PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Santiago Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chuck Liddell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Alvarez
vs
Liddell

185 cm
25
210 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

182 cm
26
205 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Excellent boxer
Prefers standup

Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Santiago Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Chuck Liddell!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Nard Betker and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez throws a jab when Liddell was well out of range.
Alvarez is looking to clinch.

Liddell clinches up with Alvarez and pushes him back against the ropes.
Alvarez wants to break the clinch but can't.
Liddell tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A frustrated look appears on Alvarez's face as he tries to break the clinch.

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

Liddell closes the distance and clinches.

Liddell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Alvarez throws a hook but Liddell blocks it.

Liddell forces Alvarez back against the ropes and clinches.

Liddell manages to break the clinch.

Alvarez tries to keep at a distance but Liddell has taken the fight into the clinch.
Alvarez is trying to push Liddell away but Liddell has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Liddell keeps control of Alvarez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Alvarez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A frustrated look appears on Alvarez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Liddell stalling against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Liddell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
No joy there for Liddell, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Liddell moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Liddell moves into the clinch successfully.
Alvarez working hard to break the clinch.
Alvarez wants to break the clinch but can't.
Alvarez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Liddell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Santiago Alvarez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Liddell tries to work over Alvarez's front leg with a kick but Alvarez checks it.
Liddell throws a sloppy head kick and Alvarez moves out of range easily.
Liddell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Alvarez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Santiago Alvarez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Liddell misses with a double jab.
Liddell fails with an attempt to clinch.

Liddell has closed the distance and engaged Alvarez in a clinch.
Alvarez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Liddell tries to stall but Alvarez uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Liddell is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Alvarez is defending well for now.
Liddell blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Liddell breaks from the clinch.
Alvarez throws a hook but Liddell avoids it easily.
Liddell lands with a hook. Alvarez tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Liddell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Alvarez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Alvarez scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Alvarez misses with an uppercut.

Liddell has closed the distance and engaged Alvarez in a clinch.
Alvarez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Alvarez lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Liddell manages to break the clinch.
Liddell blocks a jab.
Alvarez clobbers Liddell with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Liddell pushes Alvarez up against the ropes in a clinch.
Alvarez has had enough of the clinch but Liddell keeps him there for the moment.
Liddell looking to slow down the pace here.
Alvarez lands a shoulder strike.
Come on Liddell - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

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

Liddell rushes Alvarez and presses him up against the ropes.

Liddell breaks the clinch.
Liddell works Alvarez's body with a nice hook.
Alvarez misses with a hook

and Liddell holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Alvarez is trying to break the clinch but Liddell has him pressed against the ropes.
Alvarez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Alvarez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Liddell breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez swinging wildly here.
Alvarez misses with a right hand

and Liddell counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Liddell.
A frustrated look appears on Alvarez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Liddell tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Alvarez avoids it.

Liddell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alvarez tries to clinch but Liddell moves away

and Liddell holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Liddell manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Liddell breaks the clinch.
Alvarez moves out of range of the body kick.
Alvarez lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Nice shot lands for Alvarez.
Alvarez wants to clinch.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Liddell on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Liddell bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Alvarez tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Liddell manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Liddell tries a head kick but it misses.
Liddell tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Alvarez was well out of range. Poor timing from Liddell.
Liddell ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Alvarez throws a big shot that misses.
Alvarez misses with a left hand
and Liddell counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Alvarez thinking.
Liddell staying out of range there.
Liddell wants to clinch.

Liddell has closed the distance and engaged Alvarez in a clinch.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Liddell pushes Alvarez back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Alvarez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Alvarez moves out of range of the body kick.
Liddell misses with a straight right.
Alvarez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Alvarez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Liddell paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Liddell slips a straight right by Alvarez.
Alvarez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Liddell goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Liddell tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Liddell takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Liddell keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez lands with a hook. Liddell tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Liddell misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Liddell tries a head kick but it misses.
Liddell throws a combination. Alvarez tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Liddell slips a straight right by Alvarez.

Liddell has managed to clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Liddell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Liddell takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Liddell is rocked!

It looks like Chuck Liddell has been cut.
Liddell looks gassed!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Liddell wants to clinch up but Alvarez keeps it at a distance.
Alvarez looks to land a left hand but Liddell moved out of range nicely.
Alvarez listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Liddell is still on wobbly legs! Can Alvarez finish him?

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez misses with a double jab
and Liddell counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Liddell seems to have recovered his senses.
Alvarez scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Alvarez checks a leg kick.
Alvarez connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Alvarez thows a left - swing and a miss!
Alvarez swings for the body but Liddell moves out of range.
Liddell uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Alvarez.
Alvarez moves to clinch but Liddell breaks away

and Liddell counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Liddell.

Liddell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Alvarez misses with a straight right.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Alvarez misses.
Alvarez misses with a right hand
and Liddell counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Left hook, right uppercut from Liddell.
A punch combination from Liddell misses.
Alvarez throws a hook to the side of Liddell's head but Liddell sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Liddell dodges the punch combination from Alvarez.
Alvarez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Liddell.

Alvarez takes the fight into the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Liddell breaks from the clinch.
Alvarez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santiago Alvarez should take that round, based on the knockdown.
The cut man is working on Chuck Liddell's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Alvarez lands with an overhand left.
Alvarez is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

Liddell closes the distance and pushes Alvarez back into the ropes.

