PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Xiao Long Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lawrence Trainor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Li kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Dragon Punch!. The crowd seem to be enjoying Trainor's choice of entrance music: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Long Li
vs
Trainor

172 cm
31
150 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

175 cm
23
135 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 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 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lawrence Trainor!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A decent looking body kick lands there for Trainor.
Trainor tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Li manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Li throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Lawrence Trainor has been cut.
Xiao Long Li seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Li misses with a head kick.
Li misses with a head kick.
Li fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Trainor tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Li swivels and escapes.
Trainor tries to clinch but Li moves out of range.
Li moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Trainor is looking to clinch.
Li throws a nice head kick!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Trainor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Li.
Trainor will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Li throws a body punch but Trainor moves out of range.
Trainor keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Li misses with a straight left.

Trainor has managed to clinch.
Trainor lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Xiao Long Li has been cut.
Li avoiding damage as Trainor throws knees to the body.
Li avoiding damage as Trainor throws knees to the body.
Li misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Trainor using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Li has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Li tries to work over Trainor's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Trainor tries to pull guard but Li won't allow it.
Xiao Long Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lawrence Trainor.
Li managing to block the knees to the body from Trainor.
Trainor blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li managing to block the knees to the body from Trainor.
Trainor throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Li blocks it with crossed arms.
Li trying to stall but Trainor improves his position.
Trainor tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Li avoids it.
Li tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Trainor tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Trainor looking to throw knees to the head but Li is blocking nicely.
Trainor looking to throw knees to the head but Li is blocking nicely.
Trainor looking to throw knees to the head but Li is blocking nicely.
Trainor misses with a knee strike.
Trainor using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Li misses with a body punch.
Li lands a body punch in the clinch.
Li misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Trainor.
Li managing to block the knees to the body from Trainor.
Trainor tries to land knees in the clinch but Li avoids the damage to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Trainor using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Li has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trainor lands a nice knee to the body.
Trainor misses with a knee strike.
Li controlling the action here for a moment.
Li tries to land knees in the clinch but Trainor avoids the damage to the body.
Trainor tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Trainor throws a knee to the head but misses.
Li avoiding damage as Trainor throws knees to the body.
Li effectively controlling the action here.

Li pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Trainor dives in and grabs Li's left leg, looking for a takedown. Li pushes down on Trainor's head and hops out.
Li pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Trainor blocks a head kick by Li.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Trainor tries to score a power double leg takedown but Li sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Trainor somewhat.
Li misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Li tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Trainor is able to avoid easily.
Trainor moves out of range of the body kick.
Trainor checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Trainor shoots in for a takedown but Li shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Li throws a leg kick

so Trainor counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Li has his hands on Trainor's head, controlling the position.
Trainor is looking to work some ground and pound but Li has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Xiao Long Li will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Li throws a head kick that misses.
A low kick from Li is predictable there
and Trainor counters with a head kick.
Trainor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Trainor tries to clinch up.
Li shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Li throws a front kick aimed at Trainor's knee but Trainor avoids it well.
Li throws a good cross that connects.
Trainor slips a straight right by Li.
Trainor checks a leg kick nicely.
Trainor checks a low kick from Li.
Li throws a head kick that misses
and Trainor counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Li is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trainor fails with a takedown attempt.
Li throws a head kick that misses

and Trainor counters with a nice double leg into side control. Li won't be happy with that.
Li is looking to reverse the position.

Trainor thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Li wants to control but Trainor postures up.
An elbow from Trainor crashes against the mat.
Trainor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Li keeps working.
Trainor remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Li is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trainor is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Li looking for submissions off his back.
Trainor trying to control from Li's half guard. Li has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Trainor wants to control from the top but Li keeps moving.
Trainor would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trainor trying to control the position from guard on top but Li is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Trainor is in close to Li's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Trainor postures up.

Trainor stands up and waves to Li to follow him.
Li keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Xiao Long Li is winning the standup battle so far.
Li throws a low kick, looking for Trainor's leg but Trainor calmly moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Trainor.
Xiao Long Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lawrence Trainor.
Li lands a body shot.
Li throws a low kick but it's checked well by Trainor.
Li attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Trainor shoots in but no luck this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Li gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Trainor to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Trainor wants to control from the top but Li keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lawrence Trainor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Li is looking to chop away at Trainor's legs.
Li tries to land a leg kick but Trainor saw it coming and moves away.

