PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Andy Liu (ranked 24976 p4p, 5468 weight class) and Shane Fitzpatrick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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
Fitzpatrick

182 cm
22
178
1 - 9 - 0

192 cm
18
175
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Furnace Performance Products
Silverguard Outfitters

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Andy Liu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Shane Fitzpatrick !
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Chris Edwards and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Liu is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Fitzpatrick 's half guard.
Liu is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Liu throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Fitzpatrick is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Fitzpatrick flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Liu performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liu's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Fitzpatrick is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Liu pulls his head out easily.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Fitzpatrick dives in and scores a takedown into Liu's guard.

Liu is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Fitzpatrick looks winded!

Liu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fitzpatrick moves into the clinch successfully.

Fitzpatrick has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Liu clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Liu is looking to stand back up. He's having to work hard to escape but eventually he manages it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Fitzpatrick has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Liu fails with a takedown attempt.

Fitzpatrick shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Liu is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liu stalls.

Liu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Liu fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Liu shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Fitzpatrick 's guard.
Liu trying to control the position from guard on top but Fitzpatrick is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fitzpatrick escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Liu gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Liu's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Further stalling from Liu.
Fitzpatrick wants to control the position but Liu says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Still in half guard, Liu seems content to control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Liu moves into the clinch.

Liu manages to break the clinch.

Fitzpatrick shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Fitzpatrick showed some decent athleticism there.
Liu trying to control from the bottom.
Fitzpatrick working the head and body with strikes.
Fitzpatrick is nestled in close to Liu, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Liu looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Fitzpatrick pushes past his half guard into mount!
Liu wants to hold on but Fitzpatrick pushes him away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Fitzpatrick working for a guillotine from mount but Liu is in no mood to give up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick avoids the attempt from Liu to control.
Liu is trying desperately to improve position.

Fitzpatrick goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Liu turns into him and now he's in Fitzpatrick 's guard.
Liu slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liu postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Liu slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Liu stands up and waves to Fitzpatrick to follow him.
Andy Liu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Liu gets a clinch.
Knees to the body from Liu.
Liu connects with a nasty looking knee right to Fitzpatrick 's face.

Fitzpatrick jumps into guard, dragging Liu to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liu is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Liu controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Fitzpatrick really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Liu. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Fitzpatrick wants to stand but Liu is controlling the position.
Liu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fitzpatrick can do to turn this around?
Fitzpatrick wants to control the position but Liu says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Liu content to control rather than advance.

That's four 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.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Liu lands a nice short elbow.
Fitzpatrick pushes Liu off looking to stand but Liu dives back in and keeps control.
Liu trying to control the pace.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Fitzpatrick leaves Liu with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Liu gets a double leg takedown into Fitzpatrick 's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fitzpatrick working a defensive guard here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Liu dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Liu lands with a kick to the temple. Fitzpatrick shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Liu keeps the fight on the outside.
Liu darts in looking for a takedown but Fitzpatrick gets double underhooks and turns Liu into the cage.

Fitzpatrick jumps into guard, dragging Liu to the mat.
Fitzpatrick is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Liu gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Liu instigates a clinch.

Liu pulls Fitzpatrick into guard.
Liu trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fitzpatrick avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Liu has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Fitzpatrick has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Liu's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Fitzpatrick 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Fitzpatrick fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Liu to the ground. Fitzpatrick is now in Liu's guard.
Liu is pulling down on Fitzpatrick 's head. It's preventing any offense from Fitzpatrick , at least for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liu is trying to keep Fitzpatrick in close.
Liu wants to sweep here but Fitzpatrick controlling him for the moment.
Liu trying to control the position.
Fitzpatrick wants to control from the top but Liu keeps moving.

Liu is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fitzpatrick pulls Liu into guard.
Liu content to stall in guard here.
Liu won't allow Fitzpatrick to sweep him here.
Liu slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Liu stands up and waves to Fitzpatrick to follow him.

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.

Liu shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Fitzpatrick actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Liu is figuring out what he wants to do next.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andy Liu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Liu has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andy Liu!
Andy Liu decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.