PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chong Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mason Stone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Li
vs
Stone

185 cm
23
185 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

167 cm
25
190 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chong Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mason Stone!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Cecil Peabody and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Li shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Li showed some decent athleticism there.

Stone is defending against the submission attempts here by Li.

Li wants to work for an arm triangle but Stone is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Stone gets full guard.
Li trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Li preventing the sweep.

Stone has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Li can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Stone wants to sweep but no luck.
Li trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stone thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Li looking to pass the guard.

Stone had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Li is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Stone Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Li's back instead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone is trying to stick to Li's back but Li is turning into Stone. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Stone's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Li.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stone wants to sweep but no luck.
Stone doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Li wants to pass the guard but Stone is keeping the position.
Li won't allow Stone to sweep him here.
Stone is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Li manages to get to full guard.
Stone looks gassed!

Li is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Stone trying to control the position from guard on top but Li is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stone showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Stone must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stone stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Li swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Li manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Stone manages to get himself to full guard.
Li slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Li looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

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

Li is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Stone has escaped the position, nice work there.

Li is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Stone knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone is looking to regain half guard here but Li keeps moving and retains side control.

Li is trying to get an arm triangle but Stone is defending well.

Li is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Stone knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Li tries to move into full mount but can't pass Stone's legs.
Stone is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Stone has his takedown stuffed

and Li counters with a shoot takedown. Stone fights it but they end up in guard.

Stone working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Li doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Li manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Li passes Stone's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Li is looking for a kimura but Stone is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Li to get the leverage.

Li is trying to work for a kimura but Stone is defending well.

Li is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Li is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Stone has managed to free his arm - good work.
Stone is pressing down on Li's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chong Li dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Li feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Li advances to half guard.

Li is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Stone is just riding it out for now. Li eventually gives up the hold.

Li seems to be working for a kimura but Stone defends the submission attempt.
Stone is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Li's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Li's back!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Li manages to reverse the position and now he's in Stone's guard. Nice work there by Li.
Stone manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Li manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stone got a little sloppy there for a moment and Li has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stone has managed to get both his arms back between Li's legs - danger averted.
Li wants to sweep but no luck.
Stone passes into half guard.
Li is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Li is refusing to be controlled, as Stone sits in half guard.
Stone throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Stone is keen to just control but Li is a slippery customer.
Li is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Stone's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Stone's back!
Stone is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Li working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Li is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Li is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Stone defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Li looking for the choke but no joy.

Li working for a choke but Stone is defending well.
Stone manages to reverse the position and now he's in Li's guard. Nice work there by Stone.

Li working for a triangle but Stone defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stone avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Li keeping moving, preventing Stone from controlling successfully.

Li looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Li looking for a guillotine here but Stone defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Li looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Stone trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Li throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Stone missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Li had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Stone is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Li Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Stone's back instead.
Stone turns into Li and is now in his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stone shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Li counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Stone has his foot on Li's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Li works his way back into a safe position though.
Stone is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Li passes Stone's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Li seems to be looking for submissions.
Stone moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Stone throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Stone is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Stone throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Li drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Li jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Li is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Li drops back looking for a leg! Stone is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Stone manages to kick Li off! Li jumps back into Stone's guard.
Li looking to pass the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Stone darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Li actively working from the bottom here.
Li slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Stone is pushing down on Li's leg trying to pass to half guard. Li is fighting to maintain full guard but Stone has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li wants to improve his position but Stone is controlling well.
Stone wants to control but Li is keeping him busy.
Li manages to get to full guard.

Li looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Stone passes into half guard.
Stone not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Li slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Li is looking for a triangle but Stone pushes his legs off easily.
Li will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Li avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Li is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Li wants to work for an arm triangle but Stone is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Li seems to be looking for submissions.

Stone looking for submissions off his back.
Stone is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four 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.

Li is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Li is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Li is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Stone still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Stone has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Stone lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Li down.
Mason Stone has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stone postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Li is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Stone's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Li is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Stone pulls his head out easily.
Li moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chong Li showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Li has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chong Li!