PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Stanton Harding (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Liberio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Daniel Liberio has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Stanton Harding's chin.

Harding
vs
Liberio

160 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

176 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Stanton Harding!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Daniel Liberio!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Nard Betker and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Liberio throws a right and a left that Harding avoids nicely.
Liberio looks to land a combination. Harding sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Liberio misses with a wild combination.
Liberio tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Harding manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Harding tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Liberio lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Liberio blocks a head kick by Harding.
Some bone on bone action there as Harding checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Left hook, right uppercut from Liberio.
Harding circles away from the clinch attempt.
Harding wants to clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Harding showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Liberio.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liberio displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Liberio throws a right and a left that both miss.
Liberio wants to clinch.
Liberio misses with a low kick.
Liberio lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Harding circles away quickly and effectively.

Harding tries to keep at a distance but Liberio has taken the fight into the clinch.
Harding jumps guard but Liberio turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Liberio tries to break free but Harding pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liberio wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Liberio has hold of one of Harding's legs. Harding is fighting the takedown attempt but Liberio gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Harding has a closed guard, preventing Liberio from standing up.
Harding wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Liberio wants to stand but Harding is controlling his posture from full guard.
Liberio is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harding trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Harding seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Daniel Liberio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Liberio swinging wildly here.
Liberio doesn't manage to clinch there - Harding circles away.
Liberio is looking to land body kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Harding walks into a straight right hand from Liberio.
A punch combination from Liberio misses.
Liberio fails to land with a series of punches.

Liberio clinches with his opponent.
Liberio is looking to break free of the clinch but Harding has double underhooks.

Harding has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Liberio uses from the top position.
Harding could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Liberio would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Liberio prevents Harding from getting back to his feet.
Harding is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Harding looking for a guillotine here but Liberio defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Liberio dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Liberio throws a right and a left that Harding avoids nicely.
Liberio moves in looking to clinch but Harding pushes him off.
Harding is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Liberio.
Harding tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Daniel Liberio seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Liberio cracks Harding with a good jab.
Liberio throws a right and a left that Harding avoids nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harding tries a head kick but it misses.
Liberio is looking to clinch.
Liberio throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sloppy strikes from Liberio. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liberio fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Liberio throws a one two combo.
Harding avoids the body shot from Liberio.
Liberio swinging wildly here.
Liberio closes the distance but Harding moves to the side

and Harding counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Liberio working a defensive guard but Harding passes into half guard.
Harding is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Liberio wants to get back to his feet.

Harding stands up and beckons Liberio to join him on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liberio scores with a jab. Harding acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Liberio throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Liberio throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Harding.
Liberio misses with the combination.
Harding throws a head kick but Liberio moves out of range.
Liberio is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Liberio moves into range and clinches up with Harding.

Harding jumps guard.
Liberio tries to stand but Harding is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harding is controlling Liberio's posture.

Harding pushes Liberio off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liberio lands a jab-cross combination.
Harding takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Liberio throws a right and a left that Harding avoids nicely.
Liberio fails in his attempt to clinch.
Liberio throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Harding lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Liberio closes the distance and pushes Harding back into the cage.
Liberio is trying to break the clinch but Harding has him pressed against the cage.
Harding tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Liberio just stands there and leans against the cage.
Harding is looking to take this one to the mat.
Harding jumps guard but Liberio stands there with Harding around his waist. Harding gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Liberio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Liberio blocks a head kick by Harding.
Liberio misses with a wild combination.
Liberio circles away from the clinch attempt.

Liberio closes the distance and clinches.
A frustrated look appears on Liberio's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Liberio is trying to break the clinch but Harding is controlling him.

Harding breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liberio wants to clinch.
Liberio tries to clinch up

and Harding decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Liberio's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harding throwing strikes but missing.
Harding throwing strikes but missing.
Harding postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Liberio is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Harding dives into side control.

Harding thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Harding wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Liberio, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liberio tries to escape but Harding is in control.
Harding tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Liberio tries to buck Harding off but Harding is having none of it.

Harding wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Liberio, who protects the arm well.

Harding stands up and beckons Liberio to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harding throws a sloppy head kick and Liberio moves out of range easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Liberio throws a push kick but Harding slaps the foot to one side.
Liberio uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Harding has time to react.
Liberio lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Liberio rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Harding moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Liberio rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Harding moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A combination from Liberio does no damage.
Liberio misses with a double jab.
Liberio tries to bum rush Harding with a series of wild strikes but Harding uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Liberio ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Harding moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liberio fails to land with a series of punches.
A punch combination from Liberio misses.
Harding slips a jab and a cross from Liberio.
Liberio wants to clinch

and Harding counters with a takedown into side control.
Stanton Harding overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Liberio wants to control but Harding postures up.
Harding lands a few punches from side control.
The strikes coming from Harding are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Harding 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.
Liberio is trying to get back to his feet.
Stanton Harding has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Daniel Liberio is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Harding stands up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stanton Harding showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Liberio has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Liberio!