PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Juan Jose Moreno Cuenca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luta Livre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Moreno Cuenca comes into the arena with Yo, el vaquilla blaring out of the sound system. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Jose Moreno Cuenca
vs
Livre

165 cm
20
134 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

200 cm
23
142 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Juan Jose Moreno Cuenca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Luta Livre!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Moreno Cuenca falls off balance throwing a combination
and Livre cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Livre works the jab nicely.
Juan Jose Moreno Cuenca seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Moreno Cuenca. Livre does a little dance to reset his feet.
Moreno Cuenca throws a predictable looking body shot
and Livre cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Moreno Cuenca instigates a clinch.
Moreno Cuenca keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Livre's efforts to push away.
Livre has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Livre is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Moreno Cuenca throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Moreno Cuenca lands a nice shot to the body.
Moreno Cuenca is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Livre is defending well for now.

Livre lands a takedown into guard.
Moreno Cuenca looking to control.

Livre drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Livre jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Livre accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Moreno Cuenca trying to keep a closed guard but Livre is proving a slippery customer.
Moreno Cuenca lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Livre!
Livre is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moreno Cuenca trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Livre wants to try and get back to his feet.
Moreno Cuenca tries to control but Livre wriggling away.
Livre throwing hammer fists to the chest of Moreno Cuenca. What's that going to do exactly?
Moreno Cuenca content just to control the position here.
Livre takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Moreno Cuenca wants to control the pace but Livre is squirming around nicely.
Livre tries to hold on but Moreno Cuenca postures up.
Moreno Cuenca thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Livre is trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moreno Cuenca looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Moreno Cuenca can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Livre is looking to escape.

Moreno Cuenca is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Livre has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Livre!
Livre stands up over Moreno Cuenca, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Moreno Cuenca is trying to keep Livre in close.
Livre is in close to Moreno Cuenca's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Livre drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Moreno Cuenca dives on top into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moreno Cuenca looking to sit in guard and control but Livre gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Moreno Cuenca not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Livre 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.
Moreno Cuenca controls Livre momentarily but Livre frees himself.
Livre stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Moreno Cuenca swivels though and keeps the full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Moreno Cuenca is on top in guard.
Moreno Cuenca trying to control but Livre is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Juan Jose Moreno Cuenca will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A nice combination there by Livre.
Moreno Cuenca tries to clinch but Livre is having none of it.
Moreno Cuenca takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Moreno Cuenca takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Livre pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Moreno Cuenca tries to close the distance and clinch up but Livre swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Livre swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Livre lands with an overhand left.
Moreno Cuenca thows a body shot but no joy.
Moreno Cuenca is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Livre connects with a body shot.
Moreno Cuenca thows a body shot but no joy.
Moreno Cuenca swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting Livre counter with a right hand.
Livre misses with a wild combination.

Moreno Cuenca has managed to clinch.
Moreno Cuenca connects with a knee to the head.
Livre goes for a takedown in the clinch but Moreno Cuenca prevents it.
Livre goes for a takedown attempt but Moreno Cuenca pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Moreno Cuenca tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Livre manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Moreno Cuenca moves into the clinch.
Livre takes a knee right on the jaw!
Livre is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Moreno Cuenca pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Juan Jose Moreno Cuenca has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luta Livre.
Moreno Cuenca with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Moreno Cuenca misses with a knee strike.
Nice elbow from Moreno Cuenca.
Livre wants to break the clinch but can't.
Moreno Cuenca throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Livres head.
Livre has Moreno Cuenca pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Moreno Cuenca manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Livre pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Livre is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Livre stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Moreno Cuenca.
Livre is breathing heavily.
Moreno Cuenca fails with an attempt to clinch.
A big left from Moreno Cuenca misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Moreno Cuenca has closed the distance and engaged Livre in a clinch.
Good body shot from Moreno Cuenca.
Livre takes a knee right on the jaw!
Moreno Cuenca scores with a shoulder strike.
Moreno Cuenca lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Moreno Cuenca with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Moreno Cuenca keeps control of Livre as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Livre has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Moreno Cuenca tries to land a knee to the head but Livre blocks with his arms.
Moreno Cuenca lands a nice elbow.
Moreno Cuenca lands a nice knee to the body.
Moreno Cuenca lands a nice knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Moreno Cuenca.
Stalling in the clinch from Moreno Cuenca.
Livre on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Moreno Cuenca utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
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!
Moreno Cuenca lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Moreno Cuenca with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Moreno Cuenca throws a knee to the head but misses.

