PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Luke Lii (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Monson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lii comes to the cage accompanied by Legend of the Ocean . Rick Monson has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Luke Lii's chin.

Lii
vs
Monson

179 cm
26
189 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

190 cm
19
192 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Luke Lii!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rick Monson!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lii throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Monson counters with a nice low kick that buckles Lii's knee momentarily.
Monson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Monson tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Lii is able to avoid easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lii is defended easily by Monson.
Monson looks to score with a jab to the body but Lii is just out of range.
Lii throws a body kick that misses.
Lii shoots in but Monson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Monson lands a head kick. Lii smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Monson throws a series of punches but Lii moves out of range.
Lii throws a head kick that misses
and Monson counters with a three punch combo that has Lii backing up. Lii nods at Monson to acknowledge the strikes.
Monson has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Lii.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monson throws a low kick, looking for Lii's leg but Lii calmly moves out of range.
Lii pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A decent looking cross lands there for Monson.
Lii throws a hook but Monson avoids it easily.
Lii turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Monson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lii swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lii throws a sloppy head kick and Monson moves out of range easily.
Monson scoring well with a low kick there.
Monson checks a leg kick nicely.
A clash of legs there as Lii blocks the low kick.
Monson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Monson stuffs the takedown attempt from Lii. Lii gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luke Lii. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Monson slaps away a takedown attempt from Lii, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monson looks to land a body kick but Lii moved away.
A low kick from Monson is predictable there
enabling Lii to counter with a crisp jab.
A lazy body kick from Lii
and Monson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Monson finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Lii throws the kick towards the body but Monson avoids it.
Monson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Monson moves into the clinch successfully.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Monson comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Luke Lii has been cut.

Lii has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Monson is trying to keep an underhook but Lii manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Monson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Monson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lii pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Lii seems content to control.
Monson trying to control but Lii postures up.
Lii takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Luke Lii just wasn't active enough.
Lii feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Monson's calf.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monson leaves Lii with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Lii fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Lii shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Monson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lii.
Lii throws a lazy head kick
and Monson counters with a thumping low kick.
Lii looks for the body kick but Monson saw that one coming.
Lii shoots for a double leg takedown but Monson sprawls well. He's pushed Lii's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lii is breathing heavily.
Lii looks for the body kick but Monson saw that one coming.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lii on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lii looks to land a left hand but Monson moved out of range nicely.
Monson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Monson wants it to stay on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Luke Lii will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Luke Lii's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Monson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lii.
Lii throws an overhand right that lands on Monson's shoulder, as Monson tries to avoid the shot.
Lii misses with a head kick.
Lii fails with the takedown.
Luke Lii is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lii pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Monson misses with a low kick.
A head kick misses from Monson.
Rick Monson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Monson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lii throws a right hand that misses
and Monson counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Monson takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Monson misses with a two punch combination.
Monson fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Monson.
A head kick by Lii misses
and Monson counters with a nice leg kick.
Lii looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A lazy body kick from Lii
and Monson counters with an outside leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Monson tries to clinch but Lii moves out of range.
Lii pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Lii misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lii throws a head kick that misses.
Lii misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
That kick from Monson tenderised Lii's leg. Lii is trying to keep his angry face on.
Monson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lii scores with a nice head shot.
Rick Monson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lii will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Monson looks to land a combination but Lii avoids it well.
Monson misses with a head kick.
Lii misses with a kick to the body.
Lii lands a head kick. Monson smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
A lazy body kick from Lii
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Lii misses with a series of wild punches.
Monson connects with an inside leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
An inside leg kick lands from Monson.
Lii is trying hard to land a takedown here. Monson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luke Lii. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lii throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Luke Lii seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Lii takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Monson throws a leg kick which misses Lii's front leg but catches the back leg as Lii tries to avoid it.
An inside leg kick from Monson misses.
Monson looks for the body kick but Lii saw that one coming.
Monson throws a leg kick which misses Lii's front leg but catches the back leg as Lii tries to avoid it.
Monson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Monson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Lii manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lii throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Monson counters with a nice leg kick.
Monson throws a right and a left that Lii avoids nicely.
Lii dodges the punch combination from Monson.
Monson walks into a left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monson misses with the combination.
Lii chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Monson can pounce on him.
Lii misses with a kick to the body
and Monson counters with a leg kick.
Danga de danga de dang - Lii scores with a four punch combination!
Monson lands a nice looking body shot.
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!
Lii misses with a kick to the body
and Monson counters with a nice low kick that buckles Lii's knee momentarily.
Monson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A shot to the liver by Monson. Beautiful body shot.
Lii dodges the punch combination from Monson.
Monson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Lii's calf.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Monson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Luke Lii's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Lii takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Monson moves out of range as Lii strikes.
Monson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lii tries a head kick but it misses.
Lii goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Lii misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lii throws the kick towards the body but Monson avoids it.
A clash of legs there as Lii blocks the low kick.
Monson moves out of range of the leg kick from Lii.
Monson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Lii doesn't seem bothered though.
Monson takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Lii misses with a body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lii tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monson lands with a slapping head kick.
Monson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Monson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lii pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A punch combination from Monson misses.
Monson lands with a slapping head kick.
Lii throws a lazy head kick
and Monson counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Lii throws a head kick that misses.
Lii throws a lazy head kick
and Monson counters with a one-two to the body.
Nice body kick there by Monson.
Monson throws a low kick but it's checked well by Lii.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monson fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Lii has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Monson cracks the inside of Lii's front leg.
Monson scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Lii looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Monson tries to clinch but Lii moves out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lii avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lii misses with a body kick.
Monson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lii.
A nice leg kick lands there from Monson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lii throws a combination that misses
and Monson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Monson is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Lii rather than just go for the knockout.
Lii checks the leg kick.
Monson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lii slips a jab and a cross from Monson.
Lii throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Monson tries to clinch but Lii moves out of range.
Monson lands a head kick!
Lii throws a sloppy head kick and Monson moves out of range easily.
Monson tries a head kick but it misses.
Monson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lii throws a left and a right that both miss
and Monson counters with an inside leg kick.
Lii moves out of range as Monson throws a body kick.
Monson throws a leg kick that misses.
Lii throws a head kick but Monson moves out of range.
Monson lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Monson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lii circles away quickly and effectively.
No joy there for Monson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lii loads up on a big right hand but Monson slips the punch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lii misses with a head kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Monson.
Lii closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Monson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Monson 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Monson!