PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Keith Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connor Lourens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Lee
vs
Lourens

210 cm
24
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

193 cm
25
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Hope MMA: Island Nutritions

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Keith Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Connor Lourens !
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, David Hoff and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lee keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Lee pushes Lourens up against the cage in a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Lee - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
I was talking to Lee's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

Lee has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Lourens uses from the top position.
Lourens postures up.
Lee wants to sweep but no luck.
Lee avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lee lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lourens working a defensive guard here.
Lee stands and throws Lourens 's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee throws an elbow but Lourens slips to the side and avoids it well.
Lee is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Lourens will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Lourens is looking to reverse the position.
Lee fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Lourens tries to buck Lee off but Lee is having none of it.

Lee tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Lee has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Lee taking a breather here.

That's two 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 wants to control but Lourens is keeping him busy.
Lourens is trying to get back to his feet.
Lourens tries to buck Lee off but Lee is having none of it.

Lee stands up.
Lourens jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lourens throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A head kick misses from Lee.
Lourens misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lourens misses with a jab to the body
and Lee counters with a series of strikes. Lourens will be more careful next time no doubt.
Connor Lourens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big left from Lourens misses.
It looked like Lee was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Lee shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lourens defends it nicely.
Lee will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lee slips a straight right by Lourens .
Lee fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keith Lee. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lourens looks to score with a jab to the body but Lee is just out of range.
Lourens is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Lee rather than just go for the knockout.
Lee takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Lourens digs a good body shot into Lee's ribs.
Lee is breathing heavily.
Lee takes one on the button.
Lee avoids the body shot from Lourens .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lourens as he avoids it easily.
Lourens misses with a hook. Lee ducked under it nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lourens misses with a looping right.
Lee with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lourens counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Lourens tests Lee's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Lee moves in looking to clinch but Lourens pushes him off.
Lourens misses with an uppercut.
Lee appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Lourens throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lourens looks to land a right hand but Lee moved out of range.
Lourens connects with a nice looking jab.
Lourens scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Lee takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Lourens ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor Lourens dominated that round.
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.

Lourens misses the shot to the body.
Lourens lands a nice hook to Lee's body. Lee takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Lourens lands a right hook to the body.
Lourens ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lee moves away.
Lourens lands a head shot.
Lourens fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A head kick misses from Lourens .
Lourens misses with a looping right.
Lee really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Lourens lands a big head kick that sends Lee tumbling to the mat! Lourens takes a step backwards and waves Lee back to his feet - he wants the finish!
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!
Lourens scores with a shot to the body.
Lourens wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lourens digs a good hook to Lee's body.
Lourens lands a nice looking body shot.
Lourens lands with a straight right. Lee didn't see that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lourens swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice body punch from Lourens .
Lourens throws an overhand right that lands on Lee's shoulder, as Lee tries to avoid the shot.
Lourens scores with a punch to the head.
Lourens scores with a jab to the body.
Lee on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Lee takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Lourens swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Lee.

Lee is rocked!
Lee uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lourens .
Oh Lee is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A slow jab from Lourens misses its intended target.
Lee seems to have got his legs back now.
Lourens misses with an uppercut.
Lourens misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lourens swats away the attempt to clinch by Lee.
Lourens dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lee blocks a jab.
Lee shoots and misses
letting Lourens counter with a right hand.
Lourens scores with a decent looking hook.
Lee keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lourens .
Lee is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lourens misses with a wild body shot.
Lourens misses with a body shot.
Lourens ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Lourens has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lourens throws a body punch but Lee moves out of range.
Connor Lourens is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lourens throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lourens throws the left hand but Lee avoids the punch easily.
Lee is looking to counter the offense by Lourens and move into the clinch.
Lourens misses with a few strikes there.
Lee throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lourens throws a hook but Lee avoids it easily.
Lee is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Lourens .
Lee takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A shot to the liver by Lourens . Beautiful body shot.
Lourens misses with a looping left.
Lee moves away from the strike by Lourens .
Lourens lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Lourens throws out a loose jab but Lee uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lourens jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Lourens with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Lourens lands a left and a right that send Lee crashing to the mat, dazed. Lourens thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lee bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Lee feinted with a counter takedown.
Lourens ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Lourens throws a body shot but no joy.
Lee seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Lourens lands with a right hand.
Lee avoids the body shot from Lourens .
Sloppy strikes from Lourens . Those never looked like landing.
Lee tries to counter with a takedown but Lourens is quick to defend against it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lourens throws a body punch but Lee moves out of range.
Lourens scores with a body shot.
Lourens throws a shot from downtown. Lee moves away and avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor Lourens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Lourens lands a jab.
Lourens stuns Lee with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Lourens falls off balance throwing a combination

and Lee holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Lourens breaks the clinch.
Lee on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Lourens misses the jab.
Lee attempts a counter takedown but Lourens avoids it well and moves away.
Lourens throws a series of punches but Lee avoids them all with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lee throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lourens misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lee steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lourens .
Lourens throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
As Lourens looks to move away, Lee throws a big counter combo but Lourens just gets out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lourens loads up on a big right hand but Lee slips the punch.
A decent looking cross lands there for Lourens .
Lee avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lourens scores with a shot to the body.
Lourens jabs at Lee's body.
Good shot there by Lourens .
Lourens scores with a hook.
A jab from Lourens misses.
Lourens connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Lourens dips to his left and cracks Lee with an uppercut!

Lourens cracks Lee with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Lourens has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Lee to stand back up!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lee shoots in looking for a takedown. Lourens tries to sprawl out of it but Lee keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lourens manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lourens throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Lourens throws a body punch but Lee moves out of range.
The crowd cheers as Lourens lands an impressive looking overhand right. Lee doesn't seem phased though.
Lourens lands with a slapping head kick.
Lee throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Lourens to counter with a crisp jab.
Lourens comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Lourens misses with a double jab.
Lourens scores with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lourens lands a jab to Lee's midsection.
Lee avoids the body shot from Lourens .
Lourens throws a body shot but no joy.
Lee looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Danga de danga de dang - Lourens scores with a four punch combination!
Lourens misses the shot to the body.
Lourens lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Lee fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lourens throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lee swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Lourens misses with a straight left.
Lourens looks to land a left hand but Lee moved out of range nicely.
Lee closes the distance looking to clinch
and Lourens counters with a left to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lourens misses with a body shot.
As Lourens tries to get set, Lee tries to push him back and clinch up but Lourens manages to avoid the attempt.
Lee shoots in looking for a takedown. Lourens tries to sprawl out of it but Lee keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lourens manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lourens scores with a decent looking hook.
Lourens pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lee moves in looking to clinch but Lourens pushes him off.
Lourens lands a glancing blow to the side of Lee's head.
Keith Lee has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Connor Lourens is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Lourens scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Lee doesn't seem bothered though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Connor Lourens comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lourens 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 25:30
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 25:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Connor Lourens !