|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jun Liu (ranked 1221 p4p, 847 weight class) and Craig Watkins (ranked 173 p4p, 115 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.
 |
|
 |
| 192 cm
36
199
25 - 18 - 0 |
|
185 cm
31
185
15 - 11 - 1 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine |
|
Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed |
|
| |
|
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 25 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jun Liu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Craig Watkins!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Ackerman and Phil Schofield.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Liu goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Liu throws a head kick that Watkins semi-blocks.
Watkins tries to clinch up.
A telegraphed right hand from Liu misses the target.
Watkins slips under a jab.
Liu tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Both fighters circling a little - Liu finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Liu lands a nice looking body shot.
Liu with the inside leg kick.
Watkins comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A slow jab from Liu misses its intended target.
Liu lands an overhand right.
Watkins looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Liu tries to keep at a distance but Watkins has taken the fight into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Liu breaks the clinch.
Watkins works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
It looks like Jun Liu has been cut.
A lazy body kick from Watkins
and Liu counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Liu throws a leg kick but Watkins sees it coming and checks it nicely.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Watkins throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Liu gets tackled into the cage by Watkins. Watkins maintains the clinch.
Watkins breaks from the clinch.
Liu gets tackled into the cage by Watkins. Watkins maintains the clinch.
Watkins breaks from the clinch.
We've been told by Liu's head coaches at Gumburcules Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Liu lands a head shot.
Liu walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Watkins checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Liu misses with a straight right.
Watkins misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Watkins closes the distance and pushes Liu back into the cage.
Liu misses with a punch on the inside.
Liu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Liu tries to land knees in the clinch but Watkins avoids the damage to the body.
Watkins is struggling to control the position.
Liu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watkins breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Watkins swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A head kick misses from Watkins.
Watkins jabbing away but nothing is landing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Liu lands a head kick. Watkins smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Watkins scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Liu misses with a low kick.
Liu throws a nice outside leg kick.
Watkins throws a leg kick which misses Liu's front leg but catches the back leg as Liu tries to avoid it.
Liu changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Watkins feints and then cracks Liu's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Liu down.
Watkins plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Liu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Watkins throws out a counter right but Liu avoids it with no problem.
Watkins throws a hook but Liu blocks it.
Liu scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Watkins has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Liu finds it's way round the side to connect with Watkins's head.
Liu walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Watkins checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Watkins throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watkins throws a looping overhand right but Liu ducks down to avoid it.
Liu takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Watkins is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Watkins throws a front kick aimed at Liu's knee but Liu avoids it well.
Liu looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Watkins throws a head kick but Liu moves out of range.
Watkins doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A jab from Watkins misses.
Watkins checks a leg kick nicely.
Watkins uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Liu.
Liu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Watkins.
Liu scores with a head kick. Watkins tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Watkins slips a jab from Liu.
A head kick misses from Liu.
Liu lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Liu moves out of range as Watkins throws a body kick.
Liu went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Watkins uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Liu.
Watkins swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Watkins misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Liu looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Liu checks a leg kick nicely.
Liu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jun Liu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watkins takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Watkins takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Watkins bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Watkins lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A nice inside leg kick there by Watkins. That's going to slow Liu down.
Liu is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Watkins keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Watkins moves into the clinch.
Liu misses with a short punch on the inside.
Watkins is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Watkins taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Liu wants to stall.
Watkins misses with the head strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Liu.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Jun Liu will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jun Liu's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Watkins throws a lazy right hand but Liu sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Liu walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Watkins checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
The fighters circle momentarily. Watkins darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Watkins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Liu paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Watkins moves in looking to clinch but Liu pushes him off.
Liu pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Watkins now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Liu misses with a body kick.
It seemed like Watkins was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Watkins misses with a hook. Liu ducked under it nicely.
Watkins slips a straight right by Liu.
Liu throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Liu lunges at Watkins with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Watkins's hand.
Watkins wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Liu misses with an attempted mid kick.
Watkins steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Liu is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watkins takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Liu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Watkins manages to avoid it.
Liu thuds a left hand into Watkins's body.
Watkins closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Liu prevents a body shot from Watkins.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Watkins's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Watkins breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Watkins closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Liu stalling in the clinch but Watkins improves position.
Liu misses with a punch on the inside.
Watkins breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Watkins takes one on the button.
Watkins ducks under a wild hook from Liu.
Jun Liu is winning the standup battle so far.
Watkins tries a head kick but it misses.
Liu on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A jab from Watkins misses.
Watkins throws a sloppy head kick and Liu moves out of range easily.
Watkins takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Liu tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Watkins is able to avoid easily.
Liu throws out a powerful jab.
Watkins wants to land a leg kick but Liu is out of range.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Watkins misses with a low kick.
It looked like Liu wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Liu throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Watkins tries a low kick but Liu avoids it.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Watkins slips a straight right by Liu.
