PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thia Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paulo Cortez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thia Li has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Li
vs
Cortez

187 cm
22
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

168 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Good takedowns
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Thia Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Paulo Cortez!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Winston Howard and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cortez looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Cortez slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Li will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Cortez trying to control the position from guard on top but Li is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cortez drops back looking for a leg! Li is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Li manages to kick Cortez off! Cortez jumps back into Li's guard.
Cortez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Li is keeping the position for now.
Li really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li wants to get back to his feet but Cortez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Cortez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Li is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Li has escaped and now he's on top!
Cortez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Li's guard.
Li utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cortez trying to control but Li is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cortez prevents Li from getting back to his feet.
Cortez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cortez throws and elbow that misses. Li uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cortez's guard. Nice move by Li!
Li knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cortez on the ground.
Li missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Cortez holds on and takes a little breather.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Li tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cortez.

Li rushes Cortez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Li breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thia Li seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Li throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cortez avoids the head kick by Li.
Li moves in looking to clinch but Cortez pushes him off.
Li tries a head kick but it misses.
Cortez swings for the body but Li moves out of range.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Li checks a leg kick.
Danga de danga de dang - Li scores with a four punch combination!
Li throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cortez.
Cortez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Thia Li is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Cortez.
Li thuds his right hand into Cortez's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Cortez rushes Li and presses him up against the cage.

Li breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Li misses with a head kick.
Li throws a head kick but Cortez moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Li looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Li misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cortez manages to avoid it.
Cortez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Li takes a swing at Cortez's ribcage but misses.
Some wild striking there from Li.
Li throws a sloppy head kick and Cortez moves out of range easily.
Li throws a sloppy head kick and Cortez moves out of range easily.
Li is breathing heavily.
Cortez looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cortez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Li moves away.
Li tries to clinch but Cortez is having none of it.
Li swings for the body but Cortez moves out of range.
Li throws a head kick that misses.

Cortez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Li wants to stand but Cortez is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Paulo Cortez will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cortez blocks a head kick by Li.
Li tries to clinch up but Cortez circles away and keeps his distance.
Li lands with a hook. Cortez tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Li connects with a high kick.
Cortez looks for the body kick but Li saw that one coming.
Cortez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cortez keeps the fight on the outside.
Li lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cortez circles away quickly and effectively.
Li takes a swing at Cortez's ribcage but misses.
Li misses with a wild combination.
Cortez walks into a stiff left hand from Li.

Cortez is rocked!
Li is throwing a storm of strikes! Right hook, left hook and follows it up with a spinning back fist! Cortez hits the canvas like a rag doll! And just like that, this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Thia Li!