PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Abel Rodriguez (ranked 5651 p4p, 501 weight class) and Phan Li (ranked 4628 p4p, 456 weight class). Rodriguez kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Cypress Hill - Trouble. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Rodriguez
vs
Li

178 cm
25
172 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

King Nutrition
Drunken Hobo Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Abel Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Phan Li!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Illya Tyunina and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Li closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Li stalling in the clinch.
Li cracks Rodriguez with a nice body shot.
Li is pressed up against the cage. Rodriguez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Li down to the mat. Li avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Li stuffs the takedown attempt from Rodriguez. Rodriguez gets slowly back to his feet.
It seemed like Li was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Li throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rodriguez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Li fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rodriguez manages to avoid it.
Rodriguez feinted with a counter takedown.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rodriguez or perhaps it was just good defense by Li, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abel Rodriguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez shoots in looking for a takedown. Li tries to sprawl out of it but Rodriguez 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Li looks to score with a jab to the body but Rodriguez is just out of range.

Li has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez has Li pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Li manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Li doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Li scores with a shoulder strike.
Li looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Rodriguez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Li lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Rodriguez.
Li misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rodriguez is trying to pull guard but Li has him pressed against the cage.
Li lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rodriguez or not.
Li lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Li lands a hook that snaps the head of Rodriguez backwards.
Li lands with a right to the head.
Li lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rodriguez being controlled against the cage.
Li is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Li lands an uppercut.
Li gets through Rodriguez's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rodriguez tries to pull guard but Li holds him up against the cage and eventually Rodriguez drops back down to his feet.
Nice body punch from Li.
Rodriguez is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is looking for a takedown.
Li lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rodriguez or not.
Nice body punch from Li.
Li taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Li.
Rodriguez tries to pull guard but Li forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Nice body punch from Li.
A right handed body shot lands from Li.
Li stalling in the clinch.
Li lands with a short shot to the head.
Li gets underhooks to prevent Rodriguez's takedown attempt.
Li works on Rodriguez's body with a couple of short punches.
A short right from Li.
Li lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Li lands a nice uppercut.
Rodriguez's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Li gets underhooks to prevent Rodriguez's takedown attempt.
Li working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Li avoiding damage.
Li working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Li slowing the pace effectively.
Rodriguez looking for a takedown.
A short right from Li.
Li lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Li scores with a shoulder strike.

Rodriguez is rocked!
Rodriguez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Li avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Li.
A right hand to the body from Li.
Li lands a left hand.
Li lands with a left to the head.
Li lands a body punch.
Li lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Oh Rodriguez is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Li lands a nice uppercut.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Li.
Li controlling the action here for a moment.
A right hand to the body from Li.
Rodriguez seems to have got his legs back now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li lands a body shot.
Li dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Li lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Li softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Li.
Li working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rodriguez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Li avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rodriguez is trying to drag Li to the mat but Li just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rodriguez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Li pulls his leg out and moves away.

Li pushes Rodriguez up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Li is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Li working some nice short punches in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phan Li dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A solid leg kick lands there for Li.

Li rushes Rodriguez and presses him up against the cage.
Li lands a left hand.
Li gets through Rodriguez's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rodriguez wants a takedown but no success here.
Li stalling the fight.
Rodriguez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Li to keep the fight standing.
Li's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Li lands a left hand.
Rodriguez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Li fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abel Rodriguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Li just misses with a punch to the body.
Rodriguez tries to counter with a takedown but Li is quick to defend against it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Li fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Li slaps away a takedown attempt from Rodriguez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Li. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Li.

It looks like Abel Rodriguez has been cut.
Li fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rodriguez is out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Li looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Li takes the fight into the clinch.
Rodriguez tries for a takedown but Li manages to get underhooks.
Li prevents the takedown attempt.
Li displaying some good clinch control by pressing Rodriguez up against the cage.
Rodriguez is working for takedown but Li is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rodriguez 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rodriguez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Li gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Li slowing the pace effectively.
Li presses Rodriguez against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Li lands a left hand.
Li scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rodriguez is looking to take this one to the mat.
Good body shot from Li.
Phan Li seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Li lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Li lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Li lands a hook to the side of the head.
A shot in the inside from Li.
Li working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Li scores with a hook to the body.
Li lands an uppercut.
Li lands a body shot.
Li lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rodriguez or not.
Li lands a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez takes a shot to the head.
Li digs a right hand into Rodriguez's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rodriguez's gas tank.
A left hand lands to the body for Li.
Li lands a body shot in the clinch.
A hook to the body from Li.
Li lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rodriguez backwards.
A body shot lands from Li.
Li lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Li.
Li creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Rodriguez with a big uppercut! Rodriguez tries to clinch up but Li pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Rodriguez to the mat! Rodriguez covers up and Li unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Phan Li!