PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jie Liu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Cottero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Liu
vs
Cottero

173 cm
25
162 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

170 cm
28
149 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jie Liu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tommy Cottero!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Dillan Fox and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Liu feints and then cracks Cottero's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Cottero down.
Cottero throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Liu throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cottero's waist but Cottero gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Liu off to one side.
Cottero looking to land some kicks to the body here.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Cottero checks a leg kick.
Liu tries to land a body kick
enabling Cottero to counter with a crisp jab.
Cottero lands a nice looking body kick.
Cottero throws a sloppy head kick
and Liu counters with a body kick.
Cottero fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Liu manages to avoid it.
Cottero fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Cottero thows a body shot but no joy.
Liu lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Liu.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Liu thows a body shot but no joy.
Cottero lands a really nice looking cross but Liu seems unphased.
Cottero steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Liu.
Decent striking displayed by Liu there.
Liu dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Cottero. That did some damage!
Cottero buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cottero looks for the body kick but Liu saw that one coming.
The fighters circling - Liu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nice defenses there by Cottero.
Cottero pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
No joy there for Cottero, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Liu moves away from the strike by Cottero.
Cottero swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cottero misses with a leg kick.
Liu misses with a body shot.
Cottero misses with a straight left.
Cottero with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Cottero lands with a thumping leg kick.
Liu scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Cottero throws a jab but it's blocked by Liu.
Cottero throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liu throws a nice looking combination but Cottero bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Liu lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Cottero has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Cottero and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Liu moves out of range as Cottero strikes.
Liu throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cottero.
Cottero getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Cottero moves out of range of the body kick from Liu.
Liu fails with a takedown attempt.
Cottero tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Liu blocks a head kick by Cottero.
Liu throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cottero is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Cottero avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cottero pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cottero uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Liu.
Liu throws a body kick that misses.
Liu throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cottero.
Cottero scores with a punch to the head.
Cottero blocks the body kick.
Cottero scores with a nice strike.
A jab from Cottero misses.
Tommy Cottero is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Liu lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Liu takes one on the button.
Cottero wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Cottero throws a leg kick but Liu checks it.
Cottero is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Cottero scores with a jab to the jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Liu throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Nice body punch from Liu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liu throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cottero sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Liu avoids the head kick by Cottero.
Cottero takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Cottero misses with a wild body shot.
Cottero fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Liu manages to avoid it.

Liu shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Cottero's guard.
Liu throwing strikes from guard but Cottero blocks nicely.
Liu pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cottero is keeping the position for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cottero not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tommy Cottero will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Liu.
A looping hook to the body misses from Liu. Cottero does a little dance to reset his feet.
Liu throws a right and a left that Cottero avoids nicely.
Liu throws a hook but Cottero avoids it easily.
Liu misses with a few strikes there.
Liu has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cottero.
Cottero throws an overhand right that lands on Liu's shoulder, as Liu tries to avoid the shot.
Liu loads up on a big right hand but Cottero slips the punch.
Tommy Cottero seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A looping hook to the body misses from Liu. Cottero does a little dance to reset his feet.
Liu throws a low kick but it's checked well by Cottero.
Liu defending well as Cottero loads up on a big left hand.
Liu avoids the head kick by Cottero.
Cottero scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Liu bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Cottero's head.
Cottero ducks right into an uppercut from Liu.
Cottero with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cottero lands with a good body shot.
Liu avoids the head kick by Cottero.
Liu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cottero.
Liu misses with a series of wild punches.
Liu looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Cottero misses the shot to the body.
Liu throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Cottero counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Cottero slips under a jab.
Cottero misses with a hook.
Cottero tests Liu's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cottero slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Liu throws an overhand right that lands on Cottero's shoulder, as Cottero tries to avoid the shot.
Cottero fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Liu looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liu throws a head kick but Cottero moves out of range.
Liu just misses with a punch to the body.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Cottero. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Cottero scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Cottero scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Liu doesn't seem bothered though.
A nice leg kick lands there from Liu.
Liu displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cottero throws out the jab.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Cottero checks a leg kick.
Liu misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cottero connects with a crisp jab.
Cottero throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cottero throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Cottero connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Cottero uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Liu throws a half hearted mid kick.
Cottero moves in looking to clinch but Liu pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cottero misses with a looping right.
Cottero throws a leg kick but Liu moved away.
An inside leg kick from Liu misses.
Cottero lands a high kick!
Cottero throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Liu.
Liu pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Liu swings for the body but Cottero moves out of range.
Liu misses with a hook
and Cottero counters with a leg kick.
Liu thows a body shot but no joy.
Cottero stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Liu.
Cottero keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Liu.
Cottero slips a jab from Liu.
Cottero's jab looks to have found its range, popping Liu under the eye.
Both fighters circling a little - Cottero finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Liu fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big left from Liu misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cottero.
Cottero lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Cottero swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Liu moves out of range as Cottero strikes.

Cottero moves into range and clinches up with Liu.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Cottero.
Stalling in the clinch from Liu.
A hook to the body from Cottero.
A head punch on the inside from Liu fails to land.
Liu lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Liu blocks a body shot from Cottero.
Liu swings wildly with an uppercut but Cottero uses good head movement to avoid it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Cottero creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Cottero showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Liu throws a push kick but Cottero slaps the foot to one side.
Nice jab there from Cottero.
Liu misses with a series of wild punches.
Liu scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Liu scores with a takedown into Cottero's guard.
Liu advances to half guard.
Liu throwing shots but Cottero is blocking nicely.
Liu prevents Cottero from improving his position.
Cottero moves into full guard.
Liu tries to free his leg and advance position but Cottero is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liu preventing the sweep.

Liu drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Cottero manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Liu has Cottero in his guard.
Liu wants to hit a switch here but Cottero passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Liu there!

Cottero is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Liu is surviving well by controlling Cottero's body position as best he can.
Jie Liu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cottero stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Liu waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cottero.
Cottero throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Liu 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.
Cottero throws a head kick that half lands.
Cottero staying out of range there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Liu has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cottero.
Cottero throws a nice inside leg kick.
Liu waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cottero.
Liu has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cottero.
Liu throws a predictable looking body shot
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cottero stuns Liu with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Cottero uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Liu.
Cottero lands with an uppercut that bounces Liu off the cage and back into range.
Cottero lands a jab.
Liu goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Cottero scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Cottero changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Liu misses with a body punch
and Cottero counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Liu thinking.
Cottero scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Cottero displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Liu throws out the jab.
Cottero lands a jab to the nose.
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!
Cottero connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Liu momentarily.
Cottero throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liu misses with a head kick.
A left lands for Cottero.
Cottero lands with a shot to the body.
Liu is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Cottero.
Cottero connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Liu throws a body kick that misses
enabling Cottero to counter with a crisp jab.
Liu looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Liu throws a head kick but Cottero moves out of range.
Tommy Cottero is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Cottero digs a good hook to Liu's body.
Cottero scores with a hook.
Liu fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Liu missing with a left hand there. Cottero was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Liu on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Liu misses with a kick to the body
and Cottero counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Cottero blocks a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tommy Cottero comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cottero 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tommy Cottero!
A relieved looking Tommy Cottero thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.