PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joe Lewis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rio Pape (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rio Pape has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lewis
vs
Pape

168 cm
20
135 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

160 cm
19
130 lbs
1 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joe Lewis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rio Pape!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Edson Gomes and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pape throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Pape misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lewis went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Pape throws a series of punches but Lewis avoids them all with ease.
Pape goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Pape throws a leg kick which misses Lewis's front leg but catches the back leg as Lewis tries to avoid it.
Pape throws a series of punches but Lewis moves out of range.
Pape fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lewis tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Pape manages to circle out of the way.
Pape connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A nice combination there by Pape.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pape throws a series of strikes that have Lewis backpedaling.
Pape misses with a double jab

and Lewis counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Lewis is working for takedown but Pape is calmly controlling the position for now.
Lewis tries to score a body lock takedown but Pape shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lewis is stalling here.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Pape is pressed up against the cage. Lewis has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pape down to the mat. Pape avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Lewis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pape is looking to clinch but Lewis is avoiding it.
Lewis half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Pape doesn't manage to clinch there - Lewis circles away.
Lewis dodges the punch combination from Pape.
Pape throws a right and a left that both miss.
Pape scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pape misses with a series of wild punches.
Pape fails to land with a series of punches.
Pape throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Pape connects with a good right hand that stumbles Lewis. Lewis circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Pape throws a combination. Lewis tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pape will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Pape throws a right and a left that Lewis avoids nicely.
Pape throws a series of punches but Lewis avoids them all with ease.
Rio Pape is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pape swinging wildly here.
Lewis throwing a counter right hand but Pape manages to avoid it.
Pape misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pape misses with a double jab.
Pape rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lewis moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lewis misses with a few strikes there.
Pape stalks Lewis and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Lewis's face. Lewis staggers backwards, shaken.
Pape falls off balance throwing a combination
and Pape takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pape looks winded!

Lewis has Pape up against the cage in a clinch.
Lewis fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Lewis jumps guard but Pape turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Pape managing to block the knees to the body from Lewis.
With the fighters up against the cage, Lewis throws an elbow but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pape tries to break the clinch but Lewis is controlling the position.
Pape wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pape prevents Lewis from breaking the clinch.
Lewis tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Pape just stands there and leans against the cage.
Pape tries to circle away but Lewis has him pinned against the cage.
Lewis tries to pull guard but Pape holds him up against the cage and eventually Lewis drops back down to his feet.
Pape stops a takedown attempt from Lewis.
Lewis fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Pape gets underhooks to prevent Lewis's takedown attempt.
Lewis keeps control of Pape as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rio Pape dominated that round.
That's time! Lewis's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Pape.
Lewis lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like Rio Pape has been cut.
Rio Pape seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Pape misses with a double jab.
Rio Pape seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pape lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lewis circles away quickly and effectively.
Lewis went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Pape misses with a two punch combination.
A right-left combo lands from Pape.
Pape misses with the combination.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Pape!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pape lands a jab to the nose.
Lewis showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pape.
It appears Lewis was looking to counter with a kick there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pape fakes the leg kick and cracks Lewis in the body.
Pape misses with a double jab
and Pape takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pape has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pape slips a jab and a cross from Lewis.
Pape throws a series of strikes that have Lewis backpedaling.
Pape fails to land with a series of punches.
A little feinted left hand from Lewis on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Joe Lewis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Good work by Pape as he checks the leg kick.
Lewis throws a sloppy head kick and Pape moves out of range easily.
Pape fails to land with a series of punches.
A combination from Pape does no damage.
Lewis is looking for a counter combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Pape misses.
Pape is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pape throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A punch combination from Pape misses.
Lewis was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Lewis with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Pape to score with a decent uppercut.
Pape takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Pape leaves Lewis with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Despite the aggression on Pape's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Pape avoids a punch combination nicely.
Pape throws a combination that misses
and Lewis counters with a three punch combo that has Pape backing up. Pape nods at Lewis to acknowledge the strikes.
Nice cross by Pape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pape misses with a few strikes there.
A counter left hand to the body from Lewis misses its target.
Lewis pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pape misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Pape lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Pape.
Lewis has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Lewis avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
As Pape looks to move away, Lewis throws a big counter combo bu Pape just gets out of the way.
Pape throws a right and a left that Lewis avoids nicely.
Lewis closes the distance and clinches up with Pape, looking for a takedown. Lewis pushes Pape against the cage but Pape circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Pape swinging wildly here.
Pape lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pape throws a one two combo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lewis fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Pape looks to land a combination but Lewis avoids it well.
Pape lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Pape throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lewis appears to be looking for a big counter.
Some wild striking there from Pape.
An attempted straight right counter from Lewis misses the target.
Pape misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pape throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lewis is looking for a counter combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rio Pape showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rio Pape's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Pape wants to land a leg kick but Lewis is out of range.
Pape misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pape misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pape misses with a wild combination.
Lewis went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Lewis missing with a left hand there. Pape was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lewis avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pape shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Lewis eats them both and turns towards Pape to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Pape shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Lewis eats them both and turns towards Pape to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Lewis lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Pape at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Pape does no damage.
Pape takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pape throws a body shot but no joy.
A head kick misses from Pape.
Lewis appears to be looking for a big counter.
Pape misses with a combination
and Lewis counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lewis is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Pape throws out a leg kick but Lewis moves out of range and Pape only half commits.

Lewis moves into the clinch.
Pape is trying to push Lewis away but Lewis has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Pape managing to block the knees to the body from Lewis.
Lewis is trying to drag Pape to the mat but Pape just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Pape is trying to push Lewis away but Lewis has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lewis is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Pape to keep the fight standing.
Pape is looking to break free of the clinch but Lewis has double underhooks.
Lewis tries to circle away but Pape has him pinned against the cage.
Pape blocks an elbow strike.
Lewis looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Pape gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lewis.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Lewis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lewis wants to break the clinch but can't.
Lewis is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Pape gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pape keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lewis's efforts to push away.
Pape wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lewis has him pressed against the cage.
Lewis has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Lewis tries for a takedown. No joy.
Lewis jumps guard but Pape turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Lewis jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Pape walks away with a smile on his face. Lewis gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Pape throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lewis tries to counter by clinching up but Pape breaks away and moves out of range.
A punch combination from Pape misses.
Lewis avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Lewis misses.
Pape is working the combinations to good effect here.
Pape slips a jab from Lewis.
Pape moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Pape swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lewis attempts a counter takedown but Pape avoids it well and moves away.
Pape will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lewis half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Rio Pape is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Lewis chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Pape can pounce on him.
Pape misses with a two punch combination.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lewis avoids a punch combination nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rio Pape comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pape 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rio Pape!