PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Liddell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Orlando Bloom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Liddell's entrance music is DMX Intro. A fine choice. Liddell has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Orlando Bloom is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Liddell
vs
Bloom

187 cm
31
213 lbs
15 - 14 - 0

172 cm
27
140 lbs
14 - 15 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 15 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mark Liddell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Orlando Bloom!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shigeki Sano and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
An inside leg kick lands from Bloom.
Liddell is breathing heavily.
Bloom ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Bloom clinches up against the cage.
Bloom tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Liddell's elbow.
Bloom lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A nice left hand lands by Bloom.
Bloom lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Liddell can't find room to land a body shot as Bloom controls the action.
Bloom lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Bloom lands an elbow inside.
A short uppercut from Bloom.
Bloom scores with a shoulder strike.
A right hook to the body lands for Bloom.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bloom lands a left hand.
Bloom gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Liddell is pressed up against the cage. Bloom has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Liddell down to the mat. Liddell avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Bloom scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Liddell takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Bloom darts in and clinches Liddell up against the cage.
Bloom drops down looking for an ankle pick but Liddell pulls his leg out and moves away.
Bloom fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bloom drives through and clinches with Liddell against the cage.
Bloom has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Liddell after a bit of a struggle.
Mark Liddell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Orlando Bloom.
Bloom tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Liddell smiles and moves away.

Bloom has closed the distance and engaged Liddell in a clinch.
Bloom unloads a knee to the mid-section. Liddell lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Still in the clinch, Bloom scores with a nice short uppercut.
Bloom jumps guard but Liddell stands there with Bloom around his waist. Bloom gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Bloom tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Bloom.
A short left from Bloom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Bloom jumps guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bloom manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Liddell manages to get himself to full guard.

Bloom stands up and waves to Liddell to follow him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bloom has taken the fight to the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Liddell as Bloom tries to tie him up.
Bloom using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Liddell has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Bloom.
Bloom lands a nice elbow.
Bloom lands a shot to the body.
Bloom lands a right hand that snaps the head of Liddell backwards.
Bloom scores with a shoulder strike.
Bloom will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Liddell up against the cage.
Bloom creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Liddell's defenses.
Liddell prevents a takedown attempt there.
Bloom makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bloom working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Bloom decides to pull guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Liddell stops Bloom from standing up.

Liddell avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bloom looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Bloom pushes Liddell off and scrambles back to his feet.
Bloom comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Bloom closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liddell goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Bloom with a knee to the head.
Bloom misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Liddell.
Liddell doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Liddell misses with a hook from the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Liddell as Bloom tries to tie him up.
Bloom misses with a punch on the inside.
Liddell fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bloom doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Liddell tries to throw a body punch but Bloom avoids it by throwing Liddell back against the cage.
Bloom wants a takedown but no success here.
Bloom is looking to control Liddell's arms but Liddell gets an underhook and turns him. Now Bloom has his back to the cage.
Bloom lands a good knee to the midsection. Liddell won't want to take too many of those.
Bloom presses Liddell against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bloom has a couple of punches blocked by Liddell.
A head punch on the inside from Liddell fails to land.
Bloom is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Bloom works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Bloom looking for a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Orlando Bloom dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bloom has managed to clinch.
Bloom throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Liddells head.
Bloom lands a left hand.
Liddell fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bloom throws an elbow that misses.
Liddell avoids the elbow strike from Bloom, against the cage.
Liddell gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Bloom.
Bloom lands an elbow that stopped Liddell in his tracks for a moment.
Bloom works on Liddell's body with a couple of short punches.
Bloom tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Bloom lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Bloom has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Bloom pulls Liddell into guard.
Liddell postures up.
Bloom has control of Liddell's left arm, preventing Liddell from doing any damage.

Bloom has his feet on Liddell's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bloom forces Liddell back against the cage and clinches.
Liddell blocks a body shot from Bloom.
Bloom blocking some punches.
Bloom lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Bloom has Liddell pushed against the cage.
Bloom is trying to stall.
Liddell throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bloom blocks it with crossed arms.
Bloom lands an elbow inside.

Bloom gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Bloom trying to control but Liddell is working from the bottom.

