PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Liddell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Federico Lovalente (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Liddell kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Rza - Fatal. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Liddell
vs
Lovalente

185 cm
28
180 lbs
24 - 10 - 0

178 cm
27
197 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

>>> Blitzkrieg Formula 5000 (159++ Recovery $42)
ĄFFĄKĘTIΘN

-OVERDOSE Factory-

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lyoto Liddell!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Federico Lovalente!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Taro Takaoka and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Liddell feints and then cracks Lovalente's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Lovalente down.
Lovalente checks the leg kick nicely there.
Nice shot by Lovalente.
Lovalente wants to clinch up but Liddell keeps it at a distance.
Liddell swings for the body but Lovalente moves out of range.
Lovalente lands with a thumping leg kick.
Liddell throws a low kick, looking for Lovalente's leg but Lovalente calmly moves out of range.
Lovalente on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Lovalente throws the kick towards the body but Liddell avoids it.
Liddell misses with a head kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Liddell. Lovalente does a little dance to reset his feet.
A chopping leg kick lands by Liddell.
Lovalente moves in looking to clinch but Liddell pushes him off.
Some bone on bone action there as Lovalente checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Lovalente connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Liddell misses the shot to the body.
Lovalente looks for the body kick but Liddell saw that one coming.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lovalente. Liddell does a little dance to reset his feet.
Liddell lands a nice shot to the body.
Lovalente throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Liddell looks to score with a jab to the body but Lovalente is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liddell fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Lovalente checks it well.

Liddell gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Lovalente to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Lovalente trying to control but Liddell is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Liddell controls Lovalente momentarily but Lovalente frees himself.
Liddell keeping moving, preventing Lovalente from controlling successfully.
Liddell is trying to keep Lovalente in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lovalente is looking to advance position but Liddell has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Lovalente is looking to improve his position but Liddell isn't that keen on the idea.
Lovalente tries to hold on but Liddell postures up.
Lovalente wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liddell has the hooks in. Lovalente is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Lovalente breaks Liddell's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Lovalente content to stall in guard here.
Lovalente throwing strikes but missing.
Lovalente trying to control the position from guard on top but Liddell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Liddell holds on and takes a little breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lovalente trying to control the position from guard on top but Liddell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lovalente tries to free his leg and advance position but Liddell is retaining full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Federico Lovalente.
A telegraphed right hand from Liddell misses the target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lovalente. Liddell does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lovalente chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Liddell can pounce on him.
Liddell stuffs the takedown attempt from Lovalente. Lovalente gets slowly back to his feet.
Lovalente takes one to the side of the head.
Liddell avoids the head kick by Lovalente.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Liddell scores with a sloppy right hand. Lovalente should have avoided that one.
Lovalente throws a hook but Liddell blocks it.
Lovalente throws a leg kick but Liddell checks it.
Lyoto Liddell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Liddell throws out a leg kick but Lovalente moves out of range and Liddell only half commits.
Liddell misses with a head kick.
Liddell looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Liddell is looking to wear down Lovalente with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Liddell avoids a kick to the body.
Lovalente misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Liddell.
Liddell throws a front kick aimed at Lovalente's knee but Lovalente avoids it well.
Lovalente tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lovalente with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Lovalente digs a good body shot into Liddell's ribs.
Liddell throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Liddell throws a quick inside leg kick.
Liddell throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Liddell uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lovalente.
Lovalente throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A head kick misses from Lovalente.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Lovalente.
Lovalente goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Lovalente thuds his shin into the meat of Liddell's side.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Liddell swings for the body but Lovalente moves out of range.
Liddell lets loose with a powerful body kick. Lovalente will feel that in the morning.
Liddell looks to score with a jab to the body but Lovalente is just out of range.
Lovalente avoids the body shot from Liddell.
Lovalente looks for the body kick but Liddell saw that one coming.
Liddell throws a leg kick but Lovalente sees it coming and moves out of range.
Lovalente doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Lovalente slips under a jab.
Liddell swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Liddell tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Liddell scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Liddell misses with a wild body shot.
Lovalente throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Liddell thows a body shot but no joy.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Lovalente fakes the leg kick and cracks Liddell in the body.
Lovalente cracks Liddell with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Liddell throws a nice outside leg kick.
Liddell takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Liddell throws a leg kick but Lovalente checks it.
Lovalente moves in looking to clinch but Liddell pushes him off.
Liddell moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Lovalente checks a leg kick.
Liddell throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Lovalente.
Lovalente scores with a nice head shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Some wild striking there from Lovalente.
Both fighters circling a little - Liddell finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Lovalente scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Liddell throws a head kick that misses
and Lovalente counters with a nice low kick that buckles Liddell's knee momentarily.
Liddell throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

Lovalente drives through and clinches with Liddell against the cage.

