PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Danny Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fedor Coutinho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fedor Coutinho will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Li
vs
Coutinho

175 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

197 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Prefers ground

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Danny Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fedor Coutinho!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Alyssa Summers and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Li changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Coutinho looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Coutinho tries to buck Li off but Li is having none of it.
Li landing strikes.
Li working away.
Li is trying to move to mount but Coutinho reverses beautifully and ends up in Li's guard.
Li might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Li is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Li 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 keeping moving, preventing Coutinho from controlling successfully.
Coutinho trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Coutinho looks gassed!
Coutinhois looking to pass into half guard but Li pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Li is in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Li accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Li forces his way into half guard.

Li seems to be working for a kimura but Coutinho defends the submission attempt.

Li is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Li is trying to control the action in half guard but Coutinho is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Li tries to stand and escape but Coutinho is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Coutinho looks like he's trying to stand up.
Coutinho tries to roll over but Li keeps him under control.
Coutinho is pressing down on Li's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Coutinho looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Li controlling from the top position.
Coutinho is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Coutinho is looking to stand up but Li isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li throws and elbow that misses. Coutinho uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Li's guard. Nice move by Coutinho!
Coutinho is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Coutinho won't allow Li to get back to his feet.
Coutinho works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Li tries to roll over but Coutinho keeps him under control.
Coutinho is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Coutinho avoids the attempt from Li to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Li is trying desperately to improve position.

Coutinho is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Li has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Li tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Coutinho is looking to stand but Coutinho has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Li tries to reverse the position but Coutinho maintains control.
Li is working hard here to advance position.
Li looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Coutinho lands shots from the back.
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 Danny Li will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Li scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Li is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Coutinho defends it well.
Coutinho is refusing to be controlled, as Li sits in half guard.

Li postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Coutinho to stand up.

Li closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Coutinho slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Coutinho working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Li doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Li manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coutinho wants to sweep here but Li controlling him for the moment.

Coutinho kicks Li off and gets to his feet.
Li changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Coutinho tries to avoid it but Li manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Coutinho to the ground. Coutinho escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Coutinho has his takedown stuffed

and Li counters with a nice double leg into side control. Coutinho won't be happy with that.
Li working the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coutinho takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Li scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Coutinho to see if he's OK.
The ground and pound from Li seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Li trying to control the position but Coutinho is working away.

Li is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Coutinho is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Li is looking to take a break and control but Coutinho is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Coutinho is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Coutinho manages to work his way to half guard, despite Li's best efforts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coutinho punching from the bottom.
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. Li connects with a nice short shot to Coutinho's temple.
Li trying to control the action but Coutinho is working from the bottom.

Li is looking for a kimura here.

Li stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Li looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Coutinho scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Fedor Coutinho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Li fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Coutinho sprawls well initially but Li persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Li not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Coutinho trying to control but Li postures up.
Li is keen to just control but Coutinho is a slippery customer.
Coutinho is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Coutinho gets full guard.
Li sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Coutinho's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Li dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Li.
Coutinho manages to work his way to half guard, despite Li's best efforts.
Coutinho has hold of Li's hands but Li slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Li is looking to advance position but Coutinho won't allow it.
Li prevents Coutinho from improving his position.
Li trying to control the action but Coutinho is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Coutinho regains full guard. Nicely done.
Coutinho doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li pushes down on Coutinho's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Li has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Coutinho is working to get back to half guard.
Coutinho gets back to half guard.
Coutinho is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Li's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Li's back!
Coutinho controlling well, preventing Li from escaping the position.
Li looking very determined here, making life difficult for Coutinho.
Li trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li breaks Coutinho's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Li looking to pass the guard.
Li trying to control but Coutinho is working from the bottom.
Li advances to half guard.

Li is trying to work for a kimura but Coutinho is defending well.
Coutinho looks like he's trying to stand up.
Li thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li wants to take a breather but Coutinho is having none of it.
Li is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Coutinho is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Coutinho is looking to improve his position.

Coutinho is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Li pulls his head out easily.
Li uses his free foot to push down on Coutinho's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Coutinho.
Coutinho regains half guard.
Li wants to lay and pray for a moment but Coutinho keeps working.
Coutinho is in trouble now - Li has advanced to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Li is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Danny Li is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Li has Coutinho up against the cage in a clinch.

Li decides to pull guard.

Li escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Coutinho gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Coutinho postures up.
Fedor Coutinho has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Coutinho throwing strikes from guard but Li blocks nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Danny Li showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Li, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 30:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Danny Li!