PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Li Qiang (ranked 4603 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Boaler (ranked 4679 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Qiang
vs
Boaler

195 cm
25
285 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Li Qiang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tom Boaler!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Peter Branson and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Qiang shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Boaler napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Boaler can do anything to dispel that myth.
Boaler manages to work his way to half guard, despite Qiang's best efforts.
Boaler is trying to maintain the position but Qiang is very close to passing his half guard.
Boaler is looking for a sweep. Qiang is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Boaler keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Qiang seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Boaler does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Boaler looking for submissions off his back.
Boaler flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boaler is trying to maintain the position but Qiang is very close to passing his half guard.
Boaler taking some punishment here, with Qiang in his half guard.
Boaler is refusing to be controlled, as Qiang sits in half guard.
Qiang missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Qiang not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Qiang looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boaler keeping hold of Qiang's head, controlling as best he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Qiang is keen to just control but Boaler is a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Qiang lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Qiang seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Boaler trying to control from the bottom.
Boaler might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Qiang haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Boaler avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Qiang.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boaler looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Qiang shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Boaler napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Boaler takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Boaler is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Boaler is trying to control but can't.
Boaler blocking the ground and pound attempt from Qiang.
Qiang drops an elbow to the side of Boaler's head.
Boaler tries to roll over but Qiang keeps him under control.
Qiang winds up and cracks Boaler with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boaler has his hands clasped together around Qiang's back. He's all about the action.
Qiang thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Boaler wants to control but Qiang is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Boaler wants to sweep but Qiang has passed to side control!
You can see the frustration on Boaler's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Qiang could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Qiang lands a few punches from side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Boaler can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Boaler closes this distance looking for a takedown but Qiang circles away.
Boaler pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Boaler shoots in but Qiang avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Boaler shoots in for a takedown but Qiang shows good takedown defense.
Li Qiang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Boaler.
Boaler pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Boaler gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Boaler being controlled here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Qiang landing with the ground and pound.
Li Qiang overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Qiang looking to pass the guard.
Qiang postures up.
Qiang postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Qiang stands up over Boaler, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Qiang cracks Boaler with a solid left hand.
Qiang trying to control but Boaler is working from the bottom.
Boaler trying to keep a closed guard but Qiang is proving a slippery customer.
Qiang tries to free his leg and advance position but Boaler is retaining full guard.
Qiang throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Qiang keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Boaler's head.
Boaler keeping moving, preventing Qiang from controlling successfully.
Qiang working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Qiang is fighting to break Boaler's control of his arms but Boaler is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Boaler is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Boaler lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Qiang is on top in guard.

Qiang postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Qiang pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Boaler is keeping the position for now.
Boaler working a defensive guard here.
Boaler keeping moving, preventing Qiang from controlling successfully.
Qiang throws an elbow that misses. Boaler uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Qiang's guard. Nice move by Boaler!

Qiang wants to sweep but no luck.
Boaler postures up.
Qiang can't keep his opponent in guard - Boaler advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boaler is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Boaler takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Qiang manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Boaler slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Qiang is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Boaler can do to turn this around?
Boaler stopping the sweep attempt from Qiang.
Boaler looking to pass the guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Qiang trying to keep a closed guard but Boaler is proving a slippery customer.
Boaler loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Li Qiang dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Boaler.
Qiang drops down looking for a counter takedown but Boaler sprawls and moves away.
Boaler misses the shot to the body.
Boaler tries to clinch there but Qiang circles away.

Qiang gets the takedown into side control.
Qiang trying to control the action but Boaler is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The strikes coming from Qiang are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Qiang throws an elbow but Boaler slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boaler is not content to let Qiang control the position.
Boaler is trying to control Qiang's posture but Qiang avoids it.
Qiang connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Boaler some visible discomfort.
Qiang lands a few punches from side control.
Boaler takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Sloppy strikes there by Qiang.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Qiang working the head with strikes.
Li Qiang is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Qiang moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
You can see the frustration on Boaler's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Qiang in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Qiang working the strikes but Boaler uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Qiang winds up and cracks Boaler with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Boaler is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Qiang's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Qiang's back!
Boaler gets his hands free as Qiang looks to control.
Boaler throwing sloppy strikes.
Boaler trying to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boaler is hanging on to Qiang's back as he tries to escape.
Boaler is trying to stick to Qiang's back but Qiang is turning into Boaler. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Boaler's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Qiang.
Qiang trying to control but Boaler is working from the bottom.
Boaler is pulling down on Qiang's head to control his posture.
Qiang looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Boaler controls Qiang momentarily but Qiang frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boaler is striking but Qiang is not phased and passes to half guard.
Boaler moves into full guard.

Boaler is looking for a triangle but Qiang pushes his legs off easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Boaler utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tom Boaler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Qiang is stalling in the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Li Qiang showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Qiang 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27

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