Liu wants to slow Watkins down by chopping away at his legs.
Liu cracks Watkins with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Liu throws a body kick that misses.
Watkins wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Liu chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Liu throws out a leg kick but Watkins moves out of range and Liu only half commits.
A decent looking cross lands there for Liu.
Watkins uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Liu.
Watkins blocks the body kick.
Liu scores with a jab to the body.
Watkins takes a swing at Liu's ribcage but misses.
Jab from Watkins.
Good work by Watkins as he checks the leg kick.
Liu lands a slapping body shot.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watkins pushes Liu up against the cage in a clinch.
Watkins blocks a body shot from Liu.
Liu misses with a hook to the ribs.
Watkins breaks from the clinch.
Liu lands with a thumping leg kick.
Watkins punishes Liu's body with a nice straight punch.
Watkins scores with a jab to the body.
Watkins moves out of range as Liu strikes.
Liu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Watkins tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Liu was well out of range. Poor timing from Watkins.
Liu shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Watkins closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Watkins displaying some good clinch control by pressing Liu up against the cage.
Liu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watkins dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Watkins avoids a kick to the body.
A slapping body kick lands there for Liu.
Watkins throws a head kick but Liu moves out of range.
Watkins misses with a body kick.
Watkins with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Watkins throws a front kick aimed at Liu's knee but Liu avoids it well.
Liu fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Watkins checks it well.
Liu loads up on a big right hand but Watkins slips the punch.
Watkins fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Liu manages to avoid it.
Watkins tests Liu's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Watkins lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Liu swats away the attempt to clinch by Watkins.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Watkins lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Liu has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Liu and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Craig Watkins will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jun Liu's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!
Liu ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Watkins throws a quick inside leg kick.
Watkins takes a jab right on the kisser.
Liu avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Watkins throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Liu.
Watkins misses with a head kick.
Watkins throws a body shot but no joy.
Watkins jabs Liu to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Watkins takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Watkins throws a sloppy head kick and Liu moves out of range easily.
Liu is looking to counter with a body kick.
Watkins throws a head kick but Liu moves out of range.
Liu bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Liu explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Liu throws a shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fighters circle momentarily. Liu darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Liu 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.
Watkins throws a body punch but Liu moves out of range.
A cross from Liu lands.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Watkins misses with a kick to the body.
Liu lands a head kick. Watkins smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Liu scores with a head kick.
Watkins swings for the body but Liu moves out of range.
Liu is looking for a counter combo.
An inside leg kick lands from Watkins.
Watkins takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Watkins sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Watkins tries to clinch but Liu moves out of range.
Liu thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Watkins if he has to take too many more of those.
Liu throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Watkins swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Liu avoids the head kick by Watkins.
Liu throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Watkins misses with a jab, cross combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Liu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Liu looks to land a right hand but Watkins moved out of range.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liu throws a looping overhand right but Watkins ducks down to avoid it.
Watkins misses the shot to the body.
Liu lands a nice hook to Watkins's body. Watkins takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Good work by Watkins as he checks the leg kick.
Liu looks to throw the jab but Watkins is out of range.
Watkins lands a really nice looking cross but Liu seems unphased.
Watkins throws the left hand but Liu avoids the punch easily.
Watkins scores with a head kick.
Watkins tries to close the distance and clinch but Liu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Liu swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Watkins is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Liu.
Liu looks to score with a jab to the body but Watkins is just out of range.
Watkins stuns Liu with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Watkins throws the left hand but Liu avoids the punch easily.
Liu pivots, looking for a leg kick but Watkins is out of range and Liu settles back down.
Liu fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Watkins has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Liu wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liu misses with an uppercut. Watkins saw that one coming.
Watkins misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Liu 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.
Watkins throws a counter combo.
Liu connects with a crisp jab.
Watkins throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Liu sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Watkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Liu moves away.
Watkins on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Watkins keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Liu.
Watkins connects with a single shot there.
Watkins misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Watkins tries a head kick but it misses.
Watkins avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Liu scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Watkins has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Liu.
Liu takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Watkins lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Watkins's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Watkins throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Watkins throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Watkins has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Watkins throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Liu tries a head kick but it misses.
Liu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Watkins manages to avoid it.
Liu blocks a head kick by Watkins.
Liu ducks under a wild hook from Watkins.
Watkins moves out of range as Liu throws a body kick.
Watkins cracks Liu with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Liu throws a hook but Watkins avoids it easily.
Liu waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Watkins.
A jab from Watkins finds it's way through Liu's defenses.
Liu throws the kick towards the body but Watkins avoids it.
Watkins steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Liu moves out of range of the body kick.
Watkins throws out a loose jab but Liu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Liu blocks a head kick by Watkins.
Watkins takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
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 Jun Liu.
I think Liu 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:28
In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jun Liu!
Jun Liu really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that 30th Century Beer Store logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
76% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
