PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eli Brooks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zhang Liao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brooks's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Nothing Else Matters. Liao has chosen Rammstein-Feuer Frei! as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Zhang Liao enters the cage!

Brooks
vs
Liao

191 cm
27
255 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

203 cm
25
245 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eli Brooks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zhang Liao!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Alan Glass and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Brooks scores with a takedown into Liao's guard.
Liao manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Brooks holds on, trying desperately to control.
Liao can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Brooks is looking to escape.
Brooks wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Liao tries to control but Brooks wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liao takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Liao wants to control the pace but Brooks is squirming around nicely.

Liao goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Brooks is on top in guard.
Liao has a closed guard, preventing Brooks from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Zhang Liao was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Liao looks for a takedown but Brooks sprawls well.

Liao drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Liao trying to control the position from guard on top but Brooks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Brooks keeping full guard, as Liao tries to pass.
Liao throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Liao pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Brooks is keeping the position for now.
Liao works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brooks pushes Liao off looking to stand but Liao dives back in and keeps control.

Liao is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Liao 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.
Brooks wants to get back to full guard.
Brooks might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Liao throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brooks tries to kick Liao off but Liao keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Brooks gets back to full guard.
Liao prevents Brooks from getting back to his feet.

Liao is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Brooks is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Brooks has escaped and now he's on top!

Liao looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Liao has control of Brooks's left arm, preventing Brooks from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhang Liao dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Brooks closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Brooks lands in his opponent's guard.

Liao throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Liao is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Liao trying to control the action but Brooks is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liao not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Liao tries to pass to full mount but Brooks defends it.

Liao is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Brooks looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Brooks makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Eli Brooks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Liao fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Brooks closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Liao did well to prevent Brooks getting side control.
Liao gets full guard.
Liao looking to control but Brooks passes into half guard.
Liao trying to control but Brooks postures up.
Liao is staying active underneath Brooks, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Liao wants to get back to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Liao is not content to let Brooks control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brooks is thwarting Liao's attempts to control the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
The fighters are battling for position here. Liao manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Liao keeping moving, preventing Brooks from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Eli Brooks wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Brooks closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Liao's guard.
Liao keeping moving, preventing Brooks from controlling successfully.
Liao is pulling down on Brooks's head. It's preventing any offense from Brooks, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liao is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Brooks looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Brooks is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Liao is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Brooks dominated that second 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.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Liao.

Liao shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Liao was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Liao looking to control and managing it successfully.

Liao jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Brooks is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Brooks and Liao has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Liao trying to control the position but Brooks is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brooks wants to control but Liao postures up.
Brooks tries to buck Liao off but Liao is having none of it.
Brooks is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Liao asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Liao tries to advance to mount but Brooks denies him.
Brooks is trying to get back to half guard.
Liao wants to control but Brooks is keeping him busy.
Liao working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brooks is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Liao is controlling him well.

Liao is trying to get an arm triangle but Brooks is defending well.
Brooks taking punishment in the form of punches.

Liao is trying to get an arm triangle but Brooks is defending well.

Liao tries for a kimura but Brooks is defending well.
Brooks is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liao working away.
Liao advances to full mount.
Liao trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Zhang Liao has got the better of the ground game so far.
Brooks tries to reverse the position but Liao maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liao throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Brooks because Liao loaded up on that one.
Brooks is trying to escape the mount.
Liao can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Brooks is looking to escape.
Brooks manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Liao trying to control from half guard but Brooks is working away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Liao works his way into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhang Liao really dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Brooks changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Liao looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Brooks is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Liao is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Brooks wants to lay and pray for a moment but Liao keeps working.
Liao tries to buck Brooks off but Brooks is having none of it.
Liao regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Brooks is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Liao has managed to free his arm - good work.
Liao wants to improve his position but Brooks is controlling well.
Brooks is trying to control. Liao wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Brooks controlling the action here.
Brooks prevents Liao from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Brooks is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Liao doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Brooks.
Liao trying to hold on to Brooks's head to control him but Brooks postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liao wants to improve his position but Brooks is controlling well.
Liao wants to control but Brooks is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Liao is trying hard to land a takedown here. Brooks sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Zhang Liao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Brooks bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Brooks stands up and beckons Liao to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liao shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Brooks but Brooks pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Brooks shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Liao is trying to defend but Brooks finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Brooks is figuring out what he wants to do next.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Liao is looking to get back to full guard here but Brooks has managed to pass to side control instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Brooks had his way with Zhang Liao in that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Brooks closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Liao to the mat! Liao manages to get full guard.
Liao not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Brooks has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Brooks wanted to stand there but Liao had control of the position.
Liao lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Brooks!
Liao thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Liao trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liao with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Liao landing strikes from the mount and Brooks is in trouble!
Liao wants to take Brooks's back here but Brooks is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Liao wants to control the action but instead Brooks gets a body lock and reverses into Liao's guard! Nice work!
Liao 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brooks engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Brooks postures up.

Brooks decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Liao, up you get!

Brooks dives in and scores a takedown into Liao's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Brooks trying to stand up but can't free himself from Liao's guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liao wants to sweep here but Brooks controlling him for the moment.
Brooks wanted to stand there but Liao had control of the position.
Liao wants to sweep but no luck.
Liao is trying to control the position but Brooks postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Eli Brooks just wasn't active enough.

Brooks throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Liao tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Brooks is in Liao's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liao looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Brooks is looking to stand up but Liao won't let him.
Liao wants to sweep here but Brooks controlling him for the moment.
Liao not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Eli Brooks just wasn't active enough.
Liao fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Liao is defended easily by Brooks.

Liao gets caught flat footed, as Brooks shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eli Brooks showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Brooks has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge George Francis scores the fight for Eli Brooks!
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight for Eli Brooks!
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight for Eli Brooks!

Eli Brooks wins by unanimous decision!