PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wolfgang Bader (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shane Liddell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bader
vs
Liddell

184 cm
22
209 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wolfgang Bader!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shane Liddell!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Alan Glass and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bader gets the takedown into side control.
Liddell manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Bader wants to get back to full guard.

Liddell is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Liddell wants to pass to mount but Bader is defending the position.

Bader is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Liddell pulls his head out easily.
Liddell wants to free his trapped foot but Bader is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Bader is trying is best to control the position here.
Liddell not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bader is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bader tries to clinch there but Liddell circles away.
Bader shoots for a takedown but Liddell saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Liddell shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bader as he avoids it easily.
Bader stuffs the takedown attempt from Liddell. Liddell gets slowly back to his feet.
Liddell keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Bader or perhaps it was just good defense by Liddell which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wolfgang Bader. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Liddell.
Bader is breathing heavily.
Bader struggling a bit here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bader is not content to let Liddell control the position.

Liddell is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bader is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Bader wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Liddell working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liddell connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Bader some visible discomfort.
Bader gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Bader trying to hold on to Liddell's head to control him but Liddell postures up.
Bader missing with punches from the bottom.
Bader is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Liddell is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bader is just riding it out for now. Liddell eventually gives up the hold.
Bader missing with punches from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Liddell is trying to work for a kimura but Bader is defending well.
Bader slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Bader pulls Liddell in to control the position.
Bader has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Bader throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Bader 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 tries to free his leg and advance position but Bader is retaining full guard.

That's four 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.
Bader manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Liddell manages to get himself to full guard.
Liddell keeping moving, preventing Bader from controlling successfully.
Liddell wants to stand up but Bader is controlling him.
Bader trying to control the position from guard on top but Liddell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bader content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Liddell keeping moving, preventing Bader from controlling successfully.

Liddell has his foot on Bader's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bader works his way back into a safe position though.
Bader postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Bader looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
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 Wolfgang Bader 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.

Horrible takedown by Bader or perhaps it was just good defense by Liddell which made him look bad.
A left and a right from Liddell both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Wolfgang Bader has been cut.

Bader closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Bader breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bader stuffs the takedown.

Bader closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Bader working over Liddell with some ground and pound. Liddell looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Liddell looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Bader sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bader not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liddell tries to roll over but Bader keeps him under control.

Bader is looking for a kimura but Liddell is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bader to get the leverage.
Liddell is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bader's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bader's back!
Liddell tries to get the hooks in deep but Bader pushed the leg off.

Liddell is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Bader knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Bader for a finish.

Liddell has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Bader trying to control but not successfully.

Liddell tightening his grip on Bader, looking for the choke.
