PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nicolas Refn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zane Lieu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lieu has chosen "You Don't Know" by Eminem as his entrance music. Zane Lieu has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Nicolas Refn's chin.

Refn
vs
Lieu

178 cm
21
174 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

180 cm
24
180 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

JL Fightwear - $15.00 [THW]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nicolas Refn!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zane Lieu!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Elvis Blanc and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lieu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A punch combination from Refn misses.
Refn throws an overhand right that lands on Lieu's shoulder, as Lieu tries to avoid the shot.
Lieu walks into a stiff left hand from Refn.
Refn goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Refn throws a right hand that Lieu ducks under and follows up with a left that Lieu also avoids with ease.
Refn rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lieu moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Refn avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Refn lands a slapping body shot.
Refn lands a lovely overhand right.
The fighters circling - Refn throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Refn throws a nice looking combination but Lieu bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lieu gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Refn fails to land with a series of punches.
Refn misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lieu tries to close the distance and clinch up but Refn swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lieu takes one to the chin there.
Refn just misses with a punch to the body.
Lieu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lieu scores with a jab. Refn acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Refn defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lieu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Refn misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lieu.
Refn digs a good body shot into Lieu's ribs.
The fighters circling - Lieu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Refn misses with a hook. Lieu ducked under it nicely.
Refn slips under a jab from Lieu.
Lieu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Refn.
Refn thows a left - swing and a miss!
Refn lands an overhand right.
Lieu waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Refn.
Refn defending well as Lieu loads up on a big left hand.
Refn throws a body punch but Lieu moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Refn is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Refn tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lieu was well out of range. Poor timing from Refn.
Lieu walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Refn misses the shot to the body.
Lieu swings away with a body shot that misses
and Refn counters with a one-two to the body.
Refn misses with a straight right.
Lieu on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Lieu drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Refn connects with the punch.
Refn throws a body punch but Lieu moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lieu doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Refn staying out of range there.
The fighters circle momentarily. Refn darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A nice combination there by Refn.
Lieu takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Refn takes a swing at Lieu's ribcage but misses.
A decent looking cross lands there for Refn.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Refn thows a body shot but no joy.
Lieu uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Refn.
Refn lands with a cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas Refn dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lieu tries to clinch up but Refn circles away and keeps his distance.
Lieu looks to land a left hand but Refn moved out of range nicely.
Nice body punch from Refn.
Lieu is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Refn throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Lieu on the side of the head.
Nicolas Refn is winning the standup battle so far.
No joy there for Refn, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lieu swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Refn.
Lieu looks to land a right hand but Refn moved out of range.
Refn throws a body punch but Lieu moves out of range.
Lieu throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Refn counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Lieu thinking.
Refn lands with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lieu takes one on the button.
Good exchange - Refn coming out on top.
Lieu takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Lieu has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Lieu there as he acknowledges the shot.
Refn misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Lieu counters with a straight right hand.
Nicolas Refn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lieu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Refn.
Refn slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Lieu takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
The crowd cheers as Refn lands an impressive looking overhand right. Lieu doesn't seem phased though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Refn.
Lieu uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Refn.
Lieu tries to close the distance and clinch but Refn swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Refn lands a right hook to the body.
Lieu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Refn paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Lieu gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lieu is pushing Refn up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Lieu swings wildly with an uppercut but Refn uses good head movement to avoid it.
Refn tries to circle away but Lieu has him pinned against the cage.
Refn blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Lieu has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Lieu misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lieu taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Refn escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Refn throws a right hand that Lieu ducks under and follows up with a left that Lieu also avoids with ease.
Refn bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Lieu's head backwards.
Refn dips to his left and cracks Lieu with an uppercut!
Refn takes one to the chin there.
Refn fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lieu manages to avoid it.
Refn scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Refn throws a one two combo.
Lieu takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Refn thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nicolas Refn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lieu drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Lieu closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Refn to the mat! Refn manages to get full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Lieu's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lieu controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Lieu throws a strike but Refn rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Lieu keeping moving, preventing Refn from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Refn with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nicolas Refn will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Lieu, as that shot connected.
Refn misses with a straight left.
Some wild striking there from Refn.
Lieu takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Lieu takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Refn misses with a series of wild punches.
A swing and a miss from Lieu.
Lieu has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Refn finds it's way round the side to connect with Lieu's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Refn throws a hook but Lieu blocks it.
Refn misses with a body punch
enabling Lieu to counter with a crisp jab.
Refn connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Nicolas Refn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Refn tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lieu was well out of range. Poor timing from Refn.
Refn fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lieu manages to avoid it.
Refn swinging wildly here.
Refn misses with a body shot.
Refn bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lieu defending well as Refn loads up on a big left hand.
Lieu takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Refn staying out of range there.
Refn lands a slapping body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Lieu misses the target.
Refn moves out of range as Lieu strikes.
Lieu doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Refn lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A big left from Refn misses.
Refn swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Refn scores with a shot to the body.
Lieu looks to clinch
and Refn makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Refn rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lieu moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Refn connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Lieu misses with a wild body shot.
Refn swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice cross by Refn.
Refn lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Refn.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Refn.
Refn is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Refn throws a series of punches but Lieu moves out of range.
Refn scores with a jab to the body.
A big left from Refn misses.
Refn keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Refn throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lieu closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lieu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Refn.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas Refn clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Refn misses with a few strikes there.
Refn swings for the body but Lieu moves out of range.
Nice body punch from Refn.
Refn misses with a wild combination.
Lieu takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Refn with a hook.
Refn misses the shot to the body.
Lieu gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Refn.
Refn scores with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lieu throws a jab but it's blocked by Refn.
Lieu might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Refn misses with a wild body shot.
Refn scores with a body shot.
Lieu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lieu throws a hook to the side of Refn's head but Refn sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
No joy there for Refn, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Refn takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Lieu moves out of range of the strikes.
Refn throws a lazy right hand but Lieu sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Refn tries to bum rush Lieu with a series of wild strikes but Lieu uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lieu misses the jab.
Refn uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lieu.
Refn moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Refn swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting Lieu counter with a right hand.
Refn lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Refn will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Refn punishes Lieu's body with a nice straight punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lieu looks to throw the jab but Refn is out of range.
A slow jab from Lieu misses its intended target.
Refn throws a right and a left that both miss.
Refn scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Refn lands the left hand.
Lieu slips a jab and a cross from Refn.
Lieu avoids the body shot from Refn.

