PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lee Van Cleefe (ranked 1525 p4p, 19803 weight class) and Fletch Brandis (ranked 176 p4p, 578 weight class). Van Cleefe comes into the arena with Classics - The Master (1984) TV series blaring out of the sound system. Brandis has chosen Lynyrd Skynyrd : The Ballad of Curtis Loew as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Van Cleefe
vs
Brandis

185 cm
24
255
12 - 14 - 0

191 cm
35
235
20 - 13 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent elbows
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lee Van Cleefe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Fletch Brandis!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Ren Mimura and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice uppercut there from Brandis.

It looks like Lee Van Cleefe has been cut.
Van Cleefe misses with a looping left.
Brandis misses with a double jab.
Brandis shoots for a double leg takedown but Van Cleefe sprawls well. He's pushed Brandis's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sloppy strikes from Brandis. Those never looked like landing.
Van Cleefe throws a series of punches but Brandis moves out of range.
A combination from Van Cleefe does no damage.
Brandis fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Van Cleefe misses with a few strikes there.
Van Cleefe takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Van Cleefe throws a leg kick but Brandis sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Van Cleefe seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Nice cross by Brandis.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Brandis throws a right hand that Van Cleefe ducks under and follows up with a left that Van Cleefe also avoids with ease.

Brandis shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Brandis was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Brandis tries to advance to mount but can't.
My spies in Lads Lash Banter Gym inform me that Brandis has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Brandis looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Brandis tries to move into full mount but can't pass Van Cleefe's legs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Brandis wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Van Cleefe, who protects the arm well.
Van Cleefe is looking to regain half guard here but Brandis keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Van Cleefe's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Brandis controlling from side mount.
Brandis wants to control but Van Cleefe is keeping him busy.
Brandis working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Brandis swings around for an armbar but Van Cleefe sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Brandis's guard.
Van Cleefe wants to control from the top but Brandis keeps moving.
Brandis working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Brandis keeping moving, preventing Van Cleefe from controlling successfully.
Brandis is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Brandis seems to be looking for submissions.
Brandis is looking to take a break and control but Van Cleefe is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Van Cleefe trying to hold on to Brandis's head to control him but Brandis postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brandis moves into full mount! Van Cleefe won't be happy about that!
Van Cleefe is trying to escape the mount but Brandis keeps good control and instead manages to take Van Cleefe's back.

Brandis is looking for the choke from the back position but Van Cleefe is controlling his hands well.

Van Cleefe is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Brandis gets his way!
Van Cleefe turns into Brandis and is now in his guard.
Brandis keeping moving, preventing Van Cleefe from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Van Cleefe tries to clinch there but Brandis circles away.
Van Cleefe throws an overhand right that lands on Brandis's shoulder, as Brandis tries to avoid the shot.
Brandis lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Van Cleefe takes one to the chin there.
Brandis jabs Van Cleefe right on the nose. Van Cleefe blinks but takes it well.
No joy there for Brandis, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Van Cleefe stuffs the takedown.
Brandis shoots for a double leg takedown but Van Cleefe sprawls well. He's pushed Brandis's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Left hook, right uppercut from Brandis.
Van Cleefe throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Brandis works over Van Cleefe's head and body with a nice combination.

Lee Van Cleefe's cut is getting worse.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Cleefe scores with a sloppy right hand. Brandis should have avoided that one.
Van Cleefe lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Brandis circles away quickly and effectively.
Brandis tries to counter with a clinch but Van Cleefe shakes him off and moves away.
Van Cleefe misses with a wild combination.
A punch combination from Van Cleefe misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Cleefe misses with a straight left.
Brandis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Brandis throws a series of punches but Van Cleefe moves out of range.
Van Cleefe half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Brandis throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Van Cleefe.
Brandis looks to land a combination but Van Cleefe avoids it well.
Van Cleefe scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Brandis dives in and grabs Van Cleefe's left leg, looking for a takedown. Van Cleefe pushes down on Brandis's head and hops out.
It looked like Van Cleefe was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Lee Van Cleefe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fletch Brandis.
Van Cleefe wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Van Cleefe lands with a big left! Brandis is wobbled badly! Van Cleefe comes in with a flurry of punches and drops Brandis to the floor. The ref jumps in to save him from unneccessary punishment.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:44 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Lee Van Cleefe!
In his post fight interview, Lee Van Cleefe gave a big smile as he said 'Sho Kosugi I am here. Fight me.'.
The defeated Fletch Brandis had this to say: 'I think I'm gonna drink a Miller Lite tonight and play some pool.'.