PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nicholas Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Koscheck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Lee
vs
Koscheck

180 cm
25
167 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Solid chin

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, Nicholas Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rick Koscheck!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Eddie Farnsworth and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lee tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Koscheck is able to avoid easily.
Koscheck is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Koscheck throws a right and a left that both miss.
Koscheck takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Lee wants to clinch.

Lee has Koscheck up against the cage in a clinch.
Koscheck is trying to break free.
Koscheck wants to break free but Lee has control.
Lee trying to control the position but instead, Koscheck has worked for underhooks and has pushed Lee into the cage.
Lee gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Lee throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Koscheck drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koscheck wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Koscheck tries to circle away but Lee has him pinned against the cage.
Koscheck is trying to break the clinch but Lee is controlling him.
Lee comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Lee misses with an elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koscheck wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nice elbow from Lee.
Koscheck tries to pull guard but Lee holds him up against the cage and eventually Koscheck drops back down to his feet.
Lee tries to stall but Koscheck uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Koscheck tries to pull guard but Lee holds him up against the cage and eventually Koscheck drops back down to his feet.
Nicholas Lee has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Koscheck.
Lee with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Koscheck as Lee tries to tie him up.
Lee tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lee looking to throw knees to the head but Koscheck is blocking nicely.
Koscheck has Lee pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lee manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A knee to the head by Lee.
Koscheck has Lee pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lee manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Koscheck tries to pull guard but Lee won't allow it.
Lee has Koscheck pressed against the cage, preventing Koscheck from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Koscheck's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Lee is looking to control Koscheck's arms but Koscheck gets an underhook and turns him. Now Lee has his back to the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lee pushes off an throws an elbow but Koscheck leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Koscheck tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Koscheck avoids a wild elbow strike from Lee.
Lee looking to throw knees to the head but Koscheck is blocking nicely.
Koscheck blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Koscheck wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Koscheck jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Lee walks away with a smile on his face. Koscheck gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Koscheck checks a leg kick.
Koscheck throws a sloppy head kick and Lee moves out of range easily.
Koscheck throws a right hand that Lee ducks under and follows up with a left that Lee also avoids with ease.
Koscheck avoids a punch combination nicely.
Koscheck attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Lee lands a really nice looking cross but Koscheck seems unphased.
Lee tries to clinch but Koscheck is having none of it.
Koscheck throws a push kick but Lee slaps the foot to one side.
Koscheck misses with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koscheck takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Koscheck closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Koscheck looks gassed!
Lee lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Lee slips a jab and a cross from Koscheck.
Koscheck misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Lee clinches with his opponent.
Koscheck tries to pull guard but Lee holds him up against the cage and eventually Koscheck drops back down to his feet.
Lee misses with an elbow over the top.
Lee using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Lee creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Lee lands an elbow that stopped Koscheck in his tracks for a moment.
Lee creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Lee lands a nice elbow.
Koscheck goes for a takedown in the clinch but Lee prevents it.
Lee is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Lee makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Koscheck wants to break free but Lee has control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koscheck fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Koscheck can't break the clinch.
Koscheck can't get the takedown.
Koscheck dodges an elbow strike from Lee.
Lee is trying to stall.
Lee lands a good knee to the midsection. Koscheck won't want to take too many of those.
Lee lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Lee lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Koscheck can't get the takedown.
Koscheck takes an elbow to the forehead.
Lee missing with knees to the body.
Lee connects with a nasty looking knee right to Koscheck's face.
Lee trying to land knees to the body.
Lee lands an elbow just above Koscheck 's eye.
Lee lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Koscheck blocks the elbow strike.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Koscheck wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lee showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Koscheck.
Koscheck throws a head kick but Lee moves out of range.
Lee tries to close the distance and clinch but Koscheck swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lee tries to bum rush Koscheck with a series of wild strikes but Koscheck uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lee tries to clinch but Koscheck moves out of range.
Lee is looking to clinch.
Lee doesn't manage to clinch there - Koscheck circles away.
Koscheck avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Koscheck throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lee.
A combination from Lee does no damage.
Lee tries to close the distance and clinch but Koscheck swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lee has taken the fight to the clinch.
Lee pushes off an throws an elbow but Koscheck leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Lee looking to throw knees to the head but Koscheck is blocking nicely.
Koscheck is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Lee pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Koscheck is breathing heavily.
Lee with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Koscheck has had enough of the clinch but Lee keeps him there for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee misses with an elbow over the top.
Koscheck tries for a takedown but Lee manages to get underhooks.
Koscheck goes for a takedown attempt but Lee pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nicholas Lee has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Koscheck.
Koscheck on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Nicholas Lee is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lee wants to clinch.
Koscheck throws a push kick but Lee slaps the foot to one side.
Lee moves in looking to clinch but Koscheck pushes him off.
Lee checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Koscheck throws a head kick that misses.
Lee tries to clinch but Koscheck moves out of range.
Lee turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Lee is looking to clinch but Koscheck is avoiding it.
Lee fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Koscheck throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lee tries to clinch up but Koscheck circles away and keeps his distance.
Lee slips a straight right by Koscheck.
Lee tries to clinch but Koscheck is having none of it.
Koscheck throws a left and a right that both miss
and Lee counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Lee gets a takedown into half guard.
Koscheck is refusing to be controlled, as Lee sits in half guard.
Lee is controlling the pace.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Koscheck trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee trying to mount his opponent but Koscheck defends it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koscheck is looking to control Lee's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Koscheck avoid being mounted?
Koscheck tries to get to full guard but Lee has control of the leg.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Koscheck can do anything to dispel that myth.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Koscheck throws a lazy head kick
and Lee counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rick Koscheck is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A right-left combo lands from Lee.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lee.
Koscheck throws a right hand that Lee ducks under and follows up with a left that Lee also avoids with ease.
Lee is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