Livre breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Moreno Cuenca fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Livre has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Moreno Cuenca misses the body punch
and Livre counters with a stiff right hand.
Moreno Cuenca lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Livre at a distance.
Moreno Cuenca scores with a jab to the body.

Moreno Cuenca closes the distance and clinches.
Moreno Cuenca displaying some good clinch control by pressing Livre up against the cage.
Moreno Cuenca lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Livre tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Moreno Cuenca's elbow.
Moreno Cuenca tries to land knees in the clinch but Livre avoids the damage to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Moreno Cuenca.
Moreno Cuenca lands a damaging elbow.
Moreno Cuenca looking to slow down the pace here.
Moreno Cuenca misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Livre.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moreno Cuenca tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Livre avoids it.
Livre managing to block the knees to the body from Moreno Cuenca.
Moreno Cuenca lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Livre or not.
Livre tries to circle away but Moreno Cuenca has him pinned against the cage.
Moreno Cuenca lands an elbow just above Livre 's eye.
Moreno Cuenca lands with a left to the head.
Moreno Cuenca lands a good knee to the midsection. Livre won't want to take too many of those.
Livre cracks Moreno Cuenca with a nice body shot.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Moreno Cuenca obliges.
Moreno Cuenca is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A short body shot lands from Moreno Cuenca as the two fighters clinch.
Livre wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Moreno Cuenca is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Livre is defending well for now.

Livre gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Moreno Cuenca regains guard.
Moreno Cuenca is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Moreno Cuenca trying to keep a closed guard but Livre is proving a slippery customer.
Moreno Cuenca keeping full guard, as Livre tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Livre accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Livre wants to stand but Moreno Cuenca has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Moreno Cuenca bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Livre's guard.
Livre wants to sweep here but Moreno Cuenca controlling him for the moment.
Livre keeping full guard, as Moreno Cuenca tries to pass.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Moreno Cuenca passes Livre's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Jose Moreno Cuenca dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Moreno Cuenca tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Livre manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Moreno Cuenca pushes Livre up against the cage in a clinch.
Livre goes for a takedown attempt but Moreno Cuenca pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Moreno Cuenca is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Livre.
Decent striking displayed by Livre there.
Moreno Cuenca moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Moreno Cuenca wants to clinch up but Livre keeps it at a distance.
Livre blocks a head kick by Moreno Cuenca.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Livre checks a leg kick.
Moreno Cuenca is looking to wear down Livre with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Livre misses with a jab, cross combination.
Juan Jose Moreno Cuenca is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Moreno Cuenca tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Livre was well out of range. Poor timing from Moreno Cuenca.
Livre scores with a nice right hand.
Moreno Cuenca tries to clinch up.
Livre avoids a punch combination nicely.
Livre looks to land a combination. Moreno Cuenca sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Livre fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Moreno Cuenca tries a head kick but it misses.
Livre takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Moreno Cuenca throws a series of punches but Livre avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moreno Cuenca looks to score with a jab to the body but Livre is just out of range.
Moreno Cuenca throws a sloppy head kick and Livre moves out of range easily.
Moreno Cuenca jabs Livre right on the nose. Livre blinks but takes it well.

