PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Matt Rex (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joshua Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rex comes to the cage accompanied by Burn In My Light. Li has chosen System as his entrance music. On his way into the cage it seems that Matt Rex has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Matt Rex seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Rex
vs
Li

158 cm
18
135 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

165 cm
24
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 Sydney, Matt Rex!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joshua Li!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Winston Howard and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Li lands a high kick!
Rex looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Li, right into the meat.

Li forces Rex back against the cage and clinches.

Li escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Li looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rex is fending him off so far but Li persists. Nope, Rex circles away and we're back to standing.
Rex moves in looking to clinch but Li pushes him off.
Li connects with a high kick.

Li has closed the distance and engaged Rex in a clinch.
Rex is trying to pull guard but Li has him pressed against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Li's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Li shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A head kick from Li lands but Rex takes it in his stride.
Li misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Matt Rex has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joshua Li.
Rex misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li throws a head kick that half lands.
Li lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Li gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Li can't get the takedown.

Li's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Li shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rex but Rex pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rex shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Li but Li pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Li scores with a head kick.

Li clinches up with Rex and pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Li obliges.
Knees in the clinch landing for Li.

Li breaks from the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Li. Rex shrugs it off though.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Li!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Li, right into the meat.
Li fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Li digs a good body shot into Rex's ribs.
Li scores with a head kick. Rex tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Li moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Li's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rex chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Li can pounce on him.
Li throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Rex's head.
Li tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rex swivels and escapes.

Li moves into the clinch successfully.

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

Li darts in and clinches Rex up against the cage.

Li breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Li fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Li breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rex shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Li pinned against the cage. Li gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Li forces Rex back against the cage and clinches.

Li breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Li closes the distance and clinches.
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!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rex is trying to pull guard but Li has him pressed against the cage.

Li's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joshua 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.

Li plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Rex fails to land the takedown.
Rex takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Li smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Li lands a nice looking kick to the body. Rex takes a step back to recover.

Li closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rex takes a knee right on the jaw!

Li pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Li has managed to clinch.
Li drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Li breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A nice inside leg kick there by Li. That's going to slow Rex down.

Li darts in and clinches Rex up against the cage.

Li gets control of Rex's arms and successfully pulls guard. Li will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Li looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rex trying to control but Li is working from the bottom.
Rex tries to free his leg and advance position but Li is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li keeping moving, preventing Rex from controlling successfully.

Li is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Li escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rex gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Li wants to get back to his feet but Rex is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Li working for a triangle but Rex defends it easily.

Li throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Li working for a triangle but Rex defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Li is working an open guard so Rex takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Li scores with a nice body kick.
Li lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joshua Li showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Li throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rex.

Li rushes Rex and presses him up against the cage.
Rex wants to stall.

Li manages to break the clinch.
Rex looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Li is fending him off so far but Rex persists. Nope, Li circles away and we're back to standing.

Li drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rex regains half guard, as Li was trying to land strikes.

Li decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rex takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Li shoots for a double leg takedown but Rex sprawls well. He's pushed Li's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rex stuffs the takedown attempt from Li. Li gets slowly back to his feet.
Li has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Li connects with an inside leg kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rex is defended easily by Li.
Li throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rex.
Li plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Li closes the distance and clinches.
Rex looking to throw knees to the head but Li is blocking nicely.

Li escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Li lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Li throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Rex's head.
Rex shoots in for a takedown but Li shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Rex. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Li misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Li leaves Rex with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Li looks for a takedown but Rex sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rex misses with a body shot.
Li throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Rex. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Li throws a quick inside leg kick.
Rex shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Li pinned against the cage. Li gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Li closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Rex tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Li lands a leg kick that knocks Rex off balance momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li works over Rex's head and body with a nice combination.
Rex is looking to clinch.
Rex shoots in and drives through. Li sprawls well.
Li throws a nice head kick!
No luck for Li with that takedown attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rex.
Joshua Li is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rex takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Matt Rex has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rex tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Li swivels and escapes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joshua Li comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Li 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 John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joshua Li!
Joshua Li decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.