PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pelle Hermano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xiao Long Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hermano comes to the cage accompanied by Nasri - Click Click Click. Li comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Dragon Punch! kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Pelle Hermano has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hermano
vs
Long Li

150 cm
24
150 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

172 cm
43
150 lbs
35 - 26 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Spartan Nutrition
Modern Wear Apparel

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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Pelle Hermano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 26 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Xiao Long Li!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Li lands with a thumping leg kick.

Hermano gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Li blocks a body shot from Hermano.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Li creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Hermano has a couple of punches blocked by Li.
Hermano has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Li avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Li working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Li.
I was talking to Hermano's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A nice left hand lands by Hermano.
Li prevents a body shot from Hermano.
Hermano lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Hermano lands a right hand.
Hermano blocks a body shot from Li.
Hermano prevents a body shot from Li.
Hermano working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Li tries to work over Hermano's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Li's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hermano turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Hermano wants to control but Li is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hermano landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Li tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hermano wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Li is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hermano wants to control but Li is keeping him busy.
Li tries to buck Hermano off but Hermano is having none of it.
Hermano throws an elbow but Li slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hermano misses with the ground and pound.
Hermano wants to lay and pray for a moment but Li keeps working.
Hermano tries to advance to mount but can't.
Li tries to bench press Hermano off him but Hermano keeps the position.
Li manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Hermano sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Li defending well though.
Hermano wants to pass the guard but Li is defending well.

Li looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li regains full guard. Nicely done.

Li had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hermano defends it easily.
Hermano won't allow Li to sweep him here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Li throws a sloppy head kick and Hermano moves out of range easily.
Hermano scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nice sprawl there from Hermano as Li shoots in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hermano tries to land a front kick but Li steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hermano paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hermano lands with a straight right. Li didn't see that one coming.

It looks like Xiao Long Li has been cut.
Hermano throws a nice inside leg kick.
Hermano misses with an uppercut. Li saw that one coming.
Li tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Li misses with a hook to the body
and Li takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hermano throws a looping overhand right but Li ducks down to avoid it.
Li changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Hermano fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Li throws a body kick that misses
and Hermano counters with a good low kick that Li was not able to check.
Hermano scores with a body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Li connects with a solid leg kick.
The fighters circling - Li throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
It looked like Hermano wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hermano misses with a hook.
Li changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Li closes the distance looking to clinch
and Hermano counters with a three punch combo that has Li backing up. Li nods at Hermano to acknowledge the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pelle Hermano dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Xiao Long Li's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hermano fails in his attempt to clinch.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hermano 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.
Hermano wants to slow Li down by chopping away at his legs.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hermano.
A big right from Hermano misses.
Li dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hermano. That did some damage!
Hermano throws out a leg kick but Li moves out of range and Hermano only half commits.
Hermano slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Hermano pivots, looking for a leg kick but Li is out of range and Hermano settles back down.
Li fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Hermano is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hermano changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A clash of legs there as Li blocks the low kick.
Pelle Hermano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hermano dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Li. That did some damage!
Hermano misses with an uppercut.
And Li tries to counter it with a takedown but Hermano pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Hermano throws a low kick, looking for Li's leg but Li calmly moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Hermano throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Li throws a leg kick but Hermano moved away.
Pelle Hermano is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hermano throws a low kick but Li avoids it.
Hermano smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Hermano fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Li on the side of the head.
Hermano throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Hermano misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hermano 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 drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Hermano defends it well.
Hermano looks to throw the jab but Li is out of range.
Hermano tries to clinch up.
Li uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hermano.
Hermano connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Li's hands.
Hermano swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hermano misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li ducks under a wild hook from Hermano.
Li is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Hermano tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Li manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Li blocks a low kick nicely.
Li tries to counter with a clinch but Hermano shakes him off and moves away.
Li avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Hermano throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Li tries to counter with a clinch but Hermano shakes him off and moves away.
Hermano misses the jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Li steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Hermano. That one must have hurt.
Li throws a quick inside leg kick.
Li slips under a jab.
Hermano misses with an uppercut.
Nice body kick from Li.
Hermano lands a two punch combo.
Hermano tries to clinch

and Li counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Li.
Li tries to free his leg and advance position but Hermano is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hermano is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Li defends well.
Hermano is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Li trying to control but Hermano is working from the bottom.

Hermano is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Li is aware though and is defending well.
Hermano keeping moving, preventing Li from controlling successfully.
Hermano looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Li postures up in Hermano's guard and throws a big left but Hermano blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Li accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Li looking to sit in guard and control but Hermano gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Pelle Hermano overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Li 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.
Hermano engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Li has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hermano can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Li looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Hermano puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pelle Hermano dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Xiao Long Li's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Li throws a jab when Hermano was well out of range.
Li avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Pelle Hermano is winning the standup battle so far.
Hermano motions for Li to come forward. Hermano throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A solid leg kick lands there for Li.
Li looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hermano is fending him off so far but Li persists. Nope, Hermano circles away and we're back to standing.
Hermano was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hermano throws a body shot but no joy.
Li moves out of range of the strikes.
Hermano misses with a kick to the body.
Li drops his hands momentarily and Hermano takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Nice defenses there by Li.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hermano throws a looping overhand right but Li ducks down to avoid it.
Hermano misses with a head kick.
Hermano pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Li ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hermano moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hermano blocks a low kick nicely.
Li swings away with a body shot that misses
and Hermano counters with a stiff right hand.
Hermano tried to score with a low kick but Li checks it.
Li is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Hermano throws out a leg kick but Li moves out of range and Hermano only half commits.
Li attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Hermano misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Li.
Li scores with a jab to the head.
Hermano missing with a left hand there. Li was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Li feints the counter takedown.
Some bone on bone action there as Hermano checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Li scores with a nice body kick.
Li lands with a kick to the ribs.
Hermano throws a series of punches but Li moves out of range.
Li swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Li keeps the fight on the outside.
Xiao Long Li has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hermano throws a shot to the body.
Hermano takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hermano lands with a kick to the ribs.
Hermano throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Li changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Hermano connects with a nice looking jab.
Li slips under a jab from Hermano.
Nice defenses there by Li.
Li tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Li pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Hermano throws a hook but Li avoids it easily.
A punch lands to the side of Li 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Li moves out of range as Hermano strikes.
A bone on bone clash there as Li blocks the leg kick.
Li has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hermano.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hermano scores with a jab. Li acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Li throws an off balance right hand
letting Hermano counter with a right hand.
Li pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Li, right into the meat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hermano throws a punch but it's blocked by Li.
Hermano is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Li can do to turn this around?
Hermano lands with a short shot to the head.
Hermano goes for a takedown in the clinch but Li prevents it.
Hermano is working for takedown but Li is calmly controlling the position for now.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hermano.
Hermano scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hermano blocks an elbow strike from Li.
Hermano blocks a body shot from Li.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hermano tries to work over Li's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hermano managing to block the knees to the body from Li.
A nice left hand lands by Hermano.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Li tries to work over Hermano's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch on the inside from Hermano fails to land.
Li is looking to take this one to the mat.

Hermano breaks from the clinch.
Li tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hermano was well out of range. Poor timing from Li.
Li looks to land a left hand but Hermano moved out of range nicely.
Hermano scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Hermano tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Li misses with a low kick as Hermano jumps back.
Hermano lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Hermano throws a sloppy head kick and Li moves out of range easily.
Li with the counter takedown but Hermano avoids it easily.
Li moves away from the strike by Hermano.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pelle Hermano showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hermano 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pelle Hermano!
After the fight, Pelle Hermano was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.