PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Xiao Long Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Zaharn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Li comes into the arena with Dragon Punch! blaring out of the sound system. Zaharn has chosen 28 Days Later as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Long Li
vs
Zaharn

172 cm
31
150 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

175 cm
23
158 lbs
9 - 10 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 13 - 7 - 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 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ray Zaharn!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zaharn tries to land a leg kick but Li saw it coming and moves away.
Zaharn throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zaharn takes one on the chin but seems OK.

It looks like Ray Zaharn has been cut.
Zaharn lands a body shot.
Zaharn misses with a hook. Li ducked under it nicely.
Li misses with a body kick.
An inside leg kick from Li misses.
Li takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Zaharn tries a head kick but it misses.
Zaharn punishes Li's body with a nice straight punch.
Zaharn lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Li checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Zaharn throws a lazy uppercut

and Li counters by moving into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zaharn misses with a hook from the clinch.
Li pushes Zaharn back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Li lands a knee to the body.
Good body shot from Li.
Zaharn wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaharn working hard to break the clinch.
Li tries a body shot but Zaharn blocks it.
Zaharn can't find room to land a body shot as Li controls the action.
Li landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Li lands with a short shot to the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Li - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Zaharn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Li lands a shoulder strike.
Zaharn lands a nice uppercut.
Li tries a body shot but Zaharn blocks it.
Li misses with a hook to the ribs.
Li blocking some punches.
Still in the clinch, Li scores with a nice short uppercut.
Li prevents Zaharn from breaking the clinch.
A body shot lands from Li.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zaharn lands a nice uppercut.
Zaharn can't break the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Li is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Li stalling against the cage.
Zaharn misses with the head strike.
Li tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Zaharn avoids it.
Li scores with a shot to the side of Zaharn's head.
Li using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Zaharn lands a body shot in the clinch.
Li working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Zaharn avoiding damage as Li throws knees to the body.
Li blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zaharn wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Zaharn is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Zaharn is trying to break the clinch but Li has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaharn avoiding damage as Li throws knees to the body.
Li blocks a body shot from Zaharn.
Li leaning his opponent against the cage.
Li is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Zaharn is defending well for now.
Li blocking some punches.
Knees in the clinch landing for Li.
Zaharn has a couple of punches blocked by Li.
Li manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Li gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Zaharn wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Li has him pressed against the cage.
Zaharn misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaharn lands a hook that snaps the head of Li backwards.
Li lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Zaharn wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zaharn throws a punch but it's blocked by Li.
Li lands a body punch in the clinch.
Zaharn working aggressively here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zaharn is trying to break the clinch but Li has him pressed against the cage.
Zaharn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Li lands a nice knee to the body.

Zaharn breaks the clinch.
Li avoids the body shot from Zaharn.
Zaharn misses with an uppercut. Li saw that one coming.
Li connects with an inside leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Li displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zaharn throws out the jab.
Zaharn misses with a two punch combination.
Li explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Zaharn looks gassed!
Zaharn has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Li.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xiao Long Li dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ray Zaharn's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Li tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Li uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zaharn.
Zaharn rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Li moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Li connects with a solid leg kick.
A good leg kick by Li.
Li looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Li scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Li connects with an inside leg kick.
Zaharn throws a body punch but Li moves out of range.
Li chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Li fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Zaharn has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Li lands a nice leg kick that just misses Zaharn's sensitive parts.
Zaharn throws a leg kick that is checked
letting Li counter with a right hand.

Li clinches up with Zaharn and pushes him back against the cage.
Zaharn is breathing heavily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Li utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Li tries a body shot but Zaharn blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Li - that landed with a thud.
Li landing knees to the body.
Li landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Li lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Li is working Zaharn over against the cage.
Li putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Zaharn in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Li lands a body shot.
Li comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Li lands an elbow inside that Zaharn shrugs off.
Zaharn on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Li lands a knee to the body.
Li will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Zaharn up against the cage.
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!
Li tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zaharn's elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaharn wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Nice elbow from Li.
A nice right hand lands inside from Li.
Zaharn is looking to break free of the clinch but Li has double underhooks.
Li works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Li blocks a body shot from Zaharn.
Li lands a knee to the head.

