PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ritchie Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kristoffer Persson (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
Persson

185 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
22
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ritchie Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kristoffer Persson!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Seu Braga and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Persson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Li moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch but Persson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kristoffer Persson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Persson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Persson is looking to take a break and control but Li is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Li is being controlled here.

Persson decides to stand back up. Persson steps back and let's Li get back to his feet.
Li is looking to clinch but Persson is avoiding it.
Persson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Li as he avoids it easily.
Persson shoots in but Li avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Persson lands a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Persson fails with the takedown.
Ritchie Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kristoffer Persson.
Persson shoots in looking for a takedown. Li tries to sprawl out of it but Persson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Li manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Li has closed the distance and engaged Persson in a clinch.
Li stops a takedown attempt from Persson.
Knees to the body from Li.
Persson looks gassed!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Li obliges.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Li putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Persson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Persson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

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

Li clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Li putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Persson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Li connects with a nasty looking knee right to Persson's face.
Knees to the body from Li.
Li really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Li landing knees to the body.
Persson avoiding damage as Li throws knees to the body.
Li unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Li crunches a lovely knee into Persson's ribcage.
Li landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Li lands a good knee to the midsection. Persson won't want to take too many of those.
Li unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Li unloads a knee to the mid-section. Persson lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Persson goes for a takedown attempt but Li pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Persson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Li moves into the clinch successfully.
Li lands a nice knee to the body.
Li landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Li misses with a short punch on the inside.
Knees to the body from Li.
Li lands a nice knee to the body.
Persson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Knees to the body from Li.
Li landing knees to the head.
Li tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Persson avoids it.
Li tries a knee to the head but Persson blocks it.
Knees to the body from Li.
Persson tries to pull guard but Li holds him up against the cage and eventually Persson drops back down to his feet.
Li lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Li unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Persson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Li pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Li is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Persson.
Li lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Persson looking to stall.
Li landing knees to the head.
Li missing with knees to the body.

Li's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Persson swats away the attempt to clinch by Li.
Ritchie Li is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Li stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Li wants it to stay on the feet.
Li is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Li tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ritchie Li dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Persson tries for a takedown but Li sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Persson shoots in for a double leg but Li sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Persson shoots in for a takedown but Li shows good takedown defense.
Ritchie Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kristoffer Persson.

Li clinches up with Persson and pushes him back against the cage.
Li unloads a knee to the mid-section. Persson lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Li breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Li doesn't manage to clinch there - Persson circles away.
Persson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Li sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Persson somewhat.
Nice takedown defense from Li. No joy for Persson on that attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Li, right into the meat.
Persson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Li closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Li is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Li missing with knees to the body.
Li working Persson over with knees to the body.
Li landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Li working Persson over with knees to the body.
Li working Persson over with knees to the body.
Ritchie Li has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Li tries to work over Persson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Li lands a knee to the body.
Persson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Li gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Li is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Persson can do to turn this around?
Persson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Li crunches a lovely knee into Persson's ribcage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li stalling the fight.
Persson goes for a takedown attempt but Li pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Li darts in and clinches Persson up against the cage.
Li tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Persson avoids it.
Li lands a knee to the head.
Persson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Li prevents it.
Persson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Li is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Persson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Li misses with an elbow over the top.
Persson managing to block the knees to the body from Li.
Persson can't get the takedown.
Li landing knees to the body.
Li is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Persson is defending well for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li tries to work over Persson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Li trying to land knees to the body.
Li is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Persson is defending well for now.
Persson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Li pulls his leg out and moves away.

Li closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Persson takes a knee right on the jaw!
Li is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Persson is defending well for now.
Persson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Li gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Persson managing to block the knees to the body from Li.
Li missing with knees to the body.
Persson can't get the takedown.
Persson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Persson managing to block the knees to the body from Li.
Li misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Persson.
Li lands a nice knee to the body.
Li prevents Persson from breaking the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Li.
Li is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Persson is defending well for now.
Persson is working for takedown but Li is calmly controlling the position for now.
Li using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Li connects with a knee to the head.
Li is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Persson is defending well for now.
Persson throws an elbow but it misses.
Knees in the clinch landing for Li.
Persson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Li prevents it.
Li unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Li trying to land knees to the body.
Li tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Li trying to land knees to the body.
Persson jumps guard but Li stands there with Persson around his waist. Persson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ritchie Li dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Persson wants to clinch but Li slips to the side
and Li counters with a leg kick.
Li stuffs the takedown attempt from Persson. Persson gets slowly back to his feet.
Li tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Persson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Li keeping moving, preventing Persson from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Persson might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Li kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li wants to stand but Persson is controlling the position.
Persson trying to control the position from guard on top but Li is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Persson content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Li lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Li moves in looking to clinch but Persson pushes him off.
Persson shoots in for a double leg but Li sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Persson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Li defends it nicely.
Ritchie Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kristoffer Persson.

Li fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Persson, pushing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Persson is defending well for now.
Persson tries to score a body lock takedown but Li shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Persson takes a knee to the side of the body.
Li putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Persson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Li tries to land knees in the clinch but Persson avoids the damage to the body.
Li is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Come on Li - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Persson takes a knee to the side of the body.
Li gets underhooks to prevent Persson's takedown attempt.
Li putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Persson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Li is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Li with a knee to the head.

Li's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The fight stays on the outside here - Li looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Persson with a lazy takedown attempt

and Li counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Li working Persson over with knees to the body.
Persson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Li avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Persson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Li uses from the top position.
Ritchie Li is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Li won't allow Persson to sweep him here.
Persson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Kristoffer Persson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Persson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ritchie Li showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Li, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:26
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:26
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ritchie Li!