PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Brus Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Redban (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Li comes to the ring accompanied by Blue Bob - Go Get Some. Redban has chosen M83 - Midnight City as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Li
vs
Redban

165 cm
26
147 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

171 cm
24
143 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Experienced

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $150

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Brus Li!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Brian Redban!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Daniel Blasius and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
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.
Redban throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Li's waist but Li gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Redban off to one side.
Redban bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Li's head.
Redban keeps the fight on the outside.
The fight stays on the outside here - Li looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch but Redban swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Redban swats away the attempt to clinch by Li.
Li wants to clinch up but Redban keeps it at a distance.

Li closes the distance and pushes Redban back into the ropes.
Redban blocks an elbow strike.
Li throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Li looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Li has a couple of punches blocked by Redban.
Redban blocks an elbow strike.
Li fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Li misses with a hook from the clinch.
Redban lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Li backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Redban's efforts to push away.
Li throws an elbow that misses.
Li pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Li pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.

Redban manages to break the clinch.
Redban throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Li on the side of the head.
Li is looking to clinch but Redban is avoiding it.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch up but Redban swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Redban tries to land a leg kick but Li saw it coming and moves away.
Li is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Li is looking to clinch.
Li tries to clinch up.

Redban closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Li did well to prevent Redban getting side control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Redban is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Li is just riding it out for now. Redban eventually gives up the hold.

Redban is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Redban trying to control from half guard but Li is working away.
Li is looking for a sweep. Redban is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Redban passes the guard and advances to mount!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Li tries to reverse the position but Redban maintains control.

Redban looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Li gets back to half guard.

Li looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Redban is keen to just control but Li is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Redban frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Li manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Li is defending against the submission attempts here by Redban.
Li tries to kick Redban off but Redban keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Li is staying active underneath Redban, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Redban is looking for a kimura but Li is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Redban to get the leverage.

Redban is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Li keeping hold of Redban's head, controlling as best he can.
Redban is thwarting Li's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li is trying to stand back up but Redban is controlling him

Redban is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Li doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Redban.

Redban wants to work for an arm triangle but Li is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Li wants to control but Redban is keeping busy.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Redban is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Li wants to improve his position but Redban is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Brian Redban will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Li tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Li wants to clinch.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch up but Redban swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Redban throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Li's head.
Redban misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Li.
Redban lands with a straight right. Li didn't see that one coming.
Redban shoots in looking for a takedown. Li tries to sprawl out of it but Redban keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Li manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch up but Redban swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Redban paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Redban gets tackled into the ropes by Li. Li maintains the clinch.
Li has a couple of punches blocked by Redban.
Redban is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Redban dodges an elbow strike from Li.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li misses with an elbow strike.
Li misses with an elbow over the top.

Redban's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Li takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Redban misses with a body shot.
Redban connects with a nice looking jab.
Redban throws out a loose jab but Li uses good head movement to avoid it.
Redban looks for a takedown but Li sprawls well.
Li tries to clinch but Redban moves out of range.
Redban lands a lovely overhand right.
Li wants to clinch.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch up but Redban swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Li looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Redban throws a low kick but it's checked well by Li.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li is looking to clinch but Redban is avoiding it.
Li is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Li is looking to clinch.
Redban swats away the attempt to clinch by Li.
Redban keeps the fight on the outside.
Brus Li is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Li gets a clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Li.

It looks like Brian Redban has been cut.
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 creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Li tries a knee to the head but Redban blocks it.
Redban avoids a wild elbow strike from Li.
Li throws an elbow that misses.

Redban breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Li tries to clinch but Redban moves away
and Redban finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Redban. That snapped Li's head back.
Redban shoots in for a takedown but Li shows good takedown defense.
Brus Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brian Redban.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Redban falls off balance throwing a combination

and Li counters by moving into the clinch.
Li misses with the head strike.

Redban breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Li wants to clinch up but Redban keeps it at a distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Redban is defended easily by Li.
Redban has a takedown stuffed.
Redban chopping away at his opponent's legs.
The fight stays on the outside here - Li looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Li staying out of range there.
Li tries to clinch but Redban moves out of range.
Li wants to clinch up but Redban keeps it at a distance.
Li tries to clinch but Redban is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Redban tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Li swivels and escapes.
Li is looking to clinch.
Li tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Redban connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Redban feints and then cracks Li's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Li down.
Li tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Redban manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Redban tries a head kick but it misses.
Jab from Redban.
Brus Li is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Redban fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Li checks it well.
Li is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Li avoids the body shot from Redban.
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!
Redban avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Redban swings for the body but Li moves out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Li wants to clinch up but Redban keeps it at a distance.
Redban chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Li fails in his attempt to clinch.
Brus Li seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Li looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
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 Brus Li will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Brian Redban's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Li tries to clinch up but Redban circles away and keeps his distance.
No luck for Redban with that takedown attempt.
Li tries to clinch but Redban moves out of range.
Li wants to clinch up but Redban keeps it at a distance.

Li takes the fight into the clinch.
Li throws a knee to the head but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Li just misses with a elbow thrown towards Redban's brow.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Li just misses with a elbow thrown towards Redban's brow.
Li pushes off an throws an elbow but Redban leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Redban is trying to break the clinch but Li has him pressed against the ropes.
Redban blocking some punches.
Li misses with a short punch on the inside.
Li prevents Redban from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Redban's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Li fails to land.
Redban is working for takedown but Li is calmly controlling the position for now.
Redban wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Redban looking for a takedown.
Brus Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brian Redban.
Li tries a knee to the head but Redban blocks it.
Li has a couple of punches blocked by Redban.

