PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Barry Liseno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiro Kikui (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Liseno comes to the cage accompanied by Beware. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Liseno
vs
Kikui

175 cm
25
170 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

178 cm
23
173 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Beast Body

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Barry Liseno!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hiro Kikui!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kikui fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Liseno, pushing him back against the cage.
Kikui keeps control of Liseno as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kikui changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Liseno fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Liseno tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Liseno swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Liseno fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kikui checks it well.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Liseno.
Kikui shoots for a double leg takedown but Liseno sprawls well. He's pushed Kikui's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Kikui feints and as Liseno raises his hands in defense, Kikui changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Liseno looking to control.
Kikui slips nicely into half guard.
Kikui is taking a breather. Liseno says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Kikui trying to control the action but Liseno is working from the bottom.

Kikui is working for a kimura but Liseno is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kikui wants to take a breather but Liseno is having none of it.
Liseno has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kikui is working away from the top position though.
Liseno tries to kick Kikui off but Kikui keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Kikui trying to control from half guard but Liseno is working away.
Kikui prevents Liseno from improving his position.
Kikui is looking to take a break and control but Liseno is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Hiro Kikui wasn't active enough on the ground.

Kikui scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kikui cracks Liseno with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Liseno pushes Kikui away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Kikui gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Liseno is breathing heavily.
Liseno tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kikui tries to move to full mount but Liseno actually manages to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kikui stops Liseno from getting back to his feet.
Still in half guard, Kikui seems content to control.
Liseno looks like he's trying to stand up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kikui looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Kikui trying to pass the guard but Liseno defending well.
Kikui controlling the action here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Hiro Kikui has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Kikui instigates a clinch.
Liseno wants to break free but Kikui has control.
Liseno is trying to force a seperation but Kikui has the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kikui gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Liseno is refusing to be controlled, as Kikui sits in half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Kikui is trying to work for a kimura but Liseno is defending well.

Kikui stands up out of the half guard.
Liseno tries to clinch

and Kikui counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Liseno!
Kikui controlling the pace for now.
Kikui landing strikes from the mount and Liseno is in trouble!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kikui controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liseno really wants to buck Kikui off and get back to his feet.

Kikui is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Liseno is surviving well by controlling Kikui's body position as best he can.
Kikui controlling from the full mount.

Kikui looking to secure an arm triangle but Liseno defends it well.

Kikui looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kikui looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kikui trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Kikui dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Horrible takedown by Kikui or perhaps it was just good defense by Liseno which made him look bad.

Kikui instigates a clinch.
Liseno is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Liseno working hard to break the clinch.
Kikui changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Liseno fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Kikui circles away from the clinch attempt

and Kikui counters with a nice double leg into side control. Liseno won't be happy with that.
Kikui wants to lay and pray for a moment but Liseno keeps working.
Kikui takes a little break here. Liseno wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Liseno is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kikui stands up and beckons Liseno to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kikui shoots in looking for a takedown but Liseno manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kikui's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Barry Liseno has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hiro Kikui.

Kikui looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kikui tries to free his leg and advance position but Liseno is retaining full guard.
Kikui passes Liseno's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kikui wants to pass to mount but Liseno is defending the position.
Liseno is trying to stand.
Kikui content to control rather than advance.
Kikui moves nicely into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liseno is looking to regain half guard here but Kikui keeps moving and retains side control.
Kikui lands a nice forearm strike.
Liseno wants to get back to his feet but Kikui drags him back down.

Kikui tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kikui in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Liseno stops Kikui from passing to mount.
A lull in the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kikui trying to control the position but Liseno is working away.
Kikui controls the position.

Kikui is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Liseno knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Kikui tries for a kimura but Liseno is defending well.
Kikui wants to control but Liseno is keeping him busy.
Liseno gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kikui can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Liseno is looking to escape.
Liseno wants to get back to his feet.
Kikui tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Let's hope that Kikui has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Liseno is in a horrible position here. Kikui smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Kikui showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kikui shoots in and gets a takedown into Liseno's guard.
Kikui looking to pass the guard.
Kikui slips nicely into half guard.
Kikui is taking a breather. Liseno says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Kikui prevents Liseno from standing back up.
Liseno is trying to maintain the position but Kikui is very close to passing his half guard.
Kikui has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kikui is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kikui's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Liseno is looking for a sweep. Kikui is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Hiro Kikui hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Liseno gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kikui to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Liseno can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kikui controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kikui forces his way into half guard.
Kikui controlling the action here.
Hiro Kikui has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kikui wants to free his trapped foot but Liseno is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Kikui wants to work for an arm triangle but Liseno is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kikui sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kikui wants to take a breather but Liseno is having none of it.
Kikui looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Hiro Kikui hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Kikui shoots in and gets a takedown into Liseno's guard.
Kikui stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Liseno swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Liseno wants to stand but Kikui is controlling the position.
Kikui advances to half guard.
Kikui keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Kikui prevents Liseno from improving his position.
Kikui trying to mount his opponent but Liseno defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kikui takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Liseno kicks Kikui off and gets back to his feet.
Liseno shoots and misses

and Kikui decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Liseno's guard.
Liseno is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kikui is controlling him.
Kikui trying to control the position from guard on top but Liseno is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kikui postures up.
Kikui trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kikui postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Barry Liseno just wasn't active enough.

Kikui moves into the clinch.

Kikui gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Liseno wants to get back to full guard.
Kikui stops Liseno from getting back to his feet.
Kikui is taking a breather. Liseno says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Kikui trying to mount his opponent but Liseno defends it.
Barry Liseno has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Liseno is trying to stand up here but Kikui is controlling him well.
Kikui takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Hiro Kikui is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

The ref stands the fighters back up. Hiro Kikui was stalling too much, according to the referee.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Liseno enables Kikui to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Liseno manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hiro Kikui comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kikui winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 26:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hiro Kikui!