PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Chenchen Li (ranked 8163 p4p, 0 weight class) and Houthaifa Majdeddine (ranked 7532 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Li
vs
Majdeddine

178 cm
25
156 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

181 cm
25
157 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Chenchen Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Houthaifa Majdeddine!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Dirk Anderson and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Li shoots in but Majdeddine avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Majdeddine tries to sprawl but Li drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Majdeddine is looking to control Li's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Majdeddine avoid being mounted?
Majdeddine works his way to full guard. Good work.
Majdeddine wants to sweep here but Li controlling him for the moment.
Li seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Majdeddine is trying to keep Li in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Majdeddine wants to control the position but Li says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Li tries to pass the half guard into mount. Majdeddine knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Li not doing much here.
Li sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Majdeddine defending well though.

Li is looking for a kimura here.
Li with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Majdeddine is trying is best to control the position here.
Li sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Majdeddine defending well though.
Li works his foot free and advances to mount.
Majdeddine is wriggling around trying to escape.
Majdeddine tries to hold on but Li pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li looking to control and managing it successfully.
Majdeddine is trying desperately to improve position.

Li working for a submission but Majdeddine is keeping him at bay.
Majdeddine tries to hold on but Li pushes him away.
Li misses with a head shot.
Majdeddine really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Li. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Majdeddine really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li looking to control but Majdeddine is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Li get's back to his feet.
Majdeddine tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
No luck for Majdeddine with that takedown attempt.
Li shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Majdeddine clinches with his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Li breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No joy there for Li, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Li tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Majdeddine was well out of range. Poor timing from Li.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chenchen Li dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Majdeddine moves into the clinch successfully.
Majdeddine fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Majdeddine tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Li escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Li has taken the fight to the clinch.
Li fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Majdeddine changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Li fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Chenchen Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Houthaifa Majdeddine.
Majdeddine is trying hard to land a takedown here. Li sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Li slaps away a takedown attempt from Majdeddine, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Li is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Majdeddine.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Li shoots in for a takedown but Majdeddine shows good takedown defense.
Li goes for a double leg but Majdeddine avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Majdeddine continues to drive forward.
Majdeddine tries to close the distance and clinch but Li swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Li tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Majdeddine manages to circle out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Majdeddine fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Majdeddine is defended easily by Li.
Majdeddine is breathing heavily.
Majdeddine throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Li has Majdeddine up against the cage in a clinch.
Li has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Majdeddine after a bit of a struggle.

Li has hold of one of Majdeddine's legs. Majdeddine is fighting the takedown attempt but Li gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Majdeddine is trying to hold Li in close to prevent damage but Li has managed to pass into half guard.
Li performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Majdeddine works to full guard.
Majdeddine is looking to sweep but instead, Li has passed into half guard.
Li is controlling the pace.
Li trying to mount his opponent but Majdeddine defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Li is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Majdeddine can do to turn this around?
Li tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Majdeddine.
Majdeddine avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Li.
Li works his way into full mount!
Li throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Li moves to back control.
What can Majdeddine do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Majdeddine just trying to survive but Li is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Li controlling the positon.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Majdeddine tries to roll but Li sticks to his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chenchen Li dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Majdeddine shoots in for a takedown but Li shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Li gets a clinch.
Li fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Majdeddine tries to circle away but Li has him pinned against the cage.
Li jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Majdeddine walks away with a smile on his face. Li gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Li shoots in for a double leg but Majdeddine sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chenchen Li. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Majdeddine throws a leg kick but Li sees it coming and moves out of range.

Majdeddine clinches up against the cage.
Majdeddine tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Li breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Li lands the left hand.
Li lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Majdeddine wants to clinch.
Li tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Majdeddine manages to circle out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Majdeddine closes the distance and clinches up with Li, looking for a takedown. Majdeddine pushes Li against the cage but Li circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Majdeddine defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Li.
Majdeddine will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Li swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Majdeddine shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Li sprawls well. Li wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Majdeddine gets slowly back to his feet.

Li moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Li's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Majdeddine misses with a takedown attempt
and Li counters with a one-two to the body.

Li shoots in and bounces Majdeddine off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Majdeddine takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Li throwing strikes but missing.
Li tries to stand but Majdeddine is controlling from the bottom.
Majdeddine wants to control but Li passes easily into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Li is looking to stand but Majdeddine has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Majdeddine wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Majdeddine trying to control the hands but Li breaks the grip.

Li looking for the RNC.
Li is hanging on to Majdeddine's back as he tries to escape.

Li has his arm under Majdeddine's chin here. Game over son! Li squeezes tightly and Majdeddine is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Chenchen Li!