PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Damien Ching (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Ching might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to E Ala E. Damien Ching is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Ching
vs
Li

175 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

188 cm
21
168 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Damien Ching!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Chris Li!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Paul Gruel and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Li drives through and clinches with Ching against the cage.
Ching has Li pressed against the cage, preventing Li from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Li pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Li dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Ching. That did some damage!
Li fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ching feinted with a counter takedown.
A head kick misses from Ching.
A head kick by Li misses

and Ching holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Li breaks from the clinch.
Ching shoots for a takedown but Li saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Li slaps away a takedown attempt from Ching, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ching tries for a takedown but Li sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Damien Ching. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ching stuffs the takedown attempt from Li. Li gets slowly back to his feet.
Li fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ching avoids it really well and circles away.
Ching half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Li gets a clinch.
Ching has been working on his balance at Hilo Fight lab, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Li.
Ching content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Li breaks from the clinch.
Li throws a sloppy head kick and Ching moves out of range easily.
Li looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ching tries to close the distance and clinch but Li swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Li blocks the body kick.

Li moves into range and clinches up with Ching.
Ching tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Li gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ching.

Ching pulls guard successfully.
Li wants to pass the guard but Ching is keeping the position.
Ching trying to keep a closed guard but Li is proving a slippery customer.
Li pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ching is keeping the position for now.
Ching working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Li.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ching works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Li has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Li trying to control the position from guard on top but Ching is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Li pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ching is keeping the position for now.
Li postures up in Ching's guard and throws a big left but Ching blocks it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Li tests Ching's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Li clinches up against the cage.

Li manages to break the clinch.

Li drives through and clinches with Ching against the cage.
Ching prevents Li from breaking the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li has Ching pressed against the cage, preventing Ching from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Li lands a body punch in the clinch.
Ching tries to pull guard but Li forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ching misses with a punch on the inside.
Ching leaning against his opponent.
Ching working aggressively here.

Li breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ching slips a jab and a cross from Li.
Chris Li seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Li has Ching up against the cage in a clinch.

Ching breaks from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Li dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Li rushes Ching and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Li wants to take the fight to the mat but Ching manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Li lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Ching has Li pressed against the cage, preventing Li from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ching stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Ching jumps guard but Li turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Ching using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Li has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ching obliges.
Li has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Li's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Li throws a lazy head kick
and Ching counters with a series of strikes. Li will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ching as he jumps to the side.

Li forces Ching back against the cage and clinches.
Li is trying to pull guard but Ching has him pressed against the cage.
Damien Ching has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Li.
Ching is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Li pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Li missing with knees to the body.
Chris Li seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Li is trying to pull guard but Ching turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Li breaks the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ching managing to block the knees to the body from Li.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ching manages to break the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Li as Ching shoots in.
Ching slips a jab and a cross from Li.
Li throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Li moves into the clinch.

Li's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Li throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ching.

Li pushes Ching up against the cage in a clinch.
Ching jumps guard but Li turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ching jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Li walks away with a smile on his face. Ching gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Li misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ching shoots in but Li avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Li shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ching pinned against the cage. Ching gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ching thinks about countering with a body kick.
A head kick by Li misses
and Ching counters with a three punch combo that has Li backing up. Li nods at Ching to acknowledge the strikes.
Li is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ching sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ching misses with a looping left.
Li looks for the body kick but Ching saw that one coming.
Li fails to land the takedown.
Ching thuds a left hand into Li's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Li moves into range and clinches up with Ching.

Li escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Li shoots in but Ching avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ching shoots in but Li avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Li changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ching tries to avoid it but Li manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ching to the ground. Ching escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Li avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Li moves into range and clinches up with Ching.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Li takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Li wants to break the clinch but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Li showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Li rushes Ching and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Li's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ching stalls.
Li jumps guard but Ching turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Ching goes for a takedown attempt but Li pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Li scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick from Li is predictable there
and Ching counters with a head kick. That will keep Li thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Danga de danga de dang - Ching scores with a four punch combination!
Li looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li tries to land a leg kick but Ching saw it coming and moves away.
No luck for Li with that takedown attempt.
Li tries a head kick but it misses.

Li moves into range and clinches up with Ching.

Li jumps into guard, dragging Ching to the mat.
Li is controlling Ching's posture.
Ching is looking to work some ground and pound but Li has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ching lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Li managing to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ching working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Li throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Li looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Li clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li has had enough of the clinch but Ching keeps him there for the moment.
Li working hard to break the clinch.

Li escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Li gets a clinch.
Li is working for takedown but Ching is calmly controlling the position for now.
Damien Ching has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Li.

Li pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Li has his takedown stuffed
and Ching counters with a nice uppercut.
Li takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ching misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ching tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Li paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ching misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Ching as Li shoots in.
Ching misses with a head kick.
Damien Ching is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Li with a poor takedown
and Ching counters with a one-two to the body.
Ching pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Ching moves into range and clinches up with Li.
Li creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Li lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ching backwards.
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!
Ching stalling.
Ching is trying to push Li away but Li has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Li's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Damien Ching has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chris Li is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Damien Ching is winning the standup battle so far.
Ching takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Chris Li.
Well Li has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30

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