PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dragos Podgaetschii (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lee Wang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Podgaetschii
vs
Wang

225 cm
31
142 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

172 cm
29
131 lbs
3 - 5 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dragos Podgaetschii!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lee Wang!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Saam Ante and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wang scores with a hook.
The fight stays on the outside here - Wang looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Wang clinches.
Podgaetschii takes an elbow to the forehead.
Wang misses with an elbow strike.

Wang is fighting off a takedown attempt but Podgaetschii is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Wang to the mat. Wang regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Podgaetschii throws a big elbow that misses.
Podgaetschii missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Wang wants to stand up but Podgaetschii is controlling him.
Wang keeping moving, preventing Podgaetschii from controlling successfully.
Podgaetschii slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wang keeping moving, preventing Podgaetschii from controlling successfully.
Podgaetschii postures up in Wang's guard and throws a big left but Wang blocks it.
Podgaetschii throws a big elbow that misses.

Podgaetschii drops back looking for a leg! Wang is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Wang manages to kick Podgaetschii off! Podgaetschii jumps back into Wang's guard.
Wang keeping moving, preventing Podgaetschii from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wang seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Dragos Podgaetschii.
Wang throws a solid leg kick but Podgaetschii takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Wang.
Lee Wang seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wang keeps the fight on the outside.
Podgaetschii fails to land the takedown.
Podgaetschii is looking to clinch.
Wang is looking to slow Podgaetschii down with leg kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Podgaetschii fails in his attempt to clinch.
Wang has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Podgaetschii is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Wang throws a one two combo.
Podgaetschii 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.

Podgaetschii tries to keep at a distance but Wang has taken the fight into the clinch.
Wang taking a breather.
Podgaetschii wants a takedown.
Wang misses with an elbow over the top.
Come on Wang - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Podgaetschii avoids a wild elbow strike from Wang.
Podgaetschii goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Podgaetschii leaning against his opponent.
Podgaetschii tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Wang just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dragos Podgaetschii. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Podgaetschii blocks an elbow strike.
Wang misses with an elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Podgaetschii has Wang pressed against the cage, preventing Wang from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Wang's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Podgaetschii moves in looking to clinch but Wang pushes him off.
Lee Wang is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wang throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Wang does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Wang moves in looking to clinch but Podgaetschii pushes him off.

Wang pushes Podgaetschii up against the cage in a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Podgaetschii avoids a wild elbow strike from Wang.
Wang creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Wang lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Dragos Podgaetschii has been cut.
Podgaetschii really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Podgaetschii struggles to land a body shot inside as Wang controls his hands.
Podgaetschii working aggressively here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wang pushes off an throws an elbow but Podgaetschii leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Podgaetschii takes an elbow to the forehead.

Wang breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A bone on bone clash there as Podgaetschii blocks the leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Wang clinches with his opponent.
Wang misses with an elbow strike.

Podgaetschii lands a takedown into guard.
Wang tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Podgaetschii looking to pass the guard.
Podgaetschii is working hard here to advance position.
Podgaetschii wants to control from the top but Wang keeps moving.
Wang working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Podgaetschii.
Podgaetschii will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Wang keeping moving, preventing Podgaetschii from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Dragos Podgaetschii wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Podgaetschii fails with an attempt to clinch.

Podgaetschii moves into range and clinches up with Wang.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Wang pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A clash of legs there as Podgaetschii blocks the low kick.
Podgaetschii misses with a double jab.
That kick from Wang tenderised Podgaetschii's leg. Podgaetschii is trying to keep his angry face on.
Wang throws a leg kick but Podgaetschii sees it coming and checks it nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Wang looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Nice elbow from Wang.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wang is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Podgaetschii is keeping busy.
Wang lands an elbow that stopped Podgaetschii in his tracks for a moment.
Wang wants to break the clinch but can't.
Podgaetschii avoids a wild elbow strike from Wang.
Wang lands a damaging elbow.
Podgaetschii drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Wang gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Podgaetschii avoids the elbow strike from Wang, against the cage.
Wang pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Podgaetschii tries to circle away but Wang has him pinned against the cage.
Wang is trying to push Podgaetschii away but Podgaetschii has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Podgaetschii has Wang pressed against the cage, preventing Wang from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wang is trying to break free.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Podgaetschii as Wang tries to tie him up.
Wang using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Podgaetschii has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Podgaetschii effectively controlling the action here.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Wang.
Podgaetschii blocks an elbow strike from Wang.
Wang wants to get back to striking at distance but Podgaetschii won't allow it.
Wang lands an elbow that stopped Podgaetschii in his tracks for a moment.
Podgaetschii dodges an elbow strike from Wang.

