PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Darren (ranked 2227 p4p, 274 weight class) and Yonglong Li (ranked 2799 p4p, 323 weight class). Darren comes to the cage accompanied by Here's to the losers. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Darren
vs
Li

185 cm
29
170 lbs
13 - 12 - 1

183 cm
35
176 lbs
22 - 12 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Sportivité

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 13 - 12 - 1, fighting out of New York, James Darren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 12 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Yonglong Li!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Ren Mimura and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Li bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Darren's head.
Nice defenses there by Darren.
Darren tries to clinch there but Li circles away.
Darren lands with a hook. Li tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Li throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Li tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Darren was well out of range. Poor timing from Li.
Li connects with a leg kick. Darren looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Darren tries to clinch up but Li circles away and keeps his distance.

Darren closes the distance and clinches.
Darren lands a shoulder strike.
Li lands an uppercut.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Darren just misses with a elbow thrown towards Li's brow.
Li blocking some punches.
Li lands a left hand that snaps the head of Darren backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Darren tries a body shot but Li blocks it.
Darren's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Li tries to land a knee to the head but Darren blocks with his arms.
A short uppercut from Darren.
Darren can't find room to land a body shot as Li controls the action.
Darren pushes off an throws an elbow but Li leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Darren.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Darren tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Li throws a punch but it's blocked by Darren.
Darren lands an uppercut.
Darren lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Li backwards.
Darren creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Li goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Li throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Darren blocks it with crossed arms.
Li tries to throw a body punch but Darren avoids it by throwing Li back against the cage.
Nice elbow from Darren.
Li lands a shot to the body.
Li working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Darren.
Li can't find room to land a body shot as Darren controls the action.
Li throws a head punch that misses.
Li throws a punch but it's blocked by Darren.
Darren is working Li over against the cage.
Li throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Darrens head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Darren misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Darren tries to throw a body punch but Li avoids it by throwing Darren back against the cage.
Li works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Li cracks Darren with a nice body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li cracks Darren with a nice body shot.
Li lands a body shot in the clinch.
Darren is breathing heavily.
Li throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Li tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Darren's elbow.
Li misses with a body punch.
Li lands an elbow inside.
Darren blocking some punches.
Li misses with the head strike.
A short uppercut from Darren.
Li stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Li throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Darrens head.
Darren lands a left hand.
Darren tries a body shot but Li blocks it.
Li misses with some punches.
Li fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Li misses with a punch to the body.
Darren throws a punch but it's blocked by Li.
Nice body punch from Darren - that landed with a thud.
Li goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Darren dodges an elbow strike from Li.
Li lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Darren or not.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li trying to land knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Li - that landed with a thud.
Li scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Li lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A body shot lands from Li.
Li is working Darren over against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Li.
A nice left hand lands by Li.
Li throws a punch but it's blocked by Darren.
Li is leaning against Darren and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Li dodges an elbow strike from Darren.
A hook to the body from Li.
A short body shot lands from Li as the two fighters clinch.
Li lands with a short shot to the head.
Li misses with a hook to the ribs.
Darren throws a head punch that misses.
Li dodges an elbow strike from Darren.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Li blocks an elbow strike.
Li throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Li lands a left hand.
Li is working Darren over against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li misses with some punches.
Li digs a right hand into Darren's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Darren's gas tank.
Li lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Darren or not.
A nice left hand lands by Li.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Darren.
Li blocks the elbow strike.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
A short body shot lands from Li as the two fighters clinch.
Li lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Li lands a right hand.
Li blocks an elbow strike from Darren.
Li tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Darren's elbow.
Li tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Li misses with a short punch on the inside.
Good body shot from Li.
Li lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Li lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Darren backwards.
A left hand lands to the body for Li.
Li lands with a right to the head.
Li working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Li lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yonglong Li dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Li takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Darren keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A head kick misses from Li.
Li stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Li throws the left hand but Darren avoids the punch easily.
Darren catches Li with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Darren wants to clinch.
As Darren backs off Li throws a huge counter combo but Darren manages to avoid it all.
Li slips under a jab from Darren.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Li fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Darren manages to avoid it.
James Darren seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Li swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Darren wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Darren is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Li! But no joy.
A punch lands to the side of Li 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darren moves in looking to clinch but Li pushes him off.
Darren closes the distance looking to clinch
and Li counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Li moves out of range as Darren strikes.
Li avoids a punch combination nicely.
Darren avoids the body shot from Li.
Li fails in his attempt to clinch.
Darren takes a swing at Li's ribcage but misses.
Darren moves out of range of the body kick from Li.
Darren ducks under a wild hook from Li.
As Li tries to get set, Darren tries to push him back and clinch up but Li manages to avoid the attempt.
Darren lands a jab to the nose.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darren slips a jab and a cross from Li.
Li moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
A telegraphed right hand from Li misses the target.
Good exchange - Li coming out on top.
Li thows a left - swing and a miss!
Darren tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Li manages to circle out of the way.
Li has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Decent striking displayed by Li there.
Darren moves out of range as Li strikes.
Li looks to score with a jab to the body but Darren is just out of range.
Li looks to score with a jab to the body but Darren is just out of range.
Darren wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Darren lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Darren looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Darren listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
The fighters circling - Li throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Li swats away the attempt to clinch by Darren.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darren stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Darren lands a head shot.
Darren throws a leg kick

