PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Xiao Long Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luther Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Li's entrance music is Dragon Punch!. A fine choice. Xiao Long Li has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Long Li
vs
Santos

172 cm
34
150 lbs
18 - 12 - 0

170 cm
21
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 12 - 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Luther Santos!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos throws a low kick but Li moves out of range easily.
A shot to the body from Santos misses
and Li counters with a stiff right hand.
Santos misses with a straight right.
Li avoids the body shot from Santos.
Santos takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Santos checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Luther Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Santos avoids a kick to the body.
Li throws a push kick but Santos slaps the foot to one side.
Li throws an overhand right that lands on Santos's shoulder, as Santos tries to avoid the shot.
Santos looks to land a body kick but Li moved away.
Santos looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Santos cracks a nice hook into Li's ribs.
Li swings for the body but Santos moves out of range.
Li digs a good hook to Santos's body.
Santos blocks the body kick.
Santos throws a body kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li throws a front kick that sends Santos stumbling back into the cage.
Santos throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Santos misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Li counters with a left to the body.
Li throws the kick towards the body but Santos avoids it.
Li misses with a few strikes there.
Li tries a head kick but it misses.
Li throws a wild body kick that Santos sees coming a mile off.
Both fighters circling a little - Santos finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Santos blocks the body kick.
Decent striking displayed by Santos there.
Nice body kick there by Santos.
Li throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Santos.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos lands with a shot to the body.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Li - that will leave a mark!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Li.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Santos throws a series of strikes that have Li backpedaling.
Li shoots in for a double leg but Santos sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Santos is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Li rather than just go for the knockout.
Good shot there by Santos.
Santos throws a hook to the side of Li's head but Li sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Santos throws a combination. Li tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Santos throws a sloppy head kick and Li moves out of range easily.
Santos misses with a right hand

and Li counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A hook to the body from Li.
Li slowing the pace effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A short right from Li.
Santos drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Li gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Santos tries to break the clinch but Li is controlling the position.
Santos blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Santos has had enough of the clinch but Li keeps him there for the moment.
Li jumps guard but Santos stands there with Li around his waist. Li gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Li manages to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Li has a closed guard, preventing Santos from standing up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Li looking for a guillotine here but Santos defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santos trying to stand up but can't free himself from Li's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Luther Santos will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Santos.
Santos throws a sloppy head kick and Li moves out of range easily.
Luther Santos seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Li fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Santos has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Santos's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Santos duly obliges.
Santos misses with a looping left.
Santos wants to land a leg kick but Li is out of range.
Li takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Santos bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Li's head.
Santos pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Both fighters circling a little - Li finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Santos throws a head kick that misses.
Santos keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Santos misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li scores with a push kick.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch up but Santos swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Santos with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Li uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Santos has time to react.
Santos blocks a leg kick.
Santos throws a sloppy head kick
and Li counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Santos thinking.
Santos tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Santos misses with a kick to the body.
Santos misses with an uppercut. Li saw that one coming.
Li feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Santos's calf.
Santos misses with a hook. Li ducked under it nicely.
A low kick from Santos misses

and Li counters with a shoot takedown. Santos fights it but they end up in guard.
Santos is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Li advances position into side control!
Santos 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.
Santos is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Santos is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Li has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Li is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Santos will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Li scores with punches from side control.
Santos defending against the ground and pound.
Santos wants to get back to his feet.

