PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vlad The Impaler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Li kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Give My Bullet Back. James Li had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Li
vs
The Impaler

176 cm
25
192 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
21
195 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vlad The Impaler!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Illya Tyunina and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by The Impaler or perhaps it was just good defense by Li which made him look bad.
Vlad The Impaler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No joy there for The Impaler, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The Impaler fails to land the takedown.

The Impaler fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Li sprawls well initially but The Impaler persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

The Impaler is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Li makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Li.
Li wants to sweep here but The Impaler controlling him for the moment.

Li looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Li not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Li is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Li is looking for a triangle but The Impaler pushes his legs off easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The Impaler working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The Impaler lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The Impaler has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Li is proving hard to escape from.
The Impaler preventing the sweep.
The Impaler cracks Li with a solid left hand.
Li controls The Impaler momentarily but The Impaler frees himself.
The Impaler works over Li with some ground and pound from guard.

Li isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. The Impaler stacks Li on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by The Impaler!
Li is working to avoid the ground and pound but The Impaler connects with a decent elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Li can't do much from the bottom here.
The Impaler landing strikes.

The Impaler thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Li struggling a bit here.
Li is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked The Impaler off and has taken his back!
The Impaler has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

Li working for the choke.

Li is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Li is breathing heavily.
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!
The Impaler wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li is controlling the position but The Impaler somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
The Impaler really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Li. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The Impaler wants to improve his position but Li is controlling well.
The Impaler is trying to stand.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if The Impaler can do anything to dispel that myth.

Li is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The Impaler wants to get back to his feet.

Li is sneakily working for an arm triangle but The Impaler sees it coming and defends easily.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
The Impaler fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
James Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vlad The Impaler.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Li with a lazy takedown attempt

and The Impaler counters with a single leg into guard. Li didn't expect that.
Li 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 looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells The Impaler's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Li looking for a sweep. Not yet Li, not yet.
The Impaler is looking to stand up but Li won't let him.

Li looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Li looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The Impaler works over Li with some ground and pound from guard.
The Impaler connects with a couple of short punches.
Li keeping moving, preventing The Impaler from controlling successfully.
The Impaler lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

The Impaler looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Li has his takedown stuffed

and The Impaler counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Li bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in The Impaler's guard.
Vlad The Impaler has got the better of the ground game so far.

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.

The Impaler working for a triangle but Li defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Li drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but The Impaler manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Li has The Impaler in his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Impaler preventing the sweep.

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

Li throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! The Impaler escapes and throws Li's legs to the side, diving into side control!
The Impaler looks up at the clock and then as Li takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, The Impaler smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Li takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

The Impaler decides to stand back up. The Impaler steps back and let's Li get back to his feet.

The Impaler closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Li manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The Impaler seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Li is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Impaler lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The Impaler lands with a punch from half guard.
The Impaler tries to stand but can't do so whilst Li controls his leg.
The Impaler scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Li is trying to defend against the ground and pound but The Impaler scores with a couple of nice shots.
Li is trying to get back to full guard.
Li trying to control from the bottom.

Li looking for submissions off his back.
The Impaler lands strikes from half guard.
The Impaler is keen to just control but Li is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Impaler prevents Li from improving his position.
The Impaler is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The Impaler seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Li looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Li tries to roll over but The Impaler keeps him under control.
The Impaler takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Li looking for submissions off his back.

The Impaler decides to stand up.
The Impaler gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Li decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in The Impaler's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Impaler wants to stand up but Li is controlling him.

The Impaler manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Li leaves The Impaler with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Li shoots in and bounces The Impaler off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Li thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Li wants to control from the top but The Impaler keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Li wants to pass the guard but The Impaler is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vlad The Impaler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. 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.

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

Li looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The Impaler scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The Impaler working the head and body with strikes.
Li is refusing to be controlled, as The Impaler sits in half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with The Impaler in particular looking to stall.
Li tries to roll over but The Impaler keeps him under control.
Li has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. The Impaler is working away from the top position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Li has hold of The Impaler's hands but The Impaler slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Li tries to get to full guard but The Impaler has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Impaler is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Li wants to get back to full guard.

Li actively working from the bottom here.
The Impaler is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Li looking for submissions off his back.
The Impaler lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

The Impaler decides to return to a standing position.

Li decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Li prevents The Impaler from standing back up.
James Li has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The Impaler has one foot on Li's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
The Impaler shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Li counters with a nice double leg into side control. The Impaler won't be happy with that.

Li is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, The Impaler has escaped the position, nice work there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Li working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Li is trying to get an arm triangle but The Impaler is defending well.
Li working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

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!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The Impaler throws Li to one side and escapes!

Excellent takedown into side control there by The Impaler.
The Impaler lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Li down.
The Impaler working away.

The Impaler decides to stand back up.
The Impaler with a lazy takedown attempt

and Li counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in The Impaler's guard now.
The Impaler is pulling down on Li's head to control his posture.
Vlad The Impaler is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
The Impaler is looking to stand up but Li isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li works over The Impaler with some ground and pound from guard.

Li postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! The Impaler is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Li, into his guard.
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!
The Impaler content to stall in guard here.
Li trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Li looking for a guillotine here but The Impaler defends easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The Impaler working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Li's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Vlad The Impaler.
I've got The Impaler winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Vlad The Impaler!