PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Li Qiang (ranked 1658 p4p, 178 weight class) and Sarvar Yuldashev (ranked 2252 p4p, 220 weight class). Yuldashev has chosen Gods Gonna Cut You Down- Johnny Cash as his entrance music. Sarvar Yuldashev will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Qiang
vs
Yuldashev

195 cm
26
273 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

185 cm
26
254 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 4 - 2 - 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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Sarvar Yuldashev !
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Peter Branson and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yuldashev steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Qiang.
Qiang throws a series of punches but Yuldashev moves out of range.
Qiang throws an off balance right hand
and Yuldashev counters with a straight right hand.
Nice defenses there by Yuldashev .
Yuldashev throws a series of punches but Qiang moves out of range.
Qiang has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Qiang jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Yuldashev stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Yuldashev wants it to stay on the feet.
The fighters circling - Qiang throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Yuldashev scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice defenses there by Yuldashev .
Qiang tries for a takedown but Yuldashev sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Qiang swings widly with a right hand
and Yuldashev counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

It looks like Li Qiang has been cut.
Qiang will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Qiang sets himself, and Yuldashev steps forward looking for the clinch! Qiang avoids it this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Li Qiang. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yuldashev lands a glancing blow to the side of Qiang's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yuldashev lands a jab-cross combination.
Qiang rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Yuldashev counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Yuldashev throws a jab but it's blocked by Qiang.

Qiang closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Qiang lands in his opponent's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Yuldashev can do anything to dispel that myth.
Qiang trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Qiang trying to control but Yuldashev is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Qiang is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Yuldashev is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Qiang has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Qiang trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Qiang stands up over Yuldashev , holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Qiang won't allow Yuldashev to get back to his feet.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Qiang's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Qiang throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Qiang is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Yuldashev is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Qiang looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Yuldashev preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sarvar Yuldashev dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Yuldashev moves out of range of the strikes.

Qiang shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Yuldashev is not content to let Qiang control the position.
Qiang perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Qiang not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Qiang is figuring out what he wants to do next.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yuldashev is looking to escape.
Qiang takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Qiang thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Qiang trying to control the pace.
Qiang throwing shots but Yuldashev is blocking nicely.
Qiang thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Yuldashev 's head.
Yuldashev is trying to stand up here but Qiang is controlling him well.
Qiang looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Yuldashev with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Qiang scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That has opened up Sarvar Yuldashev 's cut even more.
Qiang content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Qiang is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yuldashev tries to kick Qiang off but Qiang keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Qiang is pressing down on Yuldashev 's thigh, looking to free his foot. Yuldashev is holding on for now.
Yuldashev avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Qiang.
Qiang wants to pass to mount but Yuldashev is defending the position.
Qiang passes the guard and advances to mount!
Qiang landing shots from mount.

The cut above Sarvar Yuldashev 's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Qiang controlling the position easily from mount.
Qiang working away from the top, dropping strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Li Qiang dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Yuldashev on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Li Qiang is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sarvar Yuldashev seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Yuldashev scores with a shot to the body.
Yuldashev moves away from the strike by Qiang.
Yuldashev scores with a body shot.
Qiang missing with a left hand there. Yuldashev was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Yuldashev tries to counter with a clinch but Qiang shakes him off and moves away.
Yuldashev uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Yuldashev needs to keep his hands up - Qiang had a free shot at his head there.
Qiang is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Qiang misses with a hook.
Qiang misses with a wild combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Qiang misses with a takedown attempt
and Yuldashev counters with a nice uppercut.

Qiang closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Qiang lands in his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Qiang stops Yuldashev from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Qiang controls from within his opponent's guard.
Qiang slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nice strikes from Qiang there.
Qiang performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Qiang thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Qiang takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Qiang seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Yuldashev for as long as he can get away with.
Sarvar Yuldashev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yuldashev on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Li Qiang showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Qiang has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight for Li Qiang!
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight for Li Qiang!
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight for Li Qiang!

Li Qiang wins by unanimous decision!
Li Qiang thanked the fans post fight for their support.
In defeat, Sarvar Yuldashev stepped up to the mic, saying 'I respect my opponent. I'll be back.'.