PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ramon Escobar Chavez (ranked 575 p4p, 380 weight class) and Balagot Liu (ranked 71 p4p, 45 weight class). Escobar Chavez comes to the cage accompanied by Buena Vista Social Club - Hasta Siempre. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Escobar Chavez
vs
Liu

179 cm
39
150
33 - 10 - 4

173 cm
25
146
12 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

HELLS BALLS RECOVERY

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 33 - 10 - 4, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ramon Escobar Chavez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Balagot Liu!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice shot by Liu.
Liu looks to land a right hand but Escobar Chavez moved out of range.
Liu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Escobar Chavez was well out of range. Poor timing from Liu.
Escobar Chavez moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Liu scores with the left hand. Escobar Chavez knows he should have avoided that one.
Escobar Chavez just misses with a punch to the body.
Escobar Chavez misses with a hook.
Liu looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Escobar Chavez takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Liu on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Escobar Chavez. Escobar Chavez obviously looking to wear him down.
Liu misses with a head kick.
A big right from Escobar Chavez misses.
Liu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Escobar Chavez throws a head kick that half lands.
Escobar Chavez wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Escobar Chavez throws the left hand but Liu avoids the punch easily.
Liu lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Liu avoids a punch combination nicely.
It seemed like Liu was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Liu. Escobar Chavez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Escobar Chavez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Liu.
Liu blocks a head kick by Escobar Chavez.
Liu doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Liu uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Escobar Chavez misses.
Liu uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Escobar Chavez.
Nice defenses there by Liu.
Escobar Chavez slips a straight right by Liu.
It looked like Escobar Chavez wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Escobar Chavez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Escobar Chavez misses with a straight left.
Balagot Liu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Liu uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Liu throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Escobar Chavez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Escobar Chavez looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Liu swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Liu misses with a low kick.
Escobar Chavez misses with a leg kick.
Liu's corner calls for a 1-2. Liu obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Liu cracks Escobar Chavez with a good jab.
Liu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Escobar Chavez.
Liu 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.
No joy there for Liu, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A cross from Liu lands.
Escobar Chavez lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Liu throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Escobar Chavez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Escobar Chavez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Liu was well out of range. Poor timing from Escobar Chavez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liu misses with a body shot.
Liu ducks under a wild hook from Escobar Chavez.

