PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Eric Liu (ranked 5744 p4p, 2951 weight class) and Christian Zayer Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Liu
vs
Zayer Jr

222 cm
18
155
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
155
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Eric Liu!
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, Christian Zayer Jr!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Dirk Anderson and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Liu throws a front kick that sends Zayer Jr stumbling back into the cage.

Zayer Jr gets a takedown into half guard.
Liu knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zayer Jr on the ground.
Liu wants to control but Zayer Jr is keeping busy.
Zayer Jr tries to pass to full mount but Liu defends it.
Liu tries to kick Zayer Jr off but Zayer Jr keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liu is trying to control but can't.
Zayer Jr seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Let's hope that Zayer Jr has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zayer Jr lands with a punch from half guard.
Liu has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zayer Jr is working away from the top position though.
Zayer Jr throwing shots but Liu is blocking nicely.
Liu wants to get back to his feet.
Zayer Jr with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Zayer Jr looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.

Zayer Jr scores with a takedown into Liu's guard.
Liu wants to get back to his feet but Zayer Jr passes into half guard.

Zayer Jr controlling the action here.
Zayer Jr has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Zayer Jr sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zayer Jr looking for a guillotine from mount but Liu is having none of it.

Zayer Jr stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Liu fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zayer Jr avoids it really well and circles away.
Zayer Jr lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Zayer Jr drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zayer Jr is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Liu is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Liu takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Zayer Jr in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
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!

Zayer Jr stands up and beckons Liu to his feet.
Zayer Jr throws a sloppy head kick and Liu moves out of range easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zayer Jr misses with a head kick.

Zayer Jr closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Zayer Jr lands in his opponent's guard.
Liu wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Zayer Jr manages to pass to side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Christian Zayer Jr dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zayer Jr pushes Liu up against the cage in a clinch.
Zayer Jr blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zayer Jr drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Liu gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Zayer Jr scores with a shoulder strike.
Zayer Jr avoiding damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zayer Jr works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Liu has his hands on Zayer Jr's head, controlling the position.

Liu has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Zayer Jr has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zayer Jr looking to slow down the pace here.
Zayer Jr tries to stall but Liu uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Zayer Jr is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
Zayer Jr slows down the pace here.

Liu breaks from the clinch.
Liu fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zayer Jr fails with an attempt to clinch.
Liu went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Liu moves in looking to clinch but Zayer Jr pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zayer Jr throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Liu moves in looking to clinch but Zayer Jr pushes him off.
Liu tries to clinch but Zayer Jr moves out of range.
Liu shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zayer Jr defends it nicely.
Zayer Jr tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Liu defends well and Zayer Jr ends up having to push Liu into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Zayer Jr. Those never looked like landing.
Zayer Jr misses with a takedown attempt
and Liu counters with a two punch combo.
Eric Liu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Christian Zayer Jr.
Zayer Jr fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Liu moves into the clinch successfully.

Liu breaks the clinch.
Christian Zayer Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zayer Jr swings for the body but Liu moves out of range.
Zayer Jr tries to clinch up but Liu circles away and keeps his distance.
Liu feinted with a counter takedown.
No joy there for Zayer Jr, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Liu throws a nice outside leg kick.
Liu stuffs the takedown attempt from Zayer Jr. Zayer Jr gets slowly back to his feet.
Liu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zayer Jr is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Zayer Jr closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liu is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Zayer Jr is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Liu pulls him back up using the underhooks.

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

Liu rushes Zayer Jr and presses him up against the cage.
Zayer Jr is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Zayer Jr fails to pull guard.

Liu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Liu tries to clinch but Zayer Jr moves out of range.
Liu pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Liu pushes Zayer Jr up against the cage in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Liu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Liu dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Liu will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Zayer Jr changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Liu looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Liu is trying to control Zayer Jr's posture but Zayer Jr avoids it.
Zayer Jr content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Zayer Jr decides to stand up, so the ref orders Liu to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zayer Jr shoots in and drives through. Liu sprawls well.

Liu closes the distance and clinches.
Zayer Jr tries to pull guard but Liu holds him up against the cage and eventually Zayer Jr drops back down to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liu lands a good knee to the midsection. Zayer Jr won't want to take too many of those.
Zayer Jr tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Liu just stands there and leans against the cage.
Eric Liu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Christian Zayer Jr.
Liu wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zayer Jr has him pressed against the cage.
Zayer Jr is trying to force a seperation but Liu has the dominant position.
Zayer Jr fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Liu on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zayer Jr is looking to take this one to the mat.
Zayer Jr jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Liu walks away with a smile on his face. Zayer Jr gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Liu slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Zayer Jr shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Liu as he avoids it easily.
Zayer Jr takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liu shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zayer Jr sprawls well. Zayer Jr wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Liu gets slowly back to his feet.
Zayer Jr darts in looking for a takedown but Liu gets double underhooks and turns Zayer Jr into the cage.
Liu throws a big counter combination but Zayer Jr scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Zayer Jr fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Liu to the ground. Zayer Jr is now in Liu's guard.
Zayer Jr is fighting to break Liu's control of his arms but Liu is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Zayer Jr drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Liu manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Zayer Jr has Liu in his guard.

Liu has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zayer Jr is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zayer Jr pulls Liu in close to prevent any damage.
Liu wanted to stand there but Zayer Jr had control of the position.
Zayer Jr throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Liu has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zayer Jr is proving hard to escape from.
Liu really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Zayer Jr working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Liu doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Liu manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Liu is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Zayer Jr has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Liu is looking to defend but Zayer Jr has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Liu! Zayer Jr pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Liu taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Christian Zayer Jr!
In defeat, Eric Liu stepped up to the mic, saying 'ya wife is in me dms'.