PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josh Barnett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chuck Liddel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Barnett
vs
Liddel

191 cm
30
256 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

185 cm
23
235 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Josh Barnett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chuck Liddel!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Liddel shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Barnett sprawls well. Barnett wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Liddel gets slowly back to his feet.
Liddel scores with a jab to the body.

Barnett bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Barnett wants to lay and pray for a moment but Liddel keeps working.
Liddel sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Barnett throwing shots but Liddel is blocking nicely.

Barnett wants to work for an arm triangle but Liddel is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Liddel wants to get back to full guard.
Liddel tries to kick Barnett off but Barnett keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Barnett has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barnett trying to control from half guard but Liddel is working away.

Barnett is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Liddel is just riding it out for now. Barnett eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Barnett seems content to control.
Liddel wants to get back to full guard but Barnett has passed into side control.
Barnett wants to control but Liddel is keeping him busy.
Barnett has control of an arm but Liddel manages to advance to Barnett's back!
Liddel is trying to stick to Barnett's back but Barnett is turning into Liddel. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Liddel's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Barnett.
Barnett pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Liddel is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liddel not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Barnett preventing the sweep.
Liddel is trying to hold Barnett in close to prevent damage but Barnett has managed to pass into half guard.
Liddel pushes Barnett off but Barnett dives into side control.
Barnett cracks Liddel with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Barnett wants to control but Liddel is keeping him busy.
Barnett content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
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!
Barnett has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Liddel tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Liddel is trying to improve his position.
Liddel is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Barnett asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Barnett is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Liddel knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Barnett wants to lay and pray for a moment but Liddel keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liddel is looking for a sweep.

Barnett looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Liddel is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Barnett fails to land a wild elbow strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Liddel manages to get back to half guard.
Liddel wants to sweep but Barnett has passed to side control!

Barnett is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Liddel is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Barnett dominated that round.
That's time! Barnett's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Liddel fails with a takedown attempt.

Barnett fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Liddel sprawls well initially but Barnett persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Liddel trying to control from the bottom.

Barnett decides to return to a standing position.
Chuck Liddel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Liddel fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Liddel shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Liddel showed some decent athleticism there.

Barnett kicks off Liddel and gets to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liddel drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Barnett shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Liddel as he avoids it easily.
Barnett misses with the combination.

Liddel dives in and scores a takedown into Barnett's guard.
Liddel trying to move into half guard but instead Barnett has managed to sweep!
Barnett engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Liddel looking for a sweep. Not yet Liddel, not yet.
Barnett is pushing down on Liddel's leg trying to pass to half guard. Liddel is fighting to maintain full guard but Barnett has managed to sneak the leg through.
Barnett is controlling the pace.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Liddel is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnett working the head and body with strikes.
Liddel tries to get to full guard but Barnett has control of the leg.
Liddel is staying active underneath Barnett, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Barnett stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Barnett stuffs the takedown.
Josh Barnett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chuck Liddel.
Barnett lands with a cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnett is looking to clinch but Liddel is avoiding it.
Liddel tries for a takedown but Barnett sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Josh Barnett is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Liddel fails in his attempt to clinch.

Barnett fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Liddel to the ground. Barnett is now in Liddel's guard.
Barnett trying to control the position from guard on top but Liddel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barnett's corner is telling him to maintain position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Barnett trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Josh Barnett just wasn't active enough.

Barnett has managed to clinch.

Barnett breaks from the clinch.
Liddel throws a nice looking combination but Barnett bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liddel throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Liddel moves out of range of the body kick from Barnett.

Barnett rushes Liddel and presses him up against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Liddel.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barnett drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Barnett is looking to take this one to the mat.

Barnett manages to break the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Barnett. No joy for Liddel on that attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Liddel moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Liddel misses with a wild combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Barnett dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Liddel looking to score a takedown here. Barnett is defending well but Liddel drives through and ends up in Barnett's guard.
Barnett pulls Liddel in to control the position.
Liddel wants to control from the top but Barnett keeps moving.
Barnett throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Liddel stopping the sweep attempt from Barnett.
Liddel wants to control from the top but Barnett keeps moving.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Barnett trying to control the position here.

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

Barnett darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liddel pushes Barnett off looking to stand but Barnett dives back in and keeps control.

Barnett gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Liddel shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Barnett but Barnett pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nice takedown defense from Liddel. No joy for Barnett on that attempt.
Liddel tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Barnett counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Liddel!
Chuck Liddel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Liddel defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Barnett.
Liddel is trying to reverse the position but instead Barnett has taken his back - oops!
Josh Barnett overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
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!
Liddel tries to escape but Barnett has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Liddel defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Barnett's arms.

Barnett is looking for the choke from the back position but Liddel is controlling his hands well.
Liddel looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Liddel tries to escape but Barnett has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liddel controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Liddel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Barnett controlling the positon.
Barnett struggling to keep hold of the position.
Liddel is really stuck here.
Liddel manages to reverse the position and now he's in Barnett's guard. Nice work there by Liddel.
Liddel wants to control from the top but Barnett keeps moving.
Liddel tries to free his leg and advance position but Barnett is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnett pulls Liddel in to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Josh Barnett.
Barnett throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Liddel's waist but Liddel gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Barnett off to one side.
Liddel throws a left and a right that both miss

and Barnett counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Barnett.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Liddel keeping moving, preventing Barnett from controlling successfully.

Liddel is looking for a triangle but Barnett pushes his legs off easily.

Barnett decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Liddel, up you get!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Barnett looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Josh Barnett is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Liddel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Barnett showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Barnett, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Barnett!
A less than humble Josh Barnett misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.