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.
Lee scores with a one two! Koscheck had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Lee fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lee wants to clinch up but Koscheck keeps it at a distance.
Lee tries to clinch up.
Koscheck misses with a body kick.
Lee shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Koscheck sprawls well. Koscheck wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lee gets slowly back to his feet.
Lee steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Koscheck. That one must have hurt.
Koscheck scores with a push kick.
Koscheck throws a lazy head kick

and Lee holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lee pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Koscheck breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lee slips a straight right by Koscheck.

Lee has managed to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicholas Lee dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Lee tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Koscheck throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lee tries to clinch up but Koscheck circles away and keeps his distance.
Koscheck thuds his right hand into Lee's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Koscheck.
Lee throws a combination. Koscheck tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Koscheck misses with a double jab

and Lee holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Lee is pressed up against the cage. Koscheck has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Lee down to the mat. Lee avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Koscheck stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Koscheck wants it to stay on the feet.
Lee tries a head kick but it misses.
Lee cracks Koscheck with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Koscheck throws a left and a right that both miss
and Lee counters with a one-two to the body.
Lee fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lee uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Koscheck.
Lee connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Koscheck circles away from the clinch attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee misses with a head kick.
Lee tries to clinch up but Koscheck circles away and keeps his distance.
Koscheck tries to bum rush Lee with a series of wild strikes but Lee uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lee lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Koscheck backs up against the cage.
Koscheck throws a head kick but Lee moves out of range.
Lee fails to land the takedown.
Lee doesn't manage to clinch there - Koscheck circles away.
Lee moves out of range of the strikes.
Koscheck tries to land a front kick but Lee steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Lee lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Koscheck leaves Lee with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nicholas Lee. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Koscheck throws a nice head kick!
Lee wants to clinch.
Koscheck throws the kick towards the body but Lee avoids it.
Rick Koscheck seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Lee misses with a low kick as Koscheck jumps back.
Lee avoids a kick to the body.
Koscheck stuffs the takedown.
A leg kick checked by Lee.
Koscheck misses with a double jab

and Lee holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Koscheck's face as he tries to break the clinch.

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

Lee closes the distance and pushes Koscheck back into the cage.
Lee keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Koscheck's efforts to push away.
Koscheck tries to circle away but Lee has him pinned against the cage.
Lee tries a knee to the head but Koscheck blocks it.
With the fighters up against the cage, Lee throws an elbow but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee has Koscheck pressed against the cage, preventing Koscheck from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Lee is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Koscheck is keeping busy.
Koscheck blocks an elbow strike.
Lee keeps control of Koscheck as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A right handed body shot lands from Koscheck.
Lee pushes off an throws an elbow but Koscheck leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Lee looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Koscheck looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Lee lands an elbow that stopped Koscheck in his tracks for a moment.
Koscheck wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lee has him pressed against the cage.
Lee prevents a takedown attempt there.
A short left from Lee.
Lee lands an elbow inside that Koscheck shrugs off.
Lee gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Lee taking a breather.
Koscheck wants a takedown.
Rick Koscheck has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Koscheck jumps guard but Lee stands there with Koscheck around his waist. Koscheck gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Koscheck has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Knees to the body from Lee.
Lee pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Koscheck works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Lee looking to control.
Koscheck trying to control but Lee is working from the bottom.
Lee pulls Koscheck in to control the position.
Lee working a defensive guard here.
Lee keeping moving, preventing Koscheck from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rick Koscheck.
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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicholas Lee!