PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Xiao Long Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Tucker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Li kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Dragon Punch!. Tom Tucker told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Long Li
vs
Tucker

172 cm
38
150 lbs
26 - 19 - 0

178 cm
34
157 lbs
19 - 22 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Bloodlust Horde Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Xiao Long Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 22 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tom Tucker!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Li is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tucker.
Li wants to clinch up but Tucker keeps it at a distance.
Tucker waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Li.
Tucker misses with a wild body shot.
Nice shot lands for Li.
Li misses with a body shot
and Tucker counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Li scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Tucker takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Li scoring well with a low kick there.
Tucker throws a body punch but Li moves out of range.
Li throws a low kick but it's checked well by Tucker.
Tucker blocks a low kick nicely.
Li avoids the body shot from Tucker.
Li fails with an attempt to clinch.
Li lands with a kick to the ribs.
Li throws a leg kick that is checked
and Tucker counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Li thinking.
Tucker bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
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!
Tucker moves out of range of the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tucker lands a nice shot that snaps Li's head back.
Crunch! Li slams his shin into Tucker's torso.
Tucker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Li was well out of range. Poor timing from Tucker.
Tucker is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Li rather than just go for the knockout.
Tucker on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A big right from Li misses.
Li connects with a body shot that sends Tucker's belly button to the back.
Tucker lands with a right hand.
Li throws a solid leg kick but Tucker takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Li.
Li feints and then cracks Tucker's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Tucker down.
Li throws a chopping leg kick but Tucker manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Li thows a body shot but no joy.
Tucker misses with a jab to the body

and Li counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Tucker fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tucker misses with a short punch on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Tucker gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Li regains guard.
Tucker trying to control the position from guard on top but Li is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tucker avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Li has his foot on Tucker's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tucker works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tucker trying to control but Li is working from the bottom.
Tucker wants to pass the guard but Li is keeping the position.

Tucker got a little sloppy there for a moment and Li has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tucker has managed to get both his arms back between Li's legs - danger averted.
Tucker throws a big elbow that misses.
Li has Tucker pulled in close to control his posture.
Tucker pushes down on Li's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Tucker seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Li does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Tucker seems content to control.

Tom Tucker has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Tucker fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Li looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Tucker slips under a jab from Li.

Li forces Tucker back against the cage and clinches.
Li blocks a body shot from Tucker.
Li lands a right hand.

Tucker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Li connects with a body shot.
Tucker avoids the head kick by Li.
Tucker uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Li.
Tucker throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Li sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tom Tucker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Li throws a low kick but Tucker avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li throws a body kick that misses.
Li uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tucker.
Tucker's jab looks to have found its range, popping Li under the eye.
Li on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
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 connects with a leg kick. Tucker looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Li misses with a head kick.
Li looks to score with a jab to the body but Tucker is just out of range.
Li lands a body shot.
Li thumps Tucker with a low kick.
Li tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tucker was well out of range. Poor timing from Li.
Li on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tucker throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Li counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Li.
Tucker lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Li or not.
Li tries a body shot but Tucker blocks it.
Tucker softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
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 Xiao Long Li will probably get the nod.
That's time! Li's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tucker slips under a jab.
Li throws a nice outside leg kick.
Tucker uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Li.
Li slips a straight right by Tucker.
Li dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tucker tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Li is able to avoid easily.
Li walks into a left hand.
Li throws a nice inside leg kick.
Li is looking to slow Tucker down with leg kicks.
Tucker lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Li at a distance.
Li takes a swing at Tucker's ribcage but misses.
Li connects with a leg kick. Tucker looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Tucker just misses with a punch to the body.
Tucker lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Tucker connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Li momentarily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Li connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Li there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Tucker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Li was well out of range. Poor timing from Tucker.
Tucker uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Li has time to react.
Tucker scores with a decent looking hook.
Tucker just misses with a punch to the body.
Tucker misses with a body shot.
Li wants to slow Tucker down by chopping away at his legs.
Li misses the jab.
Li looks to land a body kick but Tucker moved away.
Li thuds a left hand into Tucker's body.
Tucker takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Tucker throws a hook to the side of Li's head but Li sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Li uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tucker.
A slapping body kick lands there for Li.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li connects with an inside leg kick.
Tucker scores with a jab. Li acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A slow jab from Li misses its intended target.

