PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ping Pong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benjamin Liu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Benjamin Liu was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Pong
vs
Liu

175 cm
18
150 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

175 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ping Pong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Benjamin Liu!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Liu shoots for a double leg takedown but Pong sprawls well. He's pushed Liu's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Liu shoots in looking for a takedown. Pong tries to sprawl out of it but Liu keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pong manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Pong clinches with his opponent.
Liu taking a breather.

Pong successfully pulls guard.
Pong is pulling down on Liu's head. It's preventing any offense from Liu, at least for the moment.

Liu is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Pong is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pong lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Liu!
Pong trying to control but Liu is having none of it.
Liu is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Pong wants to control the pace but Liu is squirming around nicely.
Liu tries to hold on but Pong postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Liu is working to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Liu tries to hold on but Pong postures up.
Liu working to try and regain half guard.
Pong can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Liu is looking to escape.
Liu is working to get back to half guard.
Liu is controlling an arm, preventing Pong from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Pong controlling his opponent.

Pong working for a submission but Liu is keeping him at bay.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liu regains half guard.
Liu wants to stand back up but Pong manages to pass into side control.
Liu gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Liu looks gassed!
Liu tries to roll over but Pong keeps him under control.
Pong is keen to just control but Liu is a slippery customer.
Pong moves into full mount! Liu won't be happy about that!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pong content just to control the position here.
Liu is wriggling around trying to escape.
Pong can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Liu is looking to escape.
Liu is looking to get to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Liu tries to hold on but Pong pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ping Pong dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Pong looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Liu!

Pong is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Liu can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Liu is trying to escape the mount.
Liu tries to lock up and control but Pong gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Pong can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Liu is looking to escape.
Liu is just holding on here. Pong manages to take his back.
Liu tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pong controlling the position easily from mount.
Liu gets back to half guard.

Liu looking for submissions off his back.

Pong is working for a kimura but Liu is defending it quite comfortably.
Pong trying to control the action but Liu is working from the bottom.
Liu has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pong is working away from the top position though.
Pong seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Liu does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

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.
Liu is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Liu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Liu manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Liu had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Pong is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Liu Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Pong's back instead.
Pong trying to control the hands but Liu won't let him.
Liu is trying to stick to Pong's back but Pong is turning into Liu. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Liu's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Pong.
Liu is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pong trying to control the position from guard on top but Liu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Liu has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pong can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Pong tries to free his leg and advance position but Liu is retaining full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Liu with a poor takedown

and Pong counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Pong.
Liu looking to control but Pong passes into half guard.
Liu wants to improve his position but Pong is controlling well.
Liu is pressing down on Pong's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liu bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pong's guard.
Liu sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pong's guard.
Liu is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Liu is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Liu works his way to his opponent's back.
Liu controlling well, preventing Pong from escaping the position.

Liu is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Pong is defending well though. Liu let's go of the attempt for now.
Pong just trying to survive but Liu is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Liu has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Pong rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
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 Ping Pong will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Pong closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Pong lands in his opponent's guard.
Pong stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Liu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pong trying to control the position from guard on top but Liu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Liu looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Liu is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pong wants to control from the top but Liu keeps moving.
Liu working a defensive guard here.
Pong has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liu wants to sweep here but Pong controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Pong moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Pong has his takedown stuffed

and Liu counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Liu passes to full mount!
Liu with shots to the head and body - Pong looks very uncomfortable down there.

Liu goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Pong is on top in guard.
Liu wants to sweep here but Pong controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pong lands a couple of digs.

Liu is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Pong 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.
Pong advances position into side control!
Liu tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Pong presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

Pong is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
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!

Pong moves into the clinch.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Liu gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Liu is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Liu looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Pong wants to control from the top but Liu keeps moving.
Pong stopping the sweep attempt from Liu.
Pong tries to free his leg and advance position but Liu is retaining full guard.
Liu keeping moving, preventing Pong from controlling successfully.

Liu pushes a forearm under Pong's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Pong is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Benjamin Liu!