PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Junior Moukoko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Lewis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Moukoko
vs
Lewis

195 cm
18
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
22
240 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Junior Moukoko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Lewis!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Alyssa Summers and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lewis feints and as Moukoko raises his hands in defense, Lewis changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Lewis advances to half guard.
Lewis wants to pass the guard but Moukoko is defending well.
Moukoko is looking to control Lewis's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Moukoko avoid being mounted?
Moukoko won't allow Lewis to pass to mount.
Moukoko trying to get back to full guard but Lewis takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

Lewis has hold of Moukoko's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Moukoko manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Lewis trying to control but he's not successful this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moukoko tries to control Lewis's body but Lewis pushes him off. Moukoko squirms to his side and now Lewis has his back!
Moukoko is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moukoko prevents Lewis from getting a body triangle.
I really don't envy Moukoko right now.
A lull in the action here.
Even with his hooks in, Lewis manages to miss with strikes from the back.

Moukoko preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Lewis.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lewis throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Moukoko is in bad spot here.
Moukoko has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Lewis.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lewis controlling well, preventing Moukoko from escaping the position.
Lewis tries to keep control of the position but Moukoko is staying busy.
Lewis is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Lewis struggling to land strikes to the head as Moukoko covers up.
Lewis thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Moukoko staying busy and making it hard for Lewis to control.
Moukoko just trying to survive but Lewis is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Lewis controlling well, preventing Moukoko from escaping the position.
Moukoko is keeping busy.
Moukoko tries to roll but Lewis sticks to his back.
Moukoko controlling his opponent's hands, preventing the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moukoko staying busy and making it hard for Lewis to control.
You can see the frustration on Moukoko's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Moukoko is working hard here to advance position.

Lewis has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Moukoko has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Lewis controlling well, preventing Moukoko from escaping the position.
Lewis tries to get the hooks in deep but Moukoko pushed the leg off.
Lewis keeps control of the position as Moukoko tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lewis struggling to keep hold of the position.
I really don't envy Moukoko right now.

Lewis working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Our spies down at at Cozad MMA New York inform us that Lewis has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Lewis looks winded!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lewis trying to control momentarily.

Lewis is persistently looking for the submission but Moukoko is defending it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Lewis dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Moukoko tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lewis swivels and escapes.
Moukoko swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Lewis.
Moukoko getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

It looks like James Lewis has been cut.
Moukoko fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Lewis will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Moukoko feinted with a counter takedown.
Moukoko stuffs the takedown attempt from Lewis. Lewis gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moukoko changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Lewis shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Moukoko defends it nicely.
Lewis is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moukoko getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Moukoko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lewis misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lewis takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Moukoko lands a jab to Lewis's midsection.
Moukoko cracks a nice hook into Lewis's ribs.
Moukoko is looking to wear down Lewis with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Moukoko goes for a double leg but Lewis avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Lewis continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Junior Moukoko. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moukoko comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
No luck for Moukoko with that takedown attempt.
Moukoko scores with a hook to the body. Lewis takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Junior Moukoko is winning the standup battle so far.
Moukoko wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Moukoko fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Moukoko decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Moukoko lands strikes from half guard.
Moukoko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moukoko thows a huge punch but Lewis dodges it nicely.
Moukoko scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Moukoko thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Moukoko knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lewis on the ground.
Moukoko not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Moukoko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lewis's head.
Lewis trying to hold on to Moukoko's head to control him but Moukoko postures up.
Moukoko not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Moukoko is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Moukoko thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lewis tries to roll over but Moukoko keeps him under control.
Lewis is trying to stand back up but Moukoko is controlling him

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moukoko winds up and cracks Lewis with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Moukoko connects with a nice short shot to Lewis's temple.
Lewis is staying active underneath Moukoko, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Moukoko thows a huge punch but Lewis dodges it nicely.
Moukoko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lewis's head.
Moukoko thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Moukoko wants to control but Lewis is keeping him busy.
Moukoko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nice strikes from Moukoko there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Moukoko throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
James Lewis has got the better of the ground game so far.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Moukoko connects with a nice short shot to Lewis's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior Moukoko dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on James Lewis's cut.
That's time! Moukoko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Lewis takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Moukoko scores with a punch to the head.

Lewis is rocked!
Moukoko scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Moukoko cracks a nice hook into Lewis's ribs.
Moukoko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lewis shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Moukoko as he jumps to the side.
Moukoko shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lewis sprawls well. Lewis wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Moukoko gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moukoko lands a nice hook to Lewis's body. Lewis takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Lewis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lewis takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Moukoko scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Moukoko fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lewis sprawls well initially but Moukoko persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Moukoko lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Moukoko is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Moukoko passes to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moukoko working the head with strikes.
Lewis being controlled for a moment.
Moukoko working the head with strikes.
Moukoko creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Lewis sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Lewis is looking to regain half guard here but Moukoko keeps moving and retains side control.
Moukoko working the ground and pound but Lewis is defending the strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Moukoko misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moukoko trying to control the position but Lewis is working away.
Lewis takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Lewis on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Lewis wants to control but Moukoko postures up.
Moukoko throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Lewis avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Moukoko.
Lewis is looking for a sweep.
Moukoko tries to move to mount but Lewis blocks the move with his legs.
Moukoko trying to control the action but Lewis is working from the bottom.
Moukoko lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lewis taking punishment in the form of punches.
Moukoko tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Moukoko lands a nice forearm strike.
Lewis is still in real trouble! Can Moukoko finish him?
Moukoko working the ground and pound.
Moukoko scores with a big shot from side control... and another... and another! Oh Lewis is done here - save him referee! More strikes land and eventually the ref does step in and Moukoko can finally stop beating on his defenseless opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Junior Moukoko!