PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yonglong Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rupert Pink (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Li
vs
Pink

183 cm
27
176 lbs
14 - 5 - 1

189 cm
25
184 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

RAGS of a RONIN

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Yonglong Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rupert Pink!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Hirohito Nitta and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pink throws a body kick that misses
and Li counters with a stiff right hand.
Pink throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Li counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A lazy left from Li finds it's target.
Pink misses with a few strikes there.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Pink - that will leave a mark!
Li has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Pink tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Li lands a leg kick that knocks Pink off balance momentarily.
Pink looks to score with a jab to the body but Li is just out of range.
A quick step to the side and Li tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Li has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Li there as he acknowledges the shot.
Li takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Li uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pink.
Li jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Pink misses with a straight left.
A punch combination from Li misses.
Pink uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Li.
Li throws a jab but it's blocked by Pink.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pink tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Li was well out of range. Poor timing from Pink.
Li connects with a nice looking jab.
Pink throws a big shot that misses.
Pink misses with a double jab.
Pink missing with a left hand there. Li was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Pink rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Li moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Li uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pink.
Li paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Pink throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Li counters with a series of strikes. Pink will be more careful next time no doubt.
Pink checks a leg kick nicely.
Li checks a leg kick.
Pink is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Li.
Li ducks under a wild hook from Pink.
Pink throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pink takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pink slips under a jab from Li.
Li misses with a double jab.
Pink lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
That kick from Li tenderised Pink's leg. Pink is trying to keep his angry face on.
Pink scores with a hook to the body. Li takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Pink feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Lis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Li, as that shot connected.
Li throws a right and a left that Pink avoids nicely.
A chopping leg kick lands by Li.
Li bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Li throws a low kick but Pink moves out of range easily.
A big right from Li misses.
Li misses with a looping right.
Li swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pink misses with a looping left.
Li feints a jab promting Pink to slip. Li then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Pink slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Li throws a lazy right hand but Pink sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Li backing away here, and Pink unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Pink throws a head kick that misses.
Li throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Pink counters with a stiff right hand.
A jab from Pink misses.
Pink takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Pink misses with a series of wild punches.
Li misses with a hook. Pink ducked under it nicely.
Pink throws out a counter right but Li avoids it with no problem.
Li works the jab nicely.
Pink cracks Li with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
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!
Pink swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Li throws a low kick but it's checked well by Pink.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li lands a nice hook to Pink's body. Pink takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Pink fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Li feints and then cracks Pink's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Pink down.
Pink tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Li was well out of range. Poor timing from Pink.
Li lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Pink at a distance.
The fighters circling - Pink throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Pink scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Yonglong Li has been cut.
A head kick misses from Pink.
Pink swats away the attempt to clinch by Li.
Pink jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Pink gets tackled into the cage by Li. Li maintains the clinch.
Li lands with a short shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Yonglong Li will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Yonglong Li's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A swing and a miss from Li.

Pink lands a big head kick that sends Li tumbling to the mat! Pink takes a step backwards and waves Li back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Li is rocked!
Pink is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Li.
Oh Li is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Li throws a series of strikes that have Pink backpedaling.
Pink moves out of range as Li strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Li thows a leg kick but Pink checks it
and Pink counters with a one-two to the body.
Li moves out of range of the strikes.
Pink tries a head kick but it misses.
Pink scores with a sloppy right hand. Li should have avoided that one.
Pink lands a slapping body shot.
Li takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pink swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pink lands with a right hand.
Pink lands a nice hook to Li's body. Li takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Pink on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Pink misses with an uppercut.
Pink fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li avoids a punch combination nicely.
Li seems to have got his legs back now.
Rupert Pink seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Pink pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Li scores with a body shot.
A head kick from Pink lands but Li takes it in his stride.
Li lands a slapping body shot.
Pink fails to land with a series of punches.
Pink misses with an uppercut.
Pink avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Li scores with a kick to the midsection.
Pink misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Li attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Pink follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Pink tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Li was well out of range. Poor timing from Pink.
Li swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Li avoids a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Li is predictable there
and Pink counters with a series of strikes. Li will be more careful next time no doubt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Li scores with a nice right hand.
Some wild striking there from Pink.
A jab lands there for Li.
Li tries to clinch there but Pink circles away.
Li jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Li throws a right hand that misses
and Pink counters with a three punch combo that has Li backing up. Li nods at Pink to acknowledge the strikes.
Li misses with an uppercut. Pink saw that one coming.
Pink throws a jab but it's blocked by Li.
Li lands with an overhand left.
Pink misses with a body kick.
Li thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li throws a lazy right hand but Pink sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rupert Pink is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pink misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Li walks into a left hand.
Li swings for the body but Pink moves out of range.
Li lands a jab to Pink's midsection.
Pink throws a head kick that half lands.
Li moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Li connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Pink's hands.
Pink misses with an uppercut. Li saw that one coming.

