PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between tweeti timorian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Herman Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Li is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Operation Ground and Pound. 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.

timorian
vs
Li

180 cm
22
160 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

173 cm
18
163 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, tweeti timorian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Herman Li!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shigeki Fujiwara and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Li throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

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

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

Li isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. timorian stacks Li on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by timorian!

timorian working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Li manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
timorian throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Li is trying to get back to full guard.
Li gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li keeping moving, preventing timorian from controlling successfully.

Li has his foot on timorian's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. timorian works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
timorian tries to free his leg and advance position but Li is retaining full guard.
timorian trying to control but Li is working from the bottom.
Li is looking to sweep but instead, timorian has passed into half guard.

Li actively working from the bottom here.
Li keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ground and pound from timorian.
Li is trying to get back to full guard.

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

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
timorian misses with a takedown

and Li decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in timorian's guard.
Li stopping the sweep attempt from timorian.

Li drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Li jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
timorian keeping full guard, as Li tries to pass.
Li content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Li drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Li jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Li stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. timorian swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Li looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

timorian has his foot on Li's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Li works his way back into a safe position though.
timorian tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Li drops back looking for a leg! timorian is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and timorian manages to kick Li off! Li jumps back into timorian's guard.
timorian pulls Li in close to his closed guard and prevents Li from doing any damage or advancing position.
Li trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Li drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and timorian dives on top into guard.
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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li is looking to advance position but timorian won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Li lands strikes from half guard.
timorian slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
timorian keeping full guard, as Li tries to pass.
timorian manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Li is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

timorian moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
timorian tries for a takedown but Li circles away easily

and Li counters with a single leg into guard. timorian didn't expect that.

timorian uses the cage to get back to his feet.
timorian shoots and misses
and Li cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Li feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
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 in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Li pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. timorian is keeping the position for now.
Li makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li throwing strikes from guard but timorian blocks nicely.
Li wants to pass the guard but timorian is keeping the position.
Li forces his way into half guard.
timorian moves into full guard.
Li wants to pass the guard but timorian is keeping the position.
Li loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Li preventing the sweep.
Li stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. timorian swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Li misses with a double jab
and timorian connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
timorian scores with a jab to the body.
timorian throws a left and a right that both miss

and Li counters with a single leg into guard. timorian didn't expect that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Li drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Li jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Li passes timorian's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Li missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Li not landing any meaningful shots this time.
timorian works his way to full guard. Good work.
timorian wants to stand and escape but Li is having none of it.
Li slips nicely into half guard.

Li is sneakily working for an arm triangle but timorian sees it coming and defends easily.
Li throwing shots but timorian is blocking nicely.
timorian lands with a few short shots to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
timorian wants to improve his position but Li is controlling well.

Li is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

timorian actively working from the bottom here.
timorian blocking the ground and pound attempt from Li.

Li is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Li blocks the strikes from timorian.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
timorian with a poor takedown

and Li counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Herman Li showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Li misses with a few strikes there.
timorian gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Li counters with a shoot takedown. timorian fights it but they end up in guard.
timorian utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

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

timorian is looking for a triangle but Li pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Li drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Li jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li won't allow timorian to sweep him here.
Li passes into half guard.

Li is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Li works his foot free and advances to mount.

Li swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and timorian is now in Li's guard. A big mistake from Li there, giving up the dominant position!
Li looking to hit a scissor sweep but timorian is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
timorian trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Li is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Li wants to hit a switch here but timorian passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Li there!
Li is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
timorian landing strikes, looking to finish!
timorian punching from mount but Li doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Li is looking to get to half guard.
timorian lands a big elbow.
timorian is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Li can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Li is working to get back to half guard.
timorian takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

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.
timorian raining down shots from the mount!
timorian unloads with some shots from mount but Li bucks and avoids them well.
Li working to try and regain half guard.
Li bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
timorian can't keep his opponent in guard - Li advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
timorian wants to improve his position but Li is controlling well.
timorian has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Li is working away from the top position though.
tweeti timorian has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Herman Li is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Li slows the pace down in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Herman 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30

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