PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rickson Silva (ranked 1487 p4p, 1627 weight class) and Jun Liu (ranked 219 p4p, 242 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Silva
vs
Liu

195 cm
31
185
18 - 8 - 0

192 cm
33
199
19 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Carnage

Katman Drip Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rickson Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jun Liu!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Summer Carpenter and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Silva closes the distance and clinches.
Silva struggles to land a body shot inside as Liu controls his hands.
Silva misses with a punch to the body.
Liu gets underhooks to prevent Silva's takedown attempt.
Silva prevents a body shot from Liu.
A nice right hand lands inside from Liu.
Liu blocks an elbow strike.
Liu stops a takedown attempt from Silva.
Liu stalling in the clinch but Silva improves position.
Silva tries to work over Liu's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Liu breaks from the clinch.
Liu lands with a good body shot.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Silva.
Liu throws out a counter right but Silva avoids it with no problem.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickson Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva misses with a straight right.
Liu counters with a body kick.
Liu ducks under a wild hook from Silva.
Liu takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Silva moves into the clinch successfully.
Liu takes a shot to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Silva drops down looking for an ankle pick but Liu pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Silva misses its intended target.
Silva takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Rickson Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Liu works Silva's body with a nice hook.
Silva keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
It looked like Silva was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Liu.
Liu scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Silva. That's going to slow Liu down.
Silva takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Liu scores with a head kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Silva.
Liu throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Liu catches Silva with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silva takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Liu looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Silva was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
A right-left combo lands from Liu.
Liu scores with a nice head shot.
Liu ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Liu misses with a hook.
Silva throws a right and a left that Liu avoids nicely.
A nice side step and Liu releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Liu 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.
Silva moves out of range of the body kick from Liu.
Liu shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Silva eats them both and turns towards Liu to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Liu misses with the combination.
Liu lands a nice hook to Silva's body. Silva takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Silva misses with a jab, cross combination.
Liu misses with a wild combination.
Silva tries to clinch but Liu is having none of it.
Silva really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Liu throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Silva counters with a single leg into guard. Liu didn't expect that.
Liu wants to stand up but Silva is controlling him.
Silva postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva stops Liu from standing up.
Silva connects with a couple of short punches.
Liu is controlling Silva's posture.
Silva trying to control but Liu is working from the bottom.
Silva is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Liu pulls Silva in close to prevent any damage.
Liu working a defensive guard here.
Silva showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Liu keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Silva missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Liu has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Silva controls from within his opponent's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Silva lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Liu seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Silva is pushing down on Liu's leg trying to pass to half guard. Liu is fighting to maintain full guard but Silva has managed to sneak the leg through.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Liu is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Liu trying to control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Liu holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
The fighters are battling for position here. Liu manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Silva with a nice cross.
Liu tests Silva's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Liu throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Liu misses with a wild combination.
Liu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Silva.
Liu goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A head kick from Liu lands but Silva takes it in his stride.
Silva misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Liu.
Silva keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Silva tries to clinch but Liu moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liu blocks a low kick nicely.
Liu looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Silva swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Liu counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Silva throws a predictable looking body shot
and Liu counters with an inside leg kick.
Silva misses with the combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Silva slips a straight right by Liu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva throws a body shot but no joy.
Liu is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Silva rather than just go for the knockout.
Liu misses with the combination.
A shot to the liver by Liu. Beautiful body shot.
Jun Liu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Silva gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Liu.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.
Liu scores with a spinning back kick!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Liu.
Jab, jab by Silva - just one landing.
Liu throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
enabling Silva to counter with a crisp jab.
Liu looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Liu is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
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!
Silva fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva cracks Liu with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Liu lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Silva is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Liu throws a half hearted mid kick.
Liu throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Silva stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Silva wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Silva goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Liu throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Silva just misses with a punch to the body.
A little jabbing left from Liu on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Liu tries a head kick but it misses.
Liu defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Silva.
Silva tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Liu was well out of range. Poor timing from Silva.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Liu! But no joy.
Silva tries to move into range but Liu moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Liu throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Silva.
A nice leg kick from Silva, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liu moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Silva looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Liu misses with a looping left.
Silva gets off balance looking for a body kick
letting Liu counter with a right hand.
Silva is looking to clinch but Liu is avoiding it.
Liu appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Liu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Silva looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Silva misses with a body shot.
Liu scores with a crisp jab that stopped Silva in his tracks.
Silva misses the jab.
Liu misses with a two punch combination.
Liu stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Liu scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Silva doesn't seem bothered though.
Silva pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Liu changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Liu takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Liu dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Silva. That did some damage!
Liu looks to land a combination but Silva avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Liu misses.
Silva steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Liu. That one must have hurt.
Silva tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Liu was well out of range. Poor timing from Silva.
Liu throws a body kick that misses.
Liu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Silva.
Liu checks the leg kick.
Liu throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Silva is looking to counter with a body kick.

Silva moves into the clinch.
Liu throws a punch but it's blocked by Silva.
Silva misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Silva is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Liu is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickson Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Liu makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Silva stalling.
Liu lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Liu struggles to land a body shot inside as Silva controls his hands.

Liu breaks the clinch.
Danga de danga de dang - Silva scores with a four punch combination!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jun Liu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Silva tries to land a front kick but Liu steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Liu counters with a body kick.

It looks like Jun Liu has been cut.
Liu swinging wildly here.
It looked like Silva wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Liu steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Silva.
Liu lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Silva.
Liu throws a hook but Silva avoids it easily.
Silva tries to clinch but Liu moves out of range.
Silva ducks under a wild hook from Liu.
Silva moves out of range of the body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Silva.
Liu displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Liu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Silva doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Liu thuds his right hand into Silva's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liu misses with a combination

and Silva counters with a single leg into guard. Liu didn't expect that.
Liu trying to control the position here.
Liu is trying to control the position but Silva postures up.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Liu is keeping the position.
Liu is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Silva is controlling him.
Liu pulls Silva in to control the position.

Liu has his feet on Silva's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Liu keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Liu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rickson Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liu fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Silva looks to throw the jab but Liu is out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Liu.
Liu takes one on the button.
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!
Silva scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Liu misses with an uppercut

and Silva counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Liu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Silva throws a big right hand that misses.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Silva missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Silva throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Liu works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Silva throwing strikes but missing.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Liu holds on and takes a little breather.
Liu looking to control.
Silva postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liu wants to stand up but Silva is controlling him.
Liu utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Liu avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Silva is working Liu over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Silva trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Silva has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Liu looking to control.
Liu is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Silva is controlling him.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Liu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Liu controls Silva momentarily but Silva frees himself.

Liu wriggles free and stands up.
Liu with a nice calf kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liu fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Silva on the side of the head.
Silva swings away with a body shot that misses
letting Liu counter with a right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Silva. Liu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Silva throws a body punch but Liu moves out of range.
A swing and a miss from Silva.
Liu thuds his shin into the meat of Silva's side.
Silva is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Silva misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Liu.
Liu throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Liu throws a shot to the body.
Silva keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Liu.
Silva is looking to clinch but Liu is avoiding it.
Liu lands a jab to the head.
Liu takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Liu scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Jun Liu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Silva takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jun Liu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Liu winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jun Liu!
A relieved looking Jun Liu thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Rickson Silva spoke after the fight, saying 'una derrota no significa fracaso, significa pararte y comenzar otra ves con mas fuerzas.'.