PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Conor Lee (ranked 562 p4p, 295 weight class) and Olenev Stepanovich (ranked 86 p4p, 52 weight class). Stepanovich has chosen Swallowing Dust as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lee
vs
Stepanovich

187 cm
30
165
13 - 4 - 1

186 cm
29
165
19 - 6 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Shadow Realm Apparel

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 13 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Conor Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Olenev Stepanovich!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Ian Loll and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stepanovich keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lee.
Stepanovich avoids the body shot from Lee.
Lee throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stepanovich sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lee uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Stepanovich.
Lee rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stepanovich moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Stepanovich ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lee moves away.
Lee connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Lee throws a body shot but no joy.
Lee ducks under a wild hook from Stepanovich.
Lee connects with a single shot there.
Lee swings for the body but Stepanovich moves out of range.
Stepanovich throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Lee throws an overhand right that lands on Stepanovich's shoulder, as Stepanovich tries to avoid the shot.
Nice defenses there by Lee.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lee falls off balance throwing a combination
and Stepanovich connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lee gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Lee swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice defenses there by Stepanovich.
Stepanovich swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lee throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee moves out of range of the strikes.
Stepanovich chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Lee throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Lee misses with the combination.
Lee ducks under a wild hook from Stepanovich.
Lee takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Lee moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Stepanovich is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Stepanovich misses the shot to the body.
Stepanovich throws a good cross that connects.
Lee looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Stepanovich misses with a straight left.
Lee looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Lee scores with a sloppy right hand. Stepanovich should have avoided that one.
Lee connects with a solid leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lee connects with a crisp jab.
Lee connects with a looping right hand.
Lee takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lee missing with a left hand there. Stepanovich was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Stepanovich walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A lazy left from Lee finds it's target.
Lee tests Stepanovich's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Lee throws out a loose jab but Stepanovich uses good head movement to avoid it.
Stepanovich throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stepanovich on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Lee misses with a low kick.
Stepanovich looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Stepanovich takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Stepanovich steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lee.
Stepanovich takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Lee throws a shot from downtown. Stepanovich moves away and avoids it.
Stepanovich throws a jab but it's blocked by Lee.
Nice uppercut there from Lee.
Stepanovich throws out a loose jab but Lee uses good head movement to avoid it.
A swing and a miss from Stepanovich.
Lee takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Stepanovich keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich throws a looping overhand right but Lee ducks down to avoid it.
Lee is looking to counter the offense by Stepanovich and move into the clinch.
Lee ducks right into an uppercut from Stepanovich.
Stepanovich misses with an uppercut. Lee saw that one coming.
Lee cracks Stepanovich with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Conor Lee seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stepanovich avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lee on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Stepanovich throws a shot from downtown. Lee moves away and avoids it.
Stepanovich cracks Lee with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
A low kick from Lee misses
and Stepanovich counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Lee misses with a leg kick
and Stepanovich counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Stepanovich takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Stepanovich scores with a nice right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lee connects with a looping right hand.
Stepanovich lands with a right hand.
Stepanovich wants to slow Lee down by chopping away at his legs.
Lee pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lee swings for the body but Stepanovich moves out of range.
Lee connects with a nice looking jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Lee connects with a looping right hand.
Stepanovich throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stepanovich thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lee misses with a hook.
Lee moves away from the strike by Stepanovich.
Stepanovich throws a lazy right hand but Lee sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Stepanovich throws a shot from downtown. Lee moves away and avoids it.
Stepanovich throws a jab when Lee was well out of range.
Lee is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
A telegraphed right hand from Stepanovich misses the target.
Lee lands with a thumping leg kick.
Lee digs a good body shot into Stepanovich's ribs.
Stepanovich with the inside leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stepanovich ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lee misses the shot to the body.
Lee misses with a body shot.
Lee rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Stepanovich to counter with a crisp jab.
Lee scoring well with a low kick there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Conor Lee will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Stepanovich takes one to the chin there.
Stepanovich swings for the body but Lee moves out of range.
Stepanovich lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Lee keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A big left from Stepanovich misses.
Lee misses with a hook
and Stepanovich connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lee slips under a jab.
Lee seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Lee misses the body punch
and Stepanovich counters with a nice uppercut.
Lee uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stepanovich.
Lee looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Stepanovich connects with the punch.
Lee blocks a jab.
Lee throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stepanovich sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Stepanovich slips a jab from Lee.
Lee moves out of range of the strikes.
Stepanovich connects with a right hand. Lee shakes it off.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lee wants to land a leg kick but Stepanovich is out of range.
Stepanovich throws a lazy right hand but Lee sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Stepanovich throws out a loose jab but Lee uses good head movement to avoid it.
A little feinted left hand from Lee on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee with a nice calf kick.
Lee misses the shot to the body.
Stepanovich appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Lee connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Nice body punch from Lee.
Lee throws out a leg kick but Stepanovich moves out of range and Lee only half commits.
Stepanovich throws out a counter right but Lee avoids it with no problem.
Lee slips a straight right by Stepanovich.
Stepanovich lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Nice shot by Lee.
Lee misses with a jab to the body
and Stepanovich counters with a right hand to the body.
Lee lands with a right hand.
Stepanovich checks the leg kick.
Lee lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Stepanovich ducks under a wild hook from Lee.
Lee lands with an overhand left.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stepanovich connects with a nice looking jab.
Stepanovich throws a looping overhand right but Lee ducks down to avoid it.
Conor Lee is winning the standup battle so far.
Stepanovich moves away from the strike by Lee.
Lee throws a looping overhand right but Stepanovich ducks down to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee slips under a jab.
Stepanovich throws a body shot but no joy.
Stepanovich looks to throw the jab but Lee is out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Lee.
