PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Liddell (ranked 7128 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdul Gazimov (ranked 24885 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Liddell
vs
Gazimov

185 cm
18
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

193 cm
19
205 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 The Island, Mark Liddell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Abdul Gazimov!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Dirk Anderson and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gazimov tries to clinch but Liddell moves out of range.
Gazimov takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Gazimov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Liddell paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gazimov avoids the head kick by Liddell.
Gazimov now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Gazimov feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Liddell's calf.
We've been informed that Gazimov has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Gazimov tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Liddell counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mark Liddell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Liddell connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Gazimov's hands.
Liddell lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Gazimov tries to clinch up.
Gazimov scoring well with a low kick there.
Liddell throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Gazimov checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Gazimov drives through and clinches with Liddell against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gazimov taking a breather.
Gazimov taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gazimov manages to break the clinch.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Gazimov.
Gazimov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Gazimov tries to close the distance and clinch but Liddell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gazimov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Liddell scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Gazimov tries to clinch but Liddell moves away
and Liddell cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gazimov throws a low kick but Liddell avoids it.
Gazimov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Liddell throws a shot to the body.
Liddell jabs Gazimov right on the nose. Gazimov blinks but takes it well.
Liddell lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gazimov circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gazimov misses with a low kick.
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 lands with a shot to the body.
Liddell scores with a hook to the body. Gazimov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Liddell cracks Gazimov with a right hand to the side of the head.
Some wild striking there from Liddell.
Liddell throws a hook but Gazimov blocks it.
Gazimov with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Liddell to score with a decent uppercut.
Gazimov lands a slapping body shot.
Liddell tries to bum rush Gazimov with a series of wild strikes but Gazimov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gazimov slips under a jab from Liddell.
Liddell works over Gazimov's head and body with a nice combination.
Gazimov wants to clinch up but Liddell keeps it at a distance.
Liddell throws a one two combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Liddell.
A slow jab from Liddell misses its intended target.
Gazimov scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Liddell seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Gazimov looks to score with a jab to the body but Liddell is just out of range.
Gazimov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Liddell.
Gazimov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Liddell swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Gazimov clinches up against the cage.
Gazimov lands an elbow just above Liddell 's eye.

Liddell manages to break the clinch.
Liddell wants to land a leg kick but Gazimov is out of range.
A jab from Liddell does it's job there.
Gazimov walks into a stiff left hand from Liddell.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gazimov tries to clinch up but Liddell circles away and keeps his distance.
Gazimov scores with a body shot.
No joy there for Liddell, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gazimov doesn't manage to clinch there - Liddell circles away.
Liddell does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Gazimov tries to clinch up but Liddell circles away and keeps his distance.
A telegraphed right hand from Liddell misses the target.
Gazimov ducks under a wild hook from Liddell.

Gazimov forces Liddell back against the cage and clinches.
Gazimov tries a knee to the head but Liddell blocks it.
A bit of stalling here from Gazimov.
Gazimov has Liddell pressed against the cage, preventing Liddell from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gazimov slowing the pace effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Liddell dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Liddell throws a right and a left that Gazimov avoids nicely.
Liddell misses with an uppercut. Gazimov saw that one coming.
Liddell lands a nice hook to Gazimov's body. Gazimov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Liddell scores with the left hand. Gazimov knows he should have avoided that one.

Gazimov moves into the clinch.
Gazimov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Liddell blocks it with crossed arms.
Liddell has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Liddell wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gazimov has him pressed against the cage.
Liddell is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gazimov can do to turn this around?

Gazimov manages to break the clinch.
Liddell digs a good hook to Gazimov's body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liddell misses with a few strikes there.
Gazimov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gazimov doesn't manage to clinch there - Liddell circles away.
Gazimov tries to clinch there but Liddell circles away.
Liddell clobbers Gazimov with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liddell swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gazimov makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Liddell really felt that one!
Gazimov moves in looking to clinch but Liddell pushes him off.
Liddell scores with a hook to the body. Gazimov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Liddell keeps the fight on the outside.
Liddell cracks Gazimov with an open hand slap.
Liddell scores with a nice head shot.
Liddell feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Gazimov's calf.
Liddell tries to land a leg kick but Gazimov saw it coming and moves away.
Liddell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Liddell misses the target.
Gazimov wants to clinch.
Liddell waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gazimov.
Gazimov throws a counter combo.
Gazimov fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gazimov gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Gazimov takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Nice jab there from Liddell.
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!
Gazimov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gazimov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Liddell connects with a body shot that sends Gazimov's belly button to the back.
Gazimov has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

