PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yonglong Li (ranked 607 p4p, 88 weight class) and Khalid Mamedov (ranked 397 p4p, 63 weight class). Mamedov comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Shamhan Daldaev - Eto Kavkaz kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Li
vs
Mamedov

183 cm
30
176 lbs
18 - 6 - 2

183 cm
26
188 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

RAGS of a RONIN

BuriedAlive// Fight Gear
Aspire Clothing

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 18 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Yonglong Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Khalid Mamedov!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shirou Masuda and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Li pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mamedov appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Mamedov shoots in but no luck this time.
Mamedov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Li counters with a left to the body.
Li lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Mamedov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Li throws out the jab.
Li looks to score with a jab to the body but Mamedov is just out of range.
Li bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Mamedov's head backwards.
Mamedov looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Mamedov slips a jab and a cross from Li.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Mamedov, as that shot connected.
Mamedov cracks Li with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Mamedov moves in looking to clinch but Li pushes him off.
Mamedov lands with a cross.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Li throws a lazy right hand but Mamedov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Li misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Mamedov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Li.
Li half committed to a counter leg kick.
Mamedov darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Li scores with a hook to the body. Mamedov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Li throws a front kick aimed at Mamedov's knee but Mamedov avoids it well.
Mamedov moves to clinch but Li breaks away
and Li counters with a nice uppercut.
Li motions for Mamedov to come forward. Li throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Li throws out a loose jab but Mamedov uses good head movement to avoid it.

Li gets tackled into the cage by Mamedov. Mamedov maintains the clinch.
Mamedov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Li lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mamedov backwards.

Mamedov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mamedov misses with a body punch
and Li counters with a nice leg kick.
Li throws a chopping leg kick but Mamedov manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Mamedov shoots in but no luck this time.
A counter left hand to the body from Li misses its target.
Yonglong Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Khalid Mamedov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li takes a jab right on the kisser.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mamedov throws a jab but it's blocked by Li.
Mamedov misses the jab.
A big left from Mamedov misses.
Li lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Mamedov slips under a jab from Li.
Li has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Hellfire Antechamber in the buildup to the fight.
Li circles away from the clinch attempt
and Li counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Mamedov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mamedov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Li moves away.
Li walks into a jab.
Mamedov blocks a leg kick.
A lazy left from Mamedov finds it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mamedov throws a hook but Li avoids it easily.
Li throws the left hand but Mamedov avoids the punch easily.
A swing and a miss from Li.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mamedov. Li does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mamedov misses with a series of wild punches.
As Mamedov backs away, Li returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Li throws a looping overhand right but Mamedov ducks down to avoid it.
Li throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mamedov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Yonglong Li is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Li lands a nice shot to the body.
Li swats away the attempt to clinch by Mamedov.
Li misses with an uppercut. Mamedov saw that one coming.

Mamedov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Li, pushing him back against the cage.
A short uppercut from Li.
Li works on Mamedov's body with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Li.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Li.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mamedov misses with some punches.
Li has a couple of punches blocked by Mamedov.
Li has a couple of punches blocked by Mamedov.
Li working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Mamedov misses with a punch to the body.
Li lands a left hand that snaps the head of Mamedov backwards.
Mamedov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mamedov wants to get back to striking at distance but Li won't allow it.
Mamedov is trying to push Li away but Li has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Li gets through Mamedov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Mamedov jumps into guard, dragging Li to the mat.
Mamedov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Li is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Li wants to pass the guard but Mamedov is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yonglong Li dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Li lands a slapping body shot.
Mamedov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Li looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Li works the jab nicely.
Mamedov shoots in but no luck this time.
Li half committed to a counter leg kick.
Li misses with a low kick as Mamedov jumps back.
Khalid Mamedov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mamedov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
That kick from Li tenderised Mamedov's leg. Mamedov is trying to keep his angry face on.
Mamedov fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Li moves out of range as Mamedov strikes.
Mamedov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A shot to the body from Mamedov misses
and Li counters with a leg kick.
Mamedov misses with an uppercut
and Li counters with a nice low kick that buckles Mamedov's knee momentarily.
Li dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Mamedov. That did some damage!
Li is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mamedov can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mamedov.
Li throws a right and a left that both miss.
A telegraphed right hand from Mamedov misses the target.
Mamedov blocks a low kick nicely.
Mamedov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Li.
Mamedov gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Mamedov tries to clinch up.
Li half committed to a counter leg kick.
Li will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Li misses with a looping right.
Yonglong Li is winning the standup battle so far.
Li takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Mamedov rushes Li and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Li cracks Mamedov with a nice body shot.
Mamedov lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li trying to land knees to the body.
Li lands a left hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mamedov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Yonglong Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Khalid Mamedov.
Li lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mamedov lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Li tries a body shot but Mamedov blocks it.
Li throws a head punch that misses.
Mamedov lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Mamedov pushes Li back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mamedov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Li smiles and moves away.
Mamedov keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Mamedov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Li.
Li stuns Mamedov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Mamedov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Li manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mamedov avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