Stepanovich misses with a hook
and Stepanovich takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lee lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Lee fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Stepanovich is out of range.
It seemed like Stepanovich was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Stepanovich's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Lee scores with a sloppy right hand. Stepanovich should have avoided that one.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lee. Stepanovich does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stepanovich looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Stepanovich takes a swing at Lee's ribcage but misses.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Stepanovich checks a leg kick.
Stepanovich listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Lee moves out of range as Stepanovich strikes.
Stepanovich throws a chopping leg kick but Lee manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Lee scores with a body shot.
Stepanovich takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Lee uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stepanovich.
Lee misses with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Stepanovich misses with a looping left.
Lee finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A nice side step and Stepanovich releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Lee slips under a jab.
Stepanovich throws a body punch but Lee moves out of range.
Stepanovich takes a swing at Lee's ribcage but misses.
Lee throws a chopping leg kick but Stepanovich manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Lee lets loose with a powerful body kick. Stepanovich will feel that in the morning.
Stepanovich connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Lee rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Stepanovich counters with a straight right hand.
Lee throws a hook to the side of Stepanovich's head but Stepanovich sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A slow jab from Stepanovich misses its intended target.
Stepanovich takes a swing at Lee's ribcage but misses.
Stepanovich slips under a jab from Lee.
Lee scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A jab from Stepanovich does it's job there.
Lee throws a head kick but Stepanovich moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich throws a hook to the side of Lee's head but Lee sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lee lands a nice shot to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lee throws a leg kick but Stepanovich moved away.
Lee scores with a nice strike.
Lee on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Lee jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Stepanovich scores with a jab to the jaw.
Stepanovich is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lee.
Stepanovich misses with a body shot.
Lee smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Lee throws the left hand but Stepanovich avoids the punch easily.
Lee is looking to slow Stepanovich down with leg kicks.
Lee throws a body shot but no joy.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stepanovich misses with a looping left.
Stepanovich moves out of range as Lee strikes.
Stepanovich blocks a low kick nicely.
It seemed like Stepanovich was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Lee misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stepanovich.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Conor Lee will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Lee uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stepanovich.
Stepanovich will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Lee fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Stepanovich.
Lee swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A nice side step and Stepanovich releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Stepanovich keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stepanovich avoids the body shot from Lee.
Lee misses with an uppercut.
Lee swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Stepanovich is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lee.
Lee waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Stepanovich.
Stepanovich avoids the body shot from Lee.
Stepanovich misses the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A chopping leg kick lands by Lee.
Lee lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Lee looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Lee ducks under a wild hook from Stepanovich.
Lee takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Lee lands a nice shot that snaps Stepanovich's head back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A telegraphed right hand from Lee misses the target.
Lee thuds a left hand into Stepanovich's body.
Lee pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Stepanovich is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Lee with a body shot.
Lee connects with a right hand. Stepanovich shakes it off.
Stepanovich throws a body punch but Lee moves out of range.
Stepanovich connects with a jab.
Stepanovich uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lee.
Lee waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Stepanovich.
Lee ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Lee throws a leg kick which misses Stepanovich's front leg but catches the back leg as Stepanovich tries to avoid it.
Lee tries a head kick but it misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Lee.
Lee lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Stepanovich moves out of range as Lee strikes.
Lee takes one to the chin there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lee slips under a jab.
Olenev Stepanovich has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Lee doesn't seem bothered though.
Lee takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Stepanovich looks to throw the jab but Lee is out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lee. Stepanovich does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lee on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A swing and a miss from Stepanovich.
A jab from Stepanovich misses.
Stepanovich has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Lee waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Stepanovich.
Lee throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Stepanovich.
Lee tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stepanovich was well out of range. Poor timing from Lee.
Lee thuds a left hand into Stepanovich's body.
Stepanovich throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lee on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Lee throws a leg kick which misses Stepanovich's front leg but catches the back leg as Stepanovich tries to avoid it.
Lee is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Stepanovich moves out of range as Lee strikes.
Lee scoring well with a low kick there.
Conor Lee is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Lee.
Stepanovich misses with a looping left.
A swing and a miss from Lee.
A punch combination from Lee misses.
Lee uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stepanovich.
Stepanovich has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Lee.
Stepanovich on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Nice defenses there by Lee.
Stepanovich digs a good hook to Lee's body.
Lee is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Stepanovich.
Lee takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Stepanovich takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Lee lands a leg kick that knocks Stepanovich off balance momentarily.
Stepanovich lands a lovely overhand right.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lee fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Stepanovich has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Nice uppercut there from Lee.
Stepanovich throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lee sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stepanovich throws out the jab.
Stepanovich throws a looping overhand right but Lee ducks down to avoid it.
Lee takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Lee uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Stepanovich.
Stepanovich moves away from the strike by Lee.
Stepanovich misses with a looping left.
Lee connects with a right hand. Stepanovich shakes it off.
Stepanovich displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lee throws out the jab.
Lee pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lee lands with a nice body punch.
A big left from Stepanovich misses.
Lee misses with an attempted mid kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stepanovich looks to throw the jab but Lee is out of range.
Lee connects with a jab.
Lee scores with a sloppy right hand. Stepanovich should have avoided that one.
Lee feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Stepanovichs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

And that's the end of the fight!
Conor Lee showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lee has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Conor Lee!
An out of breath Conor Lee thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.