PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mark Stepp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zhelin Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Stepp
vs
Li

174 cm
20
164 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

171 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Powerful

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $140

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mark Stepp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zhelin Li!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A decent looking cross lands there for Stepp.

Stepp has managed to clinch.
Li fails to pull guard.
Li tries to pull guard but Stepp holds him up against the cage and eventually Li drops back down to his feet.
Still in the clinch, Stepp scores with a nice short uppercut.

Li jumps guard and drags Stepp to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Stepp is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Li is trying to keep Stepp in close.
Stepp wanted to stand there but Li had control of the position.

Li has an active guard here but Stepp has managed to pass into half guard.
Li felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Li trying to hold on to Stepp's head to control him but Stepp postures up.

Li looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stepp moves into full mount! Li won't be happy about that!
Stepp trying to control but Li is having none of it.
Stepp content just to control the position here.
Li keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Li tries to lock up and control but Stepp gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Li keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Li is squirming around, avoiding Stepp's attempts to control the action.
Stepp is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Li is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li regains half guard.
Stepp wants to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mark Stepp wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Stepp closes the distance and clinches.

Li successfully pulls guard.
Li not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stepp is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Li has his foot on Stepp's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stepp works his way back into a safe position though.
Stepp postures up in Li's guard and throws a big left but Li blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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.
Stepp wants to stand but Li is controlling his posture from full guard.

Li is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Li has a closed guard, preventing Stepp from standing up.

Li looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Li has a closed guard, preventing Stepp from standing up.
Stepp has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Li is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Stepp preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stepp trying to control but Li is working from the bottom.

Li had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stepp defends it easily.
Stepp knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Li on the ground.
Li has a closed guard, preventing Stepp from standing up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Stepp gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Stepp closes the distance and pushes Li back into the cage.
Li fails to pull guard.
Mark Stepp has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zhelin Li.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Li drops down looking for an ankle pick but Stepp pulls his leg out and moves away.
Stepp throws a leg kick but Li sees it coming and moves out of range.
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 Mark Stepp will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Li takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Stepp has Li up against the cage in a clinch.
Stepp stops a takedown attempt from Li.
Stalling in the clinch from Stepp.
Stepp unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Li is trying to pull guard but Stepp turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Li wants a takedown but no success here.
Mark Stepp has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zhelin Li.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Li ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Li no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Stepp tries to stand but Li is controlling from the bottom.
Li keeping full guard, as Stepp tries to pass.
Stepp trying to stand up but can't free himself from Li's guard.
Li is trying to control the position from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stepp wanted to stand there but Li had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Li looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Stepp in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stepp is looking to stand up but Li won't let him.
Stepp stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Li swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Li escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Stepp gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Stepp throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Li throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Stepp got a little sloppy there for a moment and Li has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stepp has managed to get both his arms back between Li's legs - danger averted.
Li trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stepp not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Li looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Stepp loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Li looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Stepp pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Li is keeping the position for now.

Li looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Stepp wants to control from the top but Li keeps moving.
Stepp wants to stand but Li has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Stepp avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stepp looking to pass the guard.

Li is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Stepp is aware though and is defending well.
Stepp stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Li swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stepp postures up.
Li is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Zhelin Li has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stepp wants to get back to his feet.
Li is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stepp regains half guard.

Li seems to be looking for submissions.
Stepp is staying active underneath Li, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Stepp tries to kick Li off but Li keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Li is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Stepp has managed to free his arm - good work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Li is trying to control. Stepp wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Li trying to control from Stepp's half guard. Stepp has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Zhelin Li will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Stepp keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Stepp forces Li back against the cage and clinches.
Stepp lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Li backwards.
Stepp prevents the takedown attempt.

Stepp breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Li has taken the fight to the clinch.
Li tries to pull guard but Stepp holds him up against the cage and eventually Li drops back down to his feet.
Li tries to pull guard but Stepp won't allow it.
Mark Stepp has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zhelin Li.

Stepp's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Stepp moves into the clinch.
Li tries to pull guard but Stepp holds him up against the cage and eventually Li drops back down to his feet.

Stepp breaks from the clinch.

Stepp tries to keep at a distance but Li has taken the fight into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stepp tries a knee to the head but Li blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Li tries to pull guard but Stepp forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Stepp tries a knee to the head but Li blocks it.
Stepp scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Li jumps guard but Stepp stands there with Li around his waist. Li gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Li jumps guard but Stepp turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Stepp is working Li over against the cage.
Li takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stepp lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Stepp landing knees to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Li tries to pull guard but Stepp holds him up against the cage and eventually Li drops back down to his feet.
Li tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Stepp just stands there and leans against the cage.
Stepp landing knees to the head.

Stepp's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stepp moves into range and clinches up with Li.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Stepp as Li tries to tie him up.
Stepp stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Li jumps guard but Stepp stands there with Li around his waist. Li gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stepp lands a nice uppercut.
Li is looking to control Stepp's arms but Stepp gets an underhook and turns him. Now Li has his back to the cage.
Li is trying to pull guard but Stepp turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Stepp lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Li backwards.
Li drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A nice right hand lands inside from Stepp.
A nice right hand lands inside from Stepp.
Li tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Stepp smiles and moves away.

Stepp moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stepp stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Stepp.
Li wants a takedown.
Stepp lands a body shot.
Stepp lands a good knee to the midsection. Li won't want to take too many of those.
Stepp with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Stepp lands a right hand that snaps the head of Li backwards.

Stepp breaks from the clinch.

Stepp has Li up against the cage in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stepp with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Stepp landing knees to the head.

Li jumps guard and drags Stepp to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Stepp tries to stand but Li is controlling from the bottom.

Li is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stepp would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Stepp stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Li swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Stepp stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Stepp lands with a straight right. Li didn't see that one coming.

Stepp gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Stepp is defending well against a takedown attempt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Stepp breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Li has a takedown stuffed.

Stepp clinches with his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Stepp showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Stepp 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!