Lovalente manages to break the clinch.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Liddell swats away the attempt to clinch by Lovalente.
Lovalente misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Liddell tried to score with a low kick but Lovalente checks it.
Lovalente checks the leg kick nicely there.
Liddell misses with a double jab.
Lovalente thuds his right hand into Liddell's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Liddell jabs Lovalente to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Lovalente clinches up with Liddell and pushes him back against the cage.
Liddell missing with knees to the body.
Lovalente misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lovalente blocks the elbow strike.

Liddell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lovalente moves out of range of the body kick from Liddell.
Lovalente missing with a left hand there. Liddell was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lovalente blocks a head kick by Liddell.
Lovalente keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Liddell wants to land a leg kick but Lovalente is out of range.

Lovalente closes the distance and clinches.
Lovalente tries to throw a body punch but Liddell avoids it by throwing Lovalente back against the cage.
Lovalente pressing his opponent against the cage.
Liddell blocks an uppercut.
Lovalente is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Liddell is defending well for now.
Liddell working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Lovalente tries a body shot but Liddell blocks it.
Lovalente goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lovalente blocking some punches.
Lovalente swings away with an uppercut that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lovalente misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Liddell.

Lovalente's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Liddell forces Lovalente back against the cage and clinches.
A right hand to the body from Liddell.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Federico Lovalente will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Lovalente tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Liddell misses with a wild body shot.
Liddell tried to score with a low kick but Lovalente checks it.
Liddell scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Lovalente doesn't seem bothered though.
Liddell lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Liddell blocks a jab.
Lovalente fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lovalente tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Liddell was well out of range. Poor timing from Lovalente.
Liddell lands a really nice looking cross but Lovalente seems unphased.
Lovalente tries to close the distance and clinch up but Liddell swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Liddell throws a head kick but Lovalente moves out of range.
Liddell throws the kick towards the body but Lovalente avoids it.
Liddell checks the leg kick.
Liddell throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Liddell ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lovalente moves away.
Liddell avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Liddell keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Liddell looks to score with a jab to the body but Lovalente is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Lovalente as he connects with a hook.
Lovalente has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Liddell.
Liddell stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Lovalente.
Liddell avoids a kick to the body.
Lovalente throws the kick towards the body but Liddell avoids it.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Lovalente - that will leave a mark!
Liddell tries a low kick but Lovalente avoids it.
Lovalente just misses with a punch to the body.
Lovalente finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Liddell circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lovalente tries to move into range but Liddell moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Lovalente misses with a hook to the body
and Liddell counters with a low kick, right behind Lovalente 's knee.
Liddell is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Liddell listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
A solid leg kick lands there for Liddell.
Liddell takes a swing at Lovalente's ribcage but misses.
Lovalente lands a right hook to the body.
Lovalente tries to land a leg kick but Liddell saw it coming and moves away.
Lovalente takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lovalente throws a nice looking combination but Liddell bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lovalente throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Liddell slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Lovalente stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Liddell.
Liddell scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Lovalente doesn't seem bothered though.
Liddell uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lovalente.
Liddell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lovalente takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Lovalente is breathing heavily.
Liddell lands a high kick!
Liddell tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lovalente was well out of range. Poor timing from Liddell.
Liddell ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lovalente moves away.
Liddell fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Lovalente looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Lovalente tries to clinch but Liddell moves out of range.
Lovalente fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Liddell avoids a kick to the body.
Lovalente avoids the body shot from Liddell.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Liddell.
Lovalente tries to clinch up but Liddell circles away and keeps his distance.
Liddell looks to land a left hand but Lovalente moved out of range nicely.
Lyoto Liddell is winning the standup battle so far.
Lovalente lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Lovalente shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Lovalente trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Lovalente throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Lovalente punching from mount but Liddell doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Lovalente thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Lovalente controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lovalente throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Lovalente tries to control but Liddell wriggling away.
Lovalente sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
This has been an exciting period of action!

