PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rick Cartside (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thia Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thia Li will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Cartside
vs
Li

170 cm
22
140 lbs
4 - 8 - 0

187 cm
23
150 lbs
4 - 1 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Australian Xtreme - NEW 159 Energy!

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 4 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rick Cartside!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Thia Li!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Donatello Bradman and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cartside shoots in and bounces Li off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Cartside showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Cartside seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Li for as long as he can get away with.
Cartside wants to pass the guard but Li is keeping the position.

Li pushes Cartside off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Cartside shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Li as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thia Li seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Li gets caught flat footed, as Cartside shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Cartside advances position into side control!

Cartside thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cartside is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Li's shoulder. That is not cool.
Li is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Li is trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Cartside politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Cartside prefers to stall for the moment though.
Cartside prevents Li from escaping the position.
Cartside working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Li is trying to get back to his feet.
Cartside moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Rick Cartside just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Cartside changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Li looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Li prevents Cartside from moving into mount.
Cartside is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Li's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cartside tries to advance to mount but Li denies him.
Cartside content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Cartside dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cartside is defended easily by Li.
Cartside shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Li as he avoids it easily.
Cartside blocks a head kick by Li.
Li throws a sloppy head kick and Cartside moves out of range easily.
Li tries to clinch up.
Li looks to throw the jab but Cartside is out of range.
Li tries a head kick but it misses.

Cartside closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cartside lands in his opponent's guard.
Cartside wants to control from the top but Li keeps moving.
Cartside might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cartside trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cartside prevents Li from getting back to his feet.
Cartside sitting in guard here, content to control.
Li wants to stand and escape but Cartside is having none of it.
Li keeping moving, preventing Cartside from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Li tries a head kick but it misses.
Cartside fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Cartside. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Li throws a hook but Cartside avoids it easily.
Li throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Cartside shoots in and drives through. Li sprawls well.
Li misses with a head kick.
A head kick misses from Li.

Cartside scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Li is trying to stand back up but Cartside is controlling him
Cartside performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Li tries to kick Cartside off but Cartside keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Li is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cartside slows the pace down in half guard.
Cartside wants to pass the guard but Li is defending well.
Li tries to kick Cartside off but Cartside keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Still in half guard, Cartside seems content to control.
Li is trying to stand.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Cartside has closed the distance and engaged Li in a clinch.
Cartside misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Li is looking to break free of the clinch but Cartside has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Li avoiding damage as Cartside throws knees to the body.
Cartside keeps control of Li as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Li breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Li darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Cartside scores with a takedown into Li's guard.
Li is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cartside is controlling him.
Li is breathing heavily.
Cartside wants to control from the top but Li keeps moving.
Cartside is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Cartside dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Li throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Cartside is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Li's half guard.
Rick Cartside overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cartside with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Cartside prevents Li from standing back up.
Cartside stalling.
Cartside has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Cartside seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cartside is keen to just control but Li is a slippery customer.
Cartside is controlling the pace.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Rick Cartside just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Cartside shoots in for a takedown but Li shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cartside misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Li tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

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.
Li thuds his right hand into Cartside's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Cartside tries for a takedown but Li sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Cartside. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cartside circles away from the clinch attempt

so Cartside counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Li is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cartside is controlling him.
Cartside trying to control the position from guard on top but Li is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Li wants to stand but Cartside is controlling the position.
Cartside sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cartside trying to control the position from guard on top but Li is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Li stuffs the takedown.
Li fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Thia Li is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cartside shoots in but Li avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Li lands a jab to the nose.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Li throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cartside sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Li throws a series of punches but Cartside moves out of range.
Cartside avoids the head kick by Li.
Cartside avoids the head kick by Li.
Li wants to clinch up but Cartside keeps it at a distance.
Cartside is trying hard to land a takedown here. Li sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Cartside closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cartside lands in his opponent's guard.
Li keeping moving, preventing Cartside from controlling successfully.
Li is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Thia Li has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rick Cartside is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Li throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Cartside showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cartside, 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Cartside!