PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Celso Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jian Lieu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Jiu Jitsu - Apaga mas não bate. Jian Lieu has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Celso Gracie's chin.

Gracie
vs
Lieu

193 cm
22
160 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
22
159 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

MaliceStar Clothing

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Celso Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jian Lieu!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Taro Takaoka and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lieu lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gracie's sensitive parts.
Gracie keeps the fight on the outside.
Lieu slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracie, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lieu misses with a series of wild punches.
Gracie walks forward, straight into a front kick from Lieu.
Lieu is looking to clinch but Gracie is avoiding it.
Lieu fails with the takedown

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Gracie has gone for a leg lock! Lieu slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gracie's guard.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Lieu from controlling successfully.
Gracie will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Lieu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lieu wants to get up but he can't break Gracie's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lieu gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Lieu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lieu is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Gracie is working an open guard so Lieu takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Lieu throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gracie was covering up waiting for the punch and Lieu finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Lieu wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie can't keep his opponent in guard - Lieu advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lieu wants to work for an arm triangle but Gracie is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Lieu in particular looking to stall.

Lieu seems to be looking for submissions.

Lieu decides to stand and escape the position.
Lieu with a poor takedown

and Gracie counters with a single leg into guard. Lieu didn't expect that.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Lieu is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lieu manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Lieu's guard.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Gracie drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Lieu dives on top into guard.
Gracie really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Lieu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gracie works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Lieu thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Lieu decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Lieu chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Good exchange - Lieu coming out on top.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lieu misses with a head kick.
Lieu shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Gracie counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Lieu's guard now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gracie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lieu tries to avoid it but Gracie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lieu to the ground. Lieu escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lieu fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lieu with a lazy takedown attempt

and Gracie counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gracie.
Gracie postures up.

Gracie postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Lieu is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gracie, into his guard.
Lieu would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Lieu decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Lieu shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Gracie counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Lieu manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gracie has Lieu in his guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lieu wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.

Gracie working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Lieu has passed into half guard!

Lieu is trying to work for a kimura but Gracie is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lieu tries to pass to full mount but Gracie defends it.

Lieu is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gracie defends it well.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lieu is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Lieu is trying to control the action in half guard but Gracie is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lieu is looking to clinch but Gracie is avoiding it.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lieu as he jumps to the side.

Lieu drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Gracie is looking to reverse the position.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lieu gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Lieu has taken the fight to the clinch.

Lieu pulls Gracie into guard.
Lieu is trying to keep Gracie in close.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Lieu is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lieu manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Lieu's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jian Lieu will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Gracie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Lieu shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Gracie counters with a single leg into guard. Lieu didn't expect that.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Celso Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Gracie drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Lieu dives on top into guard.
Lieu wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Lieu is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Lieu looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie has a closed guard, preventing Lieu from standing up.
Lieu throws a strike but Gracie rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Gracie postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Lieu is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gracie, into his guard.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lieu can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Lieu pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Lieu from controlling successfully.
Lieu throws a big right hand that misses.
Lieu passes Gracie's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Gracie wants to improve his position but Lieu is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lieu.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Lieu moves into the clinch.

Lieu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Lieu shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lieu wants to stand but Gracie has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Lieu looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lieu pulls his head out easily.
Gracie has hold of Lieu's hands but Lieu slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Lieu trying to pass the guard but Gracie defending well.
Lieu wants to stand but Gracie has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jian Lieu.
I think Lieu 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jian Lieu!