PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cengiz Toprak (ranked 3935 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyong Li (ranked 22626 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Toprak
vs
Li

177 cm
25
155 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

173 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cengiz Toprak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kyong Li!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Chris Downing and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Li shoots in for a takedown but Toprak shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Li darts in looking for a takedown but Toprak gets double underhooks and turns Li into the cage.
Toprak is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Li.
Li lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Li scores with a shot to the body.
Toprak shoots in for a takedown but Li shows good takedown defense.
Li has his takedown stuffed
and Toprak counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Cengiz Toprak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyong Li.
Li is looking to clinch but Toprak is avoiding it.
Li is looking to clinch but Toprak is avoiding it.
Li comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Li checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Li shoots in for a takedown but Toprak shows good takedown defense.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Toprak moves into the clinch successfully.
Li is trying to pull guard but Toprak has him pressed against the cage.

Toprak drags the fight down to the ground.
Toprak wants to get back to his feet but Li is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Toprak 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.
Toprak is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li wants to stand but Toprak has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Toprak looking to hit a scissor sweep but Li is one step ahead there.
Li is looking to stand up but Toprak won't let him.

Toprak is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Li defends well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Toprak working for a triangle but Li defends it easily.
Toprak wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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 trying to stand up but can't free himself from Toprak's guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Toprak defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Li.

Toprak shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Toprak connects with a nice short shot to Li's temple.
Li missing with punches from the bottom.
Toprak slows the pace down in half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Toprak wants to stand but Li has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li wants to get back to full guard.
Toprak performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Li is defending against the submission attempts here by Toprak.
Li moves into full guard.
Toprak is stalling in the full guard.
Li striking off his back but it's not causing Toprak any problems.
Toprak's corner is telling him to maintain position.

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.

Li working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Toprak doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Toprak manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Li wants to get back to his feet but Toprak is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Toprak's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Li has his foot on Toprak's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Toprak works his way back into a safe position though.
Toprak has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Li is proving hard to escape from.
Toprak throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Toprak wants to pass the guard but Li is keeping the position.
Toprak slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Li wants to clinch up but Toprak keeps it at a distance.
Toprak feinted there with a counter leg kick.

Toprak gets a takedown into half guard.
Toprak sitting and controlling from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cengiz Toprak dominated that round.
That's time! Toprak's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Toprak fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Li to the ground. Toprak is now in Li's guard.
Toprak trying to control but Li is working from the bottom.
Toprak stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Li swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Li wants to stand but Toprak is controlling the position.

Li is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Toprak is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

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

Li working for a triangle but Toprak defends it easily.
Li is breathing heavily.

Li is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Toprak is aware though and is defending well.
Toprak postures up and lands a big shot to Li's brow.
Li trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Toprak wants to stand but Li is controlling his posture from full guard.
Cengiz Toprak overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Toprak working some strikes from top position.

Li throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Toprak knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Li on the ground.
Toprak lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toprak pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Li is keeping the position for now.
Toprak wants to stand but Li is controlling his posture from full guard.
Li throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Li can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Toprak controls the pace.
Toprak trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Li has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Toprak can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Toprak controlling from the top position.
Li keeping full guard, as Toprak tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toprak looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Toprak has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Toprak postures up and lands a big shot to Li's brow.
Toprak wants to pass the guard but Li is keeping the position.
Toprak is working hard here to advance position.
Toprak seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cengiz Toprak is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Toprak tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Li defends well and Toprak ends up having to push Li into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Toprak takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Li.
Kyong Li seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Li darts in looking for a takedown but Toprak gets double underhooks and turns Li into the cage.
Toprak displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Li.
Cengiz Toprak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyong Li.
Toprak looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Toprak looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Li!
Li wants to get back to his feet but Toprak drags him back down.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Li is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Li misses with an elbow from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cengiz Toprak dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Li shoots in looking for a takedown but Toprak manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Li's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Li gets caught napping as Toprak dives in and scores a takedown. Li manages to retain guard.
Li trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Toprak is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Toprak trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Toprak engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Toprak pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Li is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Toprak engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Toprak working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Li had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Toprak defends it easily.
Toprak is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Toprak would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Toprak wants to control from the top but Li keeps moving.
Li throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Li working for a triangle but Toprak defends it easily.
Li takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Li keeping full guard, as Toprak tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Toprak is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Toprak is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Li looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Toprak's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Toprak avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toprak missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Toprak lands a couple of elbows.
Toprak trying to stand up but can't free himself from Li's guard.
Li trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Li wants to stand up but Toprak is controlling him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Toprak shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Li manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Toprak is working Li over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Toprak is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Li can do to turn this around?
Li will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Toprak sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Li is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Toprak is aware though and is defending well.
Toprak postures up and lands a big shot to Li's brow.

Toprak got a little sloppy there for a moment and Li has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Toprak has managed to get both his arms back between Li's legs - danger averted.
Toprak is stalling in the full guard.
Kyong Li has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Li striking off his back but it's not causing Toprak any problems.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Li is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Toprak is aware though and is defending well.
Cengiz Toprak is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Toprak slips nicely into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cengiz Toprak showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Toprak, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cengiz Toprak!