Li has closed the distance and engaged Tucker in a clinch.
A hook to the body from Li.
Li lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Tucker.
Tucker is breathing heavily.
Li misses with a body punch.
Li is pressed up against the cage. Tucker has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Li down to the mat. Li avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Tucker lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Li avoids the body shot from Tucker.
Tucker fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Li manages to avoid it.
Tucker misses with a straight left.
Tucker thows a body shot but no joy.
Li takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Tucker lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Li has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Li and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

Li has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li crunches a lovely knee into Tucker's ribcage.
A right handed body shot lands from Li.
Knees to the body from Li.
Li scores with a hook to the body.
Li lands a shot to the body.
Li lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A right handed body shot lands from Li.
Tucker blocks a body shot from Li.
Li connects with a knee to the head.
Li connects with a nasty looking knee right to Tucker's face.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Li throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Li lands a hook to the side of the head.
Li scores a nice knee to the body.
Li lands a good knee to the midsection. Tucker won't want to take too many of those.
A short uppercut from Li.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Li.
Li lands with a light punch inside.
Li lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Li jumps into guard, dragging Tucker to the mat.
Tucker postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tucker showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Tucker missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Li manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tucker manages to get himself to full guard.
Li is in close to Tucker's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Li not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Tucker looking to hit a scissor sweep but Li is one step ahead there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Li trying to control but Tucker is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xiao Long Li dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Li slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Li fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Tucker has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Li swinging wildly here.
Tucker misses the jab.
Tucker throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Li looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Tucker's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Tucker fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Li scoring well with a low kick there.
Tucker throws a leg kick that misses.
Tucker tries to land a leg kick but Li saw it coming and moves away.
A chopping leg kick lands by Li.
Li avoids the body shot from Tucker.
Tucker uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Li.
Tucker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good exchange - Li coming out on top.
Li loads up on a big right hand but Tucker slips the punch.

Li fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tucker, pushing him back against the cage.
Li drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tucker tries to throw a body punch but Li avoids it by throwing Tucker back against the cage.
Li tries a body shot but Tucker blocks it.
Tucker throws a punch but it's blocked by Li.
Li lands with a right to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Li creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Li creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Tucker's defenses.
Tucker has had enough of the clinch but Li keeps him there for the moment.
A frustrated look appears on Tucker's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Li lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Li is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tucker.
Li blocks a body shot from Tucker.
Tucker struggles to land a body shot inside as Li controls his hands.
Tom Tucker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Xiao Long Li is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tucker misses with a hook from the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Xiao Long Li has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Tucker tries to work over Li's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tucker tries to circle away but Li has him pinned against the cage.

Li is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Tucker can't fight it off and eventually Li manages to take the fight to the floor. Tucker looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tucker avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Li throws an elbow that misses. Tucker uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Li's guard. Nice move by Tucker!
Li has control of Tucker's left arm, preventing Tucker from doing any damage.
Tucker trying to control but Li is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li trying to control the position.
Tucker wants to control from the top but Li keeps moving.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Tom Tucker wasn't active enough on the ground.
Li swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Li moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Tucker misses with a lunging right hand

and Li counters by clinching up.

Tucker gets control of Li's arms and successfully pulls guard. Tucker will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Li's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Tucker is trying to keep Li in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tucker keeping moving, preventing Li from controlling successfully.
Li controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Tucker 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Xiao Long Li wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Li keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Li scores with a head kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Li misses with a body kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tucker jumps guard but Li turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xiao Long Li showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Li 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight for Xiao Long Li!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Xiao Long Li!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Xiao Long Li!

Xiao Long Li wins by unanimous decision!
After winning the bout, Xiao Long Li thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.