PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Christopher Levine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Li Yao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Christopher Levine has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Levine
vs
Yao

222 cm
18
161 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Christopher Levine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Li Yao!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Levine throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Yao's waist but Yao gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Levine off to one side.
Yao throws a sloppy head kick

and Levine counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Levine stands up from Yao's guard - Levine perhaps looking for a knockout.
Levine wants to clinch up but Yao keeps it at a distance.
Yao throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Levine shoots in but no luck this time.
Despite the aggression on Yao's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Yao tries a head kick but it misses.
We've been informed that Yao has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.

Yao has Levine up against the cage in a clinch.

Yao gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Yao looking to pass the guard.
Yao trying to control but Levine is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Levine preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Levine working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Yao.
Levine will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Yao trying to control but Levine is working from the bottom.
Yao trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Yao sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Levine is looking for a triangle but Yao pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Levine striking off his back but it's not causing Yao any problems.

Levine has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Yao is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Levine.
Yao wants to control for a moment but Levine uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Well, if Yao is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yao is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Levine defends it well.
Levine really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Yao looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Yao stands up out of the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Yao gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Levine decides to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Levine wants to sweep but no luck.
Yao slips nicely into half guard.
Yao wants to control but Levine is keeping him busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yao throwing shots but Levine is blocking nicely.
Levine trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Li Yao dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Yao dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Levine. That did some damage!
Levine has a takedown stuffed.
Yao throws a lazy head kick

and Levine counters with a shoot takedown. Yao fights it but they end up in guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Yao manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Levine changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Yao fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Levine shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Christopher Levine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yao scores with a nice body kick.
Levine shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Yao pinned against the cage. Yao gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Yao closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yao jumps into guard, dragging Levine to the mat.

Yao uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Yao takes the fight into the clinch.

Yao breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Yao darts in and clinches Levine up against the cage.

Yao breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Yao gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Yao jumps guard and drags Levine to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Yao is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yao thows a huge punch but Levine dodges it nicely.
Yao has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Levine is staying active underneath Yao, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Yao content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Yao is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Levine doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Yao.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Levine manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Yao throws a big right hand that misses.
Levine avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Yao being controlled here momentarily.
Yao engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Yao avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Yao gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yao throws a sloppy head kick and Levine moves out of range easily.

Yao shoots in and gets a takedown into Levine's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Li Yao showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Levine tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yao swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Yao has managed to clinch.
Levine controlling the action here for a moment.
Levine stalling in the clinch.
Levine taking a breather.
Levine is looking to control Yao's arms but Yao gets an underhook and turns him. Now Levine has his back to the cage.
Levine seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Yao is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.

Yao manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yao managing to control the position.

Levine gets to his feet - Yao follows without any prompting.

Yao throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Levine tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Yao is in Levine's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yao throws an elbow that misses. Levine uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Yao's guard. Nice move by Levine!

Levine postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Yao trying to keep a closed guard but Levine is proving a slippery customer.
Levine is looking to stand up but Yao won't let him.
Yao seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Levine throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yao works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Levine preventing the sweep.
Levine content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yao looking to control.
Levine wants to stand but Yao is controlling his posture from full guard.
Yao 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.
Levine lands a couple of elbows.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Levine's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Levine wants to stand but Yao has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Li Yao has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yao looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Levine has picked Yao up and slammed him! Yao can't keep hold of the triangle and Levine manages to pass to side control!
Yao takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Levine decides to stand back up.
Yao throws a body kick that misses.
Yao throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Yao tries to clinch up but Levine circles away and keeps his distance.
Levine feinted with a counter takedown.
Levine tries to clinch but Yao is having none of it.

Levine scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Levine lands some shots froms side control.

Levine stands up and beckons Yao to his feet.

Yao gets the takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Levine can't do much from the bottom here.
Yao working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yao wants to control for a moment but Levine uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yao tries to pass to full mount but Levine defends it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Christopher Levine.
Well Yao has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Li Yao!