PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Popeye Orion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chong Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Li is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by dig it deeper just to throw it away. Chong Li will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Orion
vs
Li

175 cm
19
170 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

187 cm
23
183 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Popeye Orion!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Chong Li!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Orion shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Orion was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Orion tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Li tries to reverse the position but Orion maintains control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Orion controlling his opponent.
Orion seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Li for as long as he can get away with.
Orion prevents Li from getting the reversal.
Orion lands with some strikes.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Orion misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li is in all sorts of trouble here.
Orion looking to control and managing it successfully.
Orion prevents Li from getting the reversal.
Li is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Orion wants to control the pace but Li is squirming around nicely.
Li is looking to improve his position but Orion isn't that keen on the idea.
Orion fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Li is desperately trying to improve his position but Orion has a good base and remains in mount.
Orion content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Li is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Orion sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Popeye Orion just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Li scores with a crisp jab that stopped Orion in his tracks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Orion.
Orion tries to clinch up.
Orion is looking to clinch.
Li moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Orion closes the distance and lands a one-two.

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.
Orion tries to close the distance and clinch but Li swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Orion looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Orion content to control rather than advance.

Li looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Li is looking for a sweep. Orion is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Popeye Orion dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Orion tries to clinch but Li is having none of it.
Li avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Orion throws a left and a right that both miss
and Li counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Popeye Orion is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Orion tries to work over Li's front leg with a kick but Li checks it.
Li shoots and misses

and Orion counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Li looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Li is staying active underneath Orion, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Li wants to improve his position but Orion is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Li looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Orion is pressing down on Li's thigh, looking to free his foot. Li is holding on for now.
Orion slows the pace down in half guard.
Li is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Li is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Orion pulls his head out easily.
Li is breathing heavily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Li keeps the fight on the outside.
Li tries for a takedown but Orion circles away easily

and Orion counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Orion.
Orion might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Li is looking for a triangle but Orion pushes his legs off easily.
Orion looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Orion thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Orion is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orion stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Li swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Li can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Orion controls the pace.
Orion won't allow Li to sweep him here.
Orion not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Li is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Orion trying to control but Li is working from the bottom.
Orion controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Li tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Orion trying to control the position from guard on top but Li is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Li has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Orion can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Orion controlling from the top position.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Popeye Orion just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Orion wants to clinch up but Li keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Popeye Orion dominated that second round.
That's time! Orion's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Li tries for a takedown but Orion circles away easily
and Orion counters with an inside leg kick.
Li doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Orion counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Li looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

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

Li looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Li takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orion trying to control the position from guard on top but Li is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Li looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Popeye Orion overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Orion sitting in guard here, content to control.

Li throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Orion's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Orion has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Orion is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Orion pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Li is keeping the position for now.

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Li gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Orion counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Popeye Orion has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chong Li.
Li is looking to improve his position.

Li looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Orion performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Orion is looking to take a break and control but Li is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Li looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orion trying to control the pace.

Li looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Li tries to get to full guard but Orion has control of the leg.
Orion with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Li manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Li being controlled here, momentarily.

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

Li had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Orion is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Li Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Orion's back instead.

Li working for the choke.
Chong Li has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Li not allowing Orion to control his hands.
Popeye Orion is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Orion is really stuck here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Popeye Orion showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Orion, 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Popeye Orion!