PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Liu Kang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Retri Paladin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kang
vs
Paladin

170 cm
21
163 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

175 cm
22
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Prefers standup

Blitzkrieg Formula 5000 $50 Off Price

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Liu Kang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Retri Paladin!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yuuki Gou and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paladin displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Paladin misses with a few strikes there.
Kang tries to clinch up.
Paladin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kang.
Paladin just misses with a punch to the body.
Kang keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Paladin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A slow jab from Paladin misses its intended target.
Paladin fails to land with a series of punches.
Kang defending well as Paladin loads up on a big left hand.
Kang fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Retri Paladin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Paladin cracks Kang with a good jab.
A big right from Paladin misses.
Paladin throws a hook but Kang avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paladin works the jab nicely.
Kang bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kang looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A right-left combo lands from Paladin.
Kang takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Paladin scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Nice takedown defense from Paladin. No joy for Kang on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Liu Kang. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Paladin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kang takes one on the chin but seems OK.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kang shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Paladin pinned against the cage. Paladin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A nice combination there by Paladin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Kang with that takedown attempt.
Paladin connects with a right hand. Kang shakes it off.
Paladin might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Kang is breathing heavily.
Paladin jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Paladin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kang.
Paladin misses with an uppercut.
Paladin scores with a punch to the head.
Kang will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Paladin works the jab nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paladin looks to land a right hand but Kang moved out of range.
Kang keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Paladin throws a left and a right that both miss

and Kang counters with a shoot takedown. Paladin fights it but they end up in guard.
Paladin has Kang pulled in close to control his posture.
Paladin wants to sweep but no luck.
Kang won't allow Paladin to get back to his feet.
Paladin looking to control.
Kang wants to control from the top but Paladin keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Paladin is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Paladin wants to sweep but no luck.
Kang wanted to stand there but Paladin had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kang takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kang shoots for a double leg takedown but Paladin sprawls well. He's pushed Kang's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Paladin throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kang stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Paladin scores with a nice right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kang is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Paladin.
Paladin cracks Kang with a good jab.
Kang on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Paladin with a hook.
Paladin misses with a body punch
and Kang counters with a left and a right that stings Paladin.
Retri Paladin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Paladin lands a nice shot that snaps Kang's head back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Retri Paladin dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Jab by Paladin.
Paladin misses with a straight left.
Paladin thows a left - swing and a miss!
Paladin misses with a two punch combination.
Paladin stalks Kang and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Kang's face. Kang staggers backwards, shaken.
Paladin throws a hook but Kang avoids it easily.
Retri Paladin seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Kang darts in and clinches Paladin up against the cage.
Paladin lands with a light punch inside.
Kang is trying to drag Paladin to the mat but Paladin just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Kang looking to slow down the pace here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Paladin digs a right hand into Kang's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Kang's gas tank.
Paladin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Paladin is pressed up against the cage. Kang has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Paladin down to the mat. Paladin avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Paladin misses.
Paladin tests Kang's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Paladin misses with a wild combination.
Nice straight punches there by Paladin. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Paladin.
Paladin looks to land a right hand but Kang moved out of range.
Paladin scores with a jab.
Kang steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Paladin.
Kang shoots for a double leg takedown but Paladin sprawls well. He's pushed Kang's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Liu Kang. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Paladin looks to score with a jab to the body but Kang is just out of range.
Paladin connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paladin throws a hook but Kang avoids it easily.
Paladin displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Paladin lands a nice shot to the body.
Liu Kang is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Paladin sizes up Kang with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Paladin scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Paladin throws a lazy right hand but Kang sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Paladin fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Paladin misses with a wild body shot.
Paladin throws a hook to the side of Kang's head but Kang sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nice defenses there by Kang.
Kang showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Paladin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paladin scores with a body shot.
Kang has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Paladin works Kang's body with a nice hook.
Paladin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kang looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Paladin looks to land a combination but Kang avoids it well.
Paladin misses with the combination.
A slow jab from Paladin misses its intended target.
Paladin misses with a wild combination.
Kang showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Paladin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kang forces Paladin back against the cage and clinches.
Kang goes for a takedown attempt but Paladin pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A jab from Paladin finds it's way through Kang's defenses.
Paladin scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Paladin throws a hook but Kang blocks it.
Paladin jabs Kang right on the nose. Kang blinks but takes it well.
Paladin digs a good hook to Kang's body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Retri Paladin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kang takes a jab right on the kisser.
Kang looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Paladin is fending him off so far but Kang persists. Nope, Paladin circles away and we're back to standing.
Paladin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kang showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Paladin.
Paladin throws a big shot that misses.
Paladin ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Paladin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kang manages to avoid it.
Paladin lands a nice looking body shot.
Paladin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Paladin throws a hook but Kang avoids it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Paladin throws a series of strikes that have Kang backpedaling.
Kang slips a jab and a cross from Paladin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kang slips a jab and a cross from Paladin.
Kang shoots in for a takedown but Paladin shows good takedown defense.
Paladin misses with a body shot.
Kang avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Paladin's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Paladin duly obliges.
A punch lands to the side of Kang 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Kang walks into a stiff left hand from Paladin.
Paladin missing with a left hand there. Kang was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kang uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Paladin.
Paladin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Paladin misses.
Kang ducks under a wild hook from Paladin.
Kang defending well as Paladin loads up on a big left hand.
Paladin scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Paladin lands a two punch combo.
Kang has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Kang there as he acknowledges the shot.
Kang scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Kang is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Paladin misses with a straight left.
Kang will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Liu Kang. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paladin misses with a combination

and Kang counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kang is keen to just control but Paladin is a slippery customer.
Paladin keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Liu Kang has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paladin wants to control but Kang is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kang is looking to advance position but Paladin won't allow it.
Paladin is looking for a sweep. Kang is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Paladin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kang. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Kang is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Paladin wants to control but Kang is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paladin wants to get back to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nice jab there from Paladin.
Kang steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Paladin.
Kang throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Paladin misses with a body shot.
A combination from Paladin does no damage.
Kang shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Paladin as he avoids it easily.
Paladin looks to score with a jab to the body but Kang is just out of range.
Retri Paladin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Paladin stalks Kang and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Kang's face. Kang staggers backwards, shaken.

And that's the end of the fight!
Retri Paladin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Paladin 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 26:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Retri Paladin!