PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Edson Arantes Do Nascimento (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chuck Liddell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Liddell has chosen It's Dark and Hell Is Hot as his entrance music. Chuck Liddell has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Arantes Do Nascimento
vs
Liddell

210 cm
33
212 lbs
13 - 5 - 1

190 cm
40
207 lbs
18 - 29 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

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 13 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Edson Arantes Do Nascimento!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 29 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Chuck Liddell!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Saam Ante and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Do Nascimento pushes Liddell up against the ropes in a clinch.

Do Nascimento jumps into guard, dragging Liddell to the mat.
Liddell wants to control from the top but Do Nascimento keeps moving.
Liddell wants to stand and escape but instead Do Nascimento has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Liddell is pulling down on Do Nascimento's head to control his posture.
Liddell is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Liddell keeping full guard, as Do Nascimento tries to pass.

Chuck Liddell has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Do Nascimento gets tackled into the ropes by Liddell. Liddell maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Do Nascimento wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Liddell has him pressed against the ropes.
Do Nascimento is pushing Liddell up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Liddell keeps control of Do Nascimento as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Liddell is trying to force a seperation but Do Nascimento has the dominant position.

Liddell successfully pulls guard.
Do Nascimento showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Liddell keeping moving, preventing Do Nascimento from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liddell controls Do Nascimento momentarily but Do Nascimento frees himself.
Liddell keeping moving, preventing Do Nascimento from controlling successfully.

Edson Arantes Do Nascimento has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Liddell. No joy for Do Nascimento on that attempt.

Do Nascimento looking to score a takedown here. Liddell is defending well but Do Nascimento drives through and ends up in Liddell's guard.
Do Nascimento sitting in guard here, content to control.
Liddell is trying to keep Do Nascimento in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Do Nascimento pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Liddell is keeping the position for now.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Liddell wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Do Nascimento is now in half guard.
Liddell is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Liddell keeps trying to improve his position.
Do Nascimento wants to pass the guard but Liddell is defending well.
Liddell has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Do Nascimento is working away from the top position though.
Do Nascimento looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liddell is not content to let Do Nascimento control the position.
Liddell keeps control of the position for the meantime.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Liddell tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Do Nascimento is able to avoid easily.

Do Nascimento closes the distance and clinches.
Do Nascimento is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Liddell is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Do Nascimento tries to score a body lock takedown but Liddell shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edson Arantes Do Nascimento. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Do Nascimento fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edson Arantes Do Nascimento dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

No luck for Do Nascimento with that takedown attempt.
Liddell tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Do Nascimento manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Liddell throws a leg kick that is checked

and Do Nascimento counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Liddell looking to control.
Do Nascimento wants to stand but Liddell has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Do Nascimento loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Liddell is trying to control the position but Do Nascimento postures up.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Chuck Liddell was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Liddell takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Do Nascimento uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Liddell.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Do Nascimento closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Liddell did well to prevent Do Nascimento getting side control.

Do Nascimento stands up from half guard.

Do Nascimento moves into range and clinches up with Liddell.
Liddell misses with an elbow strike.

Do Nascimento has picked Liddell up - he's going for a ride! Do Nascimento dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Liddell is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Do Nascimento is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Do Nascimento really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Liddell is looking to stand up but Do Nascimento isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Do Nascimento content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Do Nascimento trying to control the position from guard on top but Liddell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Do Nascimento tries to free his leg and advance position but Liddell is retaining full guard.
Do Nascimento wants to control from the top but Liddell keeps moving.
Do Nascimento wants to pass the guard but Liddell is keeping the position.
Liddell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Liddell wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

We're going to have a standup here because Edson Arantes Do Nascimento wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Liddell wants to clinch up but Do Nascimento keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liddell showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Do Nascimento.
Do Nascimento connects with a single shot there.
Do Nascimento shoots in and drives through. Liddell sprawls well.

Do Nascimento has Liddell up against the ropes in a clinch.
Do Nascimento looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edson Arantes Do Nascimento. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Liddell with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Do Nascimento has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Liddell after a bit of a struggle.
Do Nascimento is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Liddell pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Do Nascimento prevents the takedown attempt.
Do Nascimento is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Liddell is defending well.
Do Nascimento pressing his opponent against the ropes.
Do Nascimento blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Do Nascimento goes for a takedown attempt but Liddell pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Liddell throws a body punch but Do Nascimento moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edson Arantes Do Nascimento dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Do Nascimento tries to score a power double leg takedown but Liddell sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Do Nascimento somewhat.
Liddell stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Liddell wants it to stay on the feet.

Liddell moves into the clinch.

Do Nascimento pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Do Nascimento works over Liddell's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Chuck Liddell has been cut.

Do Nascimento scores with a takedown into Liddell's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Do Nascimento trying to control the position from guard on top but Liddell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Liddell is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Liddell keeping moving, preventing Do Nascimento from controlling successfully.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liddell wants to sweep but no luck.
Do Nascimento throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Liddell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Liddell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Do Nascimento.
Do Nascimento throws an elbow that misses. Liddell uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Do Nascimento's guard. Nice move by Liddell!
Do Nascimento trying to keep a closed guard but Liddell is proving a slippery customer.
Liddell pushing down on Do Nascimento's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Do Nascimento is trying to maintain the position but Liddell is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liddell seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Liddell seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Do Nascimento does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Liddell looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Do Nascimento wants to control but Liddell is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Chuck Liddell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liddell perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Do Nascimento darts in and clinches Liddell up against the ropes.
Do Nascimento blocks the elbow strike.
Liddell tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Liddell misses with a knee strike.
Do Nascimento jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Liddell walks away with a smile on his face. Do Nascimento gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edson Arantes Do Nascimento. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Liddell fails with an attempt to clinch.
Do Nascimento shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Liddell as he avoids it easily.
Liddell wants to clinch up but Do Nascimento keeps it at a distance.
Do Nascimento keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Do Nascimento gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Edson Arantes Do Nascimento is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Do Nascimento content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Liddell is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Do Nascimento avoids a wild elbow strike from Liddell.
Liddell tries a knee to the head but Do Nascimento blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Do Nascimento's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Do Nascimento keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Liddell.

And that's the end of the fight!
Edson Arantes Do Nascimento showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Do Nascimento has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Edson Arantes Do Nascimento!