Wang pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wang tries to clinch but Podgaetschii is having none of it.
Wang fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jab from Podgaetschii.

Wang instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Wang just misses with a elbow thrown towards Podgaetschii's brow.
Podgaetschii presses Wang against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Podgaetschii is looking to break free of the clinch but Wang has double underhooks.
Wang pushes off an throws an elbow but Podgaetschii leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Podgaetschii lands a body shot in the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Wang throws an elbow but misses.
Wang blocks an uppercut.
Wang pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Podgaetschii just leaning against Wang, taking a breather.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Wang's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Some wild striking there from Wang.
Podgaetschii darts in looking for a takedown but Wang gets double underhooks and turns Podgaetschii into the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wang pushes off an throws an elbow but Podgaetschii leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Wang content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Wang creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lee Wang showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dragos Podgaetschii's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Podgaetschii checks a leg kick.
Wang swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Podgaetschii keeps the fight on the outside.
Wang wants to clinch.
Wang finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Wang looks for the body kick but Podgaetschii saw that one coming.
Wang tries to close the distance and clinch but Podgaetschii swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Wang fails in his attempt to clinch.

Podgaetschii gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Wang breaks the clinch.
Podgaetschii tries to clinch but Wang is having none of it.
Podgaetschii tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Wang paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Podgaetschii tries to keep at a distance but Wang has taken the fight into the clinch.
Podgaetschii working hard to break the clinch.
Podgaetschii swings wildly with an uppercut but Wang uses good head movement to avoid it.
Podgaetschii is trying to pull guard but Wang turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wang pushes off an throws an elbow but Podgaetschii leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A short left from Podgaetschii.
Wang is trying to force a seperation but Podgaetschii has the dominant position.
Wang throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Wang throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Podgaetschii blocks it with crossed arms.
Podgaetschii avoids the elbow strike from Wang, against the cage.
Podgaetschii keeps control of Wang as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Wang misses with an elbow over the top.
Podgaetschii avoids a wild elbow strike from Wang.
Wang misses with an elbow over the top.
Wang throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Wang throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Wang breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Podgaetschii checks the leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wang tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dragos Podgaetschii is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wang showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Podgaetschii.

Wang closes the distance and clinches.
Wang working hard to break the clinch.
Podgaetschii tries to pull guard but Wang holds him up against the cage and eventually Podgaetschii drops back down to his feet.
Wang throws an elbow that misses.
Podgaetschii lands a hook to the side of the head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Wang.
Wang throws an elbow but it misses.
Podgaetschii wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Wang has him pressed against the cage.
Wang looks to throw an elbow but misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wang with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Podgaetschii blocks an elbow strike.
Dragos Podgaetschii has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wang misses with an elbow strike.
Lee Wang seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Wang lands an elbow that stopped Podgaetschii in his tracks for a moment.
Podgaetschii tries to circle away but Wang has him pinned against the cage.
Wang prevents a body shot from Podgaetschii.

Wang manages to break the clinch.

Wang takes the fight into the clinch.
Podgaetschii takes an elbow to the temple.
Wang creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Podgaetschii can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dragos Podgaetschii. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Podgaetschii jumps guard but Wang stands there with Podgaetschii around his waist. Podgaetschii gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Wang breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Podgaetschii dives in for a single leg takedown but Wang sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Wang looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Wang breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Podgaetschii is looking to clinch.
Wang scoring well with a low kick there.

Podgaetschii moves into range and clinches up with Wang.
Podgaetschii trying to stall but Wang improves his position.
Wang throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Podgaetschii is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Wang pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Podgaetschii tries to throw a body punch but Wang avoids it by throwing Podgaetschii back against the cage.

Wang breaks the clinch.

Podgaetschii takes the fight into the clinch.
Podgaetschii avoids the elbow strike from Wang, against the cage.
Lee Wang is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Podgaetschii can't find room to land a body shot as Wang controls the action.
Podgaetschii blocks an elbow strike.
Wang looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Podgaetschii is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lee Wang comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Wang winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lee Wang!
A very excited looking Lee Wang made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.