PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hamza Ali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Block Liddell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ali comes to the cage accompanied by Sunday Bloody Sunday - U2. Hamza Ali has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Ali
vs
Liddell

190 cm
22
265 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
219 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Improved boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hamza Ali!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Block Liddell!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Cecil Peabody and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Liddell shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ali's guard.
Ali wants to sweep but no luck.

Ali working for a triangle but Liddell defends it easily.

Liddell avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Liddell tries to free his leg and advance position but Ali is retaining full guard.

Ali looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Ali has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Liddell is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Ali.
Ali stops Liddell from passing to mount.
Ali takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Ali is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali prevents Liddell from improving position.
Ali is not content to let Liddell control the position.
A lull in the action here.
Ali tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Liddell trying to control the position but Ali is working away.
Ali struggling a bit here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Liddell shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ali wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Liddell in particular looking to stall.
Liddell seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ali does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Liddell looks gassed!
Liddell prevents Ali from improving his position.

Liddell is trying to work for a kimura but Ali is defending well.
Liddell is thwarting Ali's attempts to control the position.
Ali is looking to get back to full guard here but Liddell has managed to pass to side control instead.
Ali really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ali is working hard here to advance position.
Liddell really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ali. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali is squirming around, avoiding Liddell's attempts to control the action.
Ali is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Liddell can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ali is looking to escape.
Ali is in all sorts of trouble here.
Ali regains half guard.
Ali is looking to improve his position.
Liddell trying to pass the guard but Ali defending well.
Liddell is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ali trying to control but Liddell postures up.
Ali is looking to improve his position.

Ali is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Liddell pulls his head out easily.
Ali tries to get to full guard but Liddell has control of the leg.
Liddell wants to pass to mount but Ali is defending the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Ali pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Liddell gets the takedown into side control.
Ali is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Liddell off and has taken his back!
Ali has the hooks in. Liddell is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Ali is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Liddell is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Ali gets his way!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Block Liddell dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Liddell looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Ali!

Ali is rocked!
Liddell prevents Ali from getting the reversal.
Liddell working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Oh Ali is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

It looks like Hamza Ali has been cut.
Liddell content just to control the position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ali manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Liddell lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Ali actively working from the bottom here.
Ali seems to have got his legs back now.

Ali looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Ali actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ali looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ali keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Ali looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ali is not content to let Liddell control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ali gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Liddell counters with a left and a right that stings Ali.

Liddell moves into range and clinches up with Ali.
Ali wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Liddell breaks from the clinch.
Liddell takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Liddell shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Liddell showed some decent athleticism there.

Liddell is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ali doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Liddell.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liddell is thwarting Ali's attempts to control the position.

Ali looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ali is trying to get back to full guard.
Liddell is keen to just control but Ali is a slippery customer.
Liddell sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ali defending well though.
Ali gets back to full guard.

Ali looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Liddell must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Liddell wants to stand but Ali is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Liddell wants to stand but Ali has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Ali working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Liddell doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Liddell manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Liddell trying to control the position from guard on top but Ali is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Liddell stands and throws Ali's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Liddell wants to control but Ali is keeping him busy.
Liddell creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Liddell tries for a kimura but Ali is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Liddell decides to stand back up.
Liddell staying out of range there.
Liddell takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Block Liddell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Liddell slips under a jab from Ali.
Ali fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Liddell looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Liddell closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Liddell lands in his opponent's guard.
Ali looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Liddell missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ali keeping moving, preventing Liddell from controlling successfully.
Liddell tries to stand but Ali is controlling from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Block Liddell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Hamza Ali's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Ali fails with the takedown

and Liddell moves into the clinch.
Ali is trying to break free.
A short right from Liddell.
The referee calls for Liddell to work.

Liddell breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Liddell looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Ali!
Liddell fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Ali is trying to escape the mount.
Ali wants to control but Liddell is having none of it.
Liddell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Liddell lands a big elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ali is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Ali is looking to get to half guard.
Liddell cracks Ali with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Ali really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Liddell stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Ali tries to land a front kick but Liddell steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Liddell gets a powerful takedown and that's hurt Ali.
Ali is looking to reverse the position.
Liddell trying to control the action but Ali is working from the bottom.
Ali is looking to regain half guard here but Liddell keeps moving and retains side control.

Liddell stands up.

Liddell shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Ali is wriggling around trying to escape.

Liddell is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Ali throws a jab but it's blocked by Liddell.
Ali misses with an uppercut. Liddell saw that one coming.
A punch combination from Liddell misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Ali throws a jab but it's blocked by Liddell.
Liddell keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ali.

Liddell looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Liddell avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Liddell is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Ali keeping full guard, as Liddell tries to pass.
Liddell throwing strikes from guard but Ali blocks nicely.

Ali has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Liddell can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ali has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Liddell can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Ali looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Liddell avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Liddell trying to control but Ali is working from the bottom.
Hamza Ali has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Liddell looking to sit in guard and control but Ali gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ali loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ali accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Liddell utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Block Liddell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Liddell has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Block Liddell!