Escobar Chavez clinches up against the cage.
Escobar Chavez misses with the head strike.
Escobar Chavez lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Liu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
An inside leg kick lands from Liu.
Liu loads up on a big right hand but Escobar Chavez slips the punch.
Liu throws the kick towards the body but Escobar Chavez avoids it.
Liu jabs Escobar Chavez right on the nose. Escobar Chavez blinks but takes it well.
Liu throws a body shot but no joy.
Liu slips a straight right by Escobar Chavez.
Escobar Chavez fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Liu is out of range.
A nice side step and Liu releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Escobar Chavez lands a jab to Liu's midsection.
Escobar Chavez misses with a straight right.
Escobar Chavez misses with a hook. Liu ducked under it nicely.
Escobar Chavez takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Escobar Chavez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A little jabbing left from Liu on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Liu feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Escobar Chavezs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Escobar Chavez with a nice calf kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar Chavez slips a jab from Liu.
Liu throws a leg kick but Escobar Chavez checks it.
Liu throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Escobar Chavez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Liu swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Escobar Chavez slips a jab and a cross from Liu.
Liu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Escobar Chavez.
A looping hook to the body misses from Liu. Escobar Chavez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Liu on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Liu walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Escobar Chavez checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Escobar Chavez throws a low kick but Liu avoids it.
A low kick lands for Escobar Chavez.
Liu ducks under a wild hook from Escobar Chavez.
Escobar Chavez goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Escobar Chavez tries to close the distance and clinch but Liu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Escobar Chavez takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Escobar Chavez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Liu.
A right-left combo lands from Liu.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Escobar Chavez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice defenses there by Liu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liu on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Liu jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Escobar Chavez looks to land a right hand but Liu moved out of range.
Liu throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Liu's corner calls for a 1-2. Liu obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Liu connects with an inside leg kick.
Liu is looking to slow Escobar Chavez down with leg kicks.
Liu lands a jab.
Liu throws a lazy uppercut
and Escobar Chavez counters with a nice uppercut.
Jab, jab by Liu - just one landing.
Liu throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Escobar Chavez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A nice leg kick lands there from Liu.
Escobar Chavez changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Liu thows a left - swing and a miss!
Escobar Chavez is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Liu misses with a hook. Escobar Chavez ducked under it nicely.
Escobar Chavez lands with a slapping head kick.
Escobar Chavez moves out of range of the strikes.
Escobar Chavez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Liu.
Escobar Chavez pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Balagot Liu will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Liu works the jab nicely.
Liu throws a big shot that misses.
Liu wants to slow Escobar Chavez down by chopping away at his legs.
Escobar Chavez fires out a quick counter leg kick but Liu just manages to avoid it.
Escobar Chavez ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Escobar Chavez moves away from the strike by Liu.
Escobar Chavez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Liu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Liu slips a jab from Escobar Chavez.
Balagot Liu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Escobar Chavez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Liu manages to avoid it.
Liu appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Escobar Chavez takes a swing at Liu's ribcage but misses.
The fighters circling - Liu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Escobar Chavez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Escobar Chavez is looking to clinch.
It seemed like Liu was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobar Chavez takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Escobar Chavez throws out a leg kick but Liu moves out of range and Escobar Chavez only half commits.
A big right from Liu misses.
Liu throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Escobar Chavez gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Liu misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liu takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Liu tries to work over Escobar Chavez's front leg with a kick but Escobar Chavez checks it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Liu. Escobar Chavez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Escobar Chavez tries to counter by clinching up but Liu breaks away and moves out of range.
Liu ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Liu throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Liu just misses with a punch to the body.
Liu fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Escobar Chavez.
Liu swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Escobar Chavez.
Escobar Chavez doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Escobar Chavez dips to his left and cracks Liu with an uppercut!
A big left from Escobar Chavez misses.
Liu lands a jab.
Liu throws a hook to the side of Escobar Chavez's head but Escobar Chavez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Escobar Chavez looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Escobar Chavez takes a swing at Liu's ribcage but misses.
It seemed like Liu was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Escobar Chavez with a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Liu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Escobar Chavez manages to avoid it.
Liu avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Liu digs a good hook to Escobar Chavez's body.
Escobar Chavez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Liu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liu looks to throw the jab but Escobar Chavez is out of range.
Liu uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Escobar Chavez has time to react.
Liu bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Escobar Chavez slips a jab from Liu.
A telegraphed right hand from Liu misses the target.
A jab from Liu finds it's way through Escobar Chavez's defenses.
A combination from Liu does no damage.
Escobar Chavez stuns Liu with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Liu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Escobar Chavez takes the fight into the clinch.

