PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jun Liu (ranked 1024 p4p, 2352 weight class) and Zuillnic Canto (ranked 142 p4p, 318 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Liu
vs
Canto

192 cm
26
199
7 - 7 - 0

190 cm
29
218
12 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Brooklyn Apothecary

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 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jun Liu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zuillnic Canto!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Tiny Johnson and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Canto throws a body punch but Liu moves out of range.
We've been told by Liu's head coaches at Roosters Coop that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Zuillnic Canto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Canto. Liu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Liu swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Liu tries to bum rush Canto with a series of wild strikes but Canto uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Liu displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Canto throws out the jab.
Canto misses with a wild body shot.
Canto throws the left hand but Liu avoids the punch easily.
Liu throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Liu walks into a stiff left hand from Canto.
Liu blocks a jab.
Canto slips a jab and a cross from Liu.
Liu on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Nice body kick there by Liu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Canto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Liu takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Canto takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A big left from Canto misses.
Canto walks into a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Canto misses the target.
Canto has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Canto misses with a hook
and Liu counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Canto thinking.
Liu throws a right and a left that both miss.
Canto takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Jun Liu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Canto with a lazy takedown attempt
and Liu makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Liu takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Liu on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Liu misses with a kick to the body.
Liu uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Canto.
Liu throws a sloppy head kick and Canto moves out of range easily.
Liu is looking to land body kicks.
Canto throws a solid leg kick but Liu takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Canto.
Liu throws a quick counter head kick but Canto was just out of range.
Liu throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Canto blocks a head kick by Liu.
Canto blocks the body kick.
Canto cracks Liu with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Canto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Liu went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Liu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Canto.
Canto takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Liu throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Canto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A head kick misses from Liu.
A swing and a miss from Canto.
Liu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Canto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Liu with a hook.
Liu avoids the body shot from Canto.
Canto sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Liu connects with a crisp jab.
Canto throws a right and a left that Liu avoids nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Canto is defended easily by Liu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A low kick lands for Canto.
Liu thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Canto if he has to take too many more of those.
Liu throws the kick towards the body but Canto avoids it.
Canto looks to land a right hand but Liu moved out of range.
Liu swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Canto throws an off balance right hand
and Canto takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Canto scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Liu misses with a body kick.
A slow jab from Canto misses its intended target.
Sloppy strikes from Canto. Those never looked like landing.
Canto looks to score with a jab to the body but Liu is just out of range.
Liu connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Canto sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Liu misses with the body kick

and Canto counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Liu trying to control the position here.
Canto slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Liu struggling a bit here.

Canto tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Canto tries to move to mount but Liu blocks the move with his legs.

Canto tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Canto has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Liu prevents Canto from moving into mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Zuillnic Canto will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Canto takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Canto looks to score with a jab to the body but Liu is just out of range.
Canto moves out of range of the body kick from Liu.
Jun Liu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Liu fails to land with a series of punches.
Canto throws a jab but it's blocked by Liu.
Liu lands a jab to the nose.
A combination from Liu does no damage.
Canto drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Liu defends it well.

Canto looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Canto tries to pass the half guard into mount. Liu knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Liu wants to control but Canto is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Canto wants to pass the guard but Liu is defending well.
Liu trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liu is trying to get back to full guard.
Canto wants to pass the guard but Liu is defending well.
Liu is trying to stand up here but Canto is controlling him well.
Liu trying to control from the bottom.
Canto not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Canto seems to be looking for submissions.
Canto frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Liu is looking to improve his position but Canto isn't that keen on the idea.
Canto is landing with some decent strikes but Liu is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Canto landing strikes from the mount.
Liu stops Canto from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Canto is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Canto keeps trying to improve his position.
Liu tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Canto with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Liu wants to control but Canto is having none of it.
Canto wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Zuillnic Canto has got the better of the ground game so far.
Canto is still trying to improve position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Liu defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Canto.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liu keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Canto avoids the attempt from Liu to control.
Canto with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Liu is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Canto looking for a guillotine from mount but Liu is having none of it.
Liu is in all sorts of trouble here.
Liu regains half guard.
Canto wants to pass the guard but Liu is defending well.
Canto missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liu is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Liu trying to control here.
Liu tries to get to full guard but Canto has control of the leg.
Liu is looking to control Canto's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Liu avoid being mounted?
Canto works his way into side control.

Canto is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Liu has escaped the position, nice work there.
Canto working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zuillnic Canto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Liu throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
enabling Canto to counter with a crisp jab.
A jab from Canto misses.
Liu was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Liu blocks a jab.
Liu scores with a punch to the head.
Canto takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Jun Liu is winning the standup battle so far.
Liu misses with the combination.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Liu.
Liu throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Canto moves out of range as Liu strikes.
Canto changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Canto waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Liu.
Canto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Liu avoids the body shot from Canto.
Canto throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Liu is looking to counter with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Canto swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Liu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Canto manages to avoid it.
Liu misses with a two punch combination.
Canto looks to land a combination but Liu avoids it well.
Liu is looking for a counter combo.

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

Liu pushes Canto off and gets back to his feet.
Liu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Liu misses with the combination.
Canto looks to land a right hand but Liu moved out of range.
Canto lands with a straight right. Liu didn't see that one coming.
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!
Liu uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Canto.
A looping hook to the body misses from Canto. Liu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Canto swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Liu misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Canto misses with a straight right.
Canto throws a body shot but no joy.
Liu waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Canto.
Canto swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Canto drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Canto swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Canto throws a hook but Liu avoids it easily.
Canto throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Liu to counter with a crisp jab.
Canto throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Liu sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Canto throws out a loose jab but Liu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Liu scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Liu tries to land a front kick but Canto steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Canto fails to land with a series of punches.
Liu is looking for a counter combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Canto.
Liu looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Liu ducks under a wild hook from Canto.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Liu - that will leave a mark!
Canto throws a shot from downtown. Liu moves away and avoids it.
Liu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Canto manages to avoid it.
Canto throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Liu sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Liu looks for the body kick but Canto saw that one coming.
Canto doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Canto shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Canto was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Liu is looking to regain half guard here but Canto keeps moving and retains side control.

Canto is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Liu is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Liu tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liu is working hard here to advance position.

Canto tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Canto tries for a kimura but Liu is defending well.
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!
Liu is trying to control Canto's posture but Canto avoids it.
Liu prevents Canto from improving position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Liu trying his best to control but Canto has mounted him.
Jun Liu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zuillnic Canto is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Canto controlling the position easily from mount.

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 Jun Liu.
I think Canto 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zuillnic Canto!
Zuillnic Canto took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'Suprise motherfu*kas, king is back.'.
In defeat, Jun Liu stepped up to the mic, saying 'I don't care if i'm not a durable woman, as long as im an adorable woman ;)'.