PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Samuel Leiva (ranked 3698 p4p, 3004 weight class) and Naoya Li (ranked 236 p4p, 198 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Leiva
vs
Li

167 cm
25
135
2 - 1 - 0

168 cm
26
135
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

BANZAI NUTRITION

Conquest Nutrition™ (160Q) $97
BANZAI NUTRITION

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Samuel Leiva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Naoya Li!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, George Francis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Li tries for a takedown but Leiva sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Leiva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Li tries to counter by closing the distance.
Leiva fails with a takedown attempt.
Li wants to counter the offense by Leiva and move into the clinch position.

Li closes the distance and clinches.
Leiva tries for a takedown. No joy.
Leiva wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuel Leiva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leiva prevents the takedown attempt.

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

Li moves into range and clinches up with Leiva.
Leiva is trying to pull guard but Li has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Li breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Li throws a head kick but Leiva moves out of range.
Leiva shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Li sprawls well. Li wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Leiva gets slowly back to his feet.
Leiva sets himself, and Li steps forward looking for the clinch! Leiva avoids it this time.

Li scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Leiva sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Li wants to free his trapped foot but Leiva is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Li seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Li missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li prevents Leiva from improving his position.
Li trying to mount his opponent but Leiva defends it.
Li missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Li landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leiva trying to control but Li postures up.
Li wants to lay and pray for a moment but Leiva keeps working.
Li seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Li working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Li seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Li leaves Leiva with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Horrible takedown attempt by Leiva or perhaps it was just good defense by Li, which made it look bad.

Li instigates a clinch.
Li jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Leiva walks away with a smile on his face. Li gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Leiva tries to sprawl but Li drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Li wants to stand up but Leiva has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Li wants to lay and pray for a moment but Leiva keeps working.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Leiva flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Li thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Leiva's head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Naoya Li dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Leiva throws a nice looking combination but Li bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Li moves into the clinch.
Leiva tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Leiva gets underhooks to prevent Li's takedown attempt.
Li has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Li breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Li tries to clinch but Leiva is having none of it.
Leiva feinted with a counter takedown.
Leiva wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Li closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Leiva did well to prevent Li getting side control.
Leiva scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Li manages to mount him!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leiva tries to lock up and control but Li gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Leiva sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Leiva trying to control here.

Li is working for a submission of some sort.
Li trying to advance position but Leiva counters by regaining guard.
Leiva keeping moving, preventing Li from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Li stands up and waves to Leiva to follow him.
Leiva tries for a takedown but Li sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Li shoots in for a takedown but Leiva shows good takedown defense.
Li pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leiva moves in looking to clinch but Li pushes him off.
Li lands a high kick!
Li rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Leiva moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Leiva tries to score a power double leg takedown but Li sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Leiva somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuel Leiva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Leiva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Li shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Li is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Li postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Leiva to stand up.
Leiva takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

Li closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Leiva to the mat! Leiva manages to get full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Li is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Let's hope that Li has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Li decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Leiva, up you get!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Naoya Li showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Leiva shoots in for a takedown but Li shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Leiva tries to clinch up.

Li darts in and clinches Leiva up against the cage.
Leiva tries to score a body lock takedown but Li shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Come on Li - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Leiva wants to break free but Li has control.

Li has picked Leiva up - he's going for a ride! Li dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Leiva's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Leiva avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Li.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leiva tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Li throwing shots but Leiva is blocking nicely.
Leiva works his way to full guard. Good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leiva working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Li.
Li works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Leiva gets full guard.
Li wants to control from the top but Leiva keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Li accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Li slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Li.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Li throws a sloppy head kick

and Leiva counters with a shoot takedown. Li fights it but they end up in guard.

Li has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Leiva has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Li taking a breather.

Li breaks from the clinch.
Li fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li swats away the attempt to clinch by Leiva.

Li shoots in and gets a takedown into Leiva's guard.
Li seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Leiva working for a triangle but Li defends it easily.

Li decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Leiva, up you get!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Leiva as Li shoots in.

Li moves into range and clinches up with Leiva.
Leiva tries to pull guard but Li won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuel Leiva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Leiva tries a knee to the head but Li blocks it.
Samuel Leiva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leiva misses with an elbow strike.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Li lands a body shot.
Leiva misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Li manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Naoya Li is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Leiva is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Li is defending well for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Naoya Li comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Naoya Li!
A determined Naoya Li didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!