PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Van Cas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Freddy Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Van Cas
vs
Li

188 cm
20
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marcus Van Cas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Freddy Li!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Cas tries to score a power double leg takedown but Li sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Van Cas somewhat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Van Cas.
Li looks to land a right hand but Van Cas moved out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Li misses the target.
Li gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Li shoots in looking for a takedown. Van Cas tries to sprawl out of it but Li keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Van Cas manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Li swinging wildly here.

Li closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Li trying to mount his opponent but Van Cas defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Cas trying to control here.
Van Cas blocking the ground and pound attempt from Li.
Van Cas is looking to control Li's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Van Cas avoid being mounted?
Li wants to take a breather but Van Cas is having none of it.
Van Cas is looking to improve his position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Van Cas slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Van Cas looking to hit a scissor sweep but Li is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li trying to move into half guard but instead Van Cas has managed to sweep!
Van Cas tries to free his leg and advance position but Li is retaining full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Li is on top in guard.
Li tries to free his leg and advance position but Van Cas is retaining full guard.

Li got a little sloppy there for a moment and Van Cas has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Li has managed to get both his arms back between Van Cas's legs - danger averted.
Li wants to control from the top but Van Cas keeps moving.
Van Cas will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Li throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li wants to control from the top but Van Cas keeps moving.
Li throws a big elbow that misses.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Li has eaten all the pies!
Li slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Li trying to control but Van Cas is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Freddy Li was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Li shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Van Cas's guard.
Van Cas keeping moving, preventing Li from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Cas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Li slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Li is pushing down on Van Cas's leg trying to pass to half guard. Van Cas is fighting to maintain full guard but Li has managed to sneak the leg through.
Li throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Van Cas is looking to control Li's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Van Cas avoid being mounted?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Van Cas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Li in particular looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Van Cas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Van Cas scores with a takedown into Li's guard.

Van Cas got a little sloppy there for a moment and Li has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Van Cas has managed to get both his arms back between Li's legs - danger averted.

Li is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Li is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Cas stands up and waves to Li to follow him.
Van Cas moves out of range of the strikes.
Van Cas fails with a takedown attempt.
Van Cas shoots in for a takedown but Li shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Van Cas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Li throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Van Cas.

Van Cas shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Li moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Van Cas puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Li wants to get back to full guard.
Van Cas slows the pace down in half guard.
Li wants to improve his position but Van Cas is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Van Cas is trying to work for a kimura but Li is defending well.
Li is holding on to half guard well.
Li tries to get to full guard but Van Cas has control of the leg.
Van Cas landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Cas controlling the action here.
Van Cas wants to take a breather but Li is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van Cas prevents Li from improving his position.
Van Cas 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.
Li trying to control but Van Cas postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Li shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Marcus Van Cas will probably get the nod.
That's time! Van Cas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Van Cas tries to clinch but Li is having none of it.

Van Cas moves into the clinch.

Van Cas manages to break the clinch.

Van Cas pushes Li up against the cage in a clinch.

Van Cas has clasped his hands together around Li's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Li is looking for a sweep.
Li is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Van Cas thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Li manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Cas is trying to maintain the position but Li is very close to passing his half guard.
Van Cas has a hand on Li's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Li takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Li lands a big elbow.
Li wants to control the pace but Van Cas is squirming around nicely.
Van Cas bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Van Cas distracts Li with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Van Cas drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Van Cas jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Li has Van Cas pulled in close to control his posture.
Van Cas has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Li is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Li had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Van Cas defends it easily.
Van Cas trying to control the position from guard on top but Li is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Cas's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Li trying to keep a closed guard but Van Cas is proving a slippery customer.
Van Cas postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Van Cas thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Van Cas's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Van Cas's guard.
Van Cas keeping moving, preventing Li from controlling successfully.
Li looking to pass the guard.
Van Cas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Van Cas striking from his own guard.
Freddy Li has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Li is fighting to break Van Cas's control of his arms but Van Cas is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Li trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Cas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Van Cas showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Van Cas has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Freddy Li!
A very excited looking Freddy Li made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.