PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zhelin Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil MaCrackin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Li
vs
MaCrackin

171 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
19
164 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Experienced

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zhelin Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Phil MaCrackin!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Li tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but MaCrackin defends well and Li ends up having to push MaCrackin into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Li is stalling here.
Li stalling in the clinch but MaCrackin improves position.
Li wants a takedown but no success here.
Li tries to pull guard but MaCrackin holds him up against the cage and eventually Li drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zhelin Li. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Li tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. MaCrackin smiles and moves away.

Li feints and as MaCrackin raises his hands in defense, Li changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Li won't allow MaCrackin to get back to his feet.
Li wants to control from the top but MaCrackin keeps moving.
MaCrackin keeping full guard, as Li tries to pass.
Li prevents MaCrackin from getting back to his feet.
Li wants to control from the top but MaCrackin keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Zhelin Li.

Li closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
MaCrackin wants to get back to his feet.

Li is trying to get an arm triangle but MaCrackin is defending well.
Li sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but MaCrackin is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Li goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, MaCrackin rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Li's guard! Nice work there by MaCrackin!
Li wants to sweep here but MaCrackin controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

MaCrackin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Li is trying to keep MaCrackin in close.

Li has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but MaCrackin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Li is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Li preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Li is looking for a triangle but MaCrackin pushes his legs off easily.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Li is looking for a triangle but MaCrackin pushes his legs off easily.

Li looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! MaCrackin has picked Li up and slammed him! Li can't keep hold of the triangle and MaCrackin manages to pass to side control!
Li takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
MaCrackin in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Li is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked MaCrackin off and has taken his back!

Li is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. MaCrackin is defending well though. Li let's go of the attempt for now.
MaCrackin trying to control the action but Li just sinks the hooks in.
MaCrackin covering up well under a series of strikes from Li.
MaCrackin wants to control his opponent's hands but Li gets his hands free.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Li has the hooks in. MaCrackin is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

MaCrackin showing good submission defense here.
MaCrackin is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Li off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

Li looking for the choke but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhelin Li 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.

MaCrackin lands a head kick. Li smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Zhelin Li is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Li tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but MaCrackin defends well and Li ends up having to push MaCrackin into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
MaCrackin lands a nice knee to the body.

Li has MaCrackin pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Li pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending MaCrackin tumbling to the mat - Li dives into MaCrackin's guard.
Li wants to pass the guard but MaCrackin is keeping the position.
We've been hearing good reports from Li's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
MaCrackin keeping moving, preventing Li from controlling successfully.

Li thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Li pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. MaCrackin is keeping the position for now.
MaCrackin has his hands on Li's head, controlling the position.
Let's hope that MaCrackin 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.
MaCrackin wants to get back to his feet but Li is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Li throwing strikes but missing.
Li tries to free his leg and advance position but MaCrackin is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Phil MaCrackin hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Li shoots in and drives through. MaCrackin sprawls well.
Li tries to clinch but MaCrackin moves out of range.

MaCrackin closes the distance and clinches.
Li jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as MaCrackin walks away with a smile on his face. Li gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zhelin Li. That's going to take a lot out of him.
MaCrackin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Li.
MaCrackin defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Li.
No luck for Li with that takedown attempt.

MaCrackin forces Li back against the cage and clinches.
Li fails to pull guard.
MaCrackin effectively controlling the action here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Li tries to pull guard but MaCrackin holds him up against the cage and eventually Li drops back down to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. MaCrackin smiles and moves away.
Zhelin Li seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

MaCrackin closes the distance and clinches.
MaCrackin landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Li tries to pull guard but MaCrackin holds him up against the cage and eventually Li drops back down to his feet.
MaCrackin is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

MaCrackin has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Li uses from the top position.
MaCrackin 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 actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Li looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
MaCrackin tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Li.
Li is looking for a sweep. MaCrackin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Li is trying is best to control the position here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
MaCrackin trying to control from half guard but Li is working away.
Li wants to control but MaCrackin is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Phil MaCrackin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Li shoots in for a takedown but MaCrackin shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

MaCrackin has managed to clinch.
Li tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. MaCrackin smiles and moves away.

MaCrackin closes the distance and clinches.
Li tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. MaCrackin smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zhelin Li. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Li looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Li steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from MaCrackin. That one must have hurt.
Li shoots in but no luck this time.
Li has a takedown stuffed.
A solid body kick from MaCrackin.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
MaCrackin lands a high kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li dives in for a single leg takedown but MaCrackin sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Li tries to pull guard but MaCrackin holds him up against the cage and eventually Li drops back down to his feet.
A bit of stalling here from MaCrackin.
Li fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Li is trying to pull guard but MaCrackin has him pressed against the cage.
MaCrackin dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

MaCrackin jumps into guard, dragging Li to the mat.
MaCrackin 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.
MaCrackin managing to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Li is looking to advance position but MaCrackin has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MaCrackin controlling from mount.
Li gets back to half guard.
Li has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. MaCrackin is working away from the top position though.
MaCrackin is controlling the pace.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
MaCrackin tries to stand but can't do so whilst Li controls his leg.
Zhelin Li overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li tries to get to full guard but MaCrackin has control of the leg.
Li makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Li.
MaCrackin wants to stand but Li is controlling his posture from full guard.

Li working for submissions but it's allowed MaCrackin to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like MaCrackin is going to stand back up.
Li tries to get to full guard but MaCrackin has control of the leg.
Li is working hard here to advance position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
MaCrackin wants to pass the guard but Li is defending well.
MaCrackin is looking to take a break and control but Li is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phil MaCrackin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think MaCrackin 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phil MaCrackin!