PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Benny Winkler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Winkler
vs
Li

205 cm
33
277 lbs
16 - 6 - 1

180 cm
27
205 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Benny Winkler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Li!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Josh West and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Li uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Winkler.
Li keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Li takes a jab right on the kisser.
Winkler jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Winkler misses the shot to the body.
Li throws a shot from downtown. Winkler moves away and avoids it.
Li tries for a takedown but Winkler circles away easily
enabling Winkler to counter with a crisp jab.
Li shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Winkler as he avoids it easily.
Winkler displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Li throws out the jab.
Winkler looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Li darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Li not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winkler is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Li throwing shots but Winkler is blocking nicely.

Li is trying to work for a kimura but Winkler is defending well.
Li with the ground and pound but Winkler uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Li stands up over Winkler, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Winkler has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Winkler is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Li is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Li looking to sit in guard and control but Winkler gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Li looking to hit a scissor sweep but Winkler is one step ahead there.
Li controls Winkler momentarily but Winkler frees himself.

Li is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Winkler is aware though and is defending well.
Winkler will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Li working for submissions but it's allowed Winkler to get to half guard.
Li has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winkler wants to get back to his feet.
Li wants to improve his position but Winkler is controlling well.
It looks like Winkler is going to stand back up.
Li is looking for a sweep. Winkler is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Li moves into full guard.

Winkler stands up and waves to Li to follow him.

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.
Li pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
As Li looks to move away, Winkler throws a big counter combo bu Li just gets out of the way.
John Li seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Winkler needs to keep his hands up - Li had a free shot at his head there.
Winkler scores with a hook.
Winkler ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A big left from Li misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Winkler misses its target.
Li throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Li takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Winkler connects with a looping right hand.
Li tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Winkler defends well and Li ends up having to push Winkler into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Benny Winkler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Li.
Li just misses with a punch to the body.
Winkler tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Li was well out of range. Poor timing from Winkler.
And Li tries to counter it with a takedown but Winkler pushes his down on his head and steps out.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Winkler.

Li scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Li wants to advance to full mount but Winkler doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benny Winkler dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Winkler throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Li lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Li misses with a hook.
Winkler throwing a counter right hand but Li manages to avoid it.
Nice uppercut there from Winkler.
A combination from Winkler does no damage.
Winkler catches Li with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Winkler is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A jab lands there for Winkler.
Winkler misses with a few strikes there.
Winkler fails to land with a series of punches.
Li connects with the punch.
Winkler takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Winkler getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Winkler lands a jab to the head.
Li fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Winkler avoids it really well and circles away.
Winkler is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winkler tries to move into range but Li moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Winkler lands a two punch combo.
Li throws a big shot that misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Li.
A quick step to the side and Winkler tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Li looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Benny Winkler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Li.
Li throws a big shot that misses.
Li throws the left hand but Winkler avoids the punch easily.
Winkler lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Li throws the left hand but Winkler avoids the punch easily.
Benny Winkler is winning the standup battle so far.
Li is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Winkler.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li goes for a double leg but Winkler avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Winkler continues to drive forward.
Winkler swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Li throws out a loose jab but Winkler uses good head movement to avoid it.
Winkler throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Li takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Winkler lands a really nice looking cross but Li seems unphased.
Li walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
The crowd cheers as Li lands an impressive looking overhand right. Winkler doesn't seem phased though.
Winkler on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Nice sprawl there from Winkler as Li shoots in.
Li throws a looping overhand right but Winkler ducks down to avoid it.
Li swings widly with a right hand
enabling Winkler to counter with a crisp jab.
Li throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Winkler to counter with a crisp jab.
Li throws a looping overhand right but Winkler ducks down to avoid it.
Winkler was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Winkler blocks a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winkler tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Li was well out of range. Poor timing from Winkler.
Li is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Winkler.
Li lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Winkler throws a shot from downtown. Li moves away and avoids it.
Li misses with a lunging right hand
and Winkler counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Li moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Winkler throws a hook but Li blocks it.
Winkler is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Li can do to turn this around?
Winkler takes a swing at Li's ribcage but misses.
Winkler pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sloppy strikes from Winkler. Those never looked like landing.
Li throws out a loose jab but Winkler uses good head movement to avoid it.

Li shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Winkler blocking the ground and pound attempt from Li.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li lands with a punch from half guard.
John Li has got the better of the ground game so far.
Li winds up and cracks Winkler with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Li missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Winkler wants to get back to his feet.
Li throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Winkler to regain full guard.
Li being controlled here momentarily.
Li throws an elbow that misses. Winkler uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Li's guard. Nice move by Winkler!

Winkler avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benny Winkler dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Winkler takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Li misses with a straight right.
A jab from Li misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Winkler misses the target.
Li shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Winkler but Winkler pushes him off and we're back to square one.
An attempted straight right counter from Winkler misses the target.
Winkler cracks Li with a good jab.
Winkler ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Li misses the jab.
Li bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Winkler will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Li throws a lazy right hand but Winkler sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winkler has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Li finds it's way round the side to connect with Winkler's head.
Winkler moves out of range of the strikes.
It looked like Winkler wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Li fails to land the takedown.
Li throws a jab when Winkler was well out of range.
Winkler throwing a counter right hand but Li manages to avoid it.
Winkler scores with a jab. Li acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Benny Winkler is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Winkler throws a body shot but no joy.
Winkler lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Li loads up on a big right hand but Winkler slips the punch.
Nice defenses there by Li.
Li throws a body punch but Winkler moves out of range.
Li shoots in for a double leg but Winkler sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Benny Winkler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Li.
Li throws a shot from downtown. Winkler moves away and avoids it.

Li darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Li seems to be working for a kimura but Winkler defends the submission attempt.
Li trying to pass the guard but Winkler defending well.
Winkler is trying to stand back up but Li is controlling him
Li throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Winkler is refusing to be controlled, as Li sits in half guard.
Li missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
John Li has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li is keen to just control but Winkler is a slippery customer.
Li throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Li throwing shots but Winkler is blocking nicely.
Li throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
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 Winkler's temple.
Li seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Li trying to control the pace.
Li missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Li with the ground and pound but Winkler uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Winkler seems keen to control Li's posture.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Li accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Winkler defending well as Li loads up on a big left hand.
It looked like Winkler wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Winkler lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Li darts in looking for a takedown but Winkler gets double underhooks and turns Li into the cage.
Winkler sizes up Li with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Benny Winkler is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Li throws an overhand right that lands on Winkler's shoulder, as Winkler tries to avoid the shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Benny Winkler.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Winkler, 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benny Winkler!