PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Xiao Long Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Eberson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Xiao Long Li has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Long Li
vs
Eberson

172 cm
25
150 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

165 cm
25
150 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Xiao Long Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Robert Eberson!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Li jabs Eberson right on the nose. Eberson blinks but takes it well.
Li misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Li moves out of range of the leg kick from Eberson.
Eberson shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A head kick misses from Li.
Eberson misses with a double jab
and Li cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Eberson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Li thows a leg kick but Eberson checks it

and Eberson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Li's guard now.
Eberson postures up in Li's guard and throws a big left but Li blocks it.
Eberson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Eberson trying to control the position from guard on top but Li is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Li preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Li preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Eberson scoring with some ground and pound.
Eberson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eberson being controlled here momentarily.
Li is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Eberson works over Li with some ground and pound from guard.
Li avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Li is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Eberson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Li works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Li working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Eberson.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Eberson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li keeping full guard, as Eberson tries to pass.
Eberson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Li works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Eberson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Eberson trying to control but Li is working from the bottom.
Li is breathing heavily.
Eberson throws and elbow that misses. Li uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Eberson's guard. Nice move by Li!
Eberson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Li keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Eberson lands with a punch from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li wants to get back to full guard.
Eberson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Li keeps working.
Eberson is nestled in close to Li, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Eberson lands a nice short elbow.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Eberson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Li's head.
Eberson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Eberson slips a nice elbow through Li's hands, connecting with Li's forehead.
Eberson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Eberson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Li defending well though.
Eberson winds up and cracks Li with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Eberson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Eberson dominated that 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.

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Eberson.
Li tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Li tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Eberson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Li tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Li looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li misses with a head kick.
Li throws a hook but Eberson blocks it.
Li connects with a crisp jab.
Li tries to move into range but Eberson moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Li tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Eberson throws a jab when Li was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Eberson looks to land a combination but Li avoids it well.
Eberson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Eberson misses with a looping left.

Eberson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Li manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Eberson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Eberson is looking to work some ground and pound but Li has wrist control.
Eberson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Li works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eberson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Eberson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Li works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Eberson wants to control from the top but Li keeps moving.
Eberson lands a couple of digs.
Eberson is working Li over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Eberson throws a big right hand that misses.
Eberson scoring with some ground and pound.
Eberson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Eberson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Li's head.
Eberson working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eberson thows a big elbow that misses.
Eberson is in close to Li's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Li utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Eberson with a nice head shot there.
Eberson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Li not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Eberson is in close to Li's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Eberson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Li's head.
Eberson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Eberson is working Li over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Eberson cracks Li with a solid left hand.
Li has momentary wrist control but Eberson slips an elbow through the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Eberson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Eberson stuns Li with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Li misses with a head kick.
Eberson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Eberson slips a jab from Li.
Li is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eberson throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Li counters with a nice body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Eberson throws a leg kick that is checked
enabling Li to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eberson blocks a head kick by Li.
Li misses with a head kick.
Eberson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Xiao Long Li is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Eberson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip 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. Eberson connects with a nice short shot to Li's temple.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Eberson in particular looking to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Let's hope that Eberson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eberson is trying to control. Li wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Eberson is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Li!
Eberson with shots to the head and body - Li looks very uncomfortable down there.
Eberson with good strikes from the mount here!
Eberson lands a heavy elbow.
Eberson lands a big elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Eberson landing strikes, looking to finish!
Li taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Li that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The referee warns Li that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Li is rocked!
Eberson connects with a bit shot that sees Li covering up! More strikes from Eberson and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Eberson is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Robert Eberson!