PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Cali (ranked 5388 p4p, 215 weight class) and Harold Lister (ranked 5278 p4p, 213 weight class). Marcus Cali had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Cali
vs
Lister

150 cm
24
135 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

160 cm
24
140 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Marcus Cali!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Harold Lister!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Josh West and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cali has his takedown stuffed
letting Lister counter with a right hand.
Cali darts in looking for a takedown but Lister gets double underhooks and turns Cali into the cage.
Cali doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lister counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cali thinking.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Cali. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cali with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Lister counter with a right hand.
Marcus Cali seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cali misses with a takedown attempt
and Lister makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Cali tries for a takedown but Lister circles away easily
and Lister counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Lister's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Lister duly obliges.
Cali has his takedown stuffed
and Lister counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Cali is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cali with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lister counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cali thinking.
Cali doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cali takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lister scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Marcus Cali has been cut.

Lister gets a double leg takedown into Cali's guard.
Lister engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lister postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Lister postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Lister wants to control from the top but Cali keeps moving.

Cali working for a triangle but Lister defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cali looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Lister distracts Cali with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lister lands a couple of elbows.
Lister sitting in guard here, content to control.
Lister stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cali swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lister trying to control the position from guard on top but Cali is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cali had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lister defends it easily.

Cali is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lister is aware though and is defending well.

Cali looking for subs off his back but Lister has passed one foot through into half guard.
Cali taking some punishment here, with Lister in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lister seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cali does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cali with the active half guard here but Lister passes nicely into side control.
Cali struggling a bit here.
Cali is looking for a sweep.
Lister controls the position.
Cali regains half guard.
Cali trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Lister manages to pass to mount!
Lister avoids the attempt from Cali to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lister raining down shots from the mount!
Cali is in all sorts of trouble here.
Cali is squirming around, avoiding Lister's attempts to control the action.
Lister landing strikes, looking to finish!
Cali is trying desperately to improve position.
Cali tries to hold on but Lister postures up.
Cali is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harold Lister dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Marcus Cali's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cali tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lister swivels and escapes.
Despite the aggression on Lister's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Cali fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lister avoids it really well and circles away.
Cali shoots in but Lister avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Cali. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cali misses with a takedown
and Lister counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Cali misses with a takedown
and Lister counters with a good low kick that Cali was not able to check.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lister looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Cali working for a triangle but Lister defends it easily.
Cali looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lister slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Cali is looking to reverse the position.
Cali is working to avoid the ground and pound but Lister connects with a decent elbow.
Lister is staying tight to Cali's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Cali wants to control but Lister postures up.
Lister lands a few punches from side control.
Lister lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Cali down.
Cali being controlled for a moment.
Cali is trying to work for a sweep but Lister has mounted him!
Harold Lister has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cali is trying to escape the mount.
Cali is in a horrible position here. Lister smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Lister looking to control but Cali is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Cali is looking to get to half guard.
Cali regains half guard.

Cali looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lister is trying to control. Cali wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cali looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lister keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Cali is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lister pulls his head out easily.
Cali wants to sweep but Lister has passed to side control!
Lister wants to control but Cali is keeping him busy.
Lister is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cali is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Lister wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cali keeps working.
Lister has control of an arm but Cali manages to advance to Lister's back!
Lister really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cali. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lister turns into Cali and is now in his guard.

Lister avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Cali is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cali not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harold Lister showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Marcus Cali's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Cali has his takedown stuffed
and Lister counters with a series of strikes. Cali will be more careful next time no doubt.

Lister gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lister has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Cali drops back, looking for a kneebar! Lister looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Lister looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Lister!

Cali sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Lister is nestled in close to Cali, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Lister is nestled in close to Cali, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Cali is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lister pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Cali looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lister slips a nice elbow through Cali's hands, connecting with Cali's forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lister working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Lister is pressing down on Cali's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cali is holding on for now.
Lister works his foot free and advances to mount.
Lister lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Cali hang on?
Lister tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Lister fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Cali is wriggling around trying to escape.
The referee warns Cali that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Marcus Cali has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lister blocks Cali's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Cali throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Cali sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Cali throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Cali tries to roll over but Lister keeps him under control.
Lister trying to control from half guard but Cali is working away.

Cali looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lister is looking to take a break and control but Cali is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Cali looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cali has a hand on Lister's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Lister takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Cali is in a horrible position here. Lister smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Cali taking shots to the head.
Cali is squirming around, avoiding Lister's attempts to control the action.
Cali sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Lister is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Lister working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Cali actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lister trying to pass the guard but Cali defending well.
Lister is looking to take a break and control but Cali is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Cali looking for submissions off his back.
Lister controlling the pace.

Cali is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lister pulls his head out easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lister works his foot free and advances to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Harold Lister comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lister 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight for Harold Lister!
Judge Josh West scores the fight for Harold Lister!
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight for Harold Lister!

Harold Lister wins by unanimous decision!
Harold Lister seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.