PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Lashley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Freddy Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Li has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lashley
vs
Li

190 cm
27
260 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

175 cm
19
230 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bobby Lashley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Freddy Li!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lashley feints and as Li raises his hands in defense, Lashley changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Li preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lashley postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Li keeping full guard, as Lashley tries to pass.
Li is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lashley throws an elbow that misses. Li uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lashley's guard. Nice move by Li!
Li prevents Lashley from getting back to his feet.
Lashley knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Li on the ground.
Li won't allow Lashley to sweep him here.
Lashley is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Li is controlling him.
Li is working Lashley over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lashley throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Li wants to control from the top but Lashley keeps moving.

Lashley looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Li tries to free his leg and advance position but Lashley is retaining full guard.
Li won't allow Lashley to get back to his feet.
Li stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lashley swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lashley has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Li is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Lashley.
Lashley tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Li presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Lashley squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Lashley on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Lashley tries to get out of the position.
Lashley is in all sorts of trouble here.
Li looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Li putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lashley tries to hold on but Li postures up.
Lashley is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Lashley tries to lock up and control but Li gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Li jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Lashley manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Li looks gassed!
Li lands a nice forearm strike.
Lashley tries to escape but Li is in control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Lashley's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Li tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Lashley is not content to let Li control the position.
Li misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Freddy Li will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lashley tries to clinch there but Li circles away.
The fighters circling - Li throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Lashley has taken the fight to the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Lashley as the two fighters clinch.

Lashley decides to pull guard.
Lashley trying to control the position.
Lashley trying to strike off his back.

Lashley throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Li preventing the sweep.
Li is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lashley is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Li is controlling him.
Li stopping the sweep attempt from Lashley.
Lashley working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Li.

Li avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Li trying to control the position from guard on top but Lashley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lashley is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Lashley has an active guard here but Li has managed to pass into half guard.
Li wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lashley keeps working.
Lashley tries to kick Li off but Li keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lashley is looking for a sweep. Li is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Li is looking to take a break and control but Lashley is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bobby Lashley overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lashley trying to control but Li postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lashley is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Lashley is holding on to half guard well.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Bobby Lashley just wasn't active enough.
Lashley works over Li's head and body with a nice combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lashley wants to clinch but Li slips to the side
and Li counters with a series of strikes. Lashley will be more careful next time no doubt.
Li throws a hook to the side of Lashley's head but Lashley sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lashley throws an overhand right that lands on Li's shoulder, as Li tries to avoid the shot.
Lashley tries to close the distance and clinch but Li swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lashley leaves Li with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Lashley shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Lashley showed some decent athleticism there.
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!
Lashley is keen to just control but Li is a slippery customer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Lashley connects with a nice short shot to Li's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Lashley dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Lashley misses with a few strikes there.
Bobby Lashley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Lashley shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Lashley looking to sit in guard and control but Li gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Lashley working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Li.
Lashley is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Lashley looking to control but Li passes into half guard.
Li wants to pass to mount but Lashley is defending the position.
Li takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Li prevents Lashley from improving his position.
Lashley trying to control from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Bobby Lashley.

Lashley closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Li did well to prevent Lashley getting side control.
Lashley will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Li has one foot on Lashley's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Lashley throws a body kick that misses.

Li tries to keep at a distance but Lashley has taken the fight into the clinch.
Lashley lands a right hand.
Li tries for a takedown but Lashley manages to get underhooks.
Lashley stalling the fight.
Li is trying to push Lashley away but Lashley has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Lashley's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lashley goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Li gets caught flat footed, as Lashley shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lashley is in close to Li's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Li looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Lashley is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Lashley scoring with punches to the head and body.
Lashley trying to control but Li is working from the bottom.

Lashley avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Lashley working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Li's head.
Lashley has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lashley is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Li looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lashley looking to pass the guard.
Li keeping moving, preventing Lashley from controlling successfully.
Lashley slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lashley lands a nice forearm strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bobby Lashley showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lashley 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bobby Lashley!