PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Enrico Ciccone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mirko Liddell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mirko Liddell is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Ciccone
vs
Liddell

176 cm
25
162 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

178 cm
36
165 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Enrico Ciccone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mirko Liddell!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Franklyn Lucas and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Liddell tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ciccone defends well and Liddell ends up having to push Ciccone into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Ciccone has picked Liddell up - he's going for a ride! Ciccone dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Liddell looking for submissions off his back.
Liddell avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ciccone.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Liddell actively working from the bottom here.
Ciccone working the head and body with strikes.

Liddell looking for submissions off his back.

Liddell is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ciccone pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ciccone wants to take a breather but Liddell is having none of it.

Liddell looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ciccone is keen to just control but Liddell is a slippery customer.
Ciccone stalling away here and it's allowed Liddell to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Ciccone trying to control but Liddell is working from the bottom.
Liddell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ciccone.
Ciccone is in close to Liddell's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ciccone postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ciccone cracks Liddell with a solid left hand.
Ciccone throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Liddell escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ciccone gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ciccone stands and throws Liddell's legs to the side, diving into side control.
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!
Liddell taking punishment in the form of punches.
Ciccone scoring with punches from side control.
Liddell avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Ciccone.
Ciccone cracks Liddell with a big right hand but Liddell just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Ciccone 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liddell is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Ciccone off and has taken his back!

Liddell working for the choke.

Liddell tightening his grip on Ciccone, looking for the choke.
Ciccone rolls, trying to escape but Liddell keeps control of the position.
Ciccone tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liddell fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
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!
Ciccone is wriggling around trying to escape.

Ciccone defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Liddell.
Liddell lands with some strikes.
Ciccone is trying desperately to improve position.

Liddell jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Ciccone is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Ciccone and Liddell has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Ciccone tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Liddell is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ciccone is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Liddell advances nicely into full mount.
Liddell lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Enrico Ciccone dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ciccone drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Liddell throws his legs up looking for a submission but Ciccone uses it to pass to side control.

Ciccone thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Check out the look on Ciccone's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Ciccone creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Liddell sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Liddell is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Liddell looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ciccone slips a nice elbow through Liddell's hands, connecting with Liddell's forehead.
Ciccone looks to land a strike but Liddell avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Ciccone showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Ciccone passes Liddell's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Liddell looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ciccone working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Liddell taking some punishment here, with Ciccone in his half guard.
Ciccone is looking to take a break and control but Liddell is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ciccone with the ground and pound but Liddell uses the opportunity to regain guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ciccone accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ciccone postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ciccone postures up in Liddell's guard and throws a big left but Liddell blocks it.
Ciccone scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ciccone is working Liddell over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ciccone scoring with some ground and pound.
Liddell has momentary wrist control but Ciccone slips an elbow through the middle.

Liddell has his foot on Ciccone's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ciccone works his way back into a safe position though.
Enrico Ciccone overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Liddell escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ciccone gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Liddell working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Ciccone has passed into half guard!
Liddell is breathing heavily.
Ciccone working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ciccone not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ciccone trying to control the pace.
Ciccone missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Liddell is trying to get back to full guard.
Ciccone seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Liddell does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Liddell actively working from the bottom here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ciccone connects with a nice short shot to Liddell's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Enrico Ciccone dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ciccone wants to clinch.

Ciccone clinches with his opponent.
Liddell changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ciccone fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Liddell shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ciccone defends it nicely.
Ciccone tries to clinch but Liddell is having none of it.
Liddell dives in and grabs Ciccone's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ciccone pushes down on Liddell's head and hops out.
Enrico Ciccone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mirko Liddell.
Liddell gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ciccone counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ciccone throws a big right hand that misses.
Ciccone lands a couple of digs.
Liddell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ciccone working some strikes from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ciccone scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ciccone postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ciccone postures up and lands a big shot to Liddell's brow.
Ciccone is in close to Liddell's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ciccone trying to control the position from guard on top but Liddell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ciccone with a nice head shot there.
Ciccone cracks Liddell with a solid left hand.
Ciccone throws a big right hand that misses.

Liddell has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ciccone can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ciccone wants to control from the top but Liddell keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ciccone throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Liddell has momentary wrist control but Ciccone slips an elbow through the middle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Liddell is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ciccone postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ciccone postures up and lands a big shot to Liddell's brow.
Ciccone stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Liddell swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Liddell is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ciccone is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Liddell is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ciccone lands a couple of elbows.
Ciccone throws a big right hand that misses.
Ciccone trying to control but Liddell is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ciccone throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Liddell has momentary wrist control but Ciccone slips an elbow through the middle.
Liddell keeping moving, preventing Ciccone from controlling successfully.

Liddell working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ciccone doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ciccone manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ciccone sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Liddell's guard.
Mirko Liddell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Enrico Ciccone is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ciccone slips a nice elbow through Liddell's hands, connecting with Liddell's forehead.

And that's the end of the fight!
Enrico Ciccone showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ciccone has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Enrico Ciccone!