PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jan Hradek (ranked 1335 p4p, 1755 weight class) and Xi Li (ranked 180 p4p, 235 weight class). Li comes into a darkened arena with his song building. HYFR by Drake featuring Lil Wayne kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hradek
vs
Li

188 cm
30
250
16 - 8 - 0

197 cm
33
213
18 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Great low kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jan Hradek!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Xi Li!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Valeri Chadov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hradek shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Li as he avoids it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Li looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hradek looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Li is fending him off so far but Hradek persists. Nope, Li circles away and we're back to standing.

Li instigates a clinch.
Hradek lands with a left to the head.
Li landing knees to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Li.

Hradek breaks from the clinch.
Hradek is trying hard to land a takedown here. Li sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jan Hradek. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Li has Hradek up against the cage in a clinch.
Li lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Hradek is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Hradek can't find room to land a body shot as Li controls the action.
Hradek working hard to break the clinch.
Li lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hradek swings wildly with an uppercut but Li uses good head movement to avoid it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Li misses with a hook from the clinch.
Li tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Li.
Hradek has had enough of the clinch but Li keeps him there for the moment.
Hradek lands with a light punch inside.
Li throws a head punch that misses.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
I was talking to Hradek's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Come on Li - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Li is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hradek is defending well for now.
Li tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hradek throws a knee to the head but misses.
Li lands a left hand.
Li is struggling to control the position.
Hradek looking to slow down the pace here.
Li gets through Hradek's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A shot in the inside from Li.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Hradek.

Hradek escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hradek tries to score a power double leg takedown but Li sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hradek somewhat.
Hradek circles away from the clinch attempt.
Xi Li is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Li tries to bum rush Hradek with a series of wild strikes but Hradek uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Li tries to clinch there but Hradek circles away.
Hradek half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Hradek goes for a double leg but Li avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Li continues to drive forward.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hradek is looking to control Li's arms but Li gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hradek has his back to the cage.
Hradek wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Li has him pressed against the cage.
Li is trying to stall.
Li misses with some punches.
Hradek is trying to break free.
Li looking to throw knees to the head but Hradek is blocking nicely.
Li tries to throw a body punch but Hradek avoids it by throwing Li back against the cage.
Hradek scores a nice knee to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hradek as Li tries to tie him up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hradek.
Hradek blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Li lands a body punch in the clinch.

Hradek breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hradek fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Li has Hradek up against the cage in a clinch.
Li goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Li misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hradek lands a left hand that snaps the head of Li backwards.
A short body shot lands from Hradek as the two fighters clinch.
Hradek working aggressively here.
A nice left hand lands by Li.
Li throws a knee to the head but misses.
Li's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Li is trying to stall.
A short left from Li.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Li.
Li misses with a shot to the kidneys.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Li misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hradek.
Hradek swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Li with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hradek scores with a shoulder strike.
Li misses with the head strike.
Li misses with a punch to the body.
Li lands an uppercut.

Hradek manages to break the clinch.
Li fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hradek.
Hradek shoots for a double leg takedown but Li sprawls well. He's pushed Hradek's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hradek misses with a takedown attempt - Li sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hradek on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Xi Li dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hradek clinches.
Li swings wildly with an uppercut but Hradek uses good head movement to avoid it.
Li tries a body shot but Hradek blocks it.
Still in the clinch, Li scores with a nice short uppercut.
Li blocks a body shot from Hradek.
Hradek scores with a shot to the side of Li's head.
Hradek tries to throw a body punch but Li avoids it by throwing Hradek back against the cage.
Li tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hradek's elbow.
Hradek lands a left hand.
Li lands a right hand that snaps the head of Hradek backwards.
Hradek lands a shot to the body.

Hradek's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hradek throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Li's waist but Li gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hradek off to one side.

Li has taken the fight to the clinch.

Hradek escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Li fails in his attempt to clinch.

Li has Hradek up against the cage in a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Li misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li trying to land knees to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Li.
Li tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Li with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Li tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Li stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Hradek lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Hradek stalling against the cage.
Li slows down the pace here.
Hradek wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Li has him pressed against the cage.
Li keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hradek's efforts to push away.
Hradek missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hradek lands a hook to the side of the head.
Xi Li seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Li fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Li.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Li just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hradek's brow.
Li using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hradek has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A short uppercut from Li.
Li has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Li's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Hradek breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jan Hradek is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hradek avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Li closes the distance and pushes Hradek back into the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

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

Li moves into the clinch.
Li tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Hradek breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hradek shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Li defends it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hradek shoots in looking for a takedown. Li tries to sprawl out of it but Hradek keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Li manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jan Hradek. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hradek swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Li tries to clinch but Hradek moves out of range.
Li has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.

Hradek drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Li really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hradek. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Hradek tries for a kimura but Li is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Hradek tries for a kimura but Li is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Li is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Hradek is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Li knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Hradek is trying to work for a kimura but Li is defending well.

Hradek is trying to work for a kimura but Li is defending well.
Hradek controlling the action here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Xi Li will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hradek has a takedown stuffed.
Li tries to clinch but Hradek moves out of range.

Li has managed to clinch.
Li scores with a shot to the side of Hradek's head.
Hradek is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Li misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hradek.

Hradek pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hradek takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Hradek shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Li as he jumps to the side.
Hradek looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Li is fending him off so far but Hradek persists. Nope, Li circles away and we're back to standing.
Li only half commits to the counter leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jan Hradek. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hradek looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Li is fending him off so far but Hradek persists. Nope, Li circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Li looks to land a combination. Hradek sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Li forces Hradek back against the cage and clinches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Li lands a right hand that snaps the head of Hradek backwards.
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 fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Li tries a body shot but Hradek blocks it.
Hradek tries to break free but Li pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hradek doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Li with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Li throws a knee to the head but misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Li.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Li lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hradek backwards.
Hradek avoiding damage as Li throws knees to the body.
Li misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hradek.
Li working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Li scores with a nice short uppercut.

Hradek breaks the clinch.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch but Hradek swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hradek tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Li defends well and Hradek ends up having to push Li into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Li prevents a body shot from Hradek.
Hradek avoiding damage as Li throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hradek lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Li scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hradek trying to stall but Li improves his position.
A short left from Li.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Hradek escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Li works Hradek's body with a nice hook.
Hradek darts in looking for a takedown but Li gets double underhooks and turns Hradek into the cage.
Li tries to land knees in the clinch but Hradek avoids the damage to the body.
Li lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hradek backwards.
A bit of stalling here from Li.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Li.
Li lands a nice uppercut.
Li is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hradek is defending well for now.
Hradek prevents a body shot from Li.
Jan Hradek has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Li scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hradek throws a head punch that misses.
Li stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hradek wants to break the clinch but can't.
Li using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Li scores with a shot to the side of Hradek's head.
Li is working Hradek over against the cage.
Li with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Li misses with a punch to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Li.
Li controlling the action here for a moment.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Li creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Hradek breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hradek fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Li clinches up with Hradek and pushes him back against the cage.
Li tries to land knees in the clinch but Hradek avoids the damage to the body.
Li misses with a punch on the inside.

Hradek pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Li gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Li stalls.
Li fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Li has Hradek pressed against the cage.

Hradek's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Li has managed to clinch.
Li looking to stall.
Hradek dodges an elbow strike from Li.
Hradek misses with a body punch.
Hradek misses with a punch to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hradek.
Hradek on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hradek is leaning against Li and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Hradek lands a body shot in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xi Li comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Li winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xi Li!
Xi Li took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, The Thrift Shop - Cheap Clothes and Laundry for their support in the buildup to the fight.