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Liddell has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Lovalente's lack of action.
Lovalente tries to pass the half guard into mount. Liddell knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Federico Lovalente.
Liddell scores with a crisp jab that stopped Lovalente in his tracks.
Liddell misses the jab.
Liddell lands a head kick!
A slapping leg kick lands for Liddell.
Lovalente misses with a body punch
and Liddell counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lovalente throws a leg kick but Liddell checks it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Lovalente checks a leg kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Liddell.
A slapping leg kick lands for Lovalente.
Lovalente avoids the body shot from Liddell.
Lovalente tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Liddell swivels and escapes.
Lovalente lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Liddell moves out of range as Lovalente strikes.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Liddell moves out of range of the leg kick from Lovalente.
Liddell misses with a wild body shot.
Lovalente keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Liddell throws an overhand right that lands on Lovalente's shoulder, as Lovalente tries to avoid the shot.
Lovalente throws a head kick that misses.

Lovalente shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Lovalente was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Lovalente controlling the position easily from mount.
Liddell can't escape the position.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Lovalente avoids the attempt from Liddell to control.
Lovalente looking to control but Liddell is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Lovalente throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Liddell because Lovalente loaded up on that one.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lovalente throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Liddell taking shots to the head.
Lovalente with good strikes from the mount here!

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Lovalente working the ground and pound effectively.
Lovalente has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lovalente looking to control and managing it successfully.
Lovalente with good strikes from the mount here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lovalente controlling his opponent.
Poor strikes thrown by Lovalente there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Federico Lovalente showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Liddell misses with an attempted mid kick.
Lovalente jabs Liddell to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Lovalente shoots in looking for a takedown. Liddell tries to sprawl out of it but Lovalente keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Liddell manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Lovalente stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Liddell.
Liddell throws a sloppy head kick and Lovalente moves out of range easily.
Lovalente misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Liddell swings for the body but Lovalente moves out of range.
Lovalente gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Liddell misses with a looping left.
Lovalente throws a lazy head kick
and Liddell counters with a nice uppercut.
Liddell avoids the head kick by Lovalente.
Lovalente misses with a takedown attempt - Liddell sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lovalente takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Liddell lands with a good body shot.
Liddell fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liddell takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Lovalente walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Lovalente looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Lovalente tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Liddell paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lovalente shoots in for a takedown but Liddell shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lyoto Liddell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Federico Lovalente.
Liddell dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Lovalente. That did some damage!
Nice cross by Liddell.
Liddell lands a leg kick that knocks Lovalente off balance momentarily.
Lovalente checks a leg kick nicely.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Lovalente.
Lovalente throws a nice outside leg kick.
A low kick from Liddell misses
and Lovalente counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Liddell connects with a solid leg kick.
Liddell throws a leg kick but Lovalente moved away.
Liddell cracks Lovalente with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Lovalente lands a nice looking kick to the body. Liddell takes a step back to recover.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice body punch from Lovalente.
Lovalente misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Lovalente misses with a body shot.
Lovalente swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Liddell takes a swing at Lovalente's ribcage but misses.
Lovalente takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Lovalente doesn't manage to clinch there - Liddell circles away.
Liddell digs a good hook to Lovalente's body.
Liddell connects with an inside leg kick.
Lovalente misses with a takedown attempt - Liddell sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Liddell scores with a leg kick.
Liddell fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Lovalente's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Lovalente tries to land a leg kick but Liddell saw it coming and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liddell lands a glancing blow to the side of Lovalente's head.
Lovalente misses with a kick to the body
and Liddell counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Lovalente thinking.
Liddell takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Liddell throws a leg kick but Lovalente sees it coming and moves out of range.
Liddell cracks a nice hook into Lovalente's ribs.
Lovalente tries to clinch up but Liddell circles away and keeps his distance.
Liddell tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lovalente pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Lovalente slips a jab and a cross from Liddell.
Nice shot by Lovalente.
Lovalente avoids the body shot from Liddell.
Liddell scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Lovalente tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Liddell counters with a straight right hand.
Lovalente throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Liddell as he checks the leg kick.
Lovalente shoots for a double leg takedown but Liddell sprawls well. He's pushed Lovalente's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nice cross by Liddell.
Lovalente misses with a kick to the body.
A nice combination there by Liddell.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Liddell displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Lovalente uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Liddell.
Lovalente on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Lovalente throws a leg kick that is checked
and Liddell counters with a nice leg kick.
Lovalente ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Liddell moves away.
A head kick from Liddell lands but Lovalente takes it in his stride.
Lovalente feints and then cracks Liddell's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Liddell down.
Lovalente throws a series of punches but Liddell avoids them all with ease.

