PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matt Vipers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chong Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Li has chosen dig it deeper just to throw it away as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Chong Li will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Vipers
vs
Li

175 cm
20
183 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

187 cm
26
174 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Matt Vipers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Chong Li!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vipers keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Vipers fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Li sprawls well initially but Vipers persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vipers is looking to take a break and control but Li is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Vipers tries to pass to full mount but Li defends it.

Vipers looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Li is not content to let Vipers control the position.
Li is looking to improve his position.
Vipers performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Li is trying to get back to full guard.

Li looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Vipers shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Li is trying to get back to full guard.

Vipers seems to be looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vipers is controlling the pace.

Li is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vipers pulls his head out easily.

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

Li is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vipers pulls his head out easily.
Li wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Vipers's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Vipers's back!
Vipers rolls, trying to escape but Li keeps control of the position.

Li looking to break Vipers's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Vipers remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Li will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Vipers manages to reverse the position and now he's in Li's guard. Nice work there by Vipers.

Vipers got a little sloppy there for a moment and Li has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Vipers has managed to get both his arms back between Li's legs - danger averted.
Li looks gassed!
Vipers tries to free his leg and advance position but Li is retaining full guard.

Li had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Vipers defends it easily.
Vipers looking to pass the guard.

Li escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vipers gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Li escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vipers gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Vipers advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vipers stalling.

Li looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Vipers works his way into full mount!
Vipers content just to control the position here.
Vipers seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Li for as long as he can get away with.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li is trying to escape the mount.
Vipers controlling the pace for now.
Vipers tries to control but Li wriggling away.

Vipers looking to secure an arm triangle but Li defends it well.
Vipers controlling the pace for now.
Li is looking to improve his position but Vipers isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Vipers dominated that round.
That's time! Vipers's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Li shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Vipers counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Li tries to get to full guard but Vipers has control of the leg.
Vipers is looking to advance position but Li won't allow it.
Vipers wants to control but Li is keeping him busy.
Li slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Li looking for a guillotine here but Vipers defends easily.

Vipers avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Vipers trying to control but Li is working from the bottom.

Vipers avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Li is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vipers slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Matt Vipers just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Vipers looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Li escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vipers gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Li working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vipers doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vipers manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Li can't keep his opponent in guard - Vipers advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Vipers is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Vipers wants to pass to mount but Li is defending the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Li actively working from the bottom here.
Vipers wants to free his trapped foot but Li is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Li is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vipers pulls his head out easily.

Li looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Li is in trouble now - Vipers has advanced to mount!
Vipers looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vipers trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Li sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Vipers looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Li looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Li looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Vipers is controlling the pace.

Li is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vipers pulls his head out easily.
Vipers controlling the action here.

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.
Li wants to improve his position but Vipers is controlling well.
Matt Vipers overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vipers looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Li looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Vipers keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Matt Vipers just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Vipers shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Li is trying to defend but Vipers finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Li makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Li.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Vipers 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!

Li has his takedown stuffed

and Vipers counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Li's guard now.
Vipers stopping the sweep attempt from Li.
Vipers has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Li has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Vipers can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Li is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vipers defends well.
Vipers controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Li looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vipers is pushing down on Li's leg trying to pass to half guard. Li is fighting to maintain full guard but Vipers has managed to sneak the leg through.
Still in half guard, Vipers seems content to control.
Li is trying to get back to full guard.
Vipers controlling the action here.

Li is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vipers pulls his head out easily.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Vipers in particular looking to stall.
Vipers has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Li looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Vipers is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Li is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vipers pulls his head out easily.

Li looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Vipers trying to control the pace.
Li is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Li looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Li misses with a takedown attempt

and Vipers counters with a single leg into guard. Li didn't expect that.

Li looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Vipers showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Vipers passes Li's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Vipers tries to pass the half guard into mount. Li knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Li is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vipers looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Li looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li is looking to improve his position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Vipers in particular looking to stall.

Li looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Chong Li has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vipers trying to control the pace.
Vipers trying to pass the guard but Li defending well.
Matt Vipers is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vipers passes the guard and advances to mount!
Vipers wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Vipers showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Vipers 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Vipers!