Liu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Balagot Liu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Escobar Chavez scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Liu missing with a left hand there. Escobar Chavez was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Escobar Chavez moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Liu stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A jab from Liu does it's job there.
Liu takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Liu waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Escobar Chavez.
Liu misses with a hook. Escobar Chavez ducked under it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liu throws a lazy right hand but Escobar Chavez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Escobar Chavez lands a jab to Liu's midsection.
Escobar Chavez throws a looping overhand right but Liu ducks down to avoid it.
Escobar Chavez fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Liu checks it well.
A jab from Escobar Chavez misses.
Escobar Chavez ducks right into an uppercut from Liu.
Escobar Chavez fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Liu looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Escobar Chavez scores with a nice body kick.
Liu throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Escobar Chavez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Escobar Chavez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Liu walks into a left hand.
Liu takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A bone on bone clash there as Escobar Chavez blocks the leg kick.
Escobar Chavez pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Escobar Chavez misses with a body shot.
Escobar Chavez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Liu.
Liu throws a big shot that misses.
Liu takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A bone on bone clash there as Escobar Chavez blocks the leg kick.
A little feinted left hand from Escobar Chavez on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Escobar Chavez.
Escobar Chavez connects with an inside leg kick.
Escobar Chavez turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Liu uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Escobar Chavez.
The crowd cheers as Liu lands an impressive looking overhand right. Escobar Chavez doesn't seem phased though.
Escobar Chavez throws a hook but Liu avoids it easily.
Liu throws a shot from downtown. Escobar Chavez moves away and avoids it.
Escobar Chavez attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A big left from Liu misses.
Escobar Chavez tries to counter by clinching up but Liu breaks away and moves out of range.
A slow jab from Liu misses its intended target.
Liu swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Escobar Chavez.
Liu throws an overhand right that lands on Escobar Chavez's shoulder, as Escobar Chavez tries to avoid the shot.
Liu swings widly with a right hand
and Escobar Chavez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Liu misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Escobar Chavez counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Liu thinking.
Liu moves out of range of the leg kick from Escobar Chavez.
Liu with a nice calf kick.
Escobar Chavez throws a hook to the side of Liu's head but Liu sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A head kick by Liu misses
and Escobar Chavez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Balagot Liu will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Liu scores with a crisp jab that stopped Escobar Chavez in his tracks.
Liu swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Liu throws out a loose jab but Escobar Chavez uses good head movement to avoid it.
It looked like Escobar Chavez wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Liu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Escobar Chavez.
Escobar Chavez misses with a few strikes there.
Liu cracks Escobar Chavez with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Escobar Chavez thuds a left hand into Liu's body.
Escobar Chavez checks a leg kick.
Nice uppercut lands for Liu. That snapped Escobar Chavez's head back.
Liu misses with a few strikes there.
A slow jab from Liu misses its intended target.
Liu clobbers Escobar Chavez with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Liu throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Escobar Chavez was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Escobar Chavez avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Liu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Escobar Chavez.
Nice cross by Liu.
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!
A kick lands to the mid section there for Escobar Chavez.
Liu misses with a wild body shot.
Escobar Chavez explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar Chavez misses the jab.
Liu throws a body shot but no joy.
Liu throws a big shot that misses.
Good standup being displayed there by Escobar Chavez as he connects with a hook.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Escobar Chavez - that will leave a mark!
A solid body kick from Escobar Chavez.
Escobar Chavez takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Escobar Chavez swings for the body but Liu moves out of range.
Escobar Chavez connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Escobar Chavez takes a swing at Liu's ribcage but misses.
Escobar Chavez connects with the punch.
Liu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Escobar Chavez misses with a low kick.
Escobar Chavez throws a lazy right hand but Liu sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Liu darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Liu connects with a looping right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Liu takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Escobar Chavez fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Liu on the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liu avoids the head kick by Escobar Chavez.
Liu jabs Escobar Chavez right on the nose. Escobar Chavez blinks but takes it well.
Escobar Chavez walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Escobar Chavez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Liu.
Liu misses with a hook. Escobar Chavez ducked under it nicely.
Escobar Chavez was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Escobar Chavez pivots, looking for a leg kick but Liu is out of range and Escobar Chavez settles back down.
Escobar Chavez connects with an inside leg kick.
Liu misses with a looping left.
It looked like Escobar Chavez wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Escobar Chavez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Escobar Chavez shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Escobar Chavez throws a body punch but Liu moves out of range.
Liu fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Escobar Chavez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Liu.
Escobar Chavez swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Liu connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Escobar Chavez momentarily.
Liu listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Escobar Chavez lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Escobar Chavez cracks Liu with a good jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Liu misses.
Escobar Chavez swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Escobar Chavez missing with a left hand there. Liu was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sloppy strikes from Escobar Chavez. Those never looked like landing.
Liu looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Escobar Chavez takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Liu misses with a lunging right hand
and Escobar Chavez counters with a stiff right hand.
Escobar Chavez changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Escobar Chavez lands with a good body shot.
Escobar Chavez defending well as Liu loads up on a big left hand.
Liu swings for the body but Escobar Chavez moves out of range.
As Liu backs away, Escobar Chavez returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Ramon Escobar Chavez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Escobar Chavez walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Liu checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
The fighters circling - Escobar Chavez throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Jab, jab by Escobar Chavez - just one landing.
Escobar Chavez blocks a head kick by Liu.
Escobar Chavez throws a leg kick that is checked
letting Liu counter with a right hand.
Liu connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Escobar Chavez momentarily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Escobar Chavez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Liu.
Escobar Chavez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Liu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Escobar Chavez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar Chavez throws a shot from downtown. Liu moves away and avoids it.
Liu throws a right hand that misses
and Escobar Chavez counters with a body kick.
Escobar Chavez slips a jab and a cross from Liu.
Escobar Chavez wants to clinch up but Liu keeps it at a distance.
Liu swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A jab from Liu misses.
Liu chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Escobar Chavez can pounce on him.
Liu scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Liu throws a lazy head kick
and Escobar Chavez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A good leg kick by Liu.
Liu attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A leg kick checked by Liu.
Escobar Chavez will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Liu's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Escobar Chavez misses with a body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Escobar Chavez tries to clinch up.
Liu let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Escobar Chavez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Liu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Escobar Chavez throws a nice inside leg kick.
Escobar Chavez slips a jab and a cross from Liu.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Balagot Liu.
I've got Liu 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Balagot Liu!
After winning the bout, Balagot Liu thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.