Li gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Trainor drops back, looking for a kneebar! Li looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Li looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Li!
Li is looking to take a break and control but Trainor is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li is working Trainor over with some ground and pound from side control.
Trainor can't do much from the bottom here.
Trainor pushes Li away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Li gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Trainor is looking for a sweep.
Li trying to control the position but Trainor is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li looks up at the clock and then as Trainor takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Li smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Trainor manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Li gets full guard.
Trainor is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Trainor trying to control but Li is working from the bottom.
Trainor postures up in Li's guard and throws a big left but Li blocks it.
Trainor trying to control the position from guard on top but Li is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Li is adopting a defensive guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Li has his foot on Trainor's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Trainor works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trainor wants to control from the top but Li keeps moving.

Li throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Trainor trying to control but Li is working from the bottom.
Li looking for a sweep. Not yet Li, not yet.
Lawrence Trainor has got the better of the ground game so far.
Trainor trying to control the position from guard on top but Li is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Lawrence Trainor wasn't active enough on the ground.

Trainor has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Trainor misses with a knee to the head.
Trainor missing with knees to the body.
Trainor using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Li has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Li lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Li lands with a short shot to the head.
Trainor lands a knee to the head.
Trainor tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Li avoids it.
Li pushes off an throws an elbow but Trainor leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Trainor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Trainor takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Li lands an elbow inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Trainor throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Li blocks it with crossed arms.
Li is leaning against Trainor and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Li lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Trainor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Trainor avoiding damage as Li throws knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Xiao Long Li did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Li misses with a wild body shot.
Li throws a lazy head kick

and Trainor counters with a takedown into side control.
Trainor throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Trainor stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Trainor avoids a kick to the body.
Li is looking to land body kicks.
Trainor fails with a takedown attempt.
Li misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trainor checks a leg kick nicely.

Trainor moves into the clinch successfully.
Trainor using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Li has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Trainor tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Li tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Trainor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Trainor with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Trainor is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Li.
Li softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Trainor throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Li blocks it with crossed arms.
Li is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Lawrence Trainor seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Li struggles to land a body shot inside as Trainor controls his hands.
Li creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Trainor scores a nice knee to the body.
Trainor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Trainor throws a knee to the head but misses.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Trainor. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trainor jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Li walks away with a smile on his face. Trainor gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Good exchange - Li coming out on top.
Li misses with a body shot.
Li tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Li is looking to wear down Trainor with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
A head kick by Li misses

and Trainor holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Li tries a body shot but Trainor blocks it.
Trainor tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Trainor avoiding damage as Li throws knees to the body.
Li throws an elbow but it misses.
Li trying to land knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Li lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short left from Trainor.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trainor tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Trainor connects with a nasty looking knee right to Li's face.
Li tries to land knees in the clinch but Trainor avoids the damage to the body.
Li tries a body shot but Trainor blocks it.
Trainor throws a knee to the head but misses.
Trainor tries to land a knee to the head but Li blocks with his arms.
Trainor using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Li has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Trainor misses with a punch on the inside.
Li is trying to stall.
Trainor tries to pull guard but Li holds him up against the cage and eventually Trainor drops back down to his feet.
Xiao Long Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lawrence Trainor.
Trainor jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Li walks away with a smile on his face. Trainor gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Li throws a leg kick

and Trainor counters with a shoot takedown. Li fights it but they end up in guard.

Li is looking for a triangle but Trainor pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Li has his foot on Trainor's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Trainor works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Trainor avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Trainor wants to control from the top but Li keeps moving.
Li trying to keep a closed guard but Trainor is proving a slippery customer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Trainor controls from within his opponent's guard.
Trainor lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lawrence Trainor dominated that fourth round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Li throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Li misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Trainor checks a leg kick.
Li misses with a body kick.
Trainor tries to clinch but Li is having none of it.
Li misses with a low kick.
Li jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Li throws a half hearted mid kick.
Li throws a leg kick

and Trainor counters with a takedown into side control.
Trainor working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Trainor looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The ground and pound from Trainor seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Trainor trying to control the position but Li is working away.
Li manages to work his way to half guard, despite Trainor's best efforts.

Trainor thows an elbow strike that misses. Li gets hold of full guard and has managed to get a loose guillotine attempt. Trainor doesn't seem too bothered but Li quickly shifts his position and has tightened the hold! Trainor is in big trouble now - he's going a funny colour - he's tapping out! Nice finish there! Trainor really should have spotted the danger earlier though... either incompetence or over-confidence has resulted in a big L on his record.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Xiao Long Li!
A victorious Xiao Long Li thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.