PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jing Jing Li (ranked 4206 p4p, 4060 weight class) and Zane Takala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Li
vs
Takala

191 cm
18
222
0 - 0 - 0

214 cm
18
266
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jing Jing Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zane Takala!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Li throws a leg kick but Takala checks it.
Some bone on bone action there as Takala checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Li avoids a kick to the body.
Li tries to clinch but Takala is having none of it.
Takala pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Li tries to work over Takala's front leg with a kick but Takala checks it.
Li throws a leg kick but Takala checks it.
Takala tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Li is able to avoid easily.
Li is looking to clinch.
A clash of legs there as Takala blocks the low kick.
Takala lands a nice looking body kick.
Takala throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Li is looking to clinch.
Li wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takala bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Takala throws a half hearted mid kick.
Li wants to clinch up but Takala keeps it at a distance.
Li wants to clinch up but Takala keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takala checks the leg kick nicely there.
Li pivots, looking for a leg kick but Takala is out of range and Li settles back down.
Li misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Li is looking to clinch.
Li tries to clinch but Takala moves out of range.
Takala misses with a low kick.
Takala looks for the body kick but Li saw that one coming.
Li fails with an attempt to clinch.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Takala paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Li fails with an attempt to clinch.
Crunch! Takala slams his shin into Li's torso.
Takala throws a front kick that sends Li stumbling back into the cage.
Li pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Li backing away here, and Takala unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Takala circles away from the clinch attempt.
Li wants to clinch up but Takala keeps it at a distance.
Li misses with a leg kick
and Takala counters with a head kick.
Takala circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jing Jing Li seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch up but Takala swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Li throws a wild body kick that Takala sees coming a mile off.
Takala was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Li throws a front kick aimed at Takala's knee but Takala avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takala lands with a thumping leg kick.
Takala keeps the fight on the outside.
Takala throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Takala takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Li throws a chopping leg kick but Takala manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Li throws the kick towards the body but Takala avoids it.
Li goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Li moves in looking to clinch but Takala pushes him off.
Li is looking to clinch but Takala is avoiding it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Takala.
Takala pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Takala tried to score with a low kick but Li checks it.
And Li counters with a quick kick to the body but Takala blocks it.
Nice body kick there by Takala.
Li tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Li backing away here, and Takala unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Takala scores with a nice body kick.
Li throws a leg kick
and Takala counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Li throws the kick towards the body but Takala avoids it.
Takala tries a quick counter leg kick but Li is wise to it.
Takala avoids a kick to the body.
Takala tries to work over Li's front leg with a kick but Li checks it.
Li feinted there with a counter leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li throws a nice outside leg kick.
Takala moves out of range of the body kick from Li.
Takala swats away the attempt to clinch by Li.
Li motions for Takala to come forward. Li throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Takala plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A clash of legs there as Takala blocks the low kick.
Takala throws a fast counter high kick but Li manages to duck under it in time.
Li throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Takala only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Li tries to clinch but Takala is having none of it.
Takala connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Takala avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Li fails with an attempt to clinch.
Takala throws a push kick but Li slaps the foot to one side.
Li pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Takala throws a wild body kick that Li sees coming a mile off.
Li looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Takala is looking to slow Li down with leg kicks.
Li wants to clinch up but Takala keeps it at a distance.
Li misses with a low kick.
Li does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takala tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Li wants to clinch.
Takala circles away from the clinch attempt.
Li looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Takala throws a body kick that misses.
Li misses with a low kick.
Takala swats away the attempt to clinch by Li.
Li wants to clinch up but Takala keeps it at a distance.
Takala swats away the attempt to clinch by Li.
Takala throws a nice inside leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Li throws out a leg kick but Takala moves out of range and Li only half commits.
The fight stays on the outside here - Li looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Takala throws a head kick that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zane Takala dominated that round.
That's time! Li's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Li pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Takala pivots, looking for a leg kick but Li is out of range and Takala settles back down.
Takala checks the leg kick.
Takala swats away the attempt to clinch by Li.
Takala throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Li steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Takala. That one must have hurt.
Takala blocks a leg kick.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch up but Takala swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zane Takala seems to be getting the better of the standup.
An inside leg kick from Li misses.
Li fails in his attempt to clinch.
Li tries to clinch but Takala moves out of range.
Li will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Takala throws the kick towards the body but Li avoids it.
Li tried to counter with a leg kick but Takala avoided it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Li walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Takala checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
An inside leg kick from Li misses.
Li wants to clinch up but Takala keeps it at a distance.
Li tries to clinch up but Takala circles away and keeps his distance.
Li throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Li throws a low kick but Takala moves out of range easily.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Li might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good work by Li as he checks the leg kick.
Li tries to clinch up but Takala circles away and keeps his distance.
Takala thumps Li with a low kick.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch up but Takala swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Takala throws a fast counter high kick but Li manages to duck under it in time.
Li is looking to clinch.
Takala goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Li takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Li on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Li is looking to clinch but Takala is avoiding it.
Li takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Li wants to clinch.
Takala only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Li wants to clinch up but Takala keeps it at a distance.
Li fails with an attempt to clinch.
Li tries to clinch but Takala moves out of range.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Li is looking to clinch but Takala is avoiding it.
Takala tries to work over Li's front leg with a kick but Li checks it.
Takala throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takala throws a sloppy head kick and Li moves out of range easily.
Takala is looking to land body kicks.
Li motions for Takala to come forward. Li throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Takala moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Li looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Takala moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Takala blocks a low kick nicely.
Li throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Li doesn't manage to clinch there - Takala circles away.
Takala has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The fight stays on the outside here - Li looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Li takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Takala keeps the fight on the outside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Li is looking to clinch.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch but Takala swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A head kick misses from Li.
Li throws a sloppy head kick and Takala moves out of range easily.
Takala misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Li blocks the body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takala scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Takala moves out of range of the leg kick from Li.
Li tries to clinch but Takala is having none of it.
Takala steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Li fails with an attempt to clinch.
Takala throws a head kick that misses.
Takala throws a low kick, looking for Li's leg but Li calmly moves out of range.
Li walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Takala checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Li is looking to clinch.
Li throws a body kick that misses.
Li backing away here, and Takala unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Li is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Li clinches.
Li with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Zane Takala has been cut.
Takala is breathing heavily.
Takala managing to block the knees to the body from Li.
Takala has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Li tries to land a knee to the head but Takala blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takala managing to block the knees to the body from Li.
Li misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Takala.
Li missing with knees to the body.
Li looking to throw knees to the head but Takala is blocking nicely.
Takala is trying to break the clinch but Li is controlling him.
Takala wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Li tries a knee to the head but Takala blocks it.
Li tries a knee to the head but Takala blocks it.
Takala on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Takala has had enough of the clinch but Li keeps him there for the moment.

