PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Herman Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyle McCoy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Li might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Operation Ground and Pound. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Li
vs
McCoy

173 cm
19
168 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

175 cm
23
160 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

[JMFC]Arashi Fighting Nutrition Q156 REC/CARDIO

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Herman Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kyle McCoy!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCoy looks to score with a jab to the body but Li is just out of range.
McCoy avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
McCoy throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Li's waist but Li gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McCoy off to one side.

Excellent takedown into side control there by McCoy.
Li tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but McCoy wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
McCoy laying and praying for a moment but Li takes advantage and regains half guard.
McCoy is trying to control. Li wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Li is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of McCoy's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take McCoy's back!
Li missing with strikes from the back.
Li missing with strikes.
McCoy staying busy and making it hard for Li to control.
McCoy rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
McCoy won't allow Li to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCoy tries to get to full guard but Li has control of the leg.
McCoy keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCoy regains full guard. Nicely done.
Li postures up in McCoy's guard and throws a big left but McCoy blocks it.
Li wants to control from the top but McCoy keeps moving.
Li working some strikes from top position.
Li has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Li trying to control the position from guard on top but McCoy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Li is looking to advance position but McCoy has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

McCoy working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Li is trying desperately to improve position.

Li defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from McCoy.
Li can't escape the position.
McCoy throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Li is trying desperately to improve position.
McCoy trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
McCoy wants to pass to mount but Li is defending the position.
McCoy is trying to control the action in half guard but Li is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Li keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Li gets back to full guard.

Li working for a triangle but McCoy defends it easily.

Li is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McCoy is aware though and is defending well.
Li is breathing heavily.
McCoy wants to control from the top but Li keeps moving.
McCoy works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Li looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li trying to control but McCoy postures up.
Li regains full guard. Nicely done.
McCoy postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
McCoy content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Li has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McCoy can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Li can't keep his opponent in guard - McCoy advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

McCoy is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
McCoy throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

McCoy seems to be looking for submissions.
Li tries to roll over but McCoy keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kyle McCoy will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Li looks for a takedown but McCoy sprawls well.
McCoy works Li's body with a nice hook.
McCoy is looking to slow Li down with leg kicks.
McCoy connects with a jab.
Li walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
McCoy lands with a right hand.
Li doesn't manage to clinch there - McCoy circles away.
Li fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A nice leg kick lands there from McCoy.
Li misses with a wild body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
McCoy tries for a takedown. No joy.
McCoy pushes off an throws an elbow but Li leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
McCoy creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Li's defenses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Li just misses with a elbow thrown towards McCoy's brow.
McCoy lands a damaging elbow.
McCoy lands a damaging elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCoy blocks the elbow strike.
McCoy putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Li in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Li tries for a takedown but McCoy manages to get underhooks.
McCoy drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
McCoy tries for a takedown but Li manages to get underhooks.
Herman Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyle McCoy.
McCoy looking to throw knees to the head but Li is blocking nicely.
Li throws an elbow but it's blocked.
McCoy lands an elbow just above Li 's eye.
McCoy lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
McCoy tries to stall but Li uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Li changes levels and goes for a takedown here. McCoy fights it off and pushes away nicely.
McCoy misses with a jab, cross combination.
Li throws a hook but McCoy blocks it.
McCoy tries for a takedown but Li circles away easily

and Li counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Li postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Li connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCoy trying to control the position.
Li trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McCoy looking to control.
McCoy pulls Li in close to prevent any damage.
McCoy looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Li trying to control but McCoy is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Li defending well as McCoy loads up on a big left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li throws a looping overhand right but McCoy ducks down to avoid it.
Kyle McCoy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McCoy uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Li.
McCoy throws a one two combo.
McCoy throws a head kick that Li semi-blocks.

McCoy shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

McCoy is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Li is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Li has escaped and now he's on top!

Li postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! McCoy is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Li, into his guard.
McCoy postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCoy advances position into side control!

McCoy tries for a kimura but Li is defending well.
McCoy misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Li sneaks back into half guard.
Li slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Li bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McCoy's guard.
Li trying to control but McCoy is working from the bottom.
McCoy is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kyle McCoy will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Li shoots in but McCoy avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Li walks forward, straight into a front kick from McCoy.
A decent looking body kick lands there for McCoy.
Li takes a jab right on the kisser.
McCoy throws a nice looking combination but Li bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Li shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. McCoy is trying to defend but Li finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
McCoy makes his way to full guard. A much better position for McCoy.
McCoy has his hands on Li's head, controlling the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Li passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Herman Li overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCoy regains half guard.
McCoy is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
McCoy won't allow Li to pass to mount.
McCoy slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Li trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Li trying to control the position from guard on top but McCoy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McCoy 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.
Li trying to control but McCoy is working from the bottom.
McCoy is pulling down on Li's head to control his posture.
Li missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
McCoy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li throws a strike but McCoy rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
McCoy throwing strikes but missing.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Li loads up on a big right hand but McCoy slips the punch.
McCoy misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Li throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McCoy sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McCoy throws a nice outside leg kick.

McCoy shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. McCoy showed some decent athleticism there.
Li wants to improve his position but McCoy is controlling well.

McCoy wants to work for an arm triangle but Li is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kyle McCoy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCoy is keen to just control but Li is a slippery customer.
Li is trying to get back to full guard.
Li is not content to let McCoy control the position.

Li looking for submissions off his back.
Herman Li has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McCoy performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
McCoy throws a nice outside leg kick.
McCoy shoots and misses
enabling Li to counter with a crisp jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kyle McCoy.
I've got McCoy winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kyle McCoy!