PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Belal Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Martin Zinn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Li comes to the cage accompanied by Fearless. Zinn has chosen All Day as his entrance music. 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
Zinn

195 cm
29
188 lbs
10 - 11 - 0

185 cm
25
194 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Belal Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Martin Zinn!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Ackerman and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zinn moves out of range of the body kick.
We've been told by Li's head coaches at Alpha Elite Private Training that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Li moves into the clinch.
Zinn tries to circle away but Li has him pinned against the cage.
Zinn managing to block the knees to the body from Li.
Zinn tries to circle away but Li has him pinned against the cage.
Zinn is looking to break free of the clinch but Li has double underhooks.
Li prevents a body shot from Zinn.
Li misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Zinn.
Li keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zinn's efforts to push away.
Li working Zinn over with knees to the body.
Li landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Li scores with a knee to the head.

Zinn escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zinn looks to score with a jab to the body but Li is just out of range.
Li attempts a counter takedown but Zinn avoids it well and moves away.
Li tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Zinn manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Li showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zinn.
Zinn has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Li is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Zinn tries to bum rush Li with a series of wild strikes but Li uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Martin Zinn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zinn pivots, looking for a leg kick but Li is out of range and Zinn settles back down.
Zinn pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li misses with a head kick.
Zinn throws a looping overhand right but Li ducks down to avoid it.
The crowd cheers as Zinn lands an impressive looking overhand right. Li doesn't seem phased though.
Li is looking to land body kicks.
Zinn misses with a low kick.
Li defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zinn.
Zinn throws a leg kick which misses Li's front leg but catches the back leg as Li tries to avoid it.

Li closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Li lands a knee to the body.
Zinn looks winded!
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Li lands a good knee to the midsection. Zinn won't want to take too many of those.
Zinn doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zinn is trying to break the clinch but Li has him pressed against the cage.
Li missing with knees to the body.
Zinn is trying to force a seperation but Li has the dominant position.
Zinn wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Zinn tries to circle away but Li has him pinned against the cage.
Zinn is trying to break the clinch but Li has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

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

Li closes the distance and clinches.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Li tries to land a knee to the head but Zinn blocks with his arms.
Li is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Zinn is defending well for now.
Li keeps control of Zinn as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Zinn tries to break free but Li pushes him back against the cage.
Li throws a knee to the head but misses.
Li misses with a knee strike.
Zinn wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Li using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Li scores a nice knee to the body.
Li unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Li misses with a knee strike.
Li throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Zinn blocks it with crossed arms.
Li scores with a knee to the head.
Zinn looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Li crunches a lovely knee into Zinn's ribcage.
Li tries a knee to the head but Zinn blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li landing knees to the head.
A knee to the head by Li.
Li with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Li lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Zinn wants to get back to striking at distance but Li won't allow it.
Li unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Li is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Li landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Li lands a knee to the body.
Li scores with a knee to the head.
Li connects with a nasty looking knee right to Zinn's face.

Zinn is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Li lands a good knee to the midsection. Zinn won't want to take too many of those.
Zinn is still on wobbly legs! Can Li finish him?
Li connects with a knee to the head.
Li lands a knee to the head.
Li jerks Zinn's head down, straight into the path of a devastating knee! Zinn drops to the floor in a crumpled heap! Li goes to throw a finishing haymaker but pulls out - good sportsmanship from Li because Zinn was completely out of it. That was a nice finish - just the right level of brutality to send everyone home happy.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knee). Belal Li!
Belal Li seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.