Redban breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Li tries to clinch but Redban moves out of range.
Redban lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A swing and a miss from Redban.
A jab from Redban misses.
Li wants to clinch up but Redban keeps it at a distance.

Li darts in and clinches Redban up against the ropes.
Li misses with a punch on the inside.
Redban blocks an elbow strike from Li.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Li fails to land.
Li throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Li as Redban tries to tie him up.
Li throws an elbow that misses.
Redban is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Li throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Redbans head.
Li tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Li throws an elbow that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Li misses with a short punch on the inside.
Li tries a knee to the head but Redban blocks it.
Redban blocks an elbow strike from Li.
Redban can't break the clinch.
Li pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li lands an elbow inside that Redban shrugs off.
Redban is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Li lands with a left to the head.
Li lands an elbow just above Redban 's eye.
Redban is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Li is keeping busy.
Redban working hard to break the clinch.
Redban is trying to break free.
Redban is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Li looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Li throws an elbow but it misses.
Li lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Redban backwards.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Li.
Redban just leaning against Li, taking a breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Li.
Li pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Li pushes off an throws an elbow but Redban leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Li tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Li throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Li pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Redban blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Redban looking to slow down the pace here.
Li doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Li.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Li tries to land a knee to the head but Redban blocks with his arms.
Redban blocks the elbow strike.
Redban blocks an elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brus Li clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Brian Redban's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

A nice leg kick lands there from Redban.
Redban fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Redban circles away from the clinch attempt
and Redban counters with a one-two to the body.
Redban with a hook.
Li wants to clinch
and Redban counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Li is looking to clinch but Redban is avoiding it.
Redban wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Redban dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Redban throws a lazy right hand but Li sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Redban, as that shot connected.
Li tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Redban manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Li wants to clinch up but Redban keeps it at a distance.
Redban throws a leg kick but Li sees it coming and moves out of range.
Redban fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Li avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch but Redban swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Li doesn't manage to clinch there - Redban circles away.
Redban bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Li's head.
Li tries to clinch but Redban moves out of range.
Redban circles away from the clinch attempt.
Li is looking to clinch.
Li tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Redban makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Li really felt that one!
Redban swats away the attempt to clinch by Li.
Redban has a takedown stuffed.
Brus Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brian Redban.
Li tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch but Redban swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li looks to clinch
and Redban connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch but Redban swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Redban keeps the fight on the outside.
Li uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Redban.
Li wants to clinch.
Li is looking to clinch.
Li tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Li tries to clinch up but Redban circles away and keeps his distance.
Li tries to clinch but Redban is having none of it.
Brian Redban seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Li looks to clinch
letting Redban counter with a right hand.
Redban lands with a thumping leg kick.
Li tries to clinch but Redban moves out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Redban lands a right hook to the body.
Li is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Li doesn't manage to clinch there - Redban circles away.
Redban stuns Li with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Li tries to clinch but Redban is having none of it.
Li tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Li tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Redban manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Redban shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Li wants to clinch up but Redban keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Li looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Li wants to clinch
and Redban counters with an inside leg kick.
Li tries to clinch up but Redban circles away and keeps his distance.
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.
Li tries to clinch but Redban moves out of range.
Redban swats away the attempt to clinch by Li.
Li closes the distance looking to clinch

and Redban counters with a single leg into guard. Li didn't expect that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Redban trying to control but Li is working from the bottom.

Redban drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Redban jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Li keeping moving, preventing Redban from controlling successfully.
Li not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Li looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Li not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Redban wants to control from the top but Li keeps moving.

Li looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Redban looking to sit in guard and control but Li gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Li stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Redban swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Brian Redban will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Brian Redban's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Li keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Redban thows a body kick. Li tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Li darts in trying to clinch
and Redban counters with a straight right hand.

Redban feints and as Li raises his hands in defense, Redban changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Redban pushes down on Li's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Li moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Redban controlling from the top position.
Li is trying to keep Redban in close.
Redban preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Redban tries to free his leg and advance position but Li is retaining full guard.
Li being controlled here, momentarily.
Redban trying to control the position from guard on top but Li is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Li looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Redban lands a glancing blow to the side of Li's head.
Li wants to clinch.
Li tries to clinch up but Redban circles away and keeps his distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Redban is defended easily by Li.
Redban swats away the attempt to clinch by Li.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li slips under a jab.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Redban.
Brus Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brian Redban.
Li tries to clinch there but Redban circles away.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch up but Redban swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Li doesn't manage to clinch there - Redban circles away.
Li tries to clinch but Redban is having none of it.
Redban throws a right and a left that Li avoids nicely.
Li doesn't manage to clinch there - Redban circles away.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Redban paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Li closes the distance but Redban moves to the side
and Redban counters with a stiff right hand.
Li tries to clinch
enabling Redban to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Li fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Redban, pushing him back against the ropes.
Li pushes off an throws an elbow but Redban leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Li with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Li lands an elbow inside that Redban shrugs off.
Li throws a head punch that misses.
Li is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Li throws a head punch that misses.
Li throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Li fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Li keeps control of Redban as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Redban has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Li is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Li.
Li misses with an elbow strike.
Redban blocks an uppercut.
Redban wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li lands a shoulder strike.
Li misses with a punch on the inside.
Redban blocks an elbow strike from Li.

Redban escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Li tries to clinch up but Redban circles away and keeps his distance.
Li doesn't manage to clinch there - Redban circles away.

Li instigates a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Redban blocks an uppercut.
Redban is trying to push Li away but Li has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Redban is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Li is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Li prevents Redban from breaking the clinch.

Redban escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Li fails with an attempt to clinch.

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 Brus Li.
I think Li 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 48:48
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 48:47
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Brus Li!
Brus Li retains his bantamweight title!