PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mo Lester (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Philco Hitachi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lester comes to the cage accompanied by Ama Give It To YA ALL!. The key to victory for Mo Lester has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Lester
vs
Hitachi

195 cm
22
285 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mo Lester!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Philco Hitachi!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Fedor Mirinova and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Hitachi or perhaps it was just good defense by Lester which made him look bad.
Lester scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

It looks like Philco Hitachi has been cut.
Hitachi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lester thumps Hitachi with a low kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lester fails to land with a series of punches.
Lester misses with a two punch combination.
Lester throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lester tries to clinch but Hitachi is having none of it.
Lester tries to clinch up but Hitachi circles away and keeps his distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hitachi is defended easily by Lester.

Lester moves into the clinch successfully.
Lester gets underhooks to prevent Hitachi's takedown attempt.
Mo Lester has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Philco Hitachi.
Hitachi is trying to drag Lester to the mat but Lester just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Lester breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lester misses with a few strikes there.
Lester stuffs the takedown.
Lester scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Hitachi looks gassed!

Lester drops Hitachi with a beautiful combination! Hitachi stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Lester is looking for the KO!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lester tries to clinch up.
Lester fails in his attempt to clinch.

Lester fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hitachi, pushing him back against the cage.

Lester pulls Hitachi into guard.

Hitachi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hitachi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Lester wants to stand up but Hitachi is controlling him.

Hitachi drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Lester dives on top into guard.

Hitachi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lester is aware though and is defending well.
Hitachi keeping moving, preventing Lester from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lester stands up and waves to Hitachi to follow him.
Hitachi fails to land the takedown.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A bit of stalling here from Lester.
Lester gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Hitachi drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Lester ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Lester no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Lester trying to keep a closed guard but Hitachi is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hitachi advances to half guard.

Hitachi is working for a submission of some sort.
Lester knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hitachi on the ground.
Lester looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hitachi is looking for a kimura here.
Hitachi stops Lester from getting back to his feet.

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.

Hitachi is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Hitachi wants to work for an arm triangle but Lester is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Hitachi is trying to work for a kimura but Lester is defending well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lester displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That has opened up Philco Hitachi's cut even more.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lester tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hitachi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lester throws a nice looking combination but Hitachi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mo Lester dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Philco Hitachi's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hitachi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lester tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lester fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lester swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lester keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mo Lester seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hitachi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lester is fending him off so far but Hitachi persists. Nope, Lester circles away and we're back to standing.
Lester throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hitachi tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lester sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hitachi somewhat.
Mo Lester has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Philco Hitachi.
Lester tries to clinch but Hitachi is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slapping body kick lands there for Lester.
Hitachi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lester's waist but Lester gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hitachi off to one side.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lester moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lester fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Lester throws a nice looking combination but Hitachi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mo Lester is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hitachi checks a low kick from Lester.

Hitachi scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Hitachi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Lester is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hitachi has just dragged him back down to the mat.

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

Hitachi looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lester is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Hitachi asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Hitachi goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Lester has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Hitachi but great work by Lester.
Hitachi tries to bench press Lester off him but Lester keeps the position.
Lester is looking to take a break and control but Hitachi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Lester stalks Hitachi and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Hitachi's face. Hitachi staggers backwards, shaken.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lester is looking to clinch but Hitachi is avoiding it.
Lester throws a head kick that misses.
Hitachi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lester circles away.
Lester throws a nice outside leg kick.
Lester tries to clinch but Hitachi is having none of it.

Lester closes the distance and pushes Hitachi back into the cage.
Lester tries to score a body lock takedown but Hitachi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Hitachi tries for a takedown. No joy.
Nice body punch from Lester.
Hitachi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Lester fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Lester misses with a few strikes there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hitachi doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Hitachi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Mo Lester is winning the standup battle so far.
Hitachi swats away the attempt to clinch by Lester.
Hitachi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lester circles away.
Lester doesn't manage to clinch there - Hitachi circles away.
Lester tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hitachi swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Hitachi feints and as Lester raises his hands in defense, Hitachi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Hitachi has gone for a leg lock! Lester slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hitachi's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hitachi is on top in guard.

Hitachi drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Lester dives on top into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mo Lester dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Philco Hitachi's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Lester closes the distance and pushes Hitachi back into the cage.
Hitachi is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Lester pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A bit of stalling here from Lester.

Lester pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hitachi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hitachi slips a jab and a cross from Lester.
No joy there for Lester, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hitachi shoots in for a double leg but Lester sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mo Lester has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Philco Hitachi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hitachi keeps the fight on the outside.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lester is looking to clinch but Hitachi is avoiding it.
Hitachi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lester fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lester pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Lester misses.
Hitachi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lester is looking to wear down Hitachi with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Hitachi gets a takedown into half guard.
Lester is looking for a sweep. Hitachi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hitachi trying to pass the guard but Lester defending well.

Hitachi is working for a kimura but Lester is defending it quite comfortably.
Lester wants to control but Hitachi is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hitachi is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Lester has managed to free his arm - good work.

Hitachi is working for a kimura but Lester is defending it quite comfortably.
Lester has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hitachi is working away from the top position though.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hitachi gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Lester throws a right and a left that Hitachi avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lester scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Lester is looking to clinch but Hitachi is avoiding it.
Lester tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hitachi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A head kick misses from Lester.
Hitachi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lester sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lester tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hitachi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mo Lester is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Lester gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Lester prevents the takedown attempt.
Hitachi drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hitachi has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Lester is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Lester breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hitachi dives in and grabs Lester's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lester pushes down on Hitachi's head and hops out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lester fakes the leg kick and cracks Hitachi in the body.
Lester lands with a nice combination. Hitachi backs away looking to recover.

Lester moves into the clinch.
Lester gets underhooks to prevent Hitachi's takedown attempt.

Lester's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hitachi shoots in but Lester avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lester lands a jab to the head.
Lester moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Lester has closed the distance and engaged Hitachi in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Lester pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lester throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Philco Hitachi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lester's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Lester duly obliges.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mo Lester showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lester, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:26
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:26
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mo Lester!