PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jesper Rush (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurt Liddell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rush comes to the cage accompanied by Tom Sawyer - Rush. Liddell has chosen Just Another Victim by Helmet & House of Pain as his entrance music. Jesper Rush has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Rush
vs
Liddell

187 cm
29
188 lbs
21 - 10 - 0

177 cm
28
193 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Great low kicks
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

White Gorilla Nutrition

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 21 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jesper Rush!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kurt Liddell!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Steve Smith and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Liddell waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rush.
Liddell fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rush tries to score a power double leg takedown but Liddell sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rush somewhat.
Rush fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Liddell.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rush.
Rush takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Liddell wants to clinch.
Liddell bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rush throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Liddell gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rush avoiding damage.
Rush lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Liddell has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rush is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Rush successfully pulls guard.
Rush bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Liddell's guard.
Rush trying to control but Liddell is working from the bottom.
Rush content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Liddell working a defensive guard here.
Rush passes Liddell's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liddell wants to get back to full guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rush connects with a nice short shot to Liddell's temple.
Liddell is not content to let Rush control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Liddell avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rush.
Rush thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Liddell wants to get back to full guard but Rush has passed into side control.
Liddell keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rush postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Liddell looks a forlorn figure.
Liddell tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rush controlling from the full mount.
Rush cracks Liddell with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Rush lands a nice shot to the head.
Rush with a couple of short strikes.
Liddell sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Rush sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Liddell defending well though.
Liddell blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rush.
Liddell is trying to control but Rush passes into side control!
Liddell can't do much from the bottom here.
Rush 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liddell is looking to regain half guard here but Rush keeps moving and retains side control.
Rush controls the position.
Liddell is looking to regain half guard here but Rush keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Liddell's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rush throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Liddell is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Rush's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Rush sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Liddell defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesper Rush dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rush slaps away a takedown attempt from Liddell, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rush tries a head kick but it misses.
Liddell ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rush moves away.
Liddell is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Liddell throws a hook but Rush avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liddell moves away from the strike by Rush.
Liddell slips a jab from Rush.
Rush lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Liddell fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liddell tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rush defending well as Liddell loads up on a big left hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Liddell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Liddell doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rush finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Rush with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Liddell is breathing heavily.
Liddell throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Rush to counter with a crisp jab.
Rush scores with a jab to the head.
Rush pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Liddell misses with a hook to the body
and Rush cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rush paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Liddell darts in trying to clinch
and Rush cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rush throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Liddell sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Liddell tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Rush counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Liddell has his takedown stuffed

and Rush counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rush.
Jesper Rush has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kurt Liddell.

Liddell has clasped his hands together around Rush's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Rush manages to get back to half guard.
Rush is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liddell looks to land a strike but Rush avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Liddell throws and elbow that misses. Rush uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Liddell's guard. Nice move by Rush!
Rush thows a big elbow that misses.
Liddell pulls Rush in close to prevent any damage.
Liddell utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Liddell looking for a sweep. Not yet Liddell, not yet.
Rush is looking to work some ground and pound but Liddell has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rush pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Liddell is keeping the position for now.
Liddell looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rush is one step ahead there.
Liddell is trying to control the position but Rush postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Kurt Liddell.
Liddell takes a shot to the body in his stride.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rush connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Rush moves out of range as Liddell strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesper Rush dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Liddell clinches up with Rush and pushes him back against the cage.
Rush working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Good body shot from Rush.
Liddell drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rush pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rush sizes up Liddell with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Liddell tries to clinch
and Rush counters with a slapping leg kick.
Rush with a hook.
Liddell darts in trying to clinch
and Rush counters with a right hand to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rush looks to score with a jab to the body but Liddell is just out of range.

Rush has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rush is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Rush is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Liddell drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rush gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Liddell is working for takedown but Rush is calmly controlling the position for now.
Jesper Rush has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kurt Liddell.
Liddell drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Liddell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Liddell drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rush gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rush tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rush misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rush works on Liddell's body with a couple of short punches.
Rush presses Liddell against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Liddell has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rush is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Liddell has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rush avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Liddell is working for takedown but Rush is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nice body punch from Rush - that landed with a thud.
Rush lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rush is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A hook to the body from Rush.
Rush tries a body shot but Liddell blocks it.
A short right from Rush on the inside.
Rush lands with a right to the head.
Rush tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rush working Liddell over with knees to the body.
Liddell wants a takedown but no success here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rush throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Liddells head.
Rush lands a body punch in the clinch.
Rush throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Liddell blocks it with crossed arms.
Knees to the body from Rush.
Rush tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Liddell avoids it.
Rush lands a knee to the body.
Nice body punch from Rush - that landed with a thud.
Rush just leaning against Liddell, taking a breather.
Rush lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rush has Liddell pressed against the cage.
Liddell wants a takedown but no success here.
Rush unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A bit of stalling here from Rush.
Good body shot from Rush.

Rush gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Kurt Liddell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rush is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Liddell sees it coming and defends easily.
Liddell keeping control of the position.
Jesper Rush is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Liddell is refusing to be controlled, as Rush sits in half guard.
Liddell is trying to maintain the position but Rush is very close to passing his half guard.
Liddell controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesper Rush showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rush 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesper Rush!