Takala pulls guard effortlessly.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Li trying to control but Takala is working from the bottom.
Li wants to pass the guard but Takala is keeping the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zane Takala showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Zane Takala's cut.
That's time! Li's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Takala looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
And Li counters with a quick kick to the body but Takala blocks it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Takala.
Li tries to work over Takala's front leg with a kick but Takala checks it.
Takala throws a nice outside leg kick.
Li pivots, looking for a leg kick but Takala is out of range and Li settles back down.
Li misses with a low kick.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch up but Takala swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Takala misses with an attempted mid kick.
Li wants to clinch.
Takala lands with a slapping head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Li tries to clinch but Takala is having none of it.
Takala lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Li doesn't manage to clinch there - Takala circles away.
Takala checks a leg kick.
Li tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Takala manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li tries to clinch but Takala moves out of range.
Li tries to clinch there but Takala circles away.
Takala misses with a low kick.
Li steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Takala. That one must have hurt.
Li avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Takala avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Takala lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Li tries to clinch up.
A bone on bone clash there as Takala blocks the leg kick.
Li tries to clinch there but Takala circles away.
Li is looking to chop away at Takala's legs.
Li misses with a kick to the body.
Li tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Li tries to clinch there but Takala circles away.
Takala avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Takala.
Li tries to clinch up.
Li checks the leg kick nicely there.
Li is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Li looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Li fails with an attempt to clinch.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Takala paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Takala keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Li moves out of range of the body kick.
Takala moves out of range of the body kick.
Li moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromTakala.
A clash of legs there as Li blocks the low kick.
Li checks a leg kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Li checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Li wants to clinch.
Li tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Li will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Li checks a leg kick nicely.
Li throws a leg kick but Takala checks it.
Li tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li is looking to clinch.
Li checks a low kick from Takala.
Takala throws the kick towards the body but Li avoids it.
Takala throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Li tries to score with a low kick but Takala moves his leg out of the way.
Takala goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch but Takala swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Li tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Li backing away here, and Takala unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Takala moves out of range of the body kick from Li.
Li throws a push kick but Takala slaps the foot to one side.
Takala swats away the attempt to clinch by Li.
Takala follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Takala paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Takala feints a counter leg kick.
Takala blocks the body kick.
Li misses with an attempted mid kick.
Li throws a low kick but Takala moves out of range easily.
Takala tries to land a front kick but Li steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Takala avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takala throws a push kick but Li slaps the foot to one side.
Li fails in his attempt to clinch.
Takala misses with a leg kick.
Li with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Li wants to clinch up but Takala keeps it at a distance.
Takala takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Li throws a low kick but it's checked well by Takala.
Takala moves out of range as Li throws a body kick.
Takala avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Li checks a low kick from Takala.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Li takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Takala chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Li tries to clinch but Takala is having none of it.
Li throws a sloppy head kick and Takala moves out of range easily.
Takala was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Li throws a leg kick but Takala sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Takala pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jing Jing Li has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Takala avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Li throws a low kick but it's checked well by Takala.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zane Takala comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Takala 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

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