Moreno Cuenca instigates a clinch.
Livre tries for a takedown but Moreno Cuenca manages to get underhooks.
Juan Jose Moreno Cuenca has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luta Livre.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Livre as Moreno Cuenca tries to tie him up.
Moreno Cuenca misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Livre.
Livre is trying to break the clinch but Moreno Cuenca has him pressed against the cage.
Moreno Cuenca is leaning against Livre and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Moreno Cuenca lands a right hand that snaps the head of Livre backwards.
Livre is trying to break free.
A frustrated look appears on Livre's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Moreno Cuenca digs a right hand underneath Livre's ribcage. Livre let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A short left from Moreno Cuenca.
Livre can't get the takedown.
The referee calls for Moreno Cuenca to work.
Livre wants to get back to striking at distance but Moreno Cuenca won't allow it.
Livre avoiding damage as Moreno Cuenca throws knees to the body.
Moreno Cuenca throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Moreno Cuenca avoiding damage.
Moreno Cuenca landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Moreno Cuenca lands with a light punch inside.
Luta Livre has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moreno Cuenca throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Livre blocks it with crossed arms.
A knee to the head by Moreno Cuenca.
Moreno Cuenca has Livre pressed against the cage.
Moreno Cuenca misses with an elbow over the top.
Moreno Cuenca using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Juan Jose Moreno Cuenca has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The referee calls for Moreno Cuenca to work.

Livre pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Moreno Cuenca falls off balance throwing a combination
and Livre counters with a nice uppercut.
A head kick by Moreno Cuenca misses
and Livre counters with a nice uppercut.
Moreno Cuenca scoring well with a low kick there.
Moreno Cuenca misses with a head kick.
Moreno Cuenca misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Livre.
Livre is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Moreno Cuenca throws a series of punches but Livre avoids them all with ease.
The fight stays on the outside here - Moreno Cuenca looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Livre misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Moreno Cuenca throws a right and a left that Livre avoids nicely.
Moreno Cuenca is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Livre lands an impressive looking overhand right. Moreno Cuenca doesn't seem phased though.

Moreno Cuenca has closed the distance and engaged Livre in a clinch.
Moreno Cuenca has Livre pressed against the cage, preventing Livre from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Moreno Cuenca is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Livre tries to circle away but Moreno Cuenca has him pinned against the cage.
Livre tries to break free but Moreno Cuenca pushes him back against the cage.
Livre can't get the takedown.
Moreno Cuenca landing knees to the head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Moreno Cuenca.
With the fighters up against the cage, Moreno Cuenca throws an elbow but misses.
Moreno Cuenca working Livre over with knees to the body.
Livre wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Moreno Cuenca has him pressed against the cage.
Nice elbow from Moreno Cuenca.
Livre wants a takedown but no success here.
Moreno Cuenca lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Livre or not.
Moreno Cuenca scores with a shoulder strike.
Knees in the clinch landing for Moreno Cuenca.
Knees to the body from Moreno Cuenca.
Moreno Cuenca creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Moreno Cuenca connects with a knee to the head.
A body shot lands from Moreno Cuenca.
Moreno Cuenca unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Livre drops down looking for an ankle pick but Moreno Cuenca pulls his leg out and moves away.
Livre ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Moreno Cuenca moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moreno Cuenca throws a half hearted mid kick.
Moreno Cuenca misses with an uppercut. Livre saw that one coming.
Moreno Cuenca misses with a double jab
and Livre counters with a left and a right that stings Moreno Cuenca.

It looks like Juan Jose Moreno Cuenca has been cut.
Livre doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Moreno Cuenca tries to close the distance and clinch but Livre swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Livre checks a leg kick.
Livre cracks Moreno Cuenca with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Moreno Cuenca slips a jab from Livre.
Livre cracks Moreno Cuenca with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Moreno Cuenca clinches up against the cage.
Livre looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Moreno Cuenca just leaning against Livre, taking a breather.
Moreno Cuenca is pressed up against the cage. Livre has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Moreno Cuenca down to the mat. Moreno Cuenca avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Livre loads up on a big right hand but Moreno Cuenca slips the punch.
Livre swats away the attempt to clinch by Moreno Cuenca.
Juan Jose Moreno Cuenca is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Moreno Cuenca closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juan Jose Moreno Cuenca showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Moreno Cuenca, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Jose Moreno Cuenca!