PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Chong Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergei Starikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Li
vs
Starikov

173 cm
25
162 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

169 cm
25
162 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Chong Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sergei Starikov!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yuuki Gou and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Starikov scores with a body shot.
Starikov digs a good body shot into Li's ribs.
Li shoots in looking for a takedown. Starikov tries to sprawl out of it but Li keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Starikov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Starikov lands a nice shot that snaps Li's head back.
Li shoots for a double leg takedown but Starikov sprawls well. He's pushed Li's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Starikov misses with a wild body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Starikov. Li does a little dance to reset his feet.
Li shoots in for a takedown but Starikov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chong Li. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Starikov. Li does a little dance to reset his feet.
Li tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Starikov punishes Li's body with a nice straight punch.
No luck for Li with that takedown attempt.
Starikov slaps away a takedown attempt from Li, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starikov leaves Li with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Li shoots in but Starikov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Starikov takes a kick to the side of the head.
Starikov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Li manages to avoid it.
Starikov lands with a right hand.
Li shoots in for a takedown but Starikov shows good takedown defense.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Li.
Li lands a jab-cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Starikov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Li looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Starikov is fending him off so far but Li persists. Nope, Starikov circles away and we're back to standing.
Starikov scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Chong Li seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Starikov uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Li misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Li takes one to the chin there.
Li shoots for a double leg takedown but Starikov sprawls well. He's pushed Li's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Starikov looks to score with a jab to the body but Li is just out of range.
Li has a takedown stuffed.
Starikov leaves Li with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Li is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li fails with the takedown.
Starikov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Li.
Starikov lands a jab to the head.
Li throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Starikov's waist but Starikov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Li off to one side.
Starikov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Starikov is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Li had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Starikov lands with a good body shot.
Li tries to score a power double leg takedown but Starikov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Li somewhat.
Starikov scores with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Li fails with a takedown attempt.
Starikov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Li doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Starikov scores with a body shot.
Starikov throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Li stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Starikov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Starikov lands with a nice body punch.
Starikov throws a nice looking combination but Li bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Starikov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Li.
Li takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Starikov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Li moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Starikov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Li manages to avoid it.
Li ducks under a wild hook from Starikov.

Li scores a takedown into full mount!

Li working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Starikov working to try and regain half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Li with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starikov is working to get back to half guard.

Li working for a submission but Starikov is keeping him at bay.
Starikov is looking to improve his position but Li isn't that keen on the idea.

Li goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Starikov is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Li looking to hit a scissor sweep but Starikov is one step ahead there.
Starikov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Li. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Starikov looking to pass the guard.
Li is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li looking to hit a scissor sweep but Starikov is one step ahead there.

Li looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Li tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Starikov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Starikov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four 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.
Li wants to sweep but no luck.
Li is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Starikov is looking for a sweep. Li is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Li is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Starikov is just riding it out for now. Li eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chong Li dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Li keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Starikov misses the shot to the body.
Starikov takes a swing at Li's ribcage but misses.
Sergei Starikov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Li closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Starikov is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Li rather than just go for the knockout.
Li shoots in for a takedown but Starikov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Starikov throws a body punch but Li moves out of range.
Li fails with a takedown attempt.
Li takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Li throws a lazy right hand but Starikov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Li changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Starikov tries to avoid it but Li manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Starikov to the ground. Starikov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chong Li. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Starikov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
No luck for Li with that takedown attempt.
No luck for Li with that takedown attempt.
Li tries to score a power double leg takedown but Starikov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Li somewhat.
Li drops his hands momentarily and Starikov takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Starikov. No joy for Li on that attempt.
Li shoots for a double leg takedown but Starikov sprawls well. He's pushed Li's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Li fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Li shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Li fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Starikov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Starikov connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Li closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Starikov looks to score with a jab to the body but Li is just out of range.
Li falls off balance throwing a combination
and Starikov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li with a poor takedown
and Starikov counters with a left to the body.
Starikov lands with a good body shot.
Starikov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Li.
Starikov just misses with a punch to the body.
Li uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Starikov.
Nice takedown defense from Starikov. No joy for Li on that attempt.
Starikov avoids the head kick by Li.

Starikov pushes Li up against the ropes in a clinch.
Starikov works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Starikov is working Li over against the ropes.
Starikov is working Li over against the ropes.
Starikov lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
A short body shot lands from Starikov as the two fighters clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Starikov.
Starikov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starikov lands a body shot in the clinch.
Starikov lands with a short shot to the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Starikov.
Starikov scores with a shot to the side of Li's head.
Good body shot from Starikov.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Starikov lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Li or not.
A right hook to the body lands for Starikov.
A body shot lands from Starikov.
Starikov pushes Li back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Starikov lands a nice uppercut.
Starikov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Starikov lands a nice shot to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Starikov.
Starikov lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Li or not.
Starikov lands a body punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Starikov is working Li over against the ropes.
A nice right hand lands inside from Starikov.
Starikov lands a body shot in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Starikov.
Starikov lands a body shot in the clinch.
Starikov lands a body punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergei Starikov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Starikov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 26:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 26:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergei Starikov!