PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jun Liu (ranked 1038 p4p, 648 weight class) and Leon Smith (ranked 157 p4p, 89 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Liu
vs
Smith

192 cm
37
199
27 - 19 - 0

188 cm
28
190
4 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Stoner's Killer Apparel
30th Century Beer Store

Conviction
Silverback Sweatshop

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jun Liu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Leon Smith!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Paul Tew and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith throws a hook but Liu blocks it.
Smith avoids a punch combination nicely.
It seemed like Smith was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Smith throws a leg kick but Liu checks it.
We've been told by Liu's head coaches at Gumburcules Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Smith has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Liu.
Smith doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Liu just misses with a punch to the body.
Smith steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Smith pivots, looking for a leg kick but Liu is out of range and Smith settles back down.
Smith moves out of range of the strikes.
Liu throws a body shot but no joy.
Liu clobbers Smith with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Smith misses with a jab, cross combination.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Liu pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liu throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Smith sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Liu throws a lazy right hand but Smith sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Liu misses with a wild body shot.
Smith checks a low kick from Liu.
Liu throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
A nice side step and Smith releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Smith has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith moves away from the strike by Liu.
Liu slips a jab and a cross from Smith.
Liu throws a predictable looking body shot
and Smith counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Liu changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Liu finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Smith tries a quick counter leg kick but Liu is wise to it.
Smith slips under a jab.
Smith appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Smith throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smith throws a leg kick but Liu moved away.
Liu throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
Liu just misses with a punch to the body.
Liu swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.
Smith is looking for the big counter here.
Liu lands with a right hand.
Liu misses with the body kick
letting Smith counter with a right hand.
Smith keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jun Liu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith checks the leg kick nicely there.
Liu throws a push kick but Smith slaps the foot to one side.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but Liu is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liu misses with a low kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head kick misses from Liu.
A little jabbing left from Smith on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Smith drives through and clinches with Liu against the cage.
Smith holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Liu breaks the clinch.
Liu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Liu throws a body shot but no joy.
Liu blocks a leg kick.
Liu takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Smith throws a shot from downtown. Liu moves away and avoids it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Smith.
Liu throws a series of punches but Smith avoids them all with ease.
Liu goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Liu sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
A nice leg kick from Smith, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Liu.
Liu throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
Smith checks a low kick from Liu.
Liu keeps the fight on the outside.
Good leg kick by Smith.
Liu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
Smith misses with a body shot.
Liu slips a straight right by Smith.
Smith is looking to clinch but Liu is avoiding it.
Smith has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Liu.
Smith tries to move into range but Liu moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Smith moves into range and connects with a jab.
Smith throws a jab when Liu was well out of range.
Liu shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Smith looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Liu misses with a low kick as Smith jumps back.
A chopping leg kick lands by Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Smith taking a breather.
Smith controlling the action here for a moment.
Smith blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith avoiding damage.
Liu tries to throw a body punch but Smith avoids it by throwing Liu back against the cage.
Smith blocks a body shot from Liu.
Smith tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Liu's elbow.
Stalling in the clinch from Smith.
Smith misses with a body punch.
Liu working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Smith misses with a hook from the clinch.
Smith throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Lius head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jun Liu will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Smith jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Liu throws a low kick but Smith moves out of range easily.
Smith was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Liu takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Liu takes a swing at Smith's ribcage but misses.
A head kick misses from Smith.
Liu lets loose with a powerful body kick. Smith will feel that in the morning.
Smith turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Liu just misses with a punch to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Smith.
Smith throws a leg kick which misses Liu's front leg but catches the back leg as Liu tries to avoid it.
Liu tries a head kick but it misses.
Smith lands a jab to the nose.
Liu misses the shot to the body.
Liu bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Smith's head backwards.
Liu waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Smith.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Liu at a distance.
Liu with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Liu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Smith gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Smith looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Liu is looking to slow Smith down with leg kicks.
Smith wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Smith has taken the fight to the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Smith takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Nice elbow from Liu.
Smith is trying to maintain a safe position but Liu gets an underhook and turns Smith into the cage.
Liu being controlled against the cage.
Liu tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.
Liu misses with the head strike.
Smith lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith works on Liu's body with a couple of short punches.
Smith slows down the pace here.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Smith stalls.
Smith continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Liu tries to throw a body punch but Smith avoids it by throwing Liu back against the cage.
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!