Li drives through and clinches with Pink against the cage.
Li working aggressively here.
Pink struggles to land a body shot inside as Li controls his hands.
Pink goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Knees in the clinch landing for Li.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Li.
Pink prevents a body shot from Li.
Pink lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Li creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Pink's defenses.
Li lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Pink tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Li prevents a body shot from Pink.
Pink lands a left hand.
Li misses with a short punch on the inside.
Li softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Pink avoids a wild elbow strike from Li.
The referee is keeping an eye on Pink - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Pink tries to circle away but Li has him pinned against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pink fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pink wants to get back to striking at distance but Li won't allow it.
Li has Pink pressed against the cage, preventing Pink from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Pink wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Li has him pressed against the cage.
Li has Pink pressed against the cage, preventing Pink from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rupert Pink showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Yonglong Li's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Pink on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Li lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Li with a nice cross.
Li moves out of range of the leg kick from Pink.
Pink looks to land a combination but Li avoids it well.
Li throwing a counter right hand but Pink manages to avoid it.
Li throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pink looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Li misses with a straight right.
Li scores with the left hand. Pink knows he should have avoided that one.
Pink ducks under a wild hook from Li.
Pink appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Pink thows a left - swing and a miss!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Li throws a leg kick but Pink sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Li moves out of range of the strikes.
Pink takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Li ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Li ducks under a wild hook from Pink.
Pink throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Li cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Li tries to land a leg kick but Pink saw it coming and moves away.
Pink is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Pink.
Li scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Pink is rocked!
Li misses with a looping right.
Pink is still on wobbly legs! Can Li finish him?
Pink has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Pink is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Pink uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Li.
Li misses with a double jab
and Pink counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pink seems to have recovered his senses.
Li doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Pink fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li moves in looking to clinch but Pink pushes him off.
Pink throws a counter combo.
The fighters circling - Li throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Li throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pink steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Pink drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Pink misses with a head kick.
Pink throws an overhand right that lands on Li's shoulder, as Li tries to avoid the shot.
Li keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pink.
Pink ducks right into an uppercut from Li.
Li jabs Pink right on the nose. Pink blinks but takes it well.
Pink scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Li doesn't seem bothered though.
Li connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Pink momentarily.
Pink takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Li fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pink looks to land a combination but Li avoids it well.
The fight stays on the outside here - Li looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Li scoring well with a low kick there.
Pink misses with a hook. Li ducked under it nicely.
Li is looking to counter punch.
Li connects with a good right hand that stumbles Pink. Pink circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Pink fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Li looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Li slips under a jab.
Li connects with an inside leg kick.
Pink misses with a few strikes there.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Li 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 Pink has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Pink and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Li has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Pink takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pink scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
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 misses with a head kick.
Pink slips under a jab.
Li doesn't manage to clinch there - Pink circles away.
Despite the aggression on Pink's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Li throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Li doesn't manage to clinch there - Pink circles away.
It seemed like Pink was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Li goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Li on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Pink loads up on a big right hand but Li slips the punch.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pink paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pink throws a hook to the side of Li's head but Li sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Pink throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Li swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Pink loads up on a big right hand but Li slips the punch.

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 Yonglong Li.
I think Li 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yonglong Li!
An out of breath Yonglong Li thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.