Li wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Santos, who protects the arm well.
Santos dodges the ground and pound from Li.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Li postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Li prevents Santos from escaping the position.
Li trying to control the position but Santos is working away.
Li is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Santos is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Li lands an elbow.
Santos is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Li wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Santos, who protects the arm well.
Li working the body and head with strikes.
Li trying to control the action but Santos is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Li sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Santos is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xiao Long Li dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Li avoids a kick to the body.
Santos loads up on a big right hand but Li slips the punch.
Li is looking to land body kicks.
Li fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Li throws a right hand that Santos ducks under and follows up with a left that Santos also avoids with ease.
Santos tries to land a front kick but Li steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Santos.
Li closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A head kick from Santos lands but Li takes it in his stride.
Santos looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Santos throws a leg kick that is checked
and Li counters with a left to the body.
Li uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Santos.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Santos.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Li lands a nice shot to the body.
Santos on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Santos tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Santos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Santos throws a lazy body kick
and Li counters with a leg kick.
Li looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Santos looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Li buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Santos lands an overhand right.
Santos throws a sloppy head kick and Li moves out of range easily.
Li connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A nice inside leg kick there by Li. That's going to slow Santos down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos misses with a wild body shot.
Santos looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Santos misses with an attempted mid kick.
No joy there for Santos, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Santos's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Santos takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Santos gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Li connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Santos misses with an attempted mid kick.
Li fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Santos blocks a leg kick.
Santos throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Li throws a leg kick but Santos sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Santos throws a wild body kick that Li sees coming a mile off.
Santos misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Li.
Santos throws a right hand that Li ducks under and follows up with a left that Li also avoids with ease.
Santos throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Santos lands a nice looking body kick.
Li connects with a body shot that sends Santos's belly button to the back.
Li throws a body punch but Santos moves out of range.
Santos takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Santos throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Li.
Santos takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Li takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slapping body kick lands there for Santos.
Santos looks to score with a jab to the body but Li is just out of range.
A low kick from Santos is predictable there
and Li connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Santos throws an off balance right hand
and Li counters with a nice body kick.
Santos has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Li.
Li connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A solid leg kick lands there for Li.
Santos swings widly with a right hand
and Li counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Santos throws an overhand right that lands on Li's shoulder, as Li tries to avoid the shot.
No luck for Li with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xiao Long Li. That's going to take a lot out of him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Li uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Santos lands a nice hook to Li's body. Li takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xiao Long Li clearly takes that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Li throws a nice outside leg kick.
Santos misses with a hook
and Li counters with a slapping leg kick.
Santos displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Santos steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Li.
Santos just misses with a punch to the body.
Li blocks a head kick by Santos.
Li throws a body punch but Santos moves out of range.
Li takes a swing at Santos's ribcage but misses.
Santos throws out a loose jab but Li uses good head movement to avoid it.
Santos throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Santos throws a head kick that misses.
Li looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Santos is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Li misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Li.
Li blocks a head kick by Santos.
Santos thumps Li with a low kick.
Santos ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Li moves away.
Santos thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Li if he has to take too many more of those.
Li takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Santos throws a head kick that misses.
Santos throws a lazy uppercut
and Li counters with a good, hard body kick but Santos shrugs it off.
Santos takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Li wants to clinch up but Santos keeps it at a distance.
Santos avoids the head kick by Li.
Santos tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Santos tries a low kick but Li avoids it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Li. Santos does a little dance to reset his feet.
Li ducks under a wild hook from Santos.
Santos tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Santos misses with a body shot.
Santos misses with a kick to the body.
Santos misses with a low kick as Li jumps back.
Santos plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Li tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Santos was well out of range. Poor timing from Li.
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!
Nice straight punches there by Li. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Li.
Li jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Li throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li thuds his shin into the meat of Santos's side.
Li lands a nice leg kick that just misses Santos's sensitive parts.
Li takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Santos throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Li moves out of range as Santos throws a body kick.
Li scores with a kick to the body.
Santos lands with a nice body kick.
Santos lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Li circles away quickly and effectively.
Li tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Santos was well out of range. Poor timing from Li.
Santos swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Li avoids the head kick by Santos.
Li avoids the head kick by Santos.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Santos is predictable there

and Li counters by clinching up.
Li has Santos pressed against the cage, preventing Santos from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A frustrated look appears on Santos's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Li goes for a takedown in the clinch but Santos prevents it.
Li prevents a takedown attempt there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Li pulls guard effortlessly.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Xiao Long Li will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Li tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Santos manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A looping hook to the body misses from Li. Santos does a little dance to reset his feet.
Li misses with a wild body shot.
Li has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Li there as he acknowledges the shot.
A nice inside leg kick there by Santos. That's going to slow Li down.
Santos throws a body kick that misses.
Santos tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Li thows a body shot but no joy.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Santos.
Santos misses with a looping right.
A telegraphed right hand from Santos misses the target.
Santos lands a front kick.
Li chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos stuffs the takedown attempt from Li. Li gets slowly back to his feet.
Li lands a nice leg kick that just misses Santos's sensitive parts.
Santos moves out of range of the body kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Li.
Li avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Li avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Li blocks a jab.
Santos throws a head kick that half lands.
Santos swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Li counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Santos is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Santos walks into a jab.
Li just misses with a punch to the body.
Luther Santos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos throws a lazy body kick
and Li counters with a body kick.
Santos looks to land a combination. Li sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Santos looks to score with a jab to the body but Li is just out of range.
Li thumps Santos with a low kick.
Li ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Li thows a body kick. Santos tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Li throws a shot from downtown. Santos moves away and avoids it.
Santos tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Li was well out of range. Poor timing from Santos.
Santos throws a hook but Li avoids it easily.
Santos throws a hook to the side of Li's head but Li sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Santos misses with a body kick.
Santos rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Li to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Santos throws a hook but Li avoids it easily.
Li connects with a solid leg kick.
Santos throws a sloppy head kick
and Li counters with a nice leg kick.
Li takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Santos scores with a nice body kick.
Santos explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Santos misses with a head kick.
Santos throws a lazy uppercut

and Li counters by moving into the clinch.
Li tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Santos avoids it.
Li leaning against his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Santos avoids the elbow strike from Li, against the cage.

Santos breaks the clinch.
Santos throws a lazy head kick
and Li counters with a right hand to the body.
Li looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Santos misses with an uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A big left from Li misses.
Santos lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Santos tries to land a front kick but Li steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Luther Santos.
I think Li has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Xiao Long Li!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Xiao Long Li!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Xiao Long Li!

Xiao Long Li wins by unanimous decision!
A victorious Xiao Long Li thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.