PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Rossi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chuck Lidell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lidell has chosen Year of the Icemandog as his entrance music. Michael Rossi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rossi
vs
Lidell

190 cm
20
217 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

188 cm
21
216 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Michael Rossi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chuck Lidell!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lidell rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rossi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Rossi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Rossi takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A body shot lands from Rossi.
Rossi working Lidell over with knees to the body.
Lidell trying to control the position but instead, Rossi has worked for underhooks and has pushed Lidell into the cage.
Rossi has Lidell pressed against the cage, preventing Lidell from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rossi lands with a light punch inside.

Rossi has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Lidell regains guard immediately.
Rossi wants to control from the top but Lidell keeps moving.
Rossi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lidell is looking to stand up but Rossi isn't so interested in that idea.
Lidell trying to keep a closed guard but Rossi is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lidell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lidell keeping moving, preventing Rossi from controlling successfully.
Rossi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lidell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rossi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lidell.
Rossi shoots in looking for a takedown. Lidell tries to sprawl out of it but Rossi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lidell manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Lidell looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A right-left combo lands from Rossi.
Lidell looks gassed!

Rossi darts in and clinches Lidell up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rossi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rossi is pushing Lidell up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Rossi for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
A frustrated look appears on Lidell's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rossi lands a body punch.

Rossi lands a takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rossi throwing strikes but missing.
Rossi throwing strikes from guard but Lidell blocks nicely.
Rossi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rossi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rossi working some strikes from top position.
Rossi passes into half guard.
Rossi landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lidell pushes Rossi off looking to stand but Rossi dives back in and keeps control.
Rossi looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Rossi throwing shots but Lidell is blocking nicely.
Rossi wants to pass to mount but Lidell is defending the position.
Lidell has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rossi is working away from the top position though.
Rossi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rossi keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Nice strikes from Rossi there.
Rossi trying to mount his opponent but Lidell defends it.
Lidell pushes Rossi off looking to stand but Rossi dives back in and keeps control.

Rossi wants to work for an arm triangle but Lidell is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rossi is pressing down on Lidell's thigh, looking to free his foot. Lidell is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Rossi there.
Rossi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rossi takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rossi frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rossi working Lidell over with strikes here.
Rossi is landing with some decent strikes but Lidell is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Rossi looking for a guillotine from mount but Lidell is having none of it.
Lidell tries to lock up and control but Rossi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lidell is bucking up trying to escape but Rossi cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Rossi dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A punch lands to the side of Lidell 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rossi, right into the meat.
Michael Rossi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lidell throws a head kick but Rossi moves out of range.
Rossi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rossi slips a jab from Lidell.
Lidell tries to clinch
and Rossi counters with a stiff right hand.
Lidell is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Rossi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rossi fails to land the takedown.
Lidell is breathing heavily.
Lidell throws a big shot that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lidell misses with a takedown

and Rossi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rossi pushes down on Lidell's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Lidell on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rossi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lidell defending well though.
Rossi looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Rossi is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rossi connects with a nice short shot to Lidell's temple.
Lidell is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rossi scores with a couple of nice shots.

Rossi wants to work for an arm triangle but Lidell is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rossi looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Lidell with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Lidell keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lidell has hold of Rossi's hands but Rossi slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rossi has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rossi is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lidell doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rossi.
Rossi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lidell can do to turn this around?
Rossi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rossi throwing shots but Lidell is blocking nicely.
Rossi is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Lidell!
Rossi lands a big elbow.
Rossi with good strikes from the mount here!
Rossi is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Lidell can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Rossi with a couple of short strikes.
Lidell really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rossi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lidell tries to reverse the position but Rossi maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rossi connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Lidell takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Rossi looking for a guillotine from mount but Lidell is having none of it.
Rossi landing strikes, looking to finish!
Rossi looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Rossi is going olschool here, as he tries to force Lidell to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Lidell shrugs it off.
Rossi scoring with strikes but Lidell is staying in there.
Lidell is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rossi with good strikes from the mount here!
Rossi scoring with strikes but Lidell is staying in there.
Rossi postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Lidell looks a forlorn figure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lidell wants to try and get back to his feet.
Lidell can't escape the position.
Rossi looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Rossi scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Rossi unloading with bombs!
Rossi wants to control the pace but Lidell is squirming around nicely.
Rossi landing shots from mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rossi is in the full mount, landing strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rossi landing strikes from the mount.
Rossi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lidell is looking to escape.
Lidell is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Rossi dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rossi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rossi stalling in the clinch.
Lidell fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Rossi has picked Lidell up - he's going for a ride! Rossi dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Rossi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rossi passes to full mount!
Rossi working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Lidell is in a horrible position here. Rossi smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Rossi fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Rossi is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Lidell can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Rossi wants to finish this one by submission but Lidell is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Rossi.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lidell is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rossi looking for a guillotine from mount but Lidell is having none of it.
Lidell is desperately trying to improve his position but Rossi has a good base and remains in mount.
Rossi fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Rossi unloading with bombs!
Rossi landing shots from mount.
Rossi landing strikes from the mount and Lidell is in trouble!

Rossi has control of Lidell's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Lidell regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Lidell is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rossi cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Rossi lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Rossi punishing his opponent with strikes.
Rossi lands a nice shot to the head.
Rossi with good strikes from the mount here!
Rossi connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Lidell tries to hold on but Rossi postures up.
Rossi dominating with strikes here.
Rossi lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lidell taking shots to the head.
Rossi punishing his opponent with strikes.

Lidell is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Lidell that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Lidell is still in real trouble! Can Rossi finish him?
Rossi postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Lidell in real trouble here! The ref calls for Lidell to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Michael Rossi!