PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vitor Samuel (ranked 4031 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jet li (ranked 9088 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Vitor Samuel has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Samuel
vs
li

183 cm
25
225 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
19
220 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vitor Samuel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jet li!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Matheus Silva and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
li circles away from the clinch attempt

and li counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Samuel wants to improve his position but instead li has moved into half guard.
Samuel is looking for a sweep. li is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Samuel's coaches at Cozad MMA Rio have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

li wants to work for an arm triangle but Samuel is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
li wants to lay and pray for a moment but Samuel keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.

li is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Samuel trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but li manages to pass to mount!
Samuel is trying desperately to improve position.
li trying to control but Samuel is having none of it.
Samuel is looking to improve his position but li isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samuel is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
li trying to control but Samuel is having none of it.
Samuel keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
li content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samuel really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

li is working for a guillotine from mount but Samuel frees his head quite easily.
li working Samuel over with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samuel tries to reverse the position but li maintains control.
li can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Samuel is looking to escape.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - li has eaten all the pies!
li controlling the position easily from mount.
Samuel knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for li on the ground.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A low kick from Samuel is predictable there

and li counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Samuel being controlled here, momentarily.
Samuel controls li momentarily but li frees himself.
li content to stall in guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Samuel keeping moving, preventing li from controlling successfully.
li controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
li wants to stand but Samuel has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
li has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Samuel doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nice sprawl there from li as Samuel shoots in.

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

Samuel darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
li manages to get to full guard.

li throws his legs up looking for a submission but Samuel uses it to pass to side control.

Samuel is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, li has escaped the position, nice work there.

Samuel decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samuel just misses with a punch to the body.
li lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Samuel misses with a takedown attempt

and li moves into the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
li prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitor Samuel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Samuel keeps control of li as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

li tightens his grip and picks Samuel up, before dumping him to the ground. Samuel manages to land in guard.
Samuel trying to keep a closed guard but li is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
li wants to control from the top but Samuel keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jet li has got the better of the ground game so far.
li stopping the sweep attempt from Samuel.
li passes Samuel's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Well, if li 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Samuel wants to get back to full guard but li has passed into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jet li showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

li tries to keep at a distance but Samuel has taken the fight into the clinch.
li is pressed up against the cage. Samuel has hold of a leg and is looking to drag li down to the mat. li avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Samuel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
li is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Samuel connects with a body shot that sends li's belly button to the back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Samuel moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Samuel throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. li tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Samuel is in li's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samuel wants to control from the top but li keeps moving.

Samuel stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and li has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Samuel manages to get his head free but now li has transitioned to an armbar! Samuel grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from li! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jet li!