Lovalente shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Lovalente wants to control from the top but Liddell keeps moving.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Lovalente showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Lovalente trying to control but Liddell is working from the bottom.
Liddell is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Liddell wants to stand up but Lovalente has a hold of him and won't allow it.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Federico Lovalente.
Liddell avoids the body shot from Lovalente.
Sloppy strikes from Lovalente. Those never looked like landing.
Lovalente shoots in for a takedown but Liddell shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Liddell punishes Lovalente's body with a nice straight punch.
Liddell fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Lovalente.
Liddell scores with a head kick. Lovalente tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Liddell avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
A head kick by Lovalente misses
and Liddell counters with a low kick, right behind Lovalente 's knee.

Lovalente closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Liddell's guard.
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!
Lovalente trying to control the position from guard on top but Liddell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Lovalente sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Lovalente trying to control but Liddell is working from the bottom.
Liddell working a defensive guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Lyoto Liddell.
Liddell throws a body punch but Lovalente moves out of range.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Liddell circles away from the clinch attempt.
Liddell with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Lovalente throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Lovalente crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Liddell - the referee stops the clock and Lovalente gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Liddell. Lovalente manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Liddell throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Lovalente stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Liddell.
Lovalente digs a good body shot into Liddell's ribs.
Liddell throws a right and a left that Lovalente avoids nicely.
Liddell lands with a nice body kick.
Liddell checks the leg kick nicely there.
Lovalente avoids the head kick by Liddell.
A chopping leg kick lands by Lovalente.
Liddell throws a sloppy head kick
and Lovalente counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lovalente scores with a kick to the body.
Lovalente avoids a kick to the body.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Lovalente with that takedown attempt.
Liddell misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Liddell fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Lovalente looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Lovalente checks the leg kick.

Lovalente drives through with a takedown into guard.
Lovalente controlling from the top position.
Lovalente throws an elbow that misses. Liddell uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lovalente's guard. Nice move by Liddell!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Liddell stands up from Lovalente's guard - Liddell perhaps looking for a knockout.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Lyoto Liddell did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Liddell shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Lovalente dives in and grabs Liddell's left leg, looking for a takedown. Liddell pushes down on Lovalente's head and hops out.
Liddell throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Lovalente stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A head kick misses from Liddell.
Lovalente checks a low kick from Liddell.
Lovalente takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Lovalente throws the kick towards the body but Liddell avoids it.
Lovalente checks a leg kick.
Liddell looks to land a left hand but Lovalente moved out of range nicely.
Liddell takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Lovalente shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Liddell defends it nicely.
Donk. Lovalente catches Liddell right on the button with a cross.
Lovalente swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lovalente chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Liddell can pounce on him.
Lovalente has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Lovalente throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Lovalente moves away from the strike by Liddell.
Lovalente blocks a head kick by Liddell.
Lovalente plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Liddell misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Liddell scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Lovalente lands with a slapping head kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Lovalente.
Liddell moves out of range as Lovalente throws a body kick.
Liddell throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lovalente.
Lovalente takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Lovalente is looking to clinch but Liddell is avoiding it.
Lovalente misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Lyoto Liddell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Federico Lovalente.
Lovalente takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lovalente is looking to clinch.
Liddell misses with a kick to the body.
Liddell tries a head kick but it misses.
Lovalente on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Liddell. Liddell obviously looking to wear him down.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Lovalente.
Lovalente swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Liddell fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Liddell throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lovalente looks for the body kick but Liddell saw that one coming.
Lovalente throws a head kick that misses.
Liddell lands a nice looking body shot.
Liddell dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Lovalente. That did some damage!
Lovalente scores with a head kick. Liddell tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Lovalente tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lovalente misses with a low kick as Liddell jumps back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liddell works the jab nicely.
Lovalente takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Lovalente takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Liddell ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Lovalente throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lovalente scores with a kick to the body.
Lovalente shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Liddell as he jumps to the side.
Liddell ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Liddell explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Lovalente tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Lovalente feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Liddells jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Lovalente shoots in looking for a takedown but Liddell manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lovalente's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Liddell digs a good hook to Lovalente's body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lovalente misses with a head kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Liddell finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liddell bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Lovalente's head.
Liddell connects with a leg kick. Lovalente looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Liddell swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lovalente takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Liddell connects with an inside leg kick.
Liddell moves out of range of the leg kick from Lovalente.
Liddell lands a nice shot to the body.
Lovalente throws a sloppy head kick and Liddell moves out of range easily.