Mamedov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Mamedov showed some decent athleticism there.

Mamedov is trying to work for a kimura but Li is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mamedov throws a strike but Li avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mamedov trying to control but Li is working from the bottom.
Li has his hands on Mamedov's head, controlling the position.
Mamedov wants to control from the top but Li keeps moving.
Li is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four 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.
Mamedov throwing strikes but missing.
Mamedov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mamedov trying to control but Li is working from the bottom.
Mamedov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mamedov trying to control the position from guard on top but Li is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Mamedov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Li manages to avoid it.
Li is looking to counter punch.
Mamedov avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Mamedov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Li swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Nice shot by Mamedov.
A good leg kick by Li.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yonglong Li dominated that second round.
That's time! Li's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Mamedov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Li counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Mamedov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Mamedov throws out a loose jab but Li uses good head movement to avoid it.
Li was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Li swings widly with a right hand
and Mamedov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Li moves out of range of the strikes.
Mamedov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Li.
Li slips a straight right by Mamedov.
Li looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Mamedov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mamedov takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Mamedov gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Mamedov drives through and clinches with Li against the cage.
Li tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mamedov lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Li.
Mamedov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
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!

Li breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mamedov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Mamedov misses.
Mamedov swings widly with a right hand
and Li connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Li just misses with a punch to the body.
Li ducks under a wild hook from Mamedov.
Mamedov tries to close the distance and clinch but Li swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mamedov tries to clinch but Li moves away
and Li cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Li stalks Mamedov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Mamedov's face. Mamedov staggers backwards, shaken.

Mamedov is rocked!
A jab from Li misses.
The fighters circling - Mamedov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Li throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Li misses with an uppercut. Mamedov saw that one coming.
Li lands with a nice body punch.
Li swats away the attempt to clinch by Mamedov.
Li half committed to a counter leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mamedov scores with a jab to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Li slips a straight right by Mamedov.
Li was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Li keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mamedov.
Khalid Mamedov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mamedov with a nice cross.
Mamedov falls off balance throwing a combination
and Li counters with an inside leg kick.
Li tries to score with a low kick but Mamedov moves his leg out of the way.
Mamedov cracks Li with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Mamedov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Mamedov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Li throws a body shot but no joy.
It seemed like Mamedov was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Li wants to land a leg kick but Mamedov is out of range.
Mamedov walks into a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mamedov dips to his left and cracks Li with an uppercut!
Li misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mamedov.
Mamedov works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Li tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mamedov was well out of range. Poor timing from Li.
Li lands an overhand right.
Mamedov throws out a loose jab but Li uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yonglong Li is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mamedov looks to land a left hand but Li moved out of range nicely.
Li feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Mamedov throws a poor cross that misses
and Li connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Li scores with a crisp jab that stopped Mamedov in his tracks.
Li uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mamedov.
Li ducks under a wild hook from Mamedov.
Mamedov might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Mamedov misses with a hook
and Li counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A slow jab from Li misses its intended target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li thumps Mamedov with a low kick.
Li fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mamedov manages to avoid it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Mamedov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Li to the mat! Li manages to get full guard.

Li pushes Mamedov off and scrambles back to his feet.
Mamedov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
It looked like Li was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Mamedov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Li can pounce on him.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mamedov.
Mamedov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Li can't do much from the bottom here.
Li is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Mamedov is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Mamedov throwing strikes but Li manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

And that's the end of the fight!
Yonglong Li showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Li has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yonglong Li!
Yonglong Li seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.