PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Li Xiaodong (ranked 3357 p4p, 2927 weight class) and Boris The Animal (ranked 186 p4p, 164 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Xiaodong
vs
The Animal

165 cm
19
135
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
141
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Arcticus University: London
Altitude Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Li Xiaodong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Boris The Animal!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Edson Gomes and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Xiaodong walks into a left hand.
The Animal scores with a punch to the head.
The Animal scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
The Animal has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Xiaodong is landing a low percentage of strikes.
The Animal misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Xiaodong.
Xiaodong throws a body punch but The Animal moves out of range.
The Animal cracks Xiaodong with a right hand to the side of the head.
The Animal lands with an overhand left.
Xiaodong takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
The fighters circling - Xiaodong throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Xiaodong is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by The Animal.
The Animal misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xiaodong throws a jab but it's blocked by The Animal.
The Animal slips under a jab.
It seemed like The Animal was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
The fighters circling - Xiaodong throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A countering left hand to the body from The Animal misses.
Xiaodong throws the left hand but The Animal avoids the punch easily.
The Animal scores with a body shot.
Xiaodong misses with a hook. The Animal ducked under it nicely.
A little jabbing left from The Animal on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Xiaodong pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The Animal looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Xiaodong takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Boris The Animal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The Animal uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
The Animal shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by The Animal. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of The Animal.
Xiaodong dips to his left and cracks The Animal with an uppercut!
This has been an exciting period of action!
The Animal works Xiaodong's body with a nice hook.
Xiaodong scores with a jab to the jaw.

The Animal is rocked!
The Animal steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Xiaodong.
A nice side step and The Animal releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
The Animal ducks under a wild hook from Xiaodong.
The Animal doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Xiaodong throws a poor cross that misses
and The Animal counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The Animal swings for the body but Xiaodong moves out of range.
The Animal avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xiaodong on the wrong end of a nice hook.
The Animal scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
The Animal cracks Xiaodong with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The Animal scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Xiaodong uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by The Animal.
Xiaodong takes a jab right on the kisser.
Xiaodong takes a swing at The Animal's ribcage but misses.
The Animal lands a nice shot that snaps Xiaodong's head back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Animal lands an overhand right.
Xiaodong moves forwards but The Animal connects with a nice, crisp jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Xiaodong takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Xiaodong misses with a shot to the body
and The Animal counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
The Animal scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Xiaodong waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract The Animal.
The Animal now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Xiaodong steps to the side to avoid the strikes from The Animal.
A counter left hand to the body from Xiaodong misses its target.
The Animal looks to land a left hand but Xiaodong moved out of range nicely.
A little feinted left hand from Xiaodong on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
The Animal scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boris The Animal dominated that round.
That's time! Xiaodong's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Xiaodong misses with a wild body shot.
The Animal swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Xiaodong has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Xiaodong throws a right hand that misses
and The Animal counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Xiaodong misses with a left hand
and The Animal counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The Animal throws a good cross that connects.
The Animal throws the left hand but Xiaodong avoids the punch easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Xiaodong misses the target.
The Animal lands a body shot.
The Animal slips a jab from Xiaodong.
The Animal has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xiaodong misses with a wild body shot.
The Animal steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Xiaodong.
Decent striking displayed by The Animal there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Animal throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
As The Animal looks to move away, Xiaodong throws a big counter combo but The Animal just gets out of the way.
Xiaodong lands a right hook to the body.
Xiaodong throws a jab when The Animal was well out of range.
The Animal just misses with a punch to the body.
Xiaodong throwing a counter right hand but The Animal manages to avoid it.
We've been told by Xiaodong's head coaches at Canadian Elite Bruins Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Xiaodong looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Xiaodong throws a right hand that misses
and The Animal counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Xiaodong might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
The Animal misses the jab.
The Animal swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from The Animal. Xiaodong does a little dance to reset his feet.
Xiaodong uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from The Animal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Animal scores with a jab to the head.
Xiaodong on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
The Animal lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
The Animal keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A decent looking cross lands there for The Animal.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The Animal throws a lazy uppercut
and Xiaodong cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Boris The Animal seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The Animal paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Xiaodong takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Xiaodong takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Animal lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Xiaodong at a distance.
The Animal misses with a wild body shot.
The Animal connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Xiaodong's hands.
Nice shot lands for The Animal.
Xiaodong takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A big right from The Animal misses.
Xiaodong on the wrong end of a nice hook.
The Animal throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The Animal cracks Xiaodong with an open hand slap.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from The Animal.
The Animal throws a body shot but no joy.
Xiaodong is looking to counter punch.
Xiaodong dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A big right from Xiaodong misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The Animal lands with a cross.
The Animal throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The Animal tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Xiaodong was well out of range. Poor timing from The Animal.
A quick step to the side and Xiaodong tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Xiaodong is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by The Animal.
The Animal throws a hook but Xiaodong blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boris The Animal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

The Animal catches Xiaodong with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Xiaodong drops his hands momentarily and The Animal takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
The Animal with a jab.
A lazy left from The Animal finds it's target.
The Animal lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Xiaodong swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xiaodong rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and The Animal counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Xiaodong on the wrong end of a nice jab.
The Animal uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xiaodong takes one to the side of the head.
Xiaodong staying out of range there.
A looping hook to the body misses from The Animal. Xiaodong does a little dance to reset his feet.
It looked like Xiaodong wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
The Animal connects with a good right hand that stumbles Xiaodong. Xiaodong circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
The Animal moves out of range of the strikes.
The Animal punishes Xiaodong's body with a nice straight punch.
The Animal misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Xiaodong.
The Animal lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Xiaodong works over The Animal's head and body with a nice combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Animal lands with a good body shot.
The Animal moves out of range of the strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The Animal bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Xiaodong's head.
The Animal connects with a body shot.
Li Xiaodong has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Donk. The Animal catches Xiaodong right on the button with a cross.
Nice shot by The Animal.
Xiaodong misses with a wild body shot.
The Animal connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Xiaodong momentarily.
A lazy left from The Animal finds it's target.
Boris The Animal is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Animal wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
The Animal staying out of range there.
The Animal looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Xiaodong misses with a combination
and The Animal connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Xiaodong avoids the body shot from The Animal.
The Animal connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Xiaodong momentarily.
Nice defenses there by The Animal.
The Animal lands a slapping body shot.
The Animal defending well as Xiaodong loads up on a big left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xiaodong throws a right hand that The Animal ducks under and follows up with a left that The Animal also avoids with ease.
Xiaodong misses with a left hand
and The Animal counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Xiaodong takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
The Animal lands a really nice looking cross but Xiaodong seems unphased.
Xiaodong takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The Animal's corner calls for a 1-2. The Animal obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
The Animal defending well as Xiaodong loads up on a big left hand.
Xiaodong takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Boris The Animal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well The Animal has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Boris The Animal!