Lieu drives through and clinches with Refn against the cage.
Lieu has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Lieu trying to stall but Refn improves his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Refn escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Refn slips a straight right by Lieu.
Refn misses the shot to the body.
Refn uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lieu.
Refn lands a jab.
Refn misses with a body shot.
Refn throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Lieu stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Refn misses with a wild body shot.
Refn is looking to wear down Lieu with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Refn uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas Refn had his way with Zane Lieu in that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Lieu takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Lieu misses with an uppercut.
Refn fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lieu falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Refn counter with a right hand.
Lieu is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Refn.
Lieu ducks under a wild hook from Refn.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Refn thows a left - swing and a miss!
Jab from Refn.
Refn dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Refn.
Refn slips a jab from Lieu.
Refn misses with a two punch combination.
Lieu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Refn.
Nice defenses there by Lieu.
Refn lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Lieu backs up against the cage.
A shot to the liver by Refn. Beautiful body shot.
Refn dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Refn falls off balance throwing a combination
and Lieu counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Refn moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Lieu misses with a hook. Refn ducked under it nicely.
Refn takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Refn scores with a jab to the body.
Refn misses with a wild body shot.
Refn throws a hook to the side of Lieu's head but Lieu sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lieu tries to move into range but Refn moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lieu misses with a looping right.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lieu. Refn does a little dance to reset his feet.
Refn looks to land a combination but Lieu avoids it well.
Refn keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Refn fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Refn cracks Lieu with a good jab.
Lieu misses with a looping left.
A swing and a miss from Lieu.
Refn throws a series of punches but Lieu moves out of range.

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.
Lieu just misses with a punch to the body.
Refn throws a right hand that Lieu ducks under and follows up with a left that Lieu also avoids with ease.
Refn falls off balance throwing a combination
and Refn takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A telegraphed right hand from Refn misses the target.
Lieu misses with a hook. Refn ducked under it nicely.
Refn is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lieu.
Refn misses with a double jab
and Lieu cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Zane Lieu.
I think Refn has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 49:46
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 49:46
Judge William Peck scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicolas Refn!
Nicolas Refn retains his welterweight title!