PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ty Little (ranked 1738 p4p, 2490 weight class) and Mehdi Illir (ranked 234 p4p, 326 weight class). Ty Little had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Little
vs
Illir

174 cm
22
164
6 - 6 - 1

178 cm
22
165
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Powerful

Silverguard Outfitters ðŸ›¡

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ty Little!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mehdi Illir!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Donatello Bradman and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Illir shoots in looking for a takedown. Little tries to sprawl out of it but Illir keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Little manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Little misses with a head kick.
And Illir tries to counter it with a takedown but Little pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Illir gets a takedown into half guard.
Illir is pressing down on Little's thigh, looking to free his foot. Little is holding on for now.

Illir is working for a kimura but Little is defending it quite comfortably.
Little has his hands clasped together around Illir's back. He's all about the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Illir looks to land a strike but Little avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Illir stops Little from standing up.
Illir tries to free his leg and advance position but Little is retaining full guard.
Little wants to get back to his feet but Illir is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Little working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Illir.
Illir sitting in guard here, content to control.
Illir missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Illir stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Little swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Illir throwing strikes from guard but Little blocks nicely.
Illir throwing strikes from guard but Little blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Little wants to stand but Illir is controlling the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A nice leg kick from Little, right into the meat of the thigh.
Little scores with a jab. Illir acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Illir shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Little manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Illir's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Little wants to stand up but Illir is controlling him.
Little can't keep his opponent in guard - Illir advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Little keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Illir is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Illir wants to free his trapped foot but Little is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Illir is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Illir working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Illir is taking a breather. Little says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Illir throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Illir is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Illir throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Illir seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Illir is taking a breather. Little says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Illir working over Little with some ground and pound. Little looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Illir is looking for a kimura here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Illir is trying to work for a kimura but Little is defending well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mehdi Illir dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Little misses with a straight left.

Illir darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Little blocking the ground and pound attempt from Illir.
Mehdi Illir has got the better of the ground game so far.
Little keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Illir missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Little is looking to escape.
Illir keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Illir is pressing down on Little's thigh, looking to free his foot. Little is holding on for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Illir thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Illir wants to advance to full mount but Little doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Little being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Illir landing some decent shots from guard.
Illir passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Illir is trying to get an arm triangle but Little is defending well.
Little wants to get back to his feet.
Little defending against the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Illir throwing shots but missing, from side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Illir is continuing to stall.

Illir is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Little looks calm but he's in trouble here. Illir gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Little is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Illir lets go of the hold and Little can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Mehdi Illir!
A victorious Mehdi Illir thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.