PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benny Winkler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benny Winkler told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Li
vs
Winkler

180 cm
26
213 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

205 cm
32
277 lbs
13 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

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 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Benny Winkler!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Jeff Smith and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Winkler swings for the body but Li moves out of range.
A big left from Winkler misses.
Winkler lands with a nice body punch.
Winkler feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Lis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Winkler stuffs the takedown attempt from Li. Li gets slowly back to his feet.
Winkler ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Li moves away.
Winkler is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Li.
As Winkler tries to get set, Li tries to push him back and clinch up but Winkler manages to avoid the attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Li shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Winkler sprawls well. Winkler wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Li gets slowly back to his feet.
It seemed like Winkler was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winkler misses with a body shot.
Li with a lazy takedown attempt
and Winkler counters with a right hand to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Li. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Li moves away from the strike by Winkler.
Li throws a hook to the side of Winkler's head but Winkler sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Winkler swings for the body but Li moves out of range.
Li is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Winkler.
Winkler scores with a jab. Li acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Winkler lands a nice shot that snaps Li's head back.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Li.
Nice sprawl there from Winkler as Li shoots in.
Winkler throws a looping overhand right but Li ducks down to avoid it.
Winkler throws an overhand right that lands on Li's shoulder, as Li tries to avoid the shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Li has a takedown stuffed.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Winkler lands a nice hook to Li's body. Li takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Winkler throws a shot to the body.
Li shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Winkler lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Li at a distance.
Winkler with a hook.
Winkler connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Li momentarily.
Li shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Winkler sprawls well. Winkler wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Li gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winkler ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Li scores with a hook to the body. Winkler takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Li fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Winkler throws a jab when Li was well out of range.
Li looks to land a right hand but Winkler moved out of range.
Winkler misses with an uppercut

and Li counters with a single leg into guard. Winkler didn't expect that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li is looking to work some ground and pound but Winkler has wrist control.
Li working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Winkler's head.
Winkler pulls Li in close to prevent any damage.
Li loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Li throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Li being controlled here momentarily.
Li might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Li trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benny Winkler dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Li looks to land a right hand but Winkler moved out of range.
Li throws a jab when Winkler was well out of range.
Winkler jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Li looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Winkler misses with a wild combination.
Winkler cracks Li with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Li tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Winkler swivels and escapes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Winkler throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Li's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Winkler connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Li scrambles back to his feet.
Li fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winkler jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Li gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Li staying out of range there.
Winkler takes a swing at Li's ribcage but misses.
Li tries for a takedown but Winkler sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Benny Winkler seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Winkler bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Li takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Winkler throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Benny Winkler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Winkler jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Winkler connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Winkler jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Li wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Winkler goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Winkler ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
The crowd cheers as Winkler lands an impressive looking overhand right. Li doesn't seem phased though.
Benny Winkler is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Winkler tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Li was well out of range. Poor timing from Winkler.
Li keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Winkler misses with an uppercut.
Li tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Winkler manages to circle out of the way.
Li uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Winkler.
Li takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Li gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li walks into a jab.
Winkler misses the shot to the body.
Li attempts a counter takedown but Winkler avoids it well and moves away.
Li takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Nice shot lands for Winkler.
Li misses with a takedown
and Li takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Li. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Winkler feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Lis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Winkler misses with a body shot.
Winkler throws a jab when Li was well out of range.
Li doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Winkler counter with a right hand.
Winkler has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Winkler counter with a right hand.
Winkler scores with a jab to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Winkler lands an overhand right.
Winkler punishes Li's body with a nice straight punch.
Winkler connects with a nice looking jab.
Winkler is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Winkler displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Li.
A big left from Li misses.
Winkler has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Winkler looks to land a right hand but Li moved out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benny Winkler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Winkler wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Winkler keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Li.
Li takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Li takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Winkler looks to land a right hand but Li moved out of range.
Li throws a hook but Winkler avoids it easily.
Winkler appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Winkler looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Li is looking to counter the offense by Winkler and move into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Li closes the distance and clinches up with Winkler, looking for a takedown. Li pushes Winkler against the cage but Winkler circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Winkler jabs at Li's body.
Winkler lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winkler bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Li's head backwards.
Li misses with a combination
and Winkler counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Winkler throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Li appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Winkler scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Li misses with a right hand
and Li takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A big right from Winkler misses.
Li seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Li keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
As Winkler tries to get set, Li tries to push him back and clinch up but Winkler manages to avoid the attempt.
Winkler scores with the left hand. Li knows he should have avoided that one.
Winkler misses the shot to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Li misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Winkler misses with a wild combination.
Li tries to counter by clinching up but Winkler breaks away and moves out of range.
Li defending well as Winkler loads up on a big left hand.
Li seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Winkler swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Li throws a right and a left that Winkler avoids nicely.
Winkler swings for the body but Li moves out of range.
Li is looking to counter the offense by Winkler and move into the clinch.
Winkler scores with a nice head shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice takedown defense from Winkler. No joy for Li on that attempt.
Li ducks under a wild hook from Winkler.
Nice uppercut lands for Winkler. That snapped Li's head back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winkler throws a one two combo.
A telegraphed right hand from Winkler misses the target.
Li changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Li connects with a crisp jab.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Li.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Li. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice defenses there by Winkler.
Li moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Winkler throws a big shot that misses.
Winkler showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Li.
Winkler swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Winkler punishes Li's body with a nice straight punch.
Li throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Winkler's waist but Winkler gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Li off to one side.
Winkler lands a really nice looking cross but Li seems unphased.
Li takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Winkler with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Winkler lands a nice shot to the body.
Winkler fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Li manages to avoid it.
Li tries to counter with a takedown but Winkler is quick to defend against it.
John Li has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Benny Winkler is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Li is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Winkler's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Nice sprawl there from Winkler as Li shoots in.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benny Winkler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Winkler winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 26:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 26:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benny Winkler!