PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Simon Slade (ranked 2392 p4p, 2554 weight class) and Lee Van Cleefe (ranked 288 p4p, 309 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Slade might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to 2 Legit 2 Quit. Van Cleefe is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Classics - The Master (1984) TV series. Lee Van Cleefe told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Slade
vs
Van Cleefe

200 cm
23
242
7 - 3 - 0

185 cm
28
255
17 - 19 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Good elbows
Fast

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Simon Slade!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lee Van Cleefe!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Chad Campbell and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Slade takes the fight into the clinch.
Slade working hard to break the clinch.
Van Cleefe pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Van Cleefe misses with a hook to the ribs.

Slade escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A right-left combo lands from Slade.

It looks like Lee Van Cleefe has been cut.

Van Cleefe has managed to clinch.
Van Cleefe lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Slade backwards.

It looks like Simon Slade has been cut.

Slade breaks from the clinch.
We've been told by Slade's head coaches at Tran MMA Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Van Cleefe closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Van Cleefe can't find room to land a body shot as Slade controls the action.
Van Cleefe throws an elbow but it misses.
Slade misses with a body punch.
Slade blocking some punches.
Slade's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
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!
Van Cleefe has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Slade after a bit of a struggle.
Slade can't break the clinch.
Slade blocks an uppercut.
Van Cleefe working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slade wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Van Cleefe jumps guard but Slade stands there with Van Cleefe around his waist. Van Cleefe gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Van Cleefe goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Van Cleefe misses with a body punch.
Slade is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Van Cleefe prevents Slade from breaking the clinch.
Van Cleefe can't find room to land a body shot as Slade controls the action.
Slade tries to stall but Van Cleefe uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Van Cleefe misses with a hook to the ribs.
Slade stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Slade wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Van Cleefe has him pressed against the cage.

Van Cleefe pulls Slade into guard.
Slade trying to stand up but can't free himself from Van Cleefe's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slade throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Van Cleefe is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Slade defends well.
Slade trying to move into half guard but instead Van Cleefe has managed to sweep!

Slade is controlling Van Cleefe's posture.
Van Cleefe's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Slade tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Van Cleefe passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Slade wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Van Cleefe is trying to get an arm triangle but Slade is defending well.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Van Cleefe is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Slade is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Slade is looking to reverse the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Van Cleefe controls the position.

Van Cleefe tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Van Cleefe has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Slade is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Slade's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Van Cleefe tries for a kimura but Slade is defending well.

Van Cleefe is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Slade knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Slade is looking for a sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Van Cleefe tries for a kimura but Slade is defending well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lee Van Cleefe dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Van Cleefe tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Slade counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Slade tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Van Cleefe has taken the fight to the clinch.
Van Cleefe has a couple of punches blocked by Slade.

Slade manages to break the clinch.
Slade doesn't manage to clinch there - Van Cleefe circles away.
Van Cleefe drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Slade defends it well.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Van Cleefe.
Slade appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Van Cleefe throws a hook to the side of Slade's head but Slade sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A punch combination from Slade misses.
Despite the aggression on Van Cleefe's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Cleefe moves to clinch but Slade breaks away
and Slade counters with a left to the body.
Slade looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Van Cleefe misses with a body shot
and Slade cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Slade misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Cleefe avoids the head kick by Slade.
Van Cleefe fails in his attempt to clinch.
Van Cleefe misses with a body shot
and Slade connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Slade is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Slade connects with a high kick.
Slade moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Slade steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Van Cleefe.
Slade tries to clinch but Van Cleefe moves out of range.
Van Cleefe tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Slade defends well and Van Cleefe ends up having to push Slade into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A quick step to the side and Slade tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Van Cleefe fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Simon Slade has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lee Van Cleefe.
Slade scores with a head kick. Van Cleefe tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

That has opened up Lee Van Cleefe's cut even more.
Van Cleefe misses with a combination
and Slade counters with a lovely shot to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A low kick from Van Cleefe is predictable there
and Slade counters with a left and a right... And another left! Van Cleefe is down! He's done! The ref dives in to save him and that's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Simon Slade!
A very excited looking Simon Slade rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.
Lee Van Cleefe spoke after the fight, saying 'Old ninjas don't retire they just disappear in a cloud of smoke. '.