PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Xi Li (ranked 3368 p4p, 363 weight class) and Nick Cramer (ranked 3708 p4p, 392 weight class). Li's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, HYFR by Drake featuring Lil Wayne. Cramer has chosen Enter Sandman as his entrance music. Nick Cramer has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Li
vs
Cramer

197 cm
24
197 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
184 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Xi Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Nick Cramer!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Richard Clark and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cramer fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Li, pushing him back against the cage.
Li wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Li tries a knee to the head but Cramer blocks it.
Li wants to break the clinch but can't.
Li is trying to break free.
Cramer lands a body punch.

Cramer has hold of one of Li's legs. Li is fighting the takedown attempt but Cramer gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Cramer is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Cramer wants to pass the guard but Li is keeping the position.

Cramer has gone for a leg lock! Li slips out almost immediately though and dives into Cramer's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cramer wants to sweep here but Li controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cramer is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cramer has his hands on Li's head, controlling the position.
Cramer trying to control the position.
Li won't allow Cramer to sweep him here.
Li is fighting to break Cramer's control of his arms but Cramer is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Cramer bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Li's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cramer looking to pass the guard.
Cramer wants to control from the top but Li keeps moving.
Cramer throws an elbow that misses. Li uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cramer's guard. Nice move by Li!

Li has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Li postures up.

Cramer looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cramer lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cramer throws an elbow that misses. Li uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cramer's guard. Nice move by Li!

Cramer has his hands on Li's head, controlling the position.
Cramer has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Li has passed into side control.

Li decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Li fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cramer, pushing him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li throws a punch but it's blocked by Cramer.
Li looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Li prevents the takedown attempt.
Li lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Li is trying to break the clinch but Cramer has him pressed against the cage.
Li landing knees to the head.
Cramer lands a body punch.
Li lands a nice knee to the body.
Li prevents the takedown attempt.
Li landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Li throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cramer blocks it with crossed arms.
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!
Cramer blocks an uppercut.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Li breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Li pushes Cramer up against the cage in a clinch.

Li manages to break the clinch.

Li closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xi Li dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Cramer lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Cramer has managed to clinch.
Li tries a body shot but Cramer blocks it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Li.

Cramer is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Li can't fight it off and eventually Cramer manages to take the fight to the floor. Li looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Cramer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cramer is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cramer postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Li is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Cramer, into his guard.

Cramer controls Li momentarily but Li frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cramer is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Li stands and steps away. Cramer gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Cramer fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Li, pushing him back against the cage.
Xi Li has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Li lands a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Li fails to land.

Li breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Li gets a clinch.
Cramer changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Li fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Li has Cramer up against the cage in a clinch.
Li wants to break free but Cramer has control.
Cramer displaying some good clinch control by pressing Li up against the cage.
Cramer wants a takedown but no success here.
Li looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Cramer blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cramer prevents a body shot from Li.

Cramer breaks from the clinch.

Li clinches.
Cramer managing to block the knees to the body from Li.
Cramer holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Li is looking to break free of the clinch but Cramer has double underhooks.
Li lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Cramer backwards.
Li misses with a knee strike.

Cramer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Li gets a clinch.
Cramer has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Li is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Xi Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Cramer.

Li pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Li is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cramer can do to turn this around?
Cramer scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Xi Li has been cut.

Li forces Cramer back against the cage and clinches.
Li misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cramer digs a right hand underneath Li's ribcage. Li let out a lung full of air as it connected.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Li wants to get back to striking at distance but Cramer won't allow it.
Li stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Cramer has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Li avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Cramer's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Li closes the distance and clinches.

Cramer tightens his grip and picks Li up, before dumping him to the ground. Li manages to land in guard.
Li utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Li wants to get back to his feet but Cramer is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cramer trying to control but Li is working from the bottom.
Li keeping full guard, as Cramer tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Xi Li will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Xi Li's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Li rushes Cramer and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Cramer's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Li has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cramer is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Li pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cramer blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cramer tries for a takedown. No joy.
Cramer takes a shot to the head.
Li gets underhooks to prevent Cramer's takedown attempt.
Xi Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Cramer.

Li breaks from the clinch.
Cramer tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Li was well out of range. Poor timing from Cramer.

Li takes the fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cramer is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Li is defending well.
Cramer keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Li's efforts to push away.
Cramer blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cramer has Li pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Li manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Cramer takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Li escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Li moves into the clinch.
Li with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Cramer scores with a shoulder strike.
Nice elbow from Li.
Cramer lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Cramer works on Li's body with a couple of short punches.
Li tries to break the clinch but Cramer is controlling the position.
Li tries to land knees in the clinch but Cramer avoids the damage to the body.
Cramer has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Li avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A short left from Cramer.
Cramer scores with a shoulder strike.
Cramer is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cramer lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Cramer escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cramer darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cramer wants to control but Li is keeping him busy.
Li is trying to stand back up but Cramer is controlling him

Cramer is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nick Cramer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Li instigates a clinch.
Li lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Cramer creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Li misses with a hook from the clinch.
Li lands a nice elbow.

Li breaks the clinch.

Li clinches.

Cramer gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Li regains guard.

Li kicks Cramer off and gets to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Cramer clinches.
Li misses with a punch to the body.
Cramer blocks an elbow strike from Li.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li can't find room to land a body shot as Cramer controls the action.
Li fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cramer effectively controlling the action here.
Li landing knees to the body.

Cramer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Li takes the fight into the clinch.
Cramer goes for a takedown in the clinch but Li prevents it.
Cramer blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cramer blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Li has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Li wants to get back to striking at distance but Cramer won't allow it.
Cramer scores with a hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xi Li showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Li, 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xi Li!
Post fight, Xi Li took to the microphone: 'I feel I can move through this division. This isn't even my natural weight class. I'm coming out to end guys careers. Thanks to the fans and to my camp at So Cal Fight Club. We here now!!!'.