PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hong Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabricio Valesquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Li might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to The Mars Volta - . Valesquez comes into a darkened arena with his song building. "Ratamahatta" by Sepultura kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Li
vs
Valesquez

167 cm
30
119 lbs
15 - 14 - 1

167 cm
39
142 lbs
26 - 18 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 15 - 14 - 1, fighting out of New York, Hong Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 18 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fabricio Valesquez!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Matheus Silva and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Li throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hong Li seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Li has closed the distance and engaged Valesquez in a clinch.

Valesquez jumps guard.

Li stands up from guard. Let's bang!
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Valesquez has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Li throws a body kick that misses.
Li chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Li tries to clinch there but Valesquez circles away.
Valesquez wants to slow Li down by chopping away at his legs.
Valesquez tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Li defends well and Valesquez ends up having to push Li into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Li stops a takedown attempt from Valesquez.
Valesquez jumps guard but Li turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Hong Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabricio Valesquez.
A frustrated look appears on Li's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Valesquez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Li gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Li works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Valesquez wants to improve his position but instead Li has moved into half guard.
Valesquez is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valesquez is still trying to improve position.

Li seems to be working for a kimura but Valesquez defends the submission attempt.
Valesquez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Valesquez is pressing down on Li's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Valesquez has an active guard here but Li has managed to pass into half guard.
Valesquez works his way to full guard. Good work.
Li has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Valesquez working for a triangle but Li defends it easily.

Li has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Valesquez to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Li is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Valesquez pulls down on the head and he's put Li to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:25 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Fabricio Valesquez!