PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Li Gong (ranked 993 p4p, 603 weight class) and James River (ranked 95 p4p, 58 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Gong
vs
River

173 cm
22
146
7 - 2 - 0

170 cm
23
147
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Conquest Nutrition™ (160Q) $48

Conviction
Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Li Gong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, James River !
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Dmitry Maklakov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gong lands with an overhand left.
Gong scores with a jab.
Gong scores with a nice right hand.
Gong throws a shot from downtown. River moves away and avoids it.
River misses with an uppercut
and Gong cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gong misses the shot to the body.
Gong throws an overhand right that lands on River 's shoulder, as River tries to avoid the shot.
Gong bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
River misses with a wild body shot.
Gong lands with an overhand left.
River swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
River throws a body shot but no joy.
Gong walks into a jab.
River lands a lovely overhand right.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gong throws a looping overhand right but River ducks down to avoid it.
Gong walks into a stiff left hand from River .
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
River fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gong manages to avoid it.
River darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
River swings and misses with a hook to the body.
River ducks under a wild hook from Gong.
River uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gong.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River sizes up Gong with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A head kick misses from Gong.
Gong throws a sloppy head kick and River moves out of range easily.
River misses with a shot to the body
enabling Gong to counter with a crisp jab.
It looks like Gong has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
River just misses with a punch to the body.
River shoots for a double leg takedown but Gong sprawls well. He's pushed River 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
River throws a lazy right hand but Gong sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gong throws a big shot that misses.
Li Gong is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A combination from River does no damage.
Gong scores with a jab to the body.
River misses with a straight left.
River cracks a nice hook into Gong's ribs.
Gong throws a shot to the body.
River lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jab from River .
River ducks under a wild hook from Gong.
Gong walks into a left hand.
River staying out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gong manages to avoid it.
River throws a big shot that misses.
Nice uppercut lands for River . That snapped Gong's head back.
Gong looks to score with a jab to the body but River is just out of range.
River takes a shot right to the bread basket.
River throws a hook to the side of Gong's head but Gong sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
River ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gong moves away.
Gong appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Gong loads up on a big right hand but River slips the punch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from River ! But no joy.
River throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gong throws a quick head kick that skims the top of River 's head.
Gong misses with a hook.
Gong ducks down and throws a hook to the body but River moves away.
River digs a good hook to Gong's body.
Gong 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.
Gong throws a sloppy body shot

and River moves into the clinch.
Gong swings wildly with an uppercut but River uses good head movement to avoid it.

Gong breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
River throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Gong counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gong sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gong's jab looks to have found its range, popping River under the eye.
James River seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

River shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
River not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with River in particular looking to stall.

River is working for a submission of some sort.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
River is trying to control the action in half guard but Gong is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
River controlling the pace.
Gong blocking the ground and pound attempt from River .

River is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gong doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time River .
Gong has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. River is working away from the top position though.
Gong is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but James River will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

River throws a shot from downtown. Gong moves away and avoids it.
Gong looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Gong scores with a nice head shot.
Gong throws a push kick but River slaps the foot to one side.

River has Gong up against the cage in a clinch.
River works on Gong's body with a couple of short punches.

River manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Gong trying to stand up but can't free himself from River 's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

River working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gong doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gong manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
River has a closed guard, preventing Gong from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

River working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Gong has passed into half guard!

That's one minute gone in the round.
River wants to control but Gong is keeping busy.
Still in half guard, Gong seems content to control.
Gong has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
River is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gong's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gong's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gong tries to escape the position.
Gong covering up well under a series of strikes from River .
Gong just trying to survive but River is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
River has good solid back control here.

River is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Gong has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Gong is in bad spot here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

River working for the choke.

Gong is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if River gets his way!
River gets his hands free as Gong looks to control.
James River has got the better of the ground game so far.
River tries to keep control of the position but Gong is staying busy.
River has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gong turns into River and is now in his guard.
Gong trying to stand up but can't free himself from River 's guard.
Gong pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. River is keeping the position for now.
River is pulling down on Gong's head. It's preventing any offense from Gong, at least for the moment.
Gong tries to free his leg and advance position but River is retaining full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

River is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gong is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James River showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Gong throws an ugly left hook that misses
and River counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Li Gong has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
River misses with a straight left.
River cracks Gong with a right hand to the side of the head.
Gong on the wrong end of a nice hook.
River keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gong.
Gong misses the shot to the body.
River is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Gong throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
River looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Gong misses with a wild body shot.
Gong closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
River takes a swing at Gong's ribcage but misses.
Gong looks to land a right hand but River moved out of range.
Gong misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from River .
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gong just misses with a punch to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Gong darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
River throws a body shot but no joy.
River keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
River tries to clinch but Gong moves out of range.
It looked like Gong wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
River lands a jab to Gong's midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River misses with a straight right.
River ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
River keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gong.
River now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Gong looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gong. River does a little dance to reset his feet.
River slips a jab from Gong.
River cracks a nice hook into Gong's ribs.
Gong misses with a left hand
and River counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gong moves away from the strike by River .
Gong swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Gong misses with a hook.
River scores with a jab to the body.
River misses with a body shot.
River uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gong.
River punishes Gong's body with a nice straight punch.
River changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gong swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gong displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as River throws out the jab.
Gong misses with a hook.
Gong misses the jab.
Nice takedown defense from Gong. No joy for River on that attempt.
Gong connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
River lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
River loads up on a big right hand but Gong slips the punch.
Gong was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
River is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
River looks to land a right hand but Gong moved out of range.
River has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Gong defending well as River loads up on a big left hand.
River throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gong moves forwards but River connects with a nice, crisp jab.
River lands a body shot.
A swing and a miss from River .
A jab lands there for River .
River blocks a jab.
River catches Gong with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gong looks to score with a jab to the body but River is just out of range.
Gong throws an ugly left hook that misses
and River counters with a stiff right hand.
River is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gong.
River tries to clinch there but Gong circles away.
River ducks under a wild hook from Gong.
River throws out a counter right but Gong avoids it with no problem.

River takes the fight into the clinch.
River stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Gong lands a body shot in the clinch.
Gong is trying to break the clinch but River is controlling him.
A frustrated look appears on Gong's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Gong misses with a short punch on the inside.

Gong's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
River scores with a hook to the body. Gong takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Gong lands a jab to River 's midsection.
Gong keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from River .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gong works the jab nicely.
Gong moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gong lands a glancing blow to the side of River 's head.
River looks to land a left hand but Gong moved out of range nicely.

River has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gong tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
River tries to throw a body punch but Gong avoids it by throwing River back against the cage.
Gong misses with a punch to the body.
A short right from River .
Gong is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
River goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
River is trying to drag Gong to the mat but Gong just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Gong lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Gong tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Gong.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
River lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Gong misses with a hook from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
James River comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well River 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James River !
James River thanked the fans post fight for their support.