PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zhelin Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ric Flores (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Flores has chosen Napalm & Erruption- In San Francisco as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Zhelin Li could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Ric Flores's chin.

Li
vs
Flores

171 cm
31
160 lbs
7 - 9 - 1

180 cm
30
168 lbs
12 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

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 7 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zhelin Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ric Flores!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Li closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Flores is trying to improve his position.
Flores dodges the ground and pound from Li.
Flores tries to bench press Li off him but Li keeps the position.

Li is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Flores is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Li is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Flores knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Flores is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flores wants to control but Li postures up.
Flores is looking to regain half guard here but Li keeps moving and retains side control.
Li trying to control the action but Flores is working from the bottom.
Flores wants to control but Li postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Li thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Li is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Flores knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Li working away.
Li trying to control the position but Flores is working away.

Li working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Flores is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Flores can't do much from the bottom here.
Flores is looking to reverse the position.

Li is trying to get an arm triangle but Flores is defending well.
Li wants to lay and pray for a moment but Flores keeps working.
Li avoids the strikes from the bottom by Flores.

Li is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Flores knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Flores is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Li swings around for an armbar but Flores sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Li's guard.
Flores looking to pass the guard.
Li is trying to keep Flores in close.
Flores tries to free his leg and advance position but Li is retaining full guard.
Flores throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Li works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Flores content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Li seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Li not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Flores trying to control the position from guard on top but Li is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Li tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Flores tries to free his leg and advance position but Li is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Flores trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Flores wants to control from the top but Li keeps moving.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Li has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Li is trying to keep Flores in close.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Li shoots in but Flores avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Flores lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Li decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
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 is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Flores defends it well.
Li is thwarting Flores's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhelin Li dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Li on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Flores. Flores obviously looking to wear him down.
Li blocks a low kick nicely.
A quick step to the side and Li tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Li tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Flores defends well and Li ends up having to push Flores into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Flores manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Li on his heels. He'll look to pass Li's guard now, I'm sure.
Flores pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Li is keeping the position for now.
Flores wants to control from the top but Li keeps moving.
Li pulls Flores in close to prevent any damage.

Li had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Flores defends it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

Li is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flores stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Li swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zhelin Li overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Li throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Flores is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Flores drops back, looking for a kneebar! Li looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Li looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Li!

Li is working Flores over with some ground and pound from side control.
Flores is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flores gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Flores looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Li wants to work for an arm triangle but Flores is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Li wants to pass the guard but Flores is defending well.

Li is looking for a kimura but Flores is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Li to get the leverage.
Flores is positioning himself well to prevent Li advancing to mount.

Li is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Flores defends it well.
Flores is pressing down on Li's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Flores 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.
Li is looking to work some ground and pound but Flores has wrist control.
Li stays in close to Flores's body and controls the position.
Flores keeping moving, preventing Li from controlling successfully.
Flores is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Flores looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Li is looking to control Flores's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Li avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flores thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Li's head.
Flores is thwarting Li's attempts to control the position.

Flores looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Li keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ric Flores showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Li darts in looking for a takedown but Flores gets double underhooks and turns Li into the cage.
Li shoots for a takedown but Flores saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Zhelin Li is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Li shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Flores as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zhelin Li. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Flores fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Flores throws a low kick but Li avoids it.
Flores goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Flores throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Horrible takedown attempt by Flores or perhaps it was just good defense by Li, which made it look bad.
Li jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Li slips a jab and a cross from Flores.
Flores feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Li's calf.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flores throws a nice inside leg kick.
Flores tries to bum rush Li with a series of wild strikes but Li uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Li chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Flores can pounce on him.

Li fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Flores sprawls well initially but Li persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Li is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flores tries to get to full guard but Li has control of the leg.
Flores wants to control but Li is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Flores is looking for a sweep. Li is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Li is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Li working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Flores is defending against the submission attempts here by Li.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Li is trying to control. Flores wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Flores makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Flores.
Flores working a defensive guard but Li passes into half guard.
Flores is trying to control but can't.

Flores looking for submissions off his back.
Flores works his way to full guard. Good work.
Flores has his hands on Li's head, controlling the position.
Li trying to control but Flores is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li looking to pass the guard.

Li drops back looking for a leg! Flores is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Flores manages to kick Li off! Li jumps back into Flores's guard.
Li wants to control from the top but Flores keeps moving.
Li won't allow Flores to sweep him here.
Flores is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Flores.
Li shoots in but no luck this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Flores bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Li's head backwards.
Flores throws a right hand that Li ducks under and follows up with a left that Li also avoids with ease.
Flores misses with a jab, cross combination.
Li tries to score a power double leg takedown but Flores sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Li somewhat.
Flores cracks the inside of Li's front leg.
Li shoots for a takedown but Flores saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
As Li backs off Flores throws a huge counter combo but Li manages to avoid it all.
Li tries a head kick but it misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Flores clinches with his opponent.
Li tries to pull guard but Flores won't allow it.
Li tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ric Flores comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Flores 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 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ric Flores!
Ric Flores opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.