PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dragon Li (ranked 7151 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brent Dale (ranked 4715 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Li
vs
Dale

176 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

174 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dragon Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Brent Dale!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dale throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dale fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Li manages to avoid it.
Li showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Dale.
Li tries to counter with a takedown but Dale is quick to defend against it.
Li slips under a jab.
Li half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Dale.
Li avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Li appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dale is looking to clinch but Li is avoiding it.
Dale throws a nice looking combination but Li bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Li ducks under a wild hook from Dale.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li slips a jab and a cross from Dale.
Li tries to counter with a takedown but Dale is quick to defend against it.
Brent Dale is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dale misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Li takes a jab right on the kisser.
Li uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dale.
Dale fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dale swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Li counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Dale wants to stand but Li is controlling the position.

Li gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Dale throws a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dale throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dale throws a hook to the side of Li's head but Li sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Li feinted with a counter takedown.
Donk. Dale catches Li right on the button with a cross.
Dale fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dale throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Li tries to counter with a takedown but Dale is quick to defend against it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dale throws a sloppy head kick and Li moves out of range easily.
Dale displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Dale throws a head kick that misses.
Li drops down looking for a counter takedown but Dale sprawls and moves away.
Dale lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dale misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dale pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Li drops down looking for a counter takedown but Dale sprawls and moves away.
Dale tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Li was well out of range. Poor timing from Dale.
Li appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Dale tries to bum rush Li with a series of wild strikes but Li uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Li appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Dale throws a sloppy head kick and Li moves out of range easily.
Li attempts a counter takedown but Dale avoids it well and moves away.
Dale throws a right and a left that both miss.
Li half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Dale fails in his attempt to clinch.
Li half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Dale looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Li drops down looking for a counter takedown but Dale sprawls and moves away.
Dale misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dale wants to clinch up but Li keeps it at a distance.
Li tries to counter with a takedown but Dale is quick to defend against it.
Dale misses with a double jab.
Li half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Dale looks to score with a jab to the body but Li is just out of range.
Li avoids the body shot from Dale.
Li tries to counter with a takedown but Dale is quick to defend against it.
Dale pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Li takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Dale throws a sloppy head kick and Li moves out of range easily.
Dale throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Li changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Dale cracks a nice hook into Li's ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brent Dale dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Dale fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Li on the side of the head.
Brent Dale seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Dale clinches with his opponent.
Dale wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Li jumps guard but Dale 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 Dale stands there with Li around his waist. Li gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Dale is trying to break the clinch but Li is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Li prevents Dale from breaking the clinch.
Dale is trying to break the clinch but Li has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Li pulls guard effortlessly.
Dale prevents Li from getting back to his feet.
Dale has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Li pushes Dale off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Dale fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dale just misses with a punch to the body.
Li changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Dale tries to clinch but Li moves out of range.
Li changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Dale 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.
Li tries to counter with a takedown but Dale is quick to defend against it.
Dale misses with a wild combination.
Li attempts a counter takedown but Dale avoids it well and moves away.
Sloppy strikes from Dale. Those never looked like landing.
Dragon Li is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dale misses with a two punch combination.
Dale swings for the body but Li moves out of range.
Dale misses the shot to the body.
Li changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dale wants to clinch up but Li keeps it at a distance.
Dale throws a big shot that misses.
Li tries to counter with a takedown but Dale is quick to defend against it.
No joy there for Dale, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Dale wants to clinch up but Li keeps it at a distance.
Dale looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Dale misses with a few strikes there.
Li feinted with a counter takedown.
Li blocks a head kick by Dale.
Dale misses the shot to the body.
Li attempts a counter takedown but Dale avoids it well and moves away.
Dale tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Li is able to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dale 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.
Li attempts a counter takedown but Dale avoids it well and moves away.
Dale tries to close the distance and clinch up but Li swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dale is looking to clinch but Li is avoiding it.
Dale fails to land with a series of punches.
Dale throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Li circles away from the clinch attempt

and Li counters with a takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brent Dale showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Dale doesn't manage to clinch there - Li circles away.
Li appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Li dodges the punch combination from Dale.
Dale tries to close the distance and clinch but Li swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dale looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Dale swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Li appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dale throws out a leg kick but Li moves out of range and Dale only half commits.
A head kick misses from Dale.
Dale misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dale ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Li moves away.
Li appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Li staying out of range there.
A head kick misses from Dale.
Dale scores with a shot to the body.
Dale throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Li.
Dale misses with a body kick.
Li attempts a counter takedown but Dale avoids it well and moves away.
Dale misses with a series of wild punches.
Dale will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Li tries to counter with a takedown but Dale is quick to defend against it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dale tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dale is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Li rather than just go for the knockout.
Dale lands a nice hook to Li's body. Li takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Li defending well as Dale loads up on a big left hand.
Dale tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Li paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Li attempts a counter takedown but Dale avoids it well and moves away.
Li avoids the body shot from Dale.
Li appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Dale tries to bum rush Li with a series of wild strikes but Li uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Dale closes the distance and clinches.
Li fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li prevents Dale from breaking the clinch.
Li tries to pull guard but Dale holds him up against the cage and eventually Li drops back down to his feet.
Li is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dragon Li. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dale working hard to break the clinch.
Dale tries to break the clinch but Li is controlling the position.
Li jumps guard but Dale turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Li is looking for a takedown.
Li keeps control of Dale as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

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.
Li tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Dale smiles and moves away.
Dale is looking to clinch but Li is avoiding it.
Li appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Dale doesn't manage to clinch there - Li circles away.
Li drops down looking for a counter takedown but Dale sprawls and moves away.
A head kick misses from Dale.
A clash of legs there as Li blocks the low kick.
Li feinted with a counter takedown.
Li swats away the attempt to clinch by Dale.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dale throws a series of punches but Li avoids them all with ease.
Li drops down looking for a counter takedown but Dale sprawls and moves away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brent Dale comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Dale winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brent Dale!