PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shane Liddell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raian Baaden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Liddell
vs
Baaden

185 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
216 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Improved boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shane Liddell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raian Baaden!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Alan Glass and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baaden keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Baaden closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
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. Baaden connects with a nice short shot to Liddell's temple.
Liddell is trying to stand back up but Baaden is controlling him
Liddell is trying to control but can't.
Baaden looks to land a strike but Liddell avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Baaden accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Baaden landing some decent shots from guard.
Baaden lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Baaden throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Liddell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Baaden must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Baaden wants to stand and escape but instead Liddell has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Liddell advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baaden throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Liddell tries to advance to mount but can't.
Baaden is looking for a sweep.
Liddell has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Baaden bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Baaden stands up over Liddell, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Liddell looking for a guillotine here but Baaden defends easily.

Liddell has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Baaden can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Liddell is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Liddell has his foot on Baaden's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Baaden works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Liddell is breathing heavily.
Baaden postures up and lands a big shot to Liddell's brow.
Baaden throwing strikes but missing.

Liddell is looking for a triangle here but Baaden uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baaden in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Liddell is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Liddell is looking to get back to full guard here but Baaden has managed to pass to side control instead.
Liddell in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Baaden unloading with bombs!
Liddell is in all sorts of trouble here.

Baaden has control of Liddell's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Liddell regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Baaden unloading with bombs!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baaden lands a heavy elbow.
Baaden raining down shots from the mount!
Liddell gets back to half guard.
Liddell slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Liddell keeping full guard, as Baaden tries to pass.

Liddell is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Raian Baaden will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

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

Liddell is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Liddell escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Baaden gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Baaden lands a couple of digs.
Baaden with a flurry of punches that miss.
Baaden landing with the ground and pound.
Baaden is breathing heavily.

Liddell had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Baaden is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Liddell Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Baaden's back instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baaden is in bad spot here.

Liddell patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Baaden rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Liddell is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Baaden doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Liddell.
The fighters are battling for position here. Baaden manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liddell stopping the sweep attempt from Baaden.
Liddell tries to free his leg and advance position but Baaden is retaining full guard.
Liddell thows a big elbow that misses.
Liddell passes Baaden's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Baaden is staying active underneath Liddell, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baaden is pressing down on Liddell's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Liddell wants to stand but Baaden has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Baaden 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.
Liddell wants to control from the top but Baaden keeps moving.
Baaden keeping full guard, as Liddell tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Baaden drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Baaden tries to stand but Liddell is controlling his head.
Liddell manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Liddell works his way to full guard. Good work.

Liddell is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Baaden cracks Liddell with a solid left hand.
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 Shane Liddell will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Liddell gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Baaden decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Liddell's guard.
Baaden controls from within his opponent's guard.
Liddell keeping moving, preventing Baaden from controlling successfully.
Baaden preventing the sweep.
Baaden landing with the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baaden trying to move into half guard but instead Liddell has managed to sweep!
Baaden takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Baaden tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liddell passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Baaden manages to get back to half guard.
Baaden wants to improve his position but Liddell is controlling well.

Liddell is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Baaden defends it well.
Baaden is in trouble now - Liddell has advanced to mount!
Liddell takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Liddell looking to break Baaden's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Baaden remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Liddell will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
A lull in the action here.
Liddell is hanging on to Baaden's back as he tries to escape.
Liddell is trying to stick to Baaden's back but Baaden is turning into Liddell. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Liddell's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Baaden.
Baaden throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Liddell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Liddell looking for a sweep. Not yet Liddell, not yet.

Baaden avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Baaden postures up in Liddell's guard and throws a big left but Liddell blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baaden with a nice head shot there.
Liddell is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Baaden has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Liddell is proving hard to escape from.

Liddell has his feet on Baaden's thighs here. He's pushed Baaden off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Baaden screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Shane Liddell!