Liddell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Alvarez checks the leg kick.

Liddell clinches up with Alvarez and pushes him back against the ropes.
Alvarez tries to circle away but Liddell has him pinned against the ropes.
Liddell stalls.
Alvarez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A frustrated look appears on Alvarez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Chuck Liddell seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Liddell breaks from the clinch.
Liddell throws the left hand but Alvarez avoids the punch easily.
Liddell displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Alvarez throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Liddell looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Liddell looks to throw the jab but Alvarez is out of range.
Liddell misses with a head kick.
Liddell throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Liddell moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Alvarez misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Liddell counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Liddell pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Liddell is breathing heavily.
Alvarez throws a lazy right hand but Liddell sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Liddell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Liddell thuds a left hand into Alvarez's body.

Liddell has closed the distance and engaged Alvarez in a clinch.

Liddell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liddell uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Alvarez.
Alvarez misses with a wild body shot.
Liddell rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Alvarez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Liddell has Alvarez up against the ropes in a clinch.
Alvarez working hard to break the clinch.
Alvarez can't break the clinch.
Liddell keeps control of Alvarez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Alvarez lands a nice uppercut.
Alvarez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Liddell has him pressed against the ropes.
Alvarez has had enough of the clinch but Liddell keeps him there for the moment.

Liddell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alvarez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Alvarez tries to clinch but Liddell moves out of range.
Alvarez lands a glancing blow to the side of Liddell's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Alvarez as he connects with a hook.

Alvarez closes the distance and scores with a big combo that sends Liddell crashing to the mat! Liddell uses the ropes to get back to his feet and beat the count. The referee looks concerned but he's going to allow it to continue!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Liddell throws a head kick that misses.
Santiago Alvarez is winning the standup battle so far.
Liddell throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Alvarez clobbers Liddell with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Liddell throws a head kick but Alvarez moves out of range.
Alvarez misses with a hook.
Alvarez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Liddell.
Liddell takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Liddell tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Alvarez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Alvarez tries to clinch there but Liddell circles away.
Alvarez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Liddell manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Alvarez moves out of range as Liddell throws a body kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Liddell keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Alvarez's efforts to push away.
Alvarez is looking to break free of the clinch but Liddell has double underhooks.
Alvarez wants to break free but Liddell has control.
Alvarez is trying to break the clinch but Liddell has him pressed against the ropes.
Liddell has Alvarez pressed against the ropes, preventing Alvarez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Alvarez is looking to break free of the clinch but Liddell has double underhooks.
Alvarez being controlled against the ropes.
Alvarez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Liddell has him pressed against the ropes.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Liddell pushes off an throws an elbow but Alvarez leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Alvarez avoiding damage as Liddell throws knees to the body.
Alvarez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Alvarez is trying to break the clinch but Liddell is controlling him.
Alvarez working aggressively here.
Alvarez lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Liddell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Liddell throws a head kick that misses.
Liddell ducks under a wild hook from Alvarez.
Alvarez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Alvarez throws a looping overhand right but Liddell ducks down to avoid it.
A telegraphed right hand from Alvarez misses the target.
Liddell looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Liddell clinches up with Alvarez and pushes him back against the ropes.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez misses with a hook from the clinch.

Liddell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Liddell pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Chuck Liddell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Liddell lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Alvarez circles away quickly and effectively.
Alvarez throws a hook to the side of Liddell's head but Liddell sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Liddell fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Alvarez, pushing him back against the ropes.
Liddell is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Alvarez tries to break the clinch but Liddell is controlling the position.
Liddell missing with knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alvarez wants to get back to striking at distance but Liddell won't allow it.
Alvarez swings wildly with an uppercut but Liddell uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short right from Alvarez.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Liddell manages to break the clinch.
Alvarez uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Liddell throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Alvarez misses with a hook to the body

and Liddell counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A frustrated look appears on Alvarez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Alvarez tries to break free but Liddell pushes him back against the ropes.

Liddell breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Alvarez loads up on a big right hand but Liddell slips the punch.
Liddell throws out a leg kick but Alvarez moves out of range and Liddell only half commits.
Alvarez throws a jab but it's blocked by Liddell.
Alvarez thows a body shot but no joy.
Liddell moves in looking to clinch but Alvarez pushes him off.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Liddell throws a nice looking combination but Alvarez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Liddell walks into a jab.

Liddell clinches with his opponent.
Alvarez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Alvarez tries to break the clinch but Liddell is controlling the position.

Liddell's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alvarez listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alvarez has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Liddell tries to bum rush Alvarez with a series of wild strikes but Alvarez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Liddell tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Alvarez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Liddell takes the fight into the clinch.
Alvarez lands a shoulder strike.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Alvarez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Liddell's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alvarez is looking to clinch but Liddell is avoiding it.
Liddell gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Alvarez throws a shot from downtown. Liddell moves away and avoids it.

Liddell gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Alvarez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Liddell has him pressed against the ropes.
Alvarez tries to break the clinch but Liddell is controlling the position.
Alvarez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Alvarez working hard to break the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Liddell lands a right hand.
Liddell keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Alvarez's efforts to push away.
Chuck Liddell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Santiago Alvarez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Alvarez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Santiago Alvarez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Alvarez has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 20:16
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 20:16
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 20:16

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Santiago Alvarez!
Santiago Alvarez decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.