PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Anwar Sadat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeff Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Sadat
vs
Li

165 cm
26
155 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

171 cm
23
155 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Anwar Sadat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jeff Li!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sadat looks to score with a jab to the body but Li is just out of range.
Li throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sadat lands a jab to Li's midsection.
Sadat scores with a punch to the head.
Sloppy strikes from Li. Those never looked like landing.
Sadat lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Li at a distance.
Sadat misses the jab.

Sadat shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Sadat was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Li isn't going anywhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sadat wants to lay and pray for a moment but Li keeps working.
Li wants to get back to his feet.

Sadat working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Li felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Sadat is trying to get an arm triangle but Li is defending well.

Sadat tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Li can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sadat is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Li has escaped the position, nice work there.
Sadat happy to just control the position for now.
Sadat trying to control the action but Li is working from the bottom.

Sadat thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Sadat tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sadat is looking to take a break and control but Li is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Li's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Li tries to control but Sadat manages to take his back.
Li is trying to stand back up.

Sadat is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Li is defending well though. Sadat let's go of the attempt for now.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sadat is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Li has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sadat working for the choke.

Li showing good submission defense here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Li is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.
Sadat shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sadat goes for a double leg but Li avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Li continues to drive forward.
Sadat drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anwar Sadat dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Li misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Li lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Sadat shoots in for a double leg but Li sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sadat shoots in for a double leg but Li sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sadat fails with a takedown attempt.
Sadat has been working on his balance at CW's Elite Kung-Fu Academy, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Li.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anwar Sadat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Li feints a jab promting Sadat to slip. Li then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Sadat slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sadat goes for a double leg but Li avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Li continues to drive forward.
Li wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Li breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Li misses with a two punch combination.

Sadat drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sadat trying to control the position from guard on top but Li is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sadat is really struggling to control Li but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Li pulls Sadat in close to prevent any damage.
Sadat trying to control but Li is working from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Sadat stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Li swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Anwar Sadat just wasn't active enough.
Sadat misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sadat takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Sadat misses with a hook. Li ducked under it nicely.
Li stuffs the takedown attempt from Sadat. Sadat gets slowly back to his feet.
Li with a hook.
Sadat keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sadat will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li looks to land a left hand but Sadat moved out of range nicely.
Sadat fails to land the takedown.

Sadat closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Sadat works his way into full mount!
Sadat fails to take his opponent's back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Li really wants to buck Sadat off and get back to his feet.
Sadat trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sadat is trying to take his opponent's back.
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 Anwar Sadat will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Li swings for the body but Sadat moves out of range.
Sadat misses with a lunging right hand
and Li counters with a straight right hand.
Li swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Li misses the shot to the body.
The crowd cheers as Li lands an impressive looking overhand right. Sadat doesn't seem phased though.
Horrible takedown attempt by Sadat or perhaps it was just good defense by Li, which made it look bad.
Sadat is trying hard to land a takedown here. Li sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sadat shoots in but Li avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anwar Sadat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Li swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Li defending well as Sadat loads up on a big left hand.
Li misses the shot to the body.
Sadat ducks right into an uppercut from Li.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sadat thows a body shot but no joy.
Li jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sadat fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Li avoids it really well and circles away.
Sadat ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Li moves away.
Horrible takedown attempt by Sadat or perhaps it was just good defense by Li, which made it look bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sadat shoots in looking for a takedown but Li manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sadat's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Li throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Sadat fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Li sprawls well initially but Sadat persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Li trying to control but Sadat postures up.
Li is not content to let Sadat control the position.
Li is trying to stand.
Anwar Sadat is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sadat is controlling the pace.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Anwar Sadat just wasn't active enough.
Li lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Li uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Sadat has time to react.
Jeff Li has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Sadat closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Li quickly recovers to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jeff Li.
I think Sadat 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!