PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Liddell (ranked 5891 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seth Maverick (ranked 5932 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Liddell
vs
Maverick

185 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mark Liddell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Seth Maverick!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Dirk Anderson and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Liddell throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A combination from Liddell does no damage.
Liddell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Maverick ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Liddell moves away.
Liddell throws a sloppy head kick and Maverick moves out of range easily.

Maverick gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Maverick stalling.
Liddell wants to break the clinch but can't.

Maverick's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Maverick swings away with a leg kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liddell misses with a wild combination.
Liddell swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Maverick gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Liddell is trying to push Maverick away but Maverick has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liddell prevents the takedown attempt.
Liddell letting Maverick take a breather here.
Liddell can't break the clinch.
Maverick struggles to land a body shot inside as Liddell controls his hands.
Maverick misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Liddell.

Maverick pulls Liddell into guard.
Maverick controls Liddell momentarily but Liddell frees himself.
Liddell wanted to stand there but Maverick had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Maverick looking for a sweep. Not yet Maverick, not yet.
Maverick pulls Liddell in close to prevent any damage.
Maverick looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Maverick is trying to control the position but Liddell postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Mark Liddell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maverick showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Liddell.
Maverick shoots for a takedown but Liddell saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
It looked like Liddell wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Liddell closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Liddell scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Mark Liddell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Liddell lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maverick circles away quickly and effectively.

Maverick clinches up against the cage.
Maverick tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mark Liddell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Seth Maverick.
Come on Maverick - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Maverick drops down looking for an ankle pick but Liddell pulls his leg out and moves away.
Liddell misses with a few strikes there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maverick takes a shot to the body in his stride.
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!

Maverick moves into range and clinches up with Liddell.
Maverick is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Liddell to keep the fight standing.
Liddell letting Maverick take a breather here.

Maverick breaks from the clinch.

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

Maverick pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Liddell throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Liddell throws a body kick that misses.
Liddell swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Liddell throws a series of punches but Maverick moves out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Liddell. Those never looked like landing.

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

Maverick breaks from the clinch.
Maverick throws a head kick that misses.
Liddell appears to be looking for a big counter.

Maverick clinches.
Liddell tries to break the clinch but Maverick is controlling the position.
Maverick jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Liddell walks away with a smile on his face. Maverick gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Liddell catches Maverick with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A combination from Liddell does no damage.
Liddell scores with a jab.
Liddell misses with a few strikes there.
Liddell lands with a cross.

Maverick fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Liddell, pushing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maverick will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Liddell up against the cage.
Maverick's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Maverick drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Liddell gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Maverick breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Liddell moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Liddell throws a leg kick but Maverick sees it coming and moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Liddell.
Liddell displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Maverick.
An attempted straight right counter from Liddell misses the target.
Mark Liddell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Seth Maverick.
Liddell moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Seth Maverick has been cut.
Mark Liddell is winning the standup battle so far.
Liddell stalks Maverick and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Maverick's face. Maverick staggers backwards, shaken.
Maverick throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Liddell is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maverick can do to turn this around?
Liddell throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Liddell throws a right and a left that both miss.
Liddell misses with a wild combination.
Maverick let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maverick dives in and scores a takedown into Liddell's guard.
Maverick throwing strikes from guard but Liddell blocks nicely.
Maverick works over Liddell with some ground and pound from guard.
Maverick postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Maverick content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Maverick wants to control from the top but Liddell keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maverick stopping the sweep attempt from Liddell.
Maverick wants to control from the top but Liddell keeps moving.
Maverick in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liddell keeping full guard, as Maverick tries to pass.
Maverick working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Maverick wants to control from the top but Liddell keeps moving.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Liddell preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Maverick moves into range and clinches up with Liddell.
Seth Maverick seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Maverick pulls guard.
Maverick is trying to control the position but Liddell postures up.

Maverick is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Liddell defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Liddell dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Seth Maverick's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Maverick has managed to clinch.

Liddell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Maverick wants to clinch up but Liddell keeps it at a distance.
Liddell throws a right hand that Maverick ducks under and follows up with a left that Maverick also avoids with ease.
Liddell smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Liddell rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maverick moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Maverick pushes Liddell up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maverick has Liddell pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Liddell manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Liddell working hard to break the clinch.

Maverick manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maverick gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
A combination from Liddell does no damage.
Liddell swats away the attempt to clinch by Maverick.
Liddell swats away the attempt to clinch by Maverick.
Liddell swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Liddell sizes up Maverick with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Maverick fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Liddell avoids it really well and circles away.
Liddell stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liddell lands a head shot.
Liddell motions for Maverick to come forward. Liddell throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Some wild striking there from Liddell.
Liddell throws a series of punches but Maverick avoids them all with ease.
Liddell throws a combination. Maverick tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Liddell throws a right and a left that Maverick avoids nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Liddell misses with a wild combination.
Maverick steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Liddell.

Maverick clinches up with Liddell and pushes him back against the cage.
Maverick digs a right hand into Liddell's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Liddell's gas tank.

Liddell manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liddell tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Maverick is able to avoid easily.

Maverick clinches with his opponent.
Liddell wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Maverick throws an elbow but it misses.

Maverick breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maverick throws a front kick that sends Liddell stumbling back into the cage.
Liddell lands with a nice combination. Maverick backs away looking to recover.
Liddell stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Liddell wants it to stay on the feet.
Mark Liddell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Seth Maverick.
Maverick changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Liddell tries to avoid it but Maverick manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Liddell to the ground. Liddell escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Maverick is looking to clinch but Liddell is avoiding it.
Liddell misses with the combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liddell dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Maverick looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Liddell scores with a jab. Maverick acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Mark Liddell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Maverick tries to clinch but Liddell moves out of range.
Liddell scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maverick on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Maverick shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Liddell is trying to defend but Maverick finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Liddell manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Maverick keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Maverick manages to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Liddell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Liddell, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27

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