PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Xiao Long Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Astrud Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Long Li
vs
Rivera

172 cm
25
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

178 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

[JMFC] 160!

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Xiao Long Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Astrud Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rivera enables Li to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rivera manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Li controlling from the top position.
Li lands a couple of elbows.
Li's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Li has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Xiao Long Li just wasn't active enough.

Li shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Li controlling his opponent.
Li cracks Rivera with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Li working Rivera over with strikes here.
Rivera tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The referee warns Rivera that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Li lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Rivera really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Li controlling from the full mount.
Rivera is in all sorts of trouble here.
Li controlling from mount.

Li is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Rivera is surviving well by controlling Li's body position as best he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Li tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Li has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Xiao Long Li has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Rivera doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Li counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rivera won't be happy with that.
Li controls the position.
Rivera looks gassed!
Rivera is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Li's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Rivera is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Li winds up and cracks Rivera with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Li is controlling the pace.
Li passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Rivera!
Li tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li landing strikes from the mount and Rivera is in trouble!
Li looking to control and managing it successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Li throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Rivera misses with a takedown

and Li decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rivera's guard.
Li advances to half guard.
Well, if Li is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Li seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rivera for as long as he can get away with.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera wants to improve his position but Li is controlling well.
Rivera is breathing heavily.
Rivera is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Li scores with a couple of nice shots.
Li keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Li lands with a punch from half guard.
Li is taking a breather. Rivera says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Xiao Long Li just wasn't active enough.

Li closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Li lands in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li works over Rivera with some ground and pound from guard.
Li showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Li's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Xiao Long Li has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Li scores a takedown into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li controlling the position easily from mount.

Li is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Rivera can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li controlling from the full mount.
Li with good strikes from the mount here!
Li working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Li avoids the attempt from Rivera to control.
Li controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xiao Long Li dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Li shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rivera is trying to defend but Li finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Li trying to mount his opponent but Rivera defends it.
Li is taking a breather. Rivera says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rivera takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Xiao Long Li.
Rivera with a poor takedown

and Li counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rivera!

Li quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Li but it's paid off an Rivera is forced to tap! Nice work by Li.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Xiao Long Li!