PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sam Rice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Li's choice of entrance music: 2pac - hit em up. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rice
vs
Li

192 cm
22
270 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

190 cm
26
274 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sam Rice!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Li!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Chris Downing and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Li fails with the takedown.

Li feints and as Rice raises his hands in defense, Li changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Rice escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Li gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Rice is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Li is aware though and is defending well.
Li preventing the sweep.

Li drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rice manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Li has Rice in his guard.
Rice passes into half guard.

Li is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rice pulls his head out easily.

Rice looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Li looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Li looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Li is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Rice is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Li has managed to free his arm - good work.

Rice is looking for a kimura here.

Rice is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Li has managed to free his arm - good work.

Rice seems to be working for a kimura but Li defends the submission attempt.

Rice is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Li sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Li actively working from the bottom here.
Li is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Li actively working from the bottom here.

Rice is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Li looking for submissions off his back.

Rice is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Li defends it well.

Rice is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Li sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Li looking for submissions off his back.
Li 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.
Rice wants to pass the guard but Li is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Li had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rice defends it easily.

Li is looking for a triangle but Rice pushes his legs off easily.
Rice wants to control from the top but Li keeps moving.

Li has his foot on Rice's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rice works his way back into a safe position though.

Li looking for a guillotine here but Rice defends easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rice passes Li's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rice is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Li is just riding it out for now. Rice eventually gives up the hold.

Li actively working from the bottom here.

Rice is looking for a kimura here.

Li looking for submissions off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rice is trying to work for a kimura but Li is defending well.

Li looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Li will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rice shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Li napping and manages to drive through into side control!
John Li has got the better of the ground game so far.
Li gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Li is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rice pulls his head out easily.
Rice knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Li on the ground.

Rice is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Li doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rice.

Rice is working for a submission of some sort.
Li wants to improve his position but Rice is controlling well.

Li is defending against the submission attempts here by Rice.

Li looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Li looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Li actively working from the bottom here.
Li is refusing to be controlled, as Rice sits in half guard.
Li wants to get back to full guard.

Li looking for submissions off his back.
Li regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rice wants to control from the top but Li keeps moving.

Li looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Li has his foot on Rice's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rice works his way back into a safe position though.
Li is breathing heavily.

Rice drops back looking for a leg! Li is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Li manages to kick Rice off! Rice jumps back into Li's guard.
Rice trying to control the position from guard on top but Li is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Li has his foot on Rice's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rice works his way back into a safe position though.
Rice trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Li working for a triangle but Rice defends it easily.

Rice drops back looking for a leg! Li is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Li manages to kick Rice off! Rice jumps back into Li's guard.

Li has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Rice should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Li has tightened it up now! Rice should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). John Li!
John Li seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.