and Li counters by clinching up.
Li can't find room to land a body shot as Darren controls the action.
Still in the clinch, Darren scores with a nice short uppercut.
Li lands an uppercut.
Li tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Li fails to land.
Darren can't find room to land a body shot as Li controls the action.
Yonglong Li seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Li lands an uppercut.
Li has a couple of punches blocked by Darren.
Li lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A hook to the body from Darren.
Still in the clinch, Li scores with a nice short uppercut.
Li misses with the head strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Li lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Darren misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Darren misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Li is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Darren is defending well for now.
Li throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Darren blocks it with crossed arms.
Li tries to throw a body punch but Darren avoids it by throwing Li back against the cage.
Darren creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Darren misses with a hook to the ribs.
Darren managing to block the knees to the body from Li.
Darren lands an elbow that stopped Li in his tracks for a moment.
Darren misses with a punch to the body.
Darren lands a left hand that snaps the head of Li backwards.
Li misses with some punches.
Li misses with a short punch on the inside.
Darren comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Li misses with a punch on the inside.
Li looking to throw knees to the head but Darren is blocking nicely.
Darren tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Li's elbow.
Li tries to throw a body punch but Darren avoids it by throwing Li back against the cage.
Darren lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Yonglong Li has been cut.
Darren lands a hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yonglong Li 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 fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Darren lands with an uppercut that bounces Li off the cage and back into range.
Darren fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Li misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A big left from Li misses.
Li stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Darren.
Li ducks under a wild hook from Darren.
Darren throws a shot from downtown. Li moves away and avoids it.
Darren bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Darren throws a low kick, looking for Li's leg but Li calmly moves out of range.
Li thows a body kick. Darren tries to catch it but that hurt him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darren lands a two punch combo.
Li pushes Darren away with a front kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A clash of legs there as Darren blocks the low kick.
Darren connects with a looping right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darren tries to clinch but Li is having none of it.
Li steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Li misses with a kick to the body.
Darren seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Li throws a hook but Darren avoids it easily.
Darren is looking to counter the offense by Li and move into the clinch.
Darren uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Li.
Li thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Darren if he has to take too many more of those.
Li takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Li just misses with a punch to the body.
Darren pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Li! But no joy.
A bone on bone clash there as Darren blocks the leg kick.
Li tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Darren was well out of range. Poor timing from Li.
Li looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Darren scores with a jab to the jaw.
Li throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Darren sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Yonglong Li seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Li lands a nice shot to the body.
James Darren has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darren tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Darren throws a right hand that misses
and Li counters with an outside leg kick.
Good work by Darren as he checks the leg kick.
Darren was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Darren blocks the body kick.
Darren throws the left hand but Li avoids the punch easily.
Li throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Darren.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Darren slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Darren tests Li's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Darren gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Li.
A slapping leg kick lands for Darren.
Darren is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Li.
Li throws a jab when Darren was well out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Darren instigates a clinch.
Li tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Darren's elbow.
Darren misses with a hook to the ribs.
Li scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Darren blocking some punches.
Li throws a punch but it's blocked by Darren.
Li misses with a hook from the clinch.
Darren tries to work over Li's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A hook to the body from Darren.
Yonglong Li is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Li misses with a hook from the clinch.
Darren has a couple of punches blocked by Li.
Li can't find room to land a body shot as Darren controls the action.
Li tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Darren's elbow.
Darren throws a punch but it's blocked by Li.
A left hand lands to the body for Li.
Darren tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Li's elbow.
A right hook to the body lands for Li.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Darren throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Li lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Li tries to throw a body punch but Darren avoids it by throwing Li back against the cage.
Li tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Darren pushes off an throws an elbow but Li leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Li blocks an elbow strike from Darren.
Li has a couple of punches blocked by Darren.
Darren tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Li's elbow.
Darren misses with a body punch.
Li misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Li scores with a nice hook to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Li working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from Li fails to land.
Li blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Darren misses with a short punch on the inside.
Darren misses with a punch to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Yonglong Li.
Well Li 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yonglong Li!
Yonglong Li seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
The defeated James Darren had this to say: 'I'm a loser!'.