PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chuck Liddell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimi Banuwa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Liddell comes to the cage accompanied by It's Dark and Hell Is Hot. Jimi Banuwa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Liddell
vs
Banuwa

190 cm
27
207 lbs
9 - 10 - 0

182 cm
22
220 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great low kicks
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Chuck Liddell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jimi Banuwa!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Liddell tries for a takedown but Banuwa sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Banuwa shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Banuwa postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Liddell to stand up.
Liddell tries to clinch up but Banuwa circles away and keeps his distance.
Banuwa moves out of range of the leg kick from Liddell.

Banuwa shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Banuwa was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Banuwa get's back to his feet.
Liddell misses with a takedown attempt

and Banuwa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Liddell fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chuck Liddell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Banuwa pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Liddell managing to block the knees to the body from Banuwa.

Liddell jumps guard.
Liddell seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Banuwa wants to stand but Liddell is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Banuwa gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Liddell closes the distance looking to clinch

and Banuwa counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Banuwa.
Banuwa wanted to stand there but Liddell had control of the position.

Banuwa stands up and waves to Liddell to follow him.
Banuwa checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liddell tries a head kick but it misses.
Liddell misses with an attempted mid kick.

Liddell closes the distance and clinches.
Liddell tries to pull guard but Banuwa won't allow it.
Banuwa connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Chuck Liddell has been cut.
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!
Banuwa looking to throw knees to the head but Liddell is blocking nicely.
Banuwa connects with a knee to the head.
Banuwa throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Banuwa comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Banuwa just misses with a elbow thrown towards Liddell's brow.
Liddell jumps guard but Banuwa stands there with Liddell around his waist. Liddell gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Banuwa connects with a knee to the head.
Banuwa looks gassed!
Banuwa misses with an elbow over the top.
Banuwa throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Liddell wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Banuwa has him pressed against the cage.
Liddell avoids the elbow strike from Banuwa, against the cage.
Banuwa tries to land a knee to the head but Liddell blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liddell jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Banuwa walks away with a smile on his face. Liddell gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Liddell tries to clinch up
and Banuwa counters with a series of strikes. Liddell will be more careful next time no doubt.
Liddell moves to clinch but Banuwa breaks away

and Banuwa counters by clinching up.
Banuwa lands an elbow just above Liddell 's eye.

Liddell pulls guard effortlessly.
Banuwa has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Liddell is proving hard to escape from.
Banuwa won't allow Liddell to sweep him here.
Liddell manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Liddell looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banuwa taking shots to the head.

Banuwa bucks Liddell off and manages to get back to his feet!
Some bone on bone action there as Banuwa checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Liddell shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Banuwa pinned against the cage. Banuwa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Liddell tries to clinch

and Banuwa moves into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Liddell managing to block the knees to the body from Banuwa.
Banuwa throws a knee to the head but misses.
Liddell tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Banuwa smiles and moves away.
Liddell throws a leg kick

and Banuwa counters by clinching up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimi Banuwa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Chuck Liddell's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Liddell wants to clinch

and Banuwa counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Liddell!
Liddell can't escape the position.
Banuwa takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Jimi Banuwa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Banuwa tries to control but Liddell wriggling away.
Liddell gets back to half guard.
Banuwa wants to stand but Liddell has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Liddell wants to get back to full guard.
Banuwa is breathing heavily.
Liddell trying to control but Banuwa postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Banuwa decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liddell wants to clinch but Banuwa slips to the side

and Banuwa counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Banuwa prevents Liddell from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Liddell slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Liddell pulls Banuwa in to control the position.
Banuwa would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Banuwa is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Liddell controlling Banuwa's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banuwa postures up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Chuck Liddell.
Liddell tries to clinch

and Banuwa counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Liddell's guard now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Banuwa would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

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

Banuwa decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Liddell, up you get!
Liddell missing with a left hand there. Banuwa was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Liddell on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Liddell moves to clinch but Banuwa breaks away

and Banuwa holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liddell jumps guard but Banuwa stands there with Liddell around his waist. Liddell gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Liddell pulls Banuwa into guard.

Liddell is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Banuwa is aware though and is defending well.
Banuwa would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Banuwa stands up and waves to Liddell to follow him.
Liddell looks to clinch

and Banuwa moves into the clinch.

Liddell pulls guard.
Liddell is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Liddell is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liddell performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Liddell 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.

Banuwa manages to escape and get back to his feet!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimi Banuwa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Chuck Liddell's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Liddell wants to clinch
and Banuwa counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Liddell tries to clinch

and Banuwa counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Liddell's guard now.

Banuwa decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Liddell, up you get!
Banuwa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Liddell.
Banuwa tries to clinch up.

Liddell clinches.
Banuwa throws an elbow that misses.
Liddell tries to pull guard but Banuwa holds him up against the cage and eventually Liddell drops back down to his feet.
Liddell has a couple of punches blocked by Banuwa.
Banuwa misses with an elbow strike.
Liddell fails to pull guard.
Banuwa looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Banuwa crunches a lovely knee into Liddell's ribcage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liddell blocks an elbow strike.
Banuwa pushes off an throws an elbow but Liddell leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Banuwa throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Banuwa creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Banuwa tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Liddell avoids it.
Banuwa misses with an elbow strike.
Liddell tries to pull guard but Banuwa holds him up against the cage and eventually Liddell drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chuck Liddell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Banuwa gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Liddell misses with a hook to the ribs.
Banuwa lands an elbow that stopped Liddell in his tracks for a moment.
Liddell misses with a short punch on the inside.
Liddell tries to pull guard but Banuwa won't allow it.
Banuwa lands an elbow inside.
Liddell blocks an elbow strike.
Liddell leaning against his opponent.
Banuwa tries to land a knee to the head but Liddell blocks with his arms.
A right hand to the body from Liddell.
Liddell fails to pull guard.
Banuwa creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Liddell's defenses.
Banuwa comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Banuwa missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Liddell blocks the elbow strike.
Banuwa has Liddell pressed against the cage, preventing Liddell from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Liddell is working for takedown but Banuwa is calmly controlling the position for now.
Banuwa misses with a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Banuwa.
Liddell jumps guard but Banuwa stands there with Liddell around his waist. Liddell gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Liddell pulls guard successfully.
Banuwa wanted to stand there but Liddell had control of the position.
Banuwa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Liddell trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Liddell is trying to keep Banuwa in close.
Liddell is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Banuwa is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Chuck Liddell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jimi Banuwa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banuwa is looking to stand up but Liddell won't let him.
Banuwa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Liddell is trying to control the position from the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Chuck Liddell wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Liddell misses with a takedown

and Banuwa counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Banuwa stands up out of the half guard.
Liddell tries to clinch but fails miserably

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

Liddell looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Banuwa stands and steps away. Liddell gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Liddell shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Banuwa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Liddell jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Banuwa walks away with a smile on his face. Liddell gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Banuwa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Liddell defends it nicely.
Liddell wants to clinch

and Banuwa counters with a nice double leg into side control. Liddell won't be happy with that.

Banuwa stands up.
Liddell tries to clinch but Banuwa moves away

and Banuwa counters by clinching up.
Liddell tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Liddell tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Banuwa avoids it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Banuwa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Liddell has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Liddell ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Liddell no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jimi Banuwa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Banuwa has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jimi Banuwa!