That has opened up Ray Zaharn's cut even more.
Li lands a nice uppercut.
Li is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Zaharn is defending well for now.
Knees to the body from Li.
Zaharn wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zaharn tries to circle away but Li has him pinned against the cage.
Zaharn working aggressively here.
Li using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Zaharn has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Zaharn's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Li misses with a knee to the head.
Zaharn tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Li's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaharn misses with a hook from the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Li.
Zaharn is trying to break the clinch but Li is controlling him.
A shot in the inside from Zaharn.
Zaharn doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zaharn can't find room to land a body shot as Li controls the action.
Li lands an elbow that stopped Zaharn in his tracks for a moment.
Zaharn lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Zaharn can't break the clinch.
Zaharn fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Li throws a knee to the head but misses.
Zaharn is trying to break the clinch but Li is controlling him.
Li utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Zaharn tries to break free but Li pushes him back against the cage.
Zaharn tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Li's elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Li working Zaharn over with knees to the body.
Li lands a nice knee to the body.
Li lands an elbow inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Li.
A right hand to the body from Li.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Li.
Zaharn is trying to push Li away but Li has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Stalling in the clinch from Li.
Xiao Long Li has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Li lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Li missing with knees to the body.
Li cracks Zaharn with a nice body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zaharn managing to block the knees to the body from Li.
Zaharn is trying to force a seperation but Li has the dominant position.
Li taking a breather.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xiao Long Li dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ray Zaharn's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Zaharn swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zaharn misses with an uppercut.
Li on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Zaharn fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Zaharn throws a right hand that Li ducks under and follows up with a left that Li also avoids with ease.
A leg kick checked by Li.
Zaharn uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Li.
Ray Zaharn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A jab from Zaharn misses.
Li cracks Zaharn with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Zaharn thows a left - swing and a miss!
Li misses with a body shot.
Zaharn misses the shot to the body.
Zaharn lands a nice hook to Li's body. Li takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Zaharn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Li looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Zaharn misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaharn misses with a straight right.
Xiao Long Li is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Li throws a low kick but Zaharn moves out of range easily.
Li tries to clinch but Zaharn is having none of it.
A clash of legs there as Li blocks the low kick.
Li delivers a nice body kick.
Zaharn throws a leg kick
and Li counters with a slapping leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Li.
Li uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zaharn.
Li fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Li throws a quick inside leg kick.
Li moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Li.
A combination from Li does no damage.
Li thows a body kick. Zaharn tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Xiao Long Li is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Li scores with a head kick.
Li fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Zaharn.
Li moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Li staying out of range there.
Li uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zaharn.
Xiao Long Li is winning the standup battle so far.
Li moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A low kick from Zaharn is predictable there
and Li counters with a straight right hand.
Li feints and then cracks Zaharn's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Zaharn down.
Zaharn misses with a straight left.
Li moves in looking to clinch but Zaharn pushes him off.
Li chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Li misses the shot to the body.
Li lands a nice leg kick that just misses Zaharn's sensitive parts.
Li lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Li.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Li.
Li lands an uppercut.
Li lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Li is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zaharn.
Li pressing his opponent against the cage.

Zaharn manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaharn misses the shot to the body.
Zaharn walks into a straight right hand from Li.
Li moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Li uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zaharn.
A punch combination from Li misses.
Li lands with a slapping head kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zaharn. Li does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zaharn lands an overhand right.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Li - that will leave a mark!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zaharn tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ray Zaharn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Li lands a leg kick that knocks Zaharn off balance momentarily.
Zaharn misses with a hook to the body
and Li makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Zaharn throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Li looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xiao Long Li showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Frank Antenori scores the fight for Xiao Long Li!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Xiao Long Li!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Xiao Long Li!

Xiao Long Li wins by unanimous decision!
Xiao Long Li seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.