PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Thunder (ranked 1214 p4p, 2468 weight class) and Xi Li (ranked 153 p4p, 302 weight class). Thunder comes into the arena with Thunderstruck - AcDc blaring out of the sound system. Li has chosen HYFR by Drake featuring Lil Wayne as his entrance music. Xi Li acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Thunder
vs
Li

195 cm
34
285
14 - 11 - 0

197 cm
31
213
15 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 14 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Thunder !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Xi Li!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Fedor Mirinova and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Li lands a nice hook to Thunder 's body. Thunder takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Li has taken the fight to the clinch.
Thunder has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Li goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Li working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Li misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Li fails to land.
Li lands a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Li fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Li fails to land.
Thunder fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Li.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thunder misses with an elbow strike.
Thunder blocks a body shot from Li.
Li tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Li creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Li lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Thunder avoids it.
Li lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The referee is keeping an eye on Thunder - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A hook to the body from Thunder .
A nice left hand lands by Li.
Thunder content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Thunder stalling.
Thunder gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Thunder tries to pull guard but Li holds him up against the cage and eventually Thunder drops back down to his feet.

Thunder manages to pull guard.
Li works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Thunder is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunder is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Li seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Thunder does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Thunder with the active half guard here but Li passes nicely into side control.
Li is staying tight to Thunder 's torso, preventing him from escaping.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunder is looking to reverse the position.
Thunder is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Li is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Thunder tries to lock up and control but Li gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Li swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Thunder is now in Li's guard. A big mistake from Li there, giving up the dominant position!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Li is looking for a triangle but Thunder pushes his legs off easily.
Li keeping moving, preventing Thunder from controlling successfully.
Thunder stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Li swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thunder advances to half guard.

Li looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Li has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thunder thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Xi Li dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Li misses with a lunging right hand
and Thunder connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Thunder throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Li has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thunder shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Li is looking to clinch.
Li throws a leg kick but Thunder sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Thunder throwing a counter right hand but Li manages to avoid it.
We've been told by Thunder 's head coaches at Finnish Elite Sport and Fitness Center that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Li comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Li tries to clinch but Thunder moves out of range.
Li tries to clinch but Thunder moves out of range.
A thudding body kick lands there by Li!
Nice shot by Li.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thunder throws a head kick that misses.
John Thunder is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thunder throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Li tries to clinch but Thunder is having none of it.
As Li looks to move away, Thunder throws a big counter combo but Li just gets out of the way.
Li throws a leg kick which misses Thunder 's front leg but catches the back leg as Thunder tries to avoid it.
Li slips a jab from Thunder .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Li clinches.
Thunder drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Li gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Li misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Li stalling in the clinch but Thunder improves position.
Li misses with the head strike.

Thunder pulls guard.

Thunder is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Thunder is looking for a triangle here but Li uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunder tries to control but Li manages to take his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Li controlling the positon.
Thunder trying to get back to his feet but Li is in full control for now.

Thunder defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Li is looking for a triangle here but Thunder uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Thunder content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Li wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Thunder tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Li tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Thunder easily slips into full mount!
Li can't escape the position.
Thunder avoids the attempt from Li to control.
Li is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thunder thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that John Thunder will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Li just misses with a punch to the body.
Li is looking to clinch but Thunder is avoiding it.
Li doesn't manage to clinch there - Thunder circles away.
An attempted straight right counter from Thunder misses the target.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thunder paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Li misses with a hook. Thunder ducked under it nicely.
Thunder ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Li fails with an attempt to clinch.
Li wants to clinch.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Li in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thunder pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Li tries to clinch up but Thunder circles away and keeps his distance.
Thunder lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thunder paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Xi Li seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Li moves into the clinch successfully.
Xi Li seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A short left from Li.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Li is looking to control Thunder 's arms but Thunder gets an underhook and turns him. Now Li has his back to the cage.
Li tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thunder 's elbow.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Li.
Li misses with a short punch on the inside.
Li is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Thunder is keeping busy.

Thunder manages to break the clinch.
Li looks to land a combination but Thunder avoids it well.
Thunder seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thunder paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thunder swats away the attempt to clinch by Li.
Thunder circles away from the clinch attempt
and Thunder counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Li pushes Thunder up against the cage in a clinch.
Thunder wants a takedown.
Thunder drops down looking for an ankle pick but Li pulls his leg out and moves away.
Li tries to clinch there but Thunder circles away.
It looked like Thunder wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Li misses the shot to the body.
Thunder seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Li rushes Thunder and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Li lands a hook to the side of the head.
Thunder has Li pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Li manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Thunder . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thunder blocking some punches.
Good body shot from Li.
Still in the clinch, Li scores with a nice short uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Li creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Thunder 's defenses.
Thunder struggles to land a body shot inside as Li controls his hands.
Li can't find room to land a body shot as Thunder controls the action.
Li misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Thunder avoids it.
A head punch on the inside from Li fails to land.
Li throws a punch but it's blocked by Thunder .
Li has a couple of punches blocked by Thunder .
Thunder blocking some punches.
Thunder tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Li smiles and moves away.
Thunder walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Li throws a series of punches but Thunder avoids them all with ease.
A jab from Li does it's job there.

Li has Thunder up against the cage in a clinch.
Li tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Thunder avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Thunder jumps guard but Li turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Li working some nice short punches in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Li.
Li stalling in the clinch.
Thunder blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Thunder goes for a takedown attempt but Li pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Thunder circles away from the clinch attempt.

Li moves into the clinch.
Li is pressed up against the cage. Thunder has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Li down to the mat. Li avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
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!
Li cracks Thunder with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Li defending well as Thunder loads up on a big left hand.
Li tries to clinch but Thunder moves out of range.

Thunder gets tackled into the cage by Li. Li maintains the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xi Li comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Li has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xi Li!
Xi Li very nearly forgot to thank The Thrift Shop - Cheap Clothes and Laundry amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.
The defeated John Thunder had this to say: 'I put it on the line every single time. '.