been cut.

Wangchuck drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Wangchuck trying to control the position but Van Cleefe is working away.

Wangchuck working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Van Cleefe is not content to let Wangchuck control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Cleefe is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Van Cleefe's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Wangchuck is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Van Cleefe will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Wangchuck tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Wangchuck has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Wangchuck passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Van Cleefe!

That's two 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.
Van Cleefe is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Van Cleefe is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Van Cleefe is trying to escape the mount.

Wangchuck goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Van Cleefe is on top in guard.
Van Cleefe preventing the sweep.
Van Cleefe wants to control from the top but Wangchuck keeps moving.
Van Cleefe postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Cleefe passes Wangchuck's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Wangchuck looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Wangchuck is in trouble now - Van Cleefe has advanced to mount!
Wangchuck has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

Van Cleefe is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Wangchuck is surviving well by controlling Van Cleefe's body position as best he can.
Wangchuck working to try and regain half guard.
Wangchuck bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Wangchuck slips nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wangchuck wants to take a breather but Van Cleefe is having none of it.
Wangchuck working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Van Cleefe's thigh. Van Cleefe counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Wangchuck is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Wangchuck stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Van Cleefe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wangchuck showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Wangchuck trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Cleefe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Lotay Wangchuck will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lotay Wangchuck's cut.
That's time! Wangchuck's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Van Cleefe throws a series of punches but Wangchuck avoids them all with ease.
Van Cleefe misses with a few strikes there.
Van Cleefe punishes Wangchuck's body with a nice straight punch.

Wangchuck closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Van Cleefe quickly recovers to half guard.
Van Cleefe regains full guard. Nicely done.
Wangchuck has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Wangchuck trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Cleefe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wangchuck slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Van Cleefe keeping moving, preventing Wangchuck from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Wangchuck drops back, looking for a kneebar! Van Cleefe looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Van Cleefe looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Van Cleefe!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wangchuck gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Van Cleefe is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Wangchuck regains full guard. Nicely done.
Van Cleefe pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wangchuck is keeping the position for now.
Lotay Wangchuck overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Van Cleefe advances position into side control!

Van Cleefe goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Wangchuck rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Van Cleefe's guard! Nice work there by Wangchuck!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wangchuck postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Van Cleefe is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Wangchuck, into his guard.

Wangchuck is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Van Cleefe defends well.
Van Cleefe trying to control but Wangchuck is working from the bottom.

Wangchuck looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Wangchuck had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Van Cleefe defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Van Cleefe drops back looking for a leg! Wangchuck is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Wangchuck manages to kick Van Cleefe off! Van Cleefe jumps back into Wangchuck's guard.
Wangchuck controls Van Cleefe momentarily but Van Cleefe frees himself.
Van Cleefe tries to free his leg and advance position but Wangchuck is retaining full guard.
Van Cleefe wants to control from the top but Wangchuck keeps moving.
Wangchuck tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Van Cleefe trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Wangchuck trying to keep a closed guard but Van Cleefe is proving a slippery customer.

Wangchuck working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Van Cleefe doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Van Cleefe manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Van Cleefe forces his way into half guard.

Wangchuck actively working from the bottom here.
Wangchuck has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Van Cleefe is working away from the top position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Van Cleefe is looking for a kimura here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lee Van Cleefe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lotay Wangchuck's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

The fighters circling - Van Cleefe throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Wangchuck drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Wangchuck goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Van Cleefe has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Wangchuck but great work by Van Cleefe.
Wangchuck tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Van Cleefe wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Wangchuck struggling a bit here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wangchuck is looking to reverse the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Van Cleefe thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Van Cleefe working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Cleefe trying to control the position but Wangchuck is working away.
Van Cleefe tries to advance to mount but can't.
Wangchuck is looking for a sweep.
Wangchuck manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Van Cleefe is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Wangchuck trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Van Cleefe manages to pass to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wangchuck is trying desperately to improve position.
Van Cleefe trying to control but Wangchuck is having none of it.

Van Cleefe looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Van Cleefe goes for an armbar but Wangchuck turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Wangchuck.
Van Cleefe controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Cleefe is trying to control the position but Wangchuck postures up.
Wangchuck tries to free his leg and advance position but Van Cleefe is retaining full guard.
Van Cleefe 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.
Wangchuck seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Wangchuck preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Wangchuck is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Van Cleefe keeping moving, preventing Wangchuck from controlling successfully.

Wangchuck is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Van Cleefe is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Van Cleefe has escaped and now he's on top!

Wangchuck keeping moving, preventing Van Cleefe from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lee Van Cleefe.
I think Van Cleefe 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lee Van Cleefe!
Post fight, Lee Van Cleefe took to the microphone: 'Sho Kosugi I am here. Fight me.'.