PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gaara Ryusan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hong Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Li is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by The Mars Volta - . 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.

Ryusan
vs
Li

165 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

167 cm
29
119 lbs
11 - 12 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gaara Ryusan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 12 - 1, fighting out of New York, Hong Li!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Lou da Vinci and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ryusan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Li darts in and clinches Ryusan up against the cage.

Li breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A slapping body kick lands there for Li.
A head kick from Li lands but Ryusan takes it in his stride.
Ryusan swinging wildly here.
Li buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Li throws a leg kick which misses Ryusan's front leg but catches the back leg as Ryusan tries to avoid it.
Ryusan throws a jab but it's blocked by Li.
Ryusan moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Li connects with a high kick.

It looks like Gaara Ryusan has been cut.
Ryusan slips a jab and a cross from Li.
Ryusan tries to bum rush Li with a series of wild strikes but Li uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ryusan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Li swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ryusan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Li paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ryusan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Li circles away quickly and effectively.
Ryusan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Li.

Li gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Li breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Li throws a head kick that Ryusan semi-blocks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryusan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Li is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Li throws a head kick but Ryusan moves out of range.

Li moves into the clinch successfully.
Ryusan is trying to push Li away but Li has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Ryusan tries to break free but Li pushes him back against the cage.

Li escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ryusan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Li.
Li cracks Ryusan with an open hand slap.
Ryusan fails in his attempt to clinch.

Li clinches up with Ryusan and pushes him back against the cage.

Li lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Li seems to be looking for submissions.
Li works his foot free and advances to mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Li gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryusan wants to clinch up but Li keeps it at a distance.
Ryusan throws a hook but Li blocks it.
Ryusan throws a hook but Li avoids it easily.
Li chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Li moves into range and clinches up with Ryusan.
Ryusan is trying to break the clinch but Li has him pressed against the cage.
Ryusan has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ryusan wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Li breaks from the clinch.
Ryusan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Li swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A punch combination from Li misses.

Li closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryusan can't break the clinch.
Li has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ryusan avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Li manages to break the clinch.
Hong Li seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Li lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Li circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ryusan 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 feints and then cracks Ryusan's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Ryusan down.
Ryusan thows a body shot but no joy.
Ryusan tries to clinch up but Li circles away and keeps his distance.
Ryusan 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 connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Ryusan throws a right and a left that Li avoids nicely.
A head kick misses from Li.
Nice jab there from Ryusan.
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!
A punch combination from Ryusan misses.
Ryusan is breathing heavily.
Ryusan is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Li.

Li fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ryusan, pushing him back against the cage.
Ryusan wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li has Ryusan pressed against the cage, preventing Ryusan from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The referee calls for Li to work.
Ryusan is trying to push Li away but Li has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Ryusan is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ryusan is trying to break the clinch but Li is controlling him.
Ryusan misses with a punch on the inside.
Stalling in the clinch from Li.
Ryusan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Li has him pressed against the cage.
Li is looking for a takedown.

Li pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Li.
Ryusan slips a jab and a cross from Li.

Li closes the distance and pushes Ryusan back into the cage.

Li breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Li closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hong Li dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gaara Ryusan's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ryusan tries to clinch but Li moves out of range.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Li. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Ryusan throws a right and a left that Li avoids nicely.
Ryusan swinging wildly here.

Li rushes Ryusan and presses him up against the cage.

Li breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sloppy strikes from Ryusan. Those never looked like landing.
Li lands a high kick!

Li rushes Ryusan and presses him up against the cage.
Li blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ryusan prevents the takedown attempt.
Ryusan is trying to break free.
A frustrated look appears on Ryusan's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Li stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Ryusan fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ryusan wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryusan is trying to push Li away but Li has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Li changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ryusan fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Li has Ryusan up against the cage in a clinch.
Ryusan tries to circle away but Li has him pinned against the cage.
Li keeps control of Ryusan as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ryusan throws a punch but it's blocked by Li.
Li lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Li escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ryusan fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ryusan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Li scores with a leg kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A head punch on the inside from Ryusan fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Li tightens his grip and picks Ryusan up, before dumping him to the ground. Ryusan manages to land in guard.
Ryusan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Ryusan is working an open guard so Li takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!
Ryusan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Li.

Li fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ryusan, pushing him back against the cage.

Li breaks from the clinch.

Li moves into the clinch.
Ryusan is trying to break free.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Li.
Ryusan tries to circle away but Li has him pinned against the cage.
Ryusan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Li has him pressed against the cage.
Ryusan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Li has him pressed against the cage.
Li using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Ryusan tries to circle away but Li has him pinned against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryusan is trying to break the clinch but Li is controlling him.
Knees to the body from Li.
Ryusan is trying to break free.
Ryusan wants to break free but Li has control.

Li escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ryusan wants to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ryusan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
No joy there for Ryusan, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Li closes the distance and clinches.
Ryusan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Li scores with a knee to the head.
Hong Li seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Ryusan is trying to push Li away but Li has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Li lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ryusan wants to break the clinch but can't.

Li turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Li looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Li stands up and we're back to a striking position.
An inside leg kick lands from Li.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Li in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Li gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ryusan is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Li manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hong Li showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gaara Ryusan's cut.
That's time! Ryusan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Li lands the left hand.

Li gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Li manages to break the clinch.
The fighters circling - Ryusan throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Li closes the distance and clinches.
Ryusan misses with a short punch on the inside.
Li keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ryusan's efforts to push away.
Ryusan is trying to break the clinch but Li has him pressed against the cage.

Li escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Some wild striking there from Ryusan.
Ryusan fails to land with a series of punches.
Nice straight punches there by Li. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Li.
Li lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Li bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Li buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ryusan takes a swing at Li's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryusan tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Li moves into the clinch.
Ryusan swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Li pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Li rushes Ryusan and presses him up against the cage.
Ryusan working hard to break the clinch.

Li breaks the clinch.

Li gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ryusan taking a breather.
Ryusan is looking to break free of the clinch but Li has double underhooks.

Li breaks from the clinch.
Ryusan is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Ryusan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Li moves into the clinch successfully.

Li turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Li tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Ryusan knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Li on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryusan is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Li asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Li has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Ryusan takes a kick to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryusan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ryusan steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Li. That one must have hurt.

Li gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Li scores with a knee to the head.

Li escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Li moves into range and clinches up with Ryusan.
Ryusan can't break the clinch.
Hong Li is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ryusan working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Li breaks from the clinch.
Ryusan moves in looking to clinch but Li pushes him off.

Li forces Ryusan back against the cage and clinches.
Ryusan has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ryusan is trying to push Li away but Li has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Li breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ryusan misses with a double jab.

Li moves into the clinch.
Ryusan has had enough of the clinch but Li keeps him there for the moment.
Li goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ryusan prevents it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ryusan is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Li's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hong Li seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Li lands a head kick. Ryusan smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Li connects with a high kick.

Li closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ryusan gets underhooks to prevent Li's takedown attempt.
Gaara Ryusan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hong Li.
Ryusan wants to get back to striking at distance but Li won't allow it.
Gaara Ryusan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ryusan is trying to push Li away but Li has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hong Li comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Li has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hong Li!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Hong Li waved his t-shirt featuring xXx - Voodoo Labs - MONEY LAUNDER's logo in front of the cameras.