PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Rhababer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chuck Liddell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Liddell has chosen It's Dark and Hell Is Hot as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Rhababer
vs
Liddell

190 cm
26
204 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

190 cm
37
207 lbs
14 - 22 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

Valhalla Q160 Nutrition

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gabriel Rhababer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Chuck Liddell!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Paul Gruel and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rhababer forces Liddell back against the cage and clinches.
Liddell creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rhababer is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Liddell is defending well.

Liddell manages to break the clinch.
Liddell swinging wildly here.

Rhababer moves into the clinch successfully.
Liddell creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rhababer's defenses.

It looks like Gabriel Rhababer has been cut.

Liddell gets control of Rhababer's arms and successfully pulls guard. Liddell will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Liddell being controlled here, momentarily.
Liddell has control of Rhababer's left arm, preventing Rhababer from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liddell 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.
Rhababer wants to control from the top but Liddell keeps moving.

We're going to have a standup here because Gabriel Rhababer wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Rhababer throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Liddell counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Liddell works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rhababer on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rhababer tries to get out of the position.
Liddell seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rhababer does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rhababer knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Liddell on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liddell trying to advance position but Rhababer counters by regaining guard.
Liddell looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Liddell wants to control from the top but Rhababer keeps moving.
Rhababer can't keep his opponent in guard - Liddell advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liddell content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Liddell trying to pass the guard but Rhababer defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Chuck Liddell.
Liddell shoots in for a takedown but Rhababer shows good takedown defense.
Liddell lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rhababer's sensitive parts.
Rhababer checks the leg kick.
Rhababer checks a leg kick nicely.

Rhababer closes the distance and clinches.
Liddell gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rhababer.
Liddell avoiding damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chuck Liddell dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gabriel Rhababer's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rhababer will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rhababer leaves Liddell with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rhababer looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Liddell moves into the clinch.
Rhababer is looking to take this one to the mat.
Liddell misses with a knee strike.

Liddell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Liddell throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Liddell tries to keep at a distance but Rhababer has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhababer tries to pull guard but Liddell won't allow it.
A knee to the head by Liddell.
Liddell prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Rhababer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rhababer wants a takedown but no success here.
Liddell with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Liddell lands a damaging elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Liddell breaks the clinch.

Rhababer rushes Liddell and presses him up against the cage.
Rhababer is looking for a takedown.

Liddell has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Rhababer uses from the top position.
Liddell wants to sweep but no luck.
Liddell seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Rhababer wants to pass the guard but Liddell is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhababer is working hard here to advance position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Liddell misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rhababer closes this distance looking for a takedown but Liddell circles away.
Rhababer lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Chuck Liddell has been cut.
Rhababer ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Liddell moves away.
Liddell shoots in looking for a takedown. Rhababer tries to sprawl out of it but Liddell keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rhababer manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Liddell shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rhababer defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rhababer pushes Liddell up against the cage in a clinch.
Liddell gets underhooks to prevent Rhababer's takedown attempt.
Rhababer is trying to drag Liddell to the mat but Liddell just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Liddell jumps guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Gabriel Rhababer will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Liddell wants to clinch.
Rhababer avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rhababer misses with a few strikes there.
Liddell tries to clinch but Rhababer moves out of range.
Liddell blocks a head kick by Rhababer.
Liddell checks a leg kick nicely.
Rhababer throws a leg kick but Liddell moved away.
Liddell wants to clinch up but Rhababer keeps it at a distance.
Rhababer misses with a series of wild punches.
Liddell takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liddell throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rhababer's waist but Rhababer gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Liddell off to one side.
Liddell is looking to slow Rhababer down with leg kicks.
Liddell cracks Rhababer with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Liddell looks for a takedown but Rhababer sprawls well.
Liddell shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rhababer defends it nicely.
Gabriel Rhababer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chuck Liddell.

Liddell closes the distance and pushes Rhababer back into the cage.

Liddell manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhababer avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Liddell moves out of range of the strikes.
Liddell throws a nice outside leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Liddell shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rhababer pinned against the cage. Rhababer gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rhababer misses with a leg kick
and Liddell counters with a good low kick that Rhababer was not able to check.
Rhababer looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Liddell is fending him off so far but Rhababer persists. Nope, Liddell circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Liddell moves in looking to clinch but Rhababer pushes him off.
Liddell shoots in looking for a takedown. Rhababer tries to sprawl out of it but Liddell keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rhababer manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Rhababer has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Liddell ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Liddell no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Liddell trying to keep a closed guard but Rhababer is proving a slippery customer.
Liddell wants to sweep but no luck.
Liddell trying to keep a closed guard but Rhababer is proving a slippery customer.
Liddell tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Chuck Liddell has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Good leg kick by Liddell there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Rhababer avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Chuck Liddell seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rhababer misses with a series of wild punches.
Gabriel Rhababer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Liddell steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rhababer.
Liddell shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rhababer but Rhababer pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rhababer tries for a takedown but Liddell sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rhababer checks the leg kick nicely there.
Liddell is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chuck Liddell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Liddell 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 Josh West scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chuck Liddell!