PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Asher Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Felipe Pontes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Pontes's choice of entrance music: Samba de Janeiro. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lee
vs
Pontes

192 cm
36
192 lbs
33 - 20 - 0

180 cm
29
199 lbs
17 - 14 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Steel Penn's All 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 33 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Asher Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Felipe Pontes!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Luis Engracia and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lee throws a hook to the side of Pontes's head but Pontes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Pontes takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Lee misses with a looping right.
Pontes shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lee defends it nicely.
Pontes shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lee pinned against the cage. Lee gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Lee looks to land a combination but Pontes avoids it well.
Pontes shoots in but Lee avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Asher Lee has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Felipe Pontes.
Lee misses the shot to the body.
Pontes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lee circles away.
Lee leaves Pontes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Lee stuffs the takedown.

Pontes scores with a takedown into Lee's guard.
Lee pulls Pontes in to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pontes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pontes trying to control the position from guard on top but Lee is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pontes throwing strikes but missing.
Pontes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Pontes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pontes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lee keeping moving, preventing Pontes from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pontes looking to sit in guard and control but Lee gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Pontes has a closed guard, preventing Lee from standing up.

Pontes working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lee doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lee manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Lee wants to control from the top but Pontes keeps moving.

Pontes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lee gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee wants to stand and escape but instead Pontes has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Pontes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pontes throwing strikes from guard but Lee blocks nicely.

Pontes thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Pontes wants to control from the top but Lee keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pontes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pontes is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Pontes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pontes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lee working a defensive guard here.
Lee working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pontes.
Lee 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.
Pontes throwing strikes but missing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pontes's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felipe Pontes dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lee defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Pontes.
Pontes avoids the body shot from Lee.
Pontes shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lee defends it nicely.
Lee defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Pontes.
Asher Lee has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Felipe Pontes.
Pontes displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lee throws out the jab.
Pontes changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lee tries to avoid it but Pontes manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lee to the ground. Lee escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lee misses with a body shot
and Pontes counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pontes fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lee avoids it really well and circles away.
Lee throws a head kick that misses.
Some wild striking there from Lee.
Lee thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pontes fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pontes tries for a takedown but Lee sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Pontes shoots in but no luck this time.
Lee throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lee looks to score with a jab to the body but Pontes is just out of range.
Lee throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Pontes stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Pontes checks the leg kick.
Pontes takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Lee lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Pontes changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lee tries to avoid it but Pontes manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lee to the ground. Lee escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Some wild striking there from Lee.
A combination from Lee does no damage.
Pontes shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lee defends it nicely.
Lee misses with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Pontes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lee looks to clinch

and Pontes counters with a single leg into guard. Lee didn't expect that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pontes sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Pontes advances position into side control!
Pontes working away.

Pontes is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lee is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Lee's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Lee parries the strikes from Pontes easily there. Pontes is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Lee to escape.
Pontes with the ground and pound but Lee regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

Pontes is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lee is just riding it out for now. Pontes eventually gives up the hold.
Lee trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pontes trying to control the action but Lee is working from the bottom.
Lee won't allow Pontes to pass to mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Pontes is looking for a kimura but Lee is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Pontes to get the leverage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Felipe Pontes will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nice jab there from Lee.
Pontes tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lee swivels and escapes.
Pontes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lee.
Lee throws a body punch but Pontes moves out of range.
Pontes fails to land the takedown.
Pontes shoots for a takedown but Lee saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Asher Lee has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Felipe Pontes.
Pontes closes the distance and clinches up with Lee, looking for a takedown. Pontes pushes Lee against the cage but Lee circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lee throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pontes sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lee misses with a body shot.
Lee misses with the combination.
Lee keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Pontes misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Lee throws a body punch but Pontes moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee stuffs the takedown.
Lee stuffs the takedown attempt from Pontes. Pontes gets slowly back to his feet.
Pontes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lee's jab looks to have found its range, popping Pontes under the eye.
Lee swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Pontes.
Pontes takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Lee tries to bum rush Pontes with a series of wild strikes but Pontes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pontes dives in and grabs Lee's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lee pushes down on Pontes's head and hops out.
Lee loads up on a big right hand but Pontes slips the punch.
The fighters circling - Lee throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Pontes shoots in but no luck this time.
Lee displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Pontes.
Lee paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Asher Lee has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Felipe Pontes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lee with a jab.
Lee fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pontes manages to avoid it.
Lee scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Lee misses with a head kick.
Pontes tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lee sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pontes somewhat.
Lee wants to clinch up but Pontes keeps it at a distance.

Pontes fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lee sprawls well initially but Pontes persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Felipe Pontes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lee is staying active underneath Pontes, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Lee is trying to maintain the position but Pontes is very close to passing his half guard.
Pontes is looking to take a break and control but Lee is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pontes is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lee doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Pontes.
Pontes is trying to control. Lee wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Pontes stalling away here and it's allowed Lee to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Pontes trying to control but Lee is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pontes makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Pontes trying to control the position from guard on top but Lee is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pontes with a nice head shot there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pontes works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Pontes is trying to work for a kimura but Lee is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Asher Lee.
I think Pontes 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Felipe Pontes!
Felipe Pontes thanked the fans post fight for their support.