PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chong Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesse James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Li's entrance music is Summer Song. A fine choice. Chong Li has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Li
vs
James

185 cm
19
185 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

185 cm
18
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Demonic Drugs

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chong Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jesse James!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Li stuffs the takedown.
Li misses with a wild combination.
Li stuffs the takedown.
James shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Li but Li pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Chong Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesse James.

James scores a takedown into full mount!
Li avoids a series of strikes thrown by James.
James sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
James thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

James moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Li has worked his arm free - good work by Li!
James has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
James tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

James has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
James shoots in looking for a takedown. Li tries to sprawl out of it but James keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Li manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
James looks gassed!

Li gets the takedown into side control.
Li working away.
Li advances to mount.
James is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Li controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li avoids the attempt from James to control.
James really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Li is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but James is surviving well by controlling Li's body position as best he can.
James tries to reverse the position but Li maintains control.
James throwing hammer fists to the chest of Li. What's that going to do exactly?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is trying to escape the mount.
Li sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
A nice elbow there by Li.
James's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
James bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Li looking for a sweep. Not yet Li, not yet.
James trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Li manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
James has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Li has passed into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James is trying to get back to half guard.
Li controls the position.

Li decides to stand back up.
James tries for a takedown but Li circles away easily

and Li counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
James missing with punches from the bottom.
Li prevents James from improving his position.
James trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chong Li dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Li thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on James if he has to take too many more of those.
James fails with the takedown

and Li counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Li.

Li breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

James scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Li is looking for a sweep.

James thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

James has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
James tries for a takedown but Li circles away easily
and Li counters with a left and a right that stings James.
Jesse James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Li swings for the body but James moves out of range.
James gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Li counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Chong Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesse James.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li wants to get up but he can't break James's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
James manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Li manages to get himself to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Li is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
James tries to free his leg and advance position but Li is retaining full guard.
James looking to sit in guard and control but Li gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
James wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James has a closed guard, preventing Li from standing up.
Chong Li overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
James closes the distance but Li moves to the side
and Li counters with a right hand to the body.
James is looking to clinch but Li is avoiding it.

Li closes the distance and clinches.
Li tries to stall but James uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
James is working for takedown but Li is calmly controlling the position for now.

Li gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
James looking for a sweep. Not yet James, not yet.
James keeping moving, preventing Li from controlling successfully.
Li would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
James working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James looking to hit a scissor sweep but Li is one step ahead there.
Li postures up.
Li is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
James shoots and misses

and Li counters with a single leg into guard. James didn't expect that.
Li is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
James controls Li momentarily but Li frees himself.
James tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James looking to control but Li passes into half guard.
Li keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
James tries to kick Li off but Li keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Li blocks the strikes from James.
James tries to roll over but Li keeps him under control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
James misses with a double jab
and Li counters with a series of strikes. James will be more careful next time no doubt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
James looks to clinch

and Li counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Li.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
James looking for a sweep. Not yet James, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chong Li dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

James misses with a takedown
and Li counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Li lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as James backs up against the cage.
James fails with the takedown
and Li counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
James wants to clinch but Li slips to the side

and Li counters with a nice double leg into side control. James won't be happy with that.
James is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Li's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

James kicks Li off and gets back to his feet.

James looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Li keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
James is thwarting Li's attempts to control the position.
James is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li wants to stand up but James is controlling him.
James postures up in Li's guard and throws a big left but Li blocks it.
Li is trying to control the position from the bottom.
James content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
James trying to control but Li is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
James gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Li counters by clinching up.
Chong Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesse James.
James wants a takedown but no success here.
Li landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Li is pressed up against the cage. James has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Li down to the mat. Li avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
James doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Li decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in James's guard.
Li preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now James is on top in guard.

James drops back looking for a leg! Li is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Li manages to kick James off! James jumps back into Li's guard.
James advances to half guard.
James throws a strike but Li avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Li throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Li is pulling down on James's head. It's preventing any offense from James, at least for the moment.
Li looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li is trying to control the position from the bottom.
James trying to move into half guard but instead Li has managed to sweep!
James throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Li trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
James being controlled here, momentarily.
James trying to control the position.
James is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
James doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Li counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps James thinking.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Li.
Li looks to score with a jab to the body but James is just out of range.

James looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
James passes into half guard.
James with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Jesse James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Li does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Li wants to get back to his feet.
James trying to advance position but Li counters by regaining guard.
James slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Chong Li.
Well Li 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chong Li!