PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rumble Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Balboa
vs
Lee

200 cm
20
280 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

190 cm
21
221 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rumble Balboa!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Lee!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Felipe Paraventi and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Balboa rushes Lee and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Balboa breaks from the clinch.
Lee missing with a left hand there. Balboa was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Balboa changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Lee shoots and misses
and Balboa counters with a head kick. That will keep Lee thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Balboa lands a big head kick that sends Lee tumbling to the mat! Balboa takes a step backwards and waves Lee back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Michael Lee has been cut.
Rumble Balboa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Balboa shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Balboa was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Lee is trying desperately to improve position.
Balboa controlling from mount.
Lee tries to lock up and control but Balboa gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa tries to push Lee's head away but Lee is holding on tight.
Lee really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Balboa sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Lee swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Balboa has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Lee tries to hold on but Balboa pushes him away.
Balboa controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Balboa looks to throw a body kick
and Lee makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Lee shoots and misses

and Balboa counters with a takedown into side control.
Lee wants to get back to his feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lee can do anything to dispel that myth.
Lee looks to move to half guard but instead Balboa has passed into mount! Damn!
Lee wants to hold on but Balboa pushes him away.
Lee is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa looking to control and managing it successfully.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Balboa seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Lee for as long as he can get away with.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Balboa wants to control the pace but Lee is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rumble Balboa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Michael Lee's cut.
That's time! Balboa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Balboa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Michael Lee is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Balboa changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Lee looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Lee is looking to regain half guard here but Balboa keeps moving and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Balboa controls the position.
Balboa throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Lee struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee is looking to reverse the position.
Lee gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Balboa controlling the pace for now.
Lee squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee is squirming around, avoiding Balboa's attempts to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balboa tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Lee wants to control but Balboa is having none of it.
Rumble Balboa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lee is trying to escape the mount.
Balboa looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Lee is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Lee is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Lee is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rumble Balboa dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Michael Lee's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Balboa changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Lee looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Lee is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Balboa is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Lee tries to lock up and control but Balboa gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Lee tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Lee is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Balboa tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Lee is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa controlling his opponent.
Lee tries to hold on but Balboa postures up.
Balboa controlling from mount.
Lee is trying desperately to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Lee connects with a high kick.

Balboa rushes Lee and presses him up against the cage.

Balboa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Balboa tries to score with a low kick but Lee moves his leg out of the way.
A combination from Lee does no damage.

Balboa moves into range and clinches up with Lee.

Balboa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Balboa clinches up with Lee and pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa lands with a thumping leg kick.
Lee stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lee wants it to stay on the feet.

Balboa forces Lee back against the cage and clinches.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Balboa takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Lee has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Balboa breaks from the clinch.
Lee scores with a kick to the body.
Balboa delivers a nice body kick.
Lee takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Balboa throws a push kick but Lee slaps the foot to one side.

Balboa has Lee up against the cage in a clinch.
Lee tries to land knees in the clinch but Balboa avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Balboa manages to break the clinch.
Balboa sizes up Lee with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Balboa lands with a kick to the temple. Lee shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Balboa shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Lee's guard.
Balboa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lee can do to turn this around?
Lee is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Balboa's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lee looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Balboa puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rumble Balboa clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Michael Lee'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.

Balboa rushes Lee and presses him up against the cage.
Balboa lands a body punch in the clinch.

Balboa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Balboa misses with a body kick.
Lee misses with a takedown attempt - Balboa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rumble Balboa is winning the standup battle so far.
Balboa turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Lee walks forward, straight into a front kick from Balboa.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Balboa throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Balboa moves into range and clinches up with Lee.
Balboa slowing the pace effectively.
Lee is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

Balboa breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Lee has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Balboa.
Balboa throws a nice inside leg kick.
Balboa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Balboa lands with a slapping head kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Balboa shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Lee's guard.
Balboa not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Balboa preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Lee wants to get back to his feet but Balboa is dominant here and he's now got Lee's back!
Balboa is riding his opponent, not letting Lee buck him off.
Lee breaks Balboa's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Lee throws a strike but Balboa rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Balboa slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Lee's guard.
Lee wants to get back to full guard.
Balboa is controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee wants to control but Balboa passes into side.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Balboa happy to just control the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rumble Balboa had his way with Michael Lee in that round.
The cut man is working on Michael Lee'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!

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

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

Balboa instigates a clinch.
Balboa scores with a shoulder strike.
Balboa lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Lee or not.

Balboa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lee looks to land a combination. Balboa sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Balboa tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Balboa gets a double leg takedown into Lee's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Balboa controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Lee is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lee swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Balboa controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Lee has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Balboa is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Lee.
Rumble Balboa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee tries to bench press Balboa off him but Balboa keeps the position.
Balboa moves into full mount!
Balboa controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa prevents Lee from getting the reversal.
Balboa sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Lee tries to hold on but Balboa postures up.

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 trying desperately to improve position.
Lee wants to hold on but Balboa pushes him away.
Balboa controlling from the full mount.
Lee tries to hold on but Balboa pushes him away.
Michael Lee has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Balboa looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rumble Balboa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Balboa 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 50:45
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 50:45
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rumble Balboa!
Rumble Balboa retains his heavyweight title!