PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jeff Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Block Liddell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Liddell's choice of entrance music: Slayer - Raining Blood. 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 Block Liddell was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Johnson
vs
Liddell

190 cm
22
215 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

185 cm
23
219 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Elite Clothing

Bushido Clothing
MMA's Best Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jeff Johnson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Block Liddell!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Cecil Peabody and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Liddell bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Johnson waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Liddell.
Jeff Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson looks to land a right hand but Liddell moved out of range.
Liddell shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johnson but Johnson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Johnson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nice defenses there by Liddell.
Liddell throws a leg kick which misses Johnson's front leg but catches the back leg as Johnson tries to avoid it.
Liddell misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Liddell shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense.
Jeff Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Block Liddell.
Johnson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Liddell.
Liddell moves out of range of the leg kick from Johnson.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson tries a head kick but it misses.
Liddell ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.
Johnson throws a series of punches but Liddell moves out of range.
Johnson throws a leg kick but Liddell sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Liddell walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Johnson checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Liddell bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Johnson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Johnson gets back to half guard.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Liddell trying to control the pace.
Liddell missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liddell is keen to just control but Johnson is a slippery customer.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Liddell wants to pass the guard but Johnson is defending well.
Liddell is tying to control. Johnson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Liddell perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Liddell connects with a body shot.
Liddell tries to move into range but Johnson moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Johnson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Johnson jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws an overhand right that lands on Liddell's shoulder, as Liddell tries to avoid the shot.
A big left from Johnson misses.
Liddell staying out of range there.
The fighters circling - Johnson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A jab lands there for Liddell.
Johnson throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Liddell counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Liddell not doing much here.
Johnson tries to get to full guard but Liddell has control of the leg.
Liddell wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.
Johnson controlling the position well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liddell performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Johnson is looking to improve his position.
Liddell content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Johnson is trying to control but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Block Liddell dominated that round.
That's time! Johnson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Johnson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Johnson stuffs the takedown attempt from Liddell. Liddell gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnson swings widly with a right hand
and Liddell counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Johnson throws a poor cross that misses
and Liddell counters with a slapping leg kick.
Johnson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Liddell can pounce on him.
A nice inside leg kick there by Johnson. That's going to slow Liddell down.

Johnson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Liddell from controlling successfully.
Johnson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Liddell is breathing heavily.
Liddell won't allow Johnson to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Liddell stops Johnson from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liddell seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Liddell wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Liddell showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Liddell won't allow Johnson to get back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Johnson looks to score with a jab to the body but Liddell is just out of range.
Johnson swings widly with a right hand
and Liddell counters with a nice leg kick.
Johnson misses with a hook. Liddell ducked under it nicely.

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.
Liddell throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Liddell changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to avoid it but Liddell manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johnson to the ground. Johnson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Johnson throws a lazy uppercut
and Liddell cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A head kick misses from Johnson.
Johnson misses with a lunging right hand
and Liddell counters with a nice leg kick.

Liddell shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Liddell is taking a breather. Johnson says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Johnson wants to control but Liddell is keeping busy.
Liddell is tying to control. Johnson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to get back to full guard.
Liddell not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Liddell passes the guard and advances to mount!
Liddell thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Liddell trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Liddell controlling from mount.
Liddell trying to control but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Liddell is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Johnson is surviving well by controlling Liddell's body position as best he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Block Liddell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Liddell checks a leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Liddell checks a leg kick.
Liddell tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Johnson misses with a lunging right hand
and Liddell counters with a nice leg kick.
Johnson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Jeff Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnson throws a head kick but Liddell moves out of range.
Liddell steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Johnson.
Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Liddell can pounce on him.
Liddell scores with a crisp jab that stopped Johnson in his tracks.
Johnson throws a lazy uppercut
and Liddell counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Johnson thinking.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson throws a shot to the body.
Johnson swings widly with a right hand

and Liddell counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Liddell controls the pace.
Liddell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson looking to control.
Liddell controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Liddell's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Liddell trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Liddell won't allow Johnson to sweep him here.
Liddell trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson trying to keep a closed guard but Liddell is proving a slippery customer.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Johnson throws a poor cross that misses

and Liddell decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Johnson's guard.
Liddell wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Liddell stopping the sweep attempt from Johnson.
Liddell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liddell with a flurry of punches that miss.
Johnson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Liddell is one step ahead there.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Liddell from controlling successfully.
Johnson 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.
Liddell tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Johnson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Liddell momentarily.

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.
Johnson throws out a powerful jab.
Johnson throws a lazy uppercut

and Liddell counters with a nice double leg into side control. Johnson won't be happy with that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Johnson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Liddell trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.

Liddell is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Johnson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Liddell.
Johnson trying to hold on to Liddell's head to control him but Liddell postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Block Liddell really dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Johnson throws the left hand but Liddell avoids the punch easily.
Johnson throws an off balance right hand
and Liddell counters with a nice low kick that buckles Johnson's knee momentarily.
Johnson misses with a double jab

and Liddell counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Liddell not doing much here.
Johnson is in trouble now - Liddell has advanced to mount!
Liddell controlling his opponent.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Liddell wants to take Johnson's back but he can't do it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is wriggling around trying to escape.

Liddell working for a submission but Johnson is keeping him at bay.
Johnson tries to reverse the position but Liddell maintains control.
Liddell trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Johnson tries to reverse the position but Liddell maintains control.
Liddell has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Liddell 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.
Liddell controlling from the full mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Liddell there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Liddell controlling the position easily from mount.
Liddell punishing his opponent with strikes.

Liddell goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Johnson turns into him and now he's in Liddell's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Liddell looking for a guillotine here but Johnson defends easily.
Liddell wants to control the position but Johnson says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Liddell is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Johnson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Johnson's back!
Liddell struggling to keep hold of the position.
Liddell looking to soften up his opponent with punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Liddell looking for the choke but no joy.
Liddell tries to keep control of the position but Johnson is staying busy.
Johnson trying to control but not successfully.

Liddell is looking for a rear naked choke here but Johnson reverses the position brilliantly into Liddell's guard!

Liddell is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Block Liddell dominated that fourth round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Johnson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Johnson loads up on a big right hand but Liddell slips the punch.
Johnson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Liddell counters with a leg kick.
Liddell lands with a cross.
Johnson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johnson misses with a low kick.
Liddell feints and then cracks Johnson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Johnson down.
Johnson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Liddell throws a head kick that half lands.
Liddell fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson walks into a left hand.

Johnson is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liddell throws a monster overhand right that drops Johnson! Liddell follows up with more strikes from mount and the fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:07 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Block Liddell! Block Liddell retains his light heavyweight title!