Gazimov gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Gazimov breaks the clinch.
Gazimov is looking to land body kicks.
As Gazimov looks to move away, Liddell throws a big counter combo but Gazimov just gets out of the way.
Liddell catches Gazimov with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Liddell lands a jab-cross combination.
Liddell misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liddell bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Gazimov's head.
Liddell misses the jab.
Liddell swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Liddell misses with a few strikes there.
Gazimov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Liddell lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Gazimov has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Liddell finds it's way round the side to connect with Gazimov's head.
A jab from Liddell misses.
Jab by Liddell.
Liddell throws a hook to the side of Gazimov's head but Gazimov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Danga de danga de dang - Liddell scores with a four punch combination!
Liddell misses with a hook
and Gazimov counters with a low kick, right behind Liddell 's knee.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Liddell misses with a left hand
and Gazimov counters with a body kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gazimov fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liddell connects with the punch.
Gazimov moves away from the strike by Liddell.
Gazimov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mark Liddell is winning the standup battle so far.
Liddell lands a head shot.
Gazimov looks to clinch
and Liddell counters with a two punch combo.
Liddell misses with a hook.
A nice leg kick lands there from Gazimov.
Liddell connects with a body shot.
Liddell ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gazimov moves away.
Gazimov appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Liddell scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Gazimov tries to clinch up but Liddell circles away and keeps his distance.
Liddell will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gazimov appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Liddell dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Gazimov swinging wildly here.
Liddell connects with a single shot there.
Liddell looks to land a combination but Gazimov avoids it well.
Gazimov only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Gazimov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Liddell manages to avoid it.
Liddell is looking to counter punch.
Nice jab there from Liddell.
Gazimov scores with a nice body kick.
Liddell keeps the fight on the outside.
Liddell misses with an uppercut
and Gazimov counters with a nice low kick that buckles Liddell's knee momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liddell misses with a head kick.

Gazimov closes the distance and clinches.

Gazimov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Liddell looks to throw the jab but Gazimov is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liddell throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gazimov.
Gazimov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Liddell paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gazimov wants to clinch up but Liddell keeps it at a distance.
Gazimov tries to clinch but Liddell moves out of range.
Liddell misses with a few strikes there.
Gazimov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Gazimov doesn't manage to clinch there - Liddell circles away.
Liddell scores with a jab.
Liddell lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gazimov circles away quickly and effectively.

Gazimov moves into the clinch.
Liddell has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Liddell is trying to break the clinch but Gazimov is controlling him.
Gazimov pushes Liddell back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gazimov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gazimov lands a shoulder strike.
Liddell takes a shot to the head.
Gazimov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Liddells head.
Gazimov misses with some punches.
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 has had enough of the clinch but Gazimov keeps him there for the moment.

Gazimov manages to break the clinch.
Liddell defending well as Gazimov loads up on a big left hand.
Gazimov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Liddell.
Gazimov tries to close the distance and clinch but Liddell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Liddell connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Gazimov is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Liddell rather than just go for the knockout.

Gazimov instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gazimov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Liddell swings for the body but Gazimov moves out of range.
Gazimov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Liddell smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Gazimov's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Liddell connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Gazimov scrambles back to his feet.
Liddell looks to land a right hand but Gazimov moved out of range.
Liddell tries to bum rush Gazimov with a series of wild strikes but Gazimov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Liddell tries to bum rush Gazimov with a series of wild strikes but Gazimov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gazimov is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Liddell with a body shot.
Gazimov moves in looking to clinch but Liddell pushes him off.
Liddell was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Liddell throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Gazimov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Gazimov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gazimov tries to close the distance and clinch but Liddell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Liddell misses with a looping left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gazimov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gazimov ducks under a wild hook from Liddell.
Gazimov connects with a body shot.
Gazimov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Liddell.
Gazimov tries to clinch but Liddell moves out of range.
Mark Liddell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Liddell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gazimov wants to clinch.
Gazimov moves in looking to clinch but Liddell pushes him off.
Gazimov throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A decent looking cross lands there for Liddell.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gazimov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mark Liddell.
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 Michael Johnstone 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!