Liddell moves into the clinch successfully.

Liddell breaks from the clinch.

Lovalente manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Liddell on his heels. He'll look to pass Liddell's guard now, I'm sure.
Liddell keeping moving, preventing Lovalente from controlling successfully.
Liddell tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Liddell controlling the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Lovalente is looking to land body kicks.
Liddell throws a sloppy head kick and Lovalente moves out of range easily.
Lovalente throws a leg kick that misses.
Liddell throws a quick inside leg kick.
Lovalente lets loose with a powerful body kick. Liddell will feel that in the morning.

Lovalente forces Liddell back against the cage and clinches.
Lovalente wants to get back to striking at distance but Liddell won't allow it.
Lovalente throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Liddells head.
Liddell lands a hook that snaps the head of Lovalente backwards.
Lovalente can't find room to land a body shot as Liddell controls the action.

Liddell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Liddell throws a head kick that misses.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Liddell.
Liddell blocks the body kick.
Liddell swings for the body but Lovalente moves out of range.
Lovalente throws a leg kick but Liddell moved away.
Liddell throws a series of punches but Lovalente avoids them all with ease.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lovalente comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Liddell on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Lovalente moves out of range as Liddell throws a body kick.
Lovalente scores with a shot to the body.
Lovalente will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lovalente lands with a good body shot.
Liddell lands an overhand right.
Liddell tries to score with a low kick but Lovalente moves his leg out of the way.
Lovalente avoids a kick to the body.
Liddell thuds a left hand into Lovalente's body.
Lovalente is looking to land body kicks.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Lovalente lands a nice looking kick to the body. Liddell takes a step back to recover.
Liddell takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Some bone on bone action there as Lovalente checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Lovalente looks to land a left hand but Liddell moved out of range nicely.
Liddell fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Lovalente.
Good standup being displayed there by Liddell as he connects with a hook.
Liddell tries to clinch there but Lovalente circles away.
Lovalente throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lovalente misses with a kick to the body.
Lovalente scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Lovalente ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Liddell moves away.
Liddell swings for the body but Lovalente moves out of range.
Good shot there by Lovalente.
Lovalente avoids the body shot from Liddell.
Lovalente takes a swing at Liddell's ribcage but misses.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Liddell goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Liddell lands with a thumping leg kick.
Liddell thumps Lovalente with a low kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Liddell moves out of range of the body kick.
Liddell chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Liddell avoids a punch combination nicely.
Liddell is looking to land body kicks.
A nice inside leg kick there by Liddell. That's going to slow Lovalente down.
Liddell takes a swing at Lovalente's ribcage but misses.
Lovalente throws a push kick but Liddell slaps the foot to one side.
Lovalente uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Liddell has time to react.
Lovalente throws the kick towards the body but Liddell avoids it.
Liddell blocks the body kick.

Lovalente rushes Liddell and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Liddell breaks from the clinch.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Lovalente blocks the low kick.
A shot to the body from Liddell misses
and Lovalente counters with a left to the body.
Lovalente throws a body kick the misses
and Liddell connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lovalente tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lovalente is looking to land body kicks.
Liddell is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Liddell cracks the inside of Lovalente's front leg.
Liddell fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Liddell throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lovalente misses with a takedown attempt - Liddell sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lovalente avoids the body shot from Liddell.
Lovalente connects with a leg kick. Liddell looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Lovalente lands with a kick to the ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Lyoto Liddell will probably get the nod.
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!

Lovalente uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Liddell.
Lovalente misses with a wild body shot.
Some bone on bone action there as Lovalente checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Lovalente takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Lovalente lands a head shot.
Liddell throws a sloppy head kick and Lovalente moves out of range easily.
Lovalente throws the kick towards the body but Liddell avoids it.
Liddell tries to score with a low kick but Lovalente moves his leg out of the way.
Lovalente fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Liddell moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Liddell lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Lovalente staying out of range there.
Lovalente throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

It looks like Lyoto Liddell has been cut.
Liddell throws a lazy head kick
and Lovalente counters with a nice body kick.
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.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A low kick from Liddell is predictable there
and Liddell takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lovalente misses with a double jab.
Liddell connects with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lovalente misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lovalente checks a leg kick nicely.
Liddell does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Lovalente slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Liddell looks to land a left hand but Lovalente moved out of range nicely.
Liddell tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Liddell lands with a nice combination. Lovalente backs away looking to recover.
Liddell connects with an inside leg kick.
Lovalente lands a high kick!
Lovalente takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A big right from Liddell misses.
Liddell misses with a head kick.
Lovalente throws a body punch but Liddell moves out of range.
Lovalente throws a low kick but it's checked well by Liddell.
Liddell connects with a solid leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lovalente looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Lovalente misses the shot to the body.

