PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Li Lianjie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tadhg Lemon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Lianjie
vs
Lemon

168 cm
24
143 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Enjoys gardening

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Li Lianjie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tadhg Lemon!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Ren Mimura and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lianjie shoots in but no luck this time.
Lemon avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lemon.
Lemon shoots in looking for a takedown. Lianjie tries to sprawl out of it but Lemon keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lianjie manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Lianjie tries for a takedown but Lemon circles away easily

and Lemon counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lemon keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lianjie's efforts to push away.
Lianjie stops a takedown attempt from Lemon.
Li Lianjie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tadhg Lemon.
A frustrated look appears on Lianjie's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lianjie is trying to force a seperation but Lemon has the dominant position.
Lemon displaying some good clinch control by pressing Lianjie up against the cage.

Lianjie has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Lemon uses from the top position.
Lemon must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Lianjie keeping moving, preventing Lemon from controlling successfully.
Lemon really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lianjie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lemon postures up.

Lianjie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lemon defends it easily.
Lianjie being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lemon tries to free his leg and advance position but Lianjie is retaining full guard.
Lemon showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Lianjie trying to control the position.
Lemon controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Lemon decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Lianjie, up you get!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Lemon does no damage.
Lianjie takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Lianjie just misses with a punch to the body.
Lemon works over Lianjie's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Li Lianjie has been cut.
Lianjie is breathing heavily.
Lemon jabs Lianjie to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Lianjie tries to keep at a distance but Lemon has taken the fight into the clinch.

Lemon's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lianjie tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Lemon defends well and Lianjie ends up having to push Lemon into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lianjie throws a right and a left that Lemon avoids nicely.
Lemon shoots in for a takedown but Lianjie shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lemon lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Lemon gets a clinch.
Lemon has Lianjie pushed against the cage.
Lemon is working for takedown but Lianjie is calmly controlling the position for now.

Lemon breaks the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Lianjie as Lemon shoots in.
It looked like Lianjie was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Lemon clinches.
Lemon keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lianjie's efforts to push away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tadhg Lemon dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Li Lianjie's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lemon closes the distance and clinches.
Lemon lands a good knee to the midsection. Lianjie won't want to take too many of those.
A frustrated look appears on Lianjie's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Lemon is looking for a takedown.
Lemon stalling.
Lianjie wants to get back to striking at distance but Lemon won't allow it.

Lemon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lemon fails with a takedown attempt.
Lemon misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
It looked like Lianjie was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Lemon.
Li Lianjie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tadhg Lemon.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lemon clinches up with Lianjie and pushes him back against the cage.
Lemon tries to pull guard but Lianjie won't allow it.
Lemon keeps control of Lianjie as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Lianjie wants to get back to striking at distance but Lemon won't allow it.

Lemon's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lemon is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lianjie sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lianjie misses with a series of wild punches.
Lemon only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lemon throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lianjie goes for a double leg but Lemon avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Lemon continues to drive forward.
Lemon wants to counter with a clinch but Lianjie pushes him away.
Lianjie throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lianjie tries to clinch but Lemon is having none of it.

Lemon drives through with a takedown into Lianjie's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Lemon stops Lianjie from standing up.

Lianjie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lemon is aware though and is defending well.

Lemon stands and steps away. Lianjie gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Lemon is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lianjie sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lemon fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lianjie avoids it really well and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lemon looks for a takedown but Lianjie sprawls well.
Lianjie seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Lemon gets a clinch.

Lemon drags the fight down to the ground.

Lianjie stands up and waves to Lemon to follow him.
Lianjie uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lemon.
As Lemon looks to move away, Lianjie throws a big counter combo but Lemon just gets out of the way.
No luck for Lemon with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A thudding body kick lands there by Lemon!
Lemon on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Lemon shoots in looking for a takedown. Lianjie tries to sprawl out of it but Lemon keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lianjie manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Lianjie tries to clinch up.
Lemon plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lemon misses with a takedown attempt - Lianjie sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lianjie is looking to counter the offense by Lemon and move into the clinch.
Lemon closes the distance but Lianjie moves to the side
letting Lianjie counter with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tadhg Lemon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Li Lianjie's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Lemon moves away from the strike by Lianjie.
And Lemon tries to counter it with a takedown but Lianjie pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Lianjie throws the left hand but Lemon avoids the punch easily.
Lemon has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lianjie misses with a jab, cross combination.

Lemon scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Lemon performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lemon looks to land a strike but Lianjie avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lianjie working for submissions but it's allowed Lemon to get to half guard.
Lemon sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Lemon is stalling here. Lianjie is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Lemon seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Lianjie has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lemon is looking for a sweep.

Lianjie decides to stand back up. Lianjie steps back and let's Lemon get back to his feet.
Lianjie shoots in for a double leg but Lemon sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lemon feints and then cracks Lianjie's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Lianjie down.

Lemon rushes Lianjie and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Lemon connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lianjie's face.
Lemon prevents the takedown attempt.

Lemon drags the fight down to the ground.
Lianjie trying to control the position from guard on top but Lemon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lemon is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Lianjie presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Lemon gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Lemon tries to pass to full mount but Lianjie defends it.
Lemon perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Lemon sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lianjie defending well though.
Lianjie trying to control but Lemon postures up.
Lemon is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lianjie has hold of Lemon's hands but Lemon slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Tadhg Lemon has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lemon is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Lemon stands up from half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Lemon has managed to clinch.
Li Lianjie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tadhg Lemon is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Lemon is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Lianjie can't fight it off and eventually Lemon manages to take the fight to the floor. Lianjie looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tadhg Lemon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lemon 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tadhg Lemon!