PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Daosen Li (ranked 4159 p4p, 5682 weight class) and Derek Poole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Li
vs
Poole

156 cm
23
150
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
24
150
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Daosen Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Derek Poole!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Dillan Fox and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Poole finds it's way through Li's defenses.
Poole lunges at Li with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Li's hand.
A combination from Poole does no damage.
Li seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Li tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Poole lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Poole misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Li tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Poole swivels and escapes.
Poole throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Li.
Poole misses with a series of wild punches.
Nice uppercut there from Poole.
Li doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Li takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Poole rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Li moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A nice combination there by Poole.
Poole throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poole throws a nice looking combination but Li bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Li avoids a punch combination nicely.
Poole throws a series of punches but Li moves out of range.
As Poole tries to get set, Li tries to push him back and clinch up but Poole manages to avoid the attempt.
Derek Poole seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Danga de danga de dang - Poole scores with a four punch combination!
Poole misses with a double jab.
Sloppy strikes from Poole. Those never looked like landing.
Poole lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Poole misses with a looping left.
Poole looks to land a combination. Li sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Poole will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Poole looks winded!
Poole throws a series of punches but Li avoids them all with ease.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Poole tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Li was well out of range. Poor timing from Poole.
Poole fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poole throws a nice looking combination but Li bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Li is looking for a counter combo.
Poole dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Li gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A bit of stalling here from Li.
Poole stops a takedown attempt from Li.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daosen Li. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Li gets control of Poole's arms and successfully pulls guard. Li will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Li is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Li is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Li decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Poole looks to land a combination but Li avoids it well.
Li goes for a double leg but Poole avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Poole continues to drive forward.
Poole is looking for the big counter here.
Li has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Poole after a bit of a struggle.
Poole wants to break the clinch but can't.
Li tries to pull guard but Poole holds him up against the cage and eventually Li drops back down to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Li breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Li tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Poole swivels and escapes.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch but Poole swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Li is defended easily by Poole.
Poole throws a counter combo.
Poole throws a right and a left that both miss.
Li dodges the punch combination from Poole.
Poole closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Poole lands with a shot to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Derek Poole dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Poole tries to bum rush Li with a series of wild strikes but Li uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Left hook, right uppercut from Poole.
Li throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Poole's waist but Poole gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Li off to one side.
Poole misses with a jab, cross combination.
Poole swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A shot to the liver by Poole. Beautiful body shot.
Li moves out of range as Poole strikes.
Li seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Li misses with a jab, cross combination.
Poole has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Li closes this distance looking for a takedown but Poole circles away.
No joy there for Poole, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Poole is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Li closes the distance and clinches up with Poole, looking for a takedown. Li pushes Poole against the cage but Poole circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daosen Li. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Li throws out a leg kick but Poole moves out of range and Li only half commits.
Li throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Poole's waist but Poole gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Li off to one side.
Li misses with a hook
and Poole counters with a series of strikes. Li will be more careful next time no doubt.
Derek Poole seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poole throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Li.
It looked like Li was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Li slips a jab and a cross from Poole.
Li avoids a punch combination nicely.
Poole looks to throw the jab but Li is out of range.
Poole moves out of range of the body kick.
A punch combination from Poole misses.
Poole works over Li's head and body with a nice combination.

Li gets a clinch.
Poole wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Li decides to pull guard.
Li is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Li is looking for a triangle but Poole pushes his legs off easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Li is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Li is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Poole is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Li is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li is keen to just control but Poole is a slippery customer.
Li uses his free foot to push down on Poole's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Poole.
Poole tries to hold on but Li postures up.
Li trying to control but Poole is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Li throws some wild stikes that Poole manages to avoid easily.
Li throws some wild stikes that Poole manages to avoid easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Li avoids the attempt from Poole to control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Derek Poole showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Li shoots in for a double leg but Poole sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Poole misses with a wild combination.
Li uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Poole.
Li closes the distance and clinches up with Poole, looking for a takedown. Li pushes Poole against the cage but Poole circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Poole. No joy for Li on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daosen Li. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Li tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Poole defends well and Li ends up having to push Poole into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Li jumps guard and drags Poole to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Li looking to hit a scissor sweep but Poole is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poole loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poole trying to control but Li is working from the bottom.
Poole stopping the sweep attempt from Li.
Poole showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Li is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Poole wants to stand but Li has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Poole misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Horrible takedown attempt by Li or perhaps it was just good defense by Poole, which made it look bad.
Poole cracks Li with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Poole moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Poole misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Li is looking to counter the offense by Poole and move into the clinch.
Nice defenses there by Li.
Poole misses with a jab, cross combination.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Li.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A punch combination from Poole misses.
Li appears to be looking for a big counter.
Poole throws a series of punches but Li moves out of range.
Li changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Li is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Poole.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poole throws a series of punches but Li moves out of range.
Poole displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Li.
Li fails with the takedown.
Poole looks to land a combination. Li sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Poole throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Li.
Poole lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Li circles away quickly and effectively.
Li with a lazy takedown attempt
and Poole counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Daosen Li is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Li throws a body shot but no joy.
Poole lands a jab-cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Derek Poole is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Poole misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Poole misses with a wild body shot.
Poole looks to land a combination but Li avoids it well.
Li tries a head kick but it misses.
Poole has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Li shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Some wild striking there from Poole.
Li is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Poole.
Poole misses with a double jab.
A counter left hand to the body from Li misses its target.
Li showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Poole.
Daosen Li has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Poole fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derek Poole comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Poole 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 26:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Derek Poole!