Bloom stands and steps away. Liddell gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Bloom goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Bloom clinches.
Bloom is trying to pull guard but Liddell turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Bloom lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Liddell backwards.
Bloom is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Bloom is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Liddell to keep the fight standing.
Mark Liddell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Orlando Bloom.

Bloom jumps guard.
Bloom is pulling down on Liddell's head. It's preventing any offense from Liddell, at least for the moment.
Liddell tries to stand but Bloom is controlling from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bloom is on top in guard.

Bloom stands up and waves to Liddell to follow him.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Bloom. Liddell shrugs it off though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bloom instigates a clinch.
Bloom is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Liddell trying to land knees to the body.
Bloom putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Liddell in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Bloom tries to pull guard but Liddell forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Bloom lands a damaging elbow.
A short uppercut from Bloom.
Bloom lands a knee to the head.
Orlando Bloom seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Liddell blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Bloom manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bloom lands with a short shot to the head.

Bloom successfully pulls guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bloom is on top in guard.

Liddell is working an open guard so Bloom takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bloom feints and then cracks Liddell's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Liddell down.
Bloom lands a leg kick that knocks Liddell off balance momentarily.
A big right from Liddell misses.

Bloom clinches up against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Bloom jumps guard and drags Liddell to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Liddell will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Bloom pushes Liddell off and scrambles back to his feet.

Bloom pushes Liddell up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Orlando Bloom showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Bloom has Liddell up against the cage in a clinch.
Bloom missing with knees to the body.
Bloom lands with a right to the head.
Bloom lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Bloom misses with the head strike.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Bloom in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Liddell tries to throw a body punch but Bloom avoids it by throwing Liddell back against the cage.

Bloom has Liddell pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Bloom pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Liddell tumbling to the mat - Bloom dives into Liddell's guard.
Bloom trying to control but Liddell is working from the bottom.

Bloom gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Liddell misses with a hook

and Bloom moves into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bloom misses with the head strike.
Bloom lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Bloom throws a head punch that misses.
Bloom misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bloom wants to take the fight to the mat but Liddell manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Bloom lands a knee to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bloom.
Bloom is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Liddell gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Bloom blocking some punches.
A short right from Bloom.
Bloom throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Liddell blocks it with crossed arms.
Bloom swings wildly with an uppercut but Liddell uses good head movement to avoid it.
Still in the clinch, Bloom scores with a nice short uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Liddell.
Bloom has a couple of punches blocked by Liddell.
Liddell tries a body shot but Bloom blocks it.
Bloom has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Liddell avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Mark Liddell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Orlando Bloom.
Liddell gets through Bloom's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Bloom tries for a takedown. No joy.
Liddell avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bloom throws a head punch that misses.
Liddell lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Bloom backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Liddell.
Bloom is looking for a takedown.
Bloom throws a punch but it's blocked by Liddell.
Liddell takes a knee right on the jaw!
Liddell is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Liddell lands with a short shot to the head.
Liddell tries to work over Bloom's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Bloom tries to pull guard but Liddell won't allow it.
Bloom takes a shot to the head.
A nice left hand lands by Liddell.
Bloom misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right from Liddell on the inside.
Bloom throws an elbow but it misses.
Bloom pushes off an throws an elbow but Liddell leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Bloom taking a breather.
Bloom tries to pull guard but Liddell won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liddell tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Liddell.
Bloom drops down looking for an ankle pick but Liddell pulls his leg out and moves away.

Bloom moves into range and clinches up with Liddell.
Mark Liddell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Liddell lands an uppercut.
Bloom swings wildly with an uppercut but Liddell uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bloom blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Bloom swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Liddell misses with a short punch on the inside.
Bloom tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bloom scores with a shot to the side of Liddell's head.
Bloom missing with knees to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Liddell creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Bloom misses with a punch on the inside.
Bloom lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Liddell tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Liddell breaks from the clinch.
Orlando Bloom is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Bloom rushes Liddell and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Orlando Bloom is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bloom creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Bloom landing knees to the head.
Liddell misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bloom blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Bloom tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bloom blocking some punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bloom lands with a light punch inside.
Bloom lands a shot to the body.
Bloom lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Liddell or not.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bloom creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Orlando Bloom comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bloom 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 26:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Orlando Bloom!