Lovalente throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Liddell tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Lovalente is in Liddell's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lovalente makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Lovalente trying to control the position from guard on top but Liddell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lovalente showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Federico Lovalente hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Lovalente takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Lovalente takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Lovalente throws a wild body kick that Liddell sees coming a mile off.
Lovalente takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Lovalente throws a leg kick but Liddell checks it.
Liddell fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Lovalente scoring well with a low kick there.

Lovalente fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Liddell to the ground. Lovalente is now in Liddell's guard.
Lovalente wants to pass the guard but Liddell is keeping the position.
Lovalente with a flurry of punches that miss.
Federico Lovalente has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liddell utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lovalente is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lovalente wants to control from the top but Liddell keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Federico Lovalente.
Liddell connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Lovalente will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lovalente avoids the head kick by Liddell.
Lovalente just misses with a punch to the body.
Liddell fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Liddell slaps away a takedown attempt from Lovalente, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Liddell misses with a kick to the body
and Lovalente counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Lovalente has Liddell up against the cage in a clinch.
A short right from Liddell.
Lovalente wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Liddell has him pressed against the cage.

Lovalente breaks the clinch.
Lovalente moves in looking to clinch but Liddell pushes him off.
Lovalente blocks a head kick by Liddell.
Lovalente fails with the takedown.
Lyoto Liddell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Federico Lovalente.
Lovalente blocks a jab.
Lovalente throws out a leg kick but Liddell moves out of range and Lovalente only half commits.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Lovalente crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Liddell - the referee stops the clock and Lovalente gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Liddell. Lovalente manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Lovalente looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Liddell takes the fight into the clinch.
Liddell on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Lovalente fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lovalente tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A hook to the body from Liddell.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Liddell scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Lovalente goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Liddell lands with a left to the head.
Liddell misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lovalente.
A right hook to the body lands for Liddell.
Liddell lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Liddell wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Liddell cracks Lovalente with a nice body shot.
Lovalente tries to land knees in the clinch but Liddell avoids the damage to the body.
Lovalente with a knee to the head.
Lovalente lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Liddell looking to slow down the pace here.
Lovalente tries to land knees in the clinch but Liddell avoids the damage to the body.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Liddell putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Lovalente in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Lovalente throws an elbow that misses.
Lovalente with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Good body shot from Liddell.
Liddell scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Lovalente is trying to maintain a safe position but Liddell gets an underhook and turns Lovalente into the cage.
Liddell lands a nice knee to the body.
Liddell lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Liddell blocking some punches.
Liddell scores with a shoulder strike.
Lyoto Liddell has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Lovalente throws a punch but it's blocked by Liddell.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Liddell lands a left hand that snaps the head of Lovalente backwards.
Liddell misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lovalente.
Liddell presses Lovalente against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Lovalente working aggressively here.
Lovalente misses with a punch on the inside.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Liddell.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Liddell creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Liddell lands a nice uppercut.
Liddell throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Lovalentes head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Liddell creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Lovalente misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Liddell trying to control the position but instead, Lovalente has worked for underhooks and has pushed Liddell into the cage.
Lovalente lands a body punch.
Lovalente has had enough of the clinch but Liddell keeps him there for the moment.
Lovalente looking to throw knees to the head but Liddell is blocking nicely.
Liddell looking to stall.
Lovalente has a couple of punches blocked by Liddell.
Liddell tries to land knees in the clinch but Lovalente avoids the damage to the body.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Lovalente.

Liddell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lovalente throws a shot from downtown. Liddell moves away and avoids it.
Lovalente connects with a high kick.
Liddell fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Lovalente.
Liddell dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Lovalente. That did some damage!
Liddell blocks a head kick by Lovalente.
Liddell throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A shot to the liver by Liddell. Beautiful body shot.
Liddell keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Lovalente looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Lovalente misses with a double jab
and Liddell counters with a nice body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Liddell misses with a body shot.
Liddell connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Lovalente walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Lyoto Liddell.
I think Liddell 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for Lyoto Liddell!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Federico Lovalente!
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Lyoto Liddell!

Lyoto Liddell wins by split decision!
Lyoto Liddell retains his middleweight title!
A very excited looking Lyoto Liddell made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.