Smith avoids the elbow strike from Liu, against the cage.
Liu has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Smith looking to slow down the pace here.
Smith pressing his opponent against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Leon Smith.
Liu misses with a looping left.
Smith looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Smith defending well as Liu loads up on a big left hand.
Smith connects with a solid leg kick.
Smith is looking to clinch.
Liu is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith avoids the head kick by Liu.
Liu misses with a straight left.
Liu misses with a shot to the body
and Smith counters with a good low kick that Liu was not able to check.
Liu checks a low kick from Smith.
Liu misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smith scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Liu, as that shot connected.
Liu with a nice calf kick.
Smith explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Smith avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Liu dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Smith throws a nice head kick!
Liu lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Liu takes a swing at Smith's ribcage but misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice leg kick lands there from Smith.
Liu takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Smith tries to clinch but Liu is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Liu.
Good work by Smith as he checks the leg kick.
Liu walks into a stiff left hand from Smith.
Liu uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Smith.
Liu misses with an uppercut.
A little jabbing left from Smith on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Smith takes one to the side of the head.
Liu scores with a hook.
Liu sizes up Smith with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Smith misses with a hook.
Smith takes one to the side of the head.
Smith throws a head kick but Liu moves out of range.
Liu bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Smith loads up on a big right hand but Liu slips the punch.
Jun Liu is winning the standup battle so far.
Liu wants to slow Smith down by chopping away at his legs.
Smith throws out a counter right but Liu avoids it with no problem.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Liu was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Leon Smith will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Liu's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Smith on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Liu lands a leg kick that knocks Smith off balance momentarily.
Smith tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith throws a leg kick that misses.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Liu.
Smith misses with a low kick.
Liu throws a push kick but Smith slaps the foot to one side.
Smith with a jab.
Liu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.
A thudding body kick lands there by Liu!
Liu looks to land a body kick but Smith moved away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Liu at a distance.
Liu defending well as Smith loads up on a big left hand.
Smith is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Smith closes the distance and lands a one-two.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Smith lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Liu has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Liu and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liu lands a leg kick that knocks Smith off balance momentarily.
Liu takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Smith pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Liu attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Despite the aggression on Smith's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
A nice leg kick lands there from Liu.
Liu buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Liu throws a jab but it's blocked by Smith.
Liu lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Liu throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Smith connects with a solid leg kick.
Liu throws a head kick that misses.
Liu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smith manages to avoid it.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith missing with a left hand there. Liu was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Smith ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A little jabbing left from Smith on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Smith lands the left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liu tries to land a front kick but Smith steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Liu uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Smith has time to react.
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!
Liu tries to land a body kick
and Smith counters with a stiff right hand.
Liu tries a head kick but it misses.
Liu takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Smith connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Smith drops his hands momentarily and Liu takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Liu gets tackled into the cage by Smith. Smith maintains the clinch.
Leon Smith seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Liu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A low kick from Liu is predictable there
and Liu takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Smith blocks a head kick by Liu.
Liu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smith tries a quick counter leg kick but Liu is wise to it.
Liu takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Liu tries to land a front kick but Smith steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Smith clinches with his opponent.
Liu tries to work over Smith's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Liu tries to work over Smith's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Smith fails to land.
Liu's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Smith stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Smith leaning against his opponent.
Smith is pushing Liu up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Smith.
Liu's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Smith keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Liu's efforts to push away.
Smith pushes Liu back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Smith is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Liu is keeping busy.
Smith throws a punch but it's blocked by Liu.
Liu misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith can't find room to land a body shot as Liu controls the action.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Smith takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Smith can't find room to land a body shot as Liu controls the action.
Smith lands with a left to the head.
Liu wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Nice body punch from Liu.
Smith blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Liu misses with a punch on the inside.

Liu breaks from the clinch.
Liu throws a lazy body kick
and Smith counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
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!
Smith moves to clinch but Liu breaks away
and Liu counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Liu feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Smiths jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Smith scores with a hook to the body. Liu takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Leon Smith.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Leon Smith!
Leon Smith really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Knock Out Clothing logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.