PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Igor Liviazoa (ranked 5568 p4p, 5769 weight class) and Landon Cox (ranked 526 p4p, 534 weight class). Landon Cox is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Liviazoa
vs
Cox

175 cm
25
185
1 - 2 - 0

187 cm
19
188
4 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Igor Liviazoa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Landon Cox!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cox fails with a takedown attempt.
Cox ducks under a wild hook from Liviazoa.
Cox misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cox takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Liviazoa lands a nice shot that snaps Cox's head back.
Cox closes this distance looking for a takedown but Liviazoa circles away.

Liviazoa bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cox manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Cox is looking to escape.

Cox actively working from the bottom here.
Cox moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cox can do anything to dispel that myth.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Liviazoa wants to control from the top but Cox keeps moving.
Liviazoa looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liviazoa scoring with punches to the head and body.
Liviazoa stopping the sweep attempt from Cox.
Liviazoa trying to control the position from guard on top but Cox is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Liviazoa is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Cox is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Liviazoa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Liviazoa decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Cox controlling the position well.
Liviazoa seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cox does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cox is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cox is staying active underneath Liviazoa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Liviazoa seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Liviazoa is looking to take a break and control but Cox is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cox desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Liviazoa is stalling here. Cox is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Liviazoa seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Cox has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Cox working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Cox looks winded!
Liviazoa being controlled for a moment.

Cox decides to stand up, so the ref orders Liviazoa to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cox shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Igor Liviazoa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Landon Cox.
Liviazoa with a nice cross.
Liviazoa jabs Cox right on the nose. Cox blinks but takes it well.
Liviazoa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cox defends it nicely.
Cox with the counter takedown but Liviazoa avoids it easily.

Cox looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Liviazoa is looking to control Cox's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Liviazoa avoid being mounted?
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 Igor Liviazoa will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cox walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Liviazoa loads up on a big right hand but Cox slips the punch.
Liviazoa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cox defends it nicely.
Cox throws out a counter right but Liviazoa avoids it with no problem.
Liviazoa bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Cox's head.
The fighters circle momentarily. Liviazoa darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Cox has a takedown stuffed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cox moves forwards but Liviazoa connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Cox is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Igor Liviazoa is winning the standup battle so far.
Cox on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Liviazoa lands the left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liviazoa stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Liviazoa scores with a jab.
A slow jab from Liviazoa misses its intended target.
Liviazoa throws a looping overhand right but Cox ducks down to avoid it.
Liviazoa throws a hook to the side of Cox's head but Cox sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cox is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Liviazoa lands a lovely overhand right.
Nice jab there from Liviazoa.
Cox tries for a takedown but Liviazoa circles away easily
and Cox takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Liviazoa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cox sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Liviazoa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cox is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Liviazoa thuds his right hand into Cox's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A cross from Liviazoa lands.
Landon Cox is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cox slips a jab from Liviazoa.
Nice jab there from Liviazoa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cox shoots in for a takedown but Liviazoa shows good takedown defense.
Igor Liviazoa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Landon Cox.
Liviazoa connects with a right hand. Cox shakes it off.
Igor Liviazoa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cox tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cox is breathing heavily.
Cox takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Liviazoa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cox.
Liviazoa keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Liviazoa connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Cox slips a jab from Liviazoa.
Cox is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Cox tries for a takedown but Liviazoa sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Liviazoa misses with a hook. Cox ducked under it nicely.
Liviazoa connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Cox has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Liviazoa scores with a jab. Cox acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Cox moves into the clinch successfully.
Cox tries to score a body lock takedown but Liviazoa shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Cox manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liviazoa swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Cox.
Liviazoa tests Cox's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Liviazoa cracks Cox with an open hand slap.
Liviazoa cracks Cox with an open hand slap.
Cox has his takedown stuffed
and Liviazoa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Liviazoa fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Cox on the side of the head.
Nice jab there from Liviazoa.
Liviazoa connects with a good right hand that stumbles Cox. Cox circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Cox takes a jab right on the kisser.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cox's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Liviazoa connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Cox scrambles back to his feet.
Liviazoa lands a jab.
Liviazoa lands a glancing blow to the side of Cox's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liviazoa lands with an overhand left.
Liviazoa swats away the attempt to clinch by Cox.
Liviazoa is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Liviazoa with a hook.
Liviazoa thuds his right hand into Cox's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Cox closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Liviazoa has a couple of punches blocked by Cox.
Liviazoa misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Liviazoa fails to land.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Liviazoa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Liviazoa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cox's elbow.
Liviazoa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Liviazoa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cox can do to turn this around?
Liviazoa lands a shoulder strike.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Liviazoa dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Liviazoa tests Cox's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cox ducks right into an uppercut from Liviazoa.
Liviazoa scores with a nice strike.
Liviazoa getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Cox tries to move into range but Liviazoa moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Cox takes a jab right on the kisser.
Liviazoa throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Cox on the side of the head.
Liviazoa misses with a left hand

and Cox counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cox.
Liviazoa tries to work over Cox's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Liviazoa has a couple of punches blocked by Cox.
Cox blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cox is looking to take this one to the mat.
Liviazoa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Liviazoa taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cox's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jab by Liviazoa.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Liviazoa, as that shot connected.
Cox slips under a jab from Liviazoa.
The fighters circling - Liviazoa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Jab by Liviazoa.
Liviazoa smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Liviazoa throws a shot from downtown. Cox moves away and avoids it.
Liviazoa will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Liviazoa connects with a jab.
Liviazoa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cox.
Liviazoa was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Liviazoa looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Cox stuffs the takedown.
Cox staying out of range there.
Cox misses with a takedown attempt - Liviazoa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Igor Liviazoa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Landon Cox.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Liviazoa shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cox controlling the position.
Landon Cox has got the better of the ground game so far.
Liviazoa looking to pass the guard.
Liviazoa might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Liviazoa trying to control the position from guard on top but Cox is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cox has his foot on Liviazoa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Liviazoa works his way back into a safe position though.
Liviazoa trying to control but Cox is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cox working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Liviazoa doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Liviazoa manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Liviazoa would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Liviazoa trying to control but Cox is working from the bottom.
Igor Liviazoa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Liviazoa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cox swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cox manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Liviazoa manages to get himself to full guard.

Liviazoa looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Cox puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liviazoa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cox.
Cox controlling the pace.
Cox wants to control but Liviazoa is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cox seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Cox is trying to control. Liviazoa wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Landon Cox has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Liviazoa is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Igor Liviazoa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Liviazoa, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:26
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Igor Liviazoa!