PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jozin Zbazin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Braiden Liddle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Liddle is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by bass is kicking. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Zbazin
vs
Liddle

182 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
21
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jozin Zbazin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Braiden Liddle!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Liddle tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Zbazin to counter with a crisp jab.
Liddle closes the distance but Zbazin moves to the side
and Zbazin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Liddle looks to clinch
enabling Zbazin to counter with a crisp jab.

Zbazin shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Liddle's guard.
Zbazin throwing strikes but missing.
Zbazin throwing strikes but missing.
Zbazin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Liddle is keeping the position for now.
Zbazin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Zbazin chips away with some ground and pound.
Zbazin postures up in Liddle's guard and throws a big left but Liddle blocks it.
Zbazin is looking to work some ground and pound but Liddle has wrist control.
Liddle is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zbazin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Liddle avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zbazin prevents Liddle from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zbazin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Liddle is keeping the position for now.
Zbazin throwing strikes but missing.
Zbazin wants to pass the guard but Liddle is keeping the position.
Zbazin with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Liddle wants to stand but Zbazin is controlling the position.
Zbazin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Liddle can do anything to dispel that myth.
Zbazin is breathing heavily.
Zbazin throws a big right hand that misses.
Liddle keeping full guard, as Zbazin tries to pass.
Zbazin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Liddle really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zbazin. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Zbazin landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zbazin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Liddle is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Liddle doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zbazin is trying to drag Liddle to the mat but Liddle just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Liddle lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Liddle working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Liddle gets through Zbazin's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Liddle lands an uppercut.
Zbazin jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Liddle walks away with a smile on his face. Zbazin gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Liddle looks to clinch

so Zbazin counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Zbazin throws a big right hand that misses.
Zbazin trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Liddle manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Liddle wanted to stand there but Zbazin had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zbazin could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Liddle stopping the sweep attempt from Zbazin.

Liddle avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Zbazin tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Zbazin had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Liddle defends it easily.

Liddle decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Liddle wants to clinch but Zbazin slips to the side

and Zbazin holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Zbazin fails to pull guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jozin Zbazin dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Zbazin circles away from the clinch attempt
and Zbazin counters with a nice leg kick.
Liddle tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Zbazin counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Zbazin.
Zbazin has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Zbazin wants to pass the guard but Liddle is keeping the position.
Zbazin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zbazin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zbazin trying to move into half guard but instead Liddle has managed to sweep!
Zbazin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Liddle stopping the sweep attempt from Zbazin.

Liddle gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liddle tries to grapple but his opponent circles

so Zbazin counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Zbazinis looking to pass into half guard but Liddle pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Liddle is in guard.
Jozin Zbazin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Liddle decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Liddle tries to clinch but Zbazin moves away

so Zbazin counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Zbazin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Liddle is keeping the position for now.
Zbazin working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Zbazin throwing strikes from guard but Liddle blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liddle working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zbazin.
Zbazin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Liddle swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zbazin throwing strikes but missing.
Liddle wants to stand and escape but Zbazin is having none of it.
Zbazin trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Liddle manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Zbazin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zbazin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Zbazin wants to get back to his feet but Liddle is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Liddle wants to stand but Zbazin has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Zbazin is looking for a triangle but Liddle pushes his legs off easily.

Zbazin is looking for a triangle but Liddle pushes his legs off easily.
Zbazin wants to stand but Liddle is controlling the position.

Zbazin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Liddle gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zbazin is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Liddle is aware though and is defending well.
Liddle preventing the sweep.

Liddle gets to his feet - Zbazin follows without any prompting.
Liddle looks to clinch

and Zbazin counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Liddle!
Poor strikes thrown by Zbazin there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Zbazin lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Liddle blocking the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zbazin lands a big elbow.
Liddle is in a horrible position here. Zbazin smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Zbazin looking to ground and pound but Liddle is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jozin Zbazin dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Liddle looks to clinch

and Zbazin counters by moving into the clinch.
Liddle has a couple of punches blocked by Zbazin.
Zbazin blocks an uppercut.
Liddle misses with some punches.
Liddle lands with a left to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Liddle creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Liddle working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Zbazin is trying to drag Liddle to the mat but Liddle just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Zbazin tries for a takedown but Liddle manages to get underhooks.
Liddle lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Zbazin has hold of one of Liddle's legs. Liddle is fighting the takedown attempt but Zbazin gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Liddle preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zbazin throws a big right hand that misses.

Liddle uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Liddle tries to clinch but Zbazin moves away

and Zbazin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Liddle's guard.
Zbazin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zbazin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Zbazin stands up over Liddle, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Zbazin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Liddle swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Liddle avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zbazin tries to free his leg and advance position but Liddle is retaining full guard.
Zbazin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zbazin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zbazin slips nicely into half guard.
Zbazin lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Zbazin looks to land a strike but Liddle avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Zbazin scoring with punches to the head and body.
Zbazin throws a strike but Liddle rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Zbazin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Liddle decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Liddle darts in trying to clinch

and Zbazin counters with a takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liddle is working to avoid the ground and pound but Zbazin connects with a decent elbow.
Zbazin postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Liddle dodges the ground and pound from Zbazin.
Liddle parries the strikes from Zbazin easily there. Zbazin is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Liddle to escape.
Zbazin is putting a hurting on Liddle here, landing some big shots from side control.
Zbazin looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Liddle is avoiding damage well.
Zbazin working the head and body with strikes.
Zbazin misses with the ground and pound.
Zbazin cracks Liddle with a big right hand but Liddle just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zbazin is trying to ground and pound but Liddle uses the momentary lack of control by Zbazin to regain half guard.
Zbazin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Liddle defending well though.
Jozin Zbazin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zbazin works his foot free and advances to mount.
Zbazin misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Zbazin in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Braiden Liddle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zbazin connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jozin Zbazin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zbazin, 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jozin Zbazin!