PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ramba Boy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hei Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hei Li told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Boy
vs
Li

157 cm
23
144 lbs
2 - 1 - 1

167 cm
18
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Ramba Boy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hei Li!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Li looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Boy blocking the ground and pound attempt from Li.
Boy knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Li on the ground.
Li thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Li connects with a nice short shot to Boy's temple.

Li is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Boy won't allow Li to pass to mount.
Li missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ground and pound from Li.
Boy is looking to improve his position.
Boy is looking to control Li's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Boy avoid being mounted?
Boy on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Li stops Boy from getting back to his feet.
Boy taking some punishment here, with Li in his half guard.

Li is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Boy has managed to free his arm - good work.
Li thows a huge punch but Boy dodges it nicely.
Boy is positioning himself well to prevent Li advancing to mount.
Li throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Boy wants to control but Li is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Li throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Boy is breathing heavily.
Li scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li stops Boy from getting back to his feet.
Boy taking some punishment here, with Li in his half guard.

Li decides to stand and escape the position.
Li fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Boy avoids it really well and circles away.
Li will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Boy takes the fight into the clinch.
Li goes for a takedown attempt but Boy pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ramba Boy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hei Li.

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 postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Li with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Li postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Boy trying to control the position.
Li content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Li trying to control the position from guard on top but Boy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Li passes Boy's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Li is trying to control the action in half guard but Boy is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Li scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Li works his way into side control.

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.
Check out the look on Li's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Boy taking punishment in the form of punches.
Li scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Boy to see if he's OK.
Li is working Boy over with some ground and pound from side control.
Li creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Boy takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Li cracks Boy with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Li scoring with punches from side control.
Li cracks Boy with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Li tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Boy dodges the ground and pound from Li.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hei Li dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Boy has closed the distance and engaged Li in a clinch.
Li tries for a takedown but Boy manages to get underhooks.
Li changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Boy fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Li is defended easily by Boy.
Ramba Boy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hei Li.

Boy closes the distance and clinches.
Li has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Boy avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Boy unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Boy landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Boy lands a nice knee to the body.
Boy unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Boy pulls guard successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Li working some strikes from top position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Li trying to control the position from guard on top but Boy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Li postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li with a nice head shot there.
Li working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Li landing with the ground and pound.
Li lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Li lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Li throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hei Li has got the better of the ground game so far.
Boy looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Li puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Li passes to full mount!
Li lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Li scoring with strikes but Boy is staying in there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Boy that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Li is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Boy can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Li in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Li breaks from Boy's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Li pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Li landing strikes from the mount and Boy is in trouble!
Li with a couple of short strikes.
Li raining down shots from the mount!
Li postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Boy looks a forlorn figure.
Li lands a big shot there that rocks Boy but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li prevents Boy from getting the reversal.
Li with good strikes from the mount here!
Li dominating with strikes here.
Li with shots to the head and body - Boy looks very uncomfortable down there.
Li with shots to the head and body - Boy looks very uncomfortable down there.
Boy tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Li lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Boy on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Boy tries to get out of the position.
Boy is wriggling around trying to escape.
Li cracks Boy with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Li with the ground and pound from mount.
Li lands a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Li landing strikes from the mount and Boy is in trouble!
Li putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Boy looks out of his depth in this position - he's holding on tight.
Li with shots to the head and body - Boy looks very uncomfortable down there.
Li working the ground and pound effectively.
Boy in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Li has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Li cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Li wants to control the pace but Boy is squirming around nicely.
Li working the ground and pound effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hei Li showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Li closes this distance looking for a takedown but Boy circles away.
Boy tries to close the distance and clinch but Li swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Boy drives through and clinches with Li against the cage.
Boy scores with a knee to the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Boy gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Li.
Li is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Boy is keeping busy.
Boy lands an elbow inside that Li shrugs off.
Li drops down looking for an ankle pick but Boy pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ramba Boy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hei Li.

Li tries to keep at a distance but Boy has taken the fight into the clinch.
Boy gets underhooks to prevent Li's takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Li drops down looking for an ankle pick but Boy pulls his leg out and moves away.
Li fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Boy closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boy scores a nice knee to the body.
Boy gets underhooks to prevent Li's takedown attempt.
Li tries for a takedown but Boy manages to get underhooks.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Boy obliges.
Li is working for takedown but Boy is calmly controlling the position for now.
Li wants a takedown.
Boy using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Li throws a punch but it's blocked by Boy.
Boy scores with a knee to the head.
Li has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Boy avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Li can't get the takedown.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Li.
Boy working Li over with knees to the body.
Li drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Boy is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Li is keeping busy.
Li is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Boy pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Boy lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Boy tries to land knees in the clinch but Li avoids the damage to the body.
Li changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Boy fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Boy clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boy gets underhooks to prevent Li's takedown attempt.
Boy unloads a knee to the mid-section. Li lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Boy is pressed up against the cage. Li has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Boy down to the mat. Boy avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Boy wants to clinch.
Li ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Boy moves away.
Boy tries to close the distance and clinch but Li swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Li tries to score a power double leg takedown but Boy sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Li somewhat.
Li shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Boy as he jumps to the side.
Li is trying hard to land a takedown here. Boy sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Boy lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Li circles away quickly and effectively.
Li throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Boy's waist but Boy gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Li off to one side.

Boy has taken the fight to the clinch.
Boy dodges an elbow strike from Li.
Boy landing knees to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boy stops a takedown attempt from Li.
Boy scores with a knee to the head.
Boy lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Li is working for takedown but Boy is calmly controlling the position for now.
Knees to the body from Boy.
Li tries to score a body lock takedown but Boy shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Li misses with a punch to the body.
A knee to the head by Boy.
Li is working for takedown but Boy is calmly controlling the position for now.
Boy is pressed up against the cage. Li has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Boy down to the mat. Boy avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Boy is looking to clinch but Li is avoiding it.
Li shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Boy as he avoids it easily.
Boy stuffs the takedown.

Boy moves into range and clinches up with Li.
Boy using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Li has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Li drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Boy gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Boy.
Boy is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Li misses with a punch on the inside.
Boy misses with a knee strike.
Li wants a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boy lands an elbow inside.
Boy scores with a knee to the head.
Li changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Boy fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Boy stuffs the takedown.
Li shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Boy defends it nicely.

Boy rushes Li and presses him up against the cage.
Li is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Boy throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Li blocks it with crossed arms.
Li changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Boy fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ramba Boy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Boy stops a takedown attempt from Li.
Boy connects with a knee to the head.
Ramba Boy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hei Li is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Li tries for a takedown but Boy manages to get underhooks.
Boy stops a takedown attempt from Li.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ramba Boy showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Hei Li!