PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Wang Li (ranked 7313 p4p, 5455 weight class) and Maximiliano Rodrigues (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Li comes to the cage accompanied by Space Cowboy. Wang Li looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Li
vs
Rodrigues

185 cm
23
176
4 - 4 - 1

170 cm
20
176
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Powerful

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 4 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wang Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Maximiliano Rodrigues!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Paulo Santos and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Li keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rodrigues tries for a takedown but Li circles away easily
and Li counters with a stiff right hand.
Li fails with a takedown attempt.
Li looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Li scores with a head kick. Rodrigues tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Rodrigues misses with a takedown

and Li counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Wang Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maximiliano Rodrigues.
Rodrigues trying to control but Li postures up.
Li throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Li throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rodrigues is looking for a sweep. Li is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Li decides to stand and escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Li clinches.

Li's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wang Li seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rodrigues tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Li defends well and Rodrigues ends up having to push Li into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
As Rodrigues tries to get set, Li tries to push him back and clinch up but Rodrigues manages to avoid the attempt.
Rodrigues will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rodrigues tries for a takedown but Li circles away easily
and Li counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Li connects with a jab.
Rodrigues has his takedown stuffed

and Li moves into the clinch.
Li lands a shoulder strike.

Li's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Li has managed to clinch.
Li lands with a short shot to the head.

Li breaks the clinch.
Li has a takedown stuffed.
Rodrigues counters with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues fails with an attempt to clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Li bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Rodrigues tries to clinch up but Li circles away and keeps his distance.
Li keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Li avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Li throwing a counter right hand but Rodrigues manages to avoid it.
Rodrigues slaps away a takedown attempt from Li, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Li is breathing heavily.
Li throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rodrigues's waist but Rodrigues gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Li off to one side.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rodrigues or perhaps it was just good defense by Li, which made it look bad.
Rodrigues goes for a double leg but Li avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Li continues to drive forward.

Li closes the distance and clinches.
Rodrigues tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Li avoids it.
Rodrigues looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues is trying to break free.
Rodrigues jumps guard but Li turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

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

Li gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Li keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rodrigues's efforts to push away.

Li breaks the clinch.

Li clinches.

Li breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rodrigues takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Rodrigues tries to land a body kick
and Rodrigues takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Li circles away from the clinch attempt.
Li throwing a counter right hand but Rodrigues manages to avoid it.
A jab from Rodrigues misses.

Li rushes Rodrigues and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Li as Rodrigues tries to tie him up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Li gets control of Rodrigues's arms and successfully pulls guard. Li will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Li will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Li has a closed guard, preventing Rodrigues from standing up.
Li keeping moving, preventing Rodrigues from controlling successfully.
Rodrigues advances to half guard.
Rodrigues 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.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Li is not content to let Rodrigues control the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ground and pound from Rodrigues.
Li wants to control but Rodrigues is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rodrigues fails to land the takedown.
A big right from Rodrigues misses.
Li cracks Rodrigues with an open hand slap.

Li moves into range and clinches up with Rodrigues.
Li is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Li pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wang Li is winning the standup battle so far.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Li manages to break the clinch.
Rodrigues shoots in for a takedown but Li shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rodrigues throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodrigues tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Li defends well and Rodrigues ends up having to push Li into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Li is looking to counter the offense by Rodrigues and move into the clinch.
Wang Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maximiliano Rodrigues.

Li moves into range and clinches up with Rodrigues.

Li manages to break the clinch.
Li tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rodrigues defends well and Li ends up having to push Rodrigues into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Li shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Li has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Li stands and steps away. Rodrigues gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Rodrigues changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Li tries to avoid it but Rodrigues manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Li to the ground. Li escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Li is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rodrigues can do to turn this around?
A jab from Li finds it's way through Rodrigues's defenses.

Li rushes Rodrigues and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rodrigues tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Li smiles and moves away.
Li checks a leg kick.

Rodrigues tries to keep at a distance but Li has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rodrigues wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Li has him pressed against the cage.
Rodrigues is trying to break free.

Li pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rodrigues looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rodrigues tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Li manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rodrigues throws a body kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues fails with the takedown.
Rodrigues takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Li defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rodrigues.

Li clinches up with Rodrigues and pushes him back against the cage.

Li pulls guard successfully.
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!
Rodrigues prevents Li from getting back to his feet.
Rodrigues trying to control the position from guard on top but Li is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rodrigues gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Li slaps away a takedown attempt from Rodrigues, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Rodrigues tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Li swivels and escapes.
Li lands a jab to the head.
Li shoots in for a takedown but Rodrigues shows good takedown defense.
Li is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

Li rushes Rodrigues and presses him up against the cage.

Li breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Li with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Rodrigues swings for the body but Li moves out of range.

Li darts in and clinches Rodrigues up against the cage.
Rodrigues drops down looking for an ankle pick but Li pulls his leg out and moves away.
Li is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Li wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li avoids a punch combination nicely.

Li gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rodrigues has had enough of the clinch but Li keeps him there for the moment.
Rodrigues tries to pull guard but Li won't allow it.
Li lands a damaging elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rodrigues is trying to break free.
Li has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rodrigues avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Li breaks the clinch.
Rodrigues shoots in for a takedown but Li shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Li stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Li wants it to stay on the feet.
Rodrigues misses with a hook to the body
letting Li counter with a right hand.
Rodrigues tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Li paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wang Li dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Li closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Rodrigues's guard.

Rodrigues has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Li has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Li pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Li gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Li is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
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 stops a takedown attempt from Rodrigues.
Li tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Li drags the fight down to the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rodrigues slips nicely into half guard.
Rodrigues trying to pass the guard but Li defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodrigues decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rodrigues or perhaps it was just good defense by Li, which made it look bad.
Rodrigues takes a swing at Li's ribcage but misses.
Li avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Li has managed to clinch.

Li pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Li stuffs the takedown attempt from Rodrigues. Rodrigues gets slowly back to his feet.
Li attempts a counter takedown but Rodrigues avoids it well and moves away.
Wang Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maximiliano Rodrigues.
Rodrigues shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Li pinned against the cage. Li gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Li scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rodrigues.
Li throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Li gets the takedown into side control.
Rodrigues manages to work his way to half guard, despite Li's best efforts.

Rodrigues has hold of a guillotine but he's not going to be able to crank on it really with only half guard, so it's no trouble for Li. Oh but Rodrigues has got full guard now! Oh boy! This one could be over very soon! Li goes limp - he's gone! Rodrigues jumps up and celebrates with the crowd - fantastic submission finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Maximiliano Rodrigues!
The defeated Wang Li had this to say: 'Hey, man, wait for me, we'll meet again. I have to rush back to a new training session.'.