PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Xi Li (ranked 3408 p4p, 4819 weight class) and Fits Miz (ranked 450 p4p, 566 weight class). Li kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is HYFR by Drake featuring Lil Wayne. Miz has chosen Uka Uka - Trippie Redd as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Li
vs
Miz

197 cm
28
195
10 - 8 - 0

195 cm
30
209
7 - 9 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Xi Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Fits Miz!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Francis DeMontford and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Li moves in looking to clinch but Miz pushes him off.

Li moves into the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Li.
Li missing with knees to the body.
Li tries to throw a body punch but Miz avoids it by throwing Li back against the cage.

Li manages to break the clinch.
Miz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Li moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Miz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Li's waist but Li gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Miz off to one side.
Li moves in looking to clinch but Miz pushes him off.
Li scores with a spinning back kick!
Li shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Miz eats them both and turns towards Li to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Nice takedown defense from Li. No joy for Miz on that attempt.
Li closes the distance looking to clinch

and Miz counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Miz.
Li wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Miz manages to pass to side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Li tries to kick Miz off but Miz keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nice strikes from Miz there.
Miz stops Li from getting back to his feet.

Li looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Li is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Catch Wrestling L.A., so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Li is looking for a sweep. Miz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Miz is pressing down on Li's thigh, looking to free his foot. Li is holding on for now.
Miz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Miz trying to control from half guard but Li is working away.
Miz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Li manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Miz keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Miz has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Li uses from the top position.
Miz looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Li puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Miz moves into full guard.

Miz looking for subs off his back but Li has passed one foot through into half guard.
Li wants to stand but Miz has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Miz is looking to control Li's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Miz avoid being mounted?

Miz is defending against the submission attempts here by Li.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miz wants to control the action here but instead Li manages to pass to full mount!
Miz is squirming around, avoiding Li's attempts to control the action.
Miz is looking to improve his position but Li isn't that keen on the idea.
Miz felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miz is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Miz keeps trying to improve his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Xi Li dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Li tries to clinch but Miz moves out of range.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch but Miz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Horrible takedown attempt by Miz or perhaps it was just good defense by Li, which made it look bad.
Miz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Li swivels and escapes.

Miz gets a takedown into half guard.
Li wants to get back to his feet.
Li tries to roll over but Miz keeps him under control.

Miz seems to be working for a kimura but Li defends the submission attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Li is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Li looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Li has one foot on Miz's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Li. No joy for Miz on that attempt.
Xi Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fits Miz.
Li fails with an attempt to clinch.
Miz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Li sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Miz somewhat.
Li blocks a head kick by Miz.
The fight stays on the outside here - Li looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Li fails in his attempt to clinch.
Xi Li is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Miz looks for a takedown but Li sprawls well.
Li half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Li moves into the clinch.
Li tries to throw a body punch but Miz avoids it by throwing Li back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miz jumps guard but Li turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
A right hand to the body from Li.
Miz is breathing heavily.
A short right from Li on the inside.
Li works on Miz's body with a couple of short punches.
Li throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Mizs head.
Li lands a left hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Li lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Li scores with a knee to the head.

Li pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Li lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Danga de danga de dang - Li scores with a four punch combination!

Li has closed the distance and engaged Miz in a clinch.
Li landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Miz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Li just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Li obliges.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Li obliges.
A short left from Li.
Miz drops down looking for an ankle pick but Li pulls his leg out and moves away.
Li lands with a kick to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miz drops his hands momentarily and Li takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Li fails in his attempt to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Li.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Li.

Li breaks the clinch.
Li throws a sloppy head kick and Miz moves out of range easily.

Li gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Li scores a nice knee to the body.
Li working Miz over with knees to the body.
Li lands a big knee to the head and Miz goes down! Li pounces and finishes the fight with strikes! He jumps to his feet and celebrates with the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:50 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Xi Li!
Xi Li gave a mention to The Thrift Shop - Cheap Clothes and Laundry in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).