PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joshua Perez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hong Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Perez's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, It's Goin Down by T.C.. Li has chosen The Mars Volta - as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Hong Li was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Perez
vs
Li

197 cm
24
145 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

167 cm
32
119 lbs
15 - 18 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joshua Perez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 18 - 1, fighting out of New York, Hong Li!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Li closes the distance and clinches.
Li on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Perez keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Li's efforts to push away.
Perez is working for takedown but Li is calmly controlling the position for now.
Perez can't get the takedown.
With the fighters up against the cage, Perez throws an elbow but misses.

Li lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Perez missing with punches from the bottom.
Perez is trying to get back to full guard.
Li wants to pass to mount but Perez is defending the position.
Perez has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Perez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Li pulls his head out easily.

Perez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Perez is trying to control but can't.
Li prevents Perez from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perez wants to get back to full guard but Li has passed into side control.

Li decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Perez misses the shot to the body.

Perez has Li up against the cage in a clinch.
Perez utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Li wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Li leaning against his opponent.
Perez tries to pull guard but Li won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joshua Perez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Perez lands a hook that snaps the head of Li backwards.
Li blocks an elbow strike from Perez.
Li wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Perez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Li works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Perez trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Li stopping the sweep attempt from Perez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Perez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Li defends it easily.

Perez has an active guard here but Li has managed to pass into half guard.
Li wants to stand up but Perez manages to regain full guard.
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 Joshua Perez will probably get the nod.
That's time! Perez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Perez walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Li checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Perez throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Li uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Perez.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The referee is keeping an eye on Perez - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Perez swings wildly with an uppercut but Li uses good head movement to avoid it.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Li tries to break free but Perez pushes him back against the cage.
Li is trying to force a seperation but Perez has the dominant position.
Perez prevents Li from breaking the clinch.
Li wants to break the clinch but can't.
Perez lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Hong Li has been cut.
Perez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Perez throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Perez is looking to take this one to the mat.

Li manages to break the clinch.

Li has closed the distance and engaged Perez in a clinch.
Perez trying to land knees to the body.
Perez has Li pushed against the cage.
Perez misses with an elbow strike.
Perez keeps control of Li as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Perez misses with an elbow over the top.
Perez fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Li gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Perez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Perez gets back to full guard.
Hong Li has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Perez throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Li escapes and throws Perez's legs to the side, diving into side control!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Perez wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Li working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Perez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Li is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Perez is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Perez is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Li's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Perez looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Perez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

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

Li stands and steps away. Perez gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Li avoids the body shot from Perez.

Li darts in and clinches Perez up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hong Li will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Hong Li's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Li moves into the clinch.

Li breaks from the clinch.
Perez chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Perez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Li throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Li fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Perez, pushing him back against the cage.
Perez missing with knees to the body.
Li on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Perez tries a knee to the head but Li blocks it.
Perez lands a shoulder strike.
Perez missing with knees to the body.
Perez working aggressively here.
Joshua Perez has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Li throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Perez blocks it with crossed arms.
Li is trying to push Perez away but Perez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Perez jumps guard but Li turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Perez is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Li is defending well for now.
Li prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li is trying to force a seperation but Perez has the dominant position.
Perez misses with a punch on the inside.
Perez goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Li tightens his grip and picks Perez up, before dumping him to the ground. Perez manages to land in guard.
Perez lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Li!

Perez goes for an armbar but Li turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Li.
Li wants to stand but Perez is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Perez is keeping the position for now.

Perez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Li doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Li manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Perez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Li got a little sloppy there for a moment and Perez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Li has managed to get both his arms back between Perez's legs - danger averted.
Perez wants to sweep here but Li controlling him for the moment.
Perez throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Li decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Perez, up you get!
Li connects with a body shot that sends Perez's belly button to the back.

Li darts in and clinches Perez up against the cage.
Come on Perez - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Li has had enough of the clinch but Perez keeps him there for the moment.
Li blocking some punches.
Li wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Li wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Perez has him pressed against the cage.
Perez tries to land knees in the clinch but Li avoids the damage to the body.
Li has had enough of the clinch but Perez keeps him there for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Li has clasped his hands together around Perez's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Perez manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Perez is pressing down on Li's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Hong Li.
I think Li has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Hong Li!
An out of breath and clearly excited Hong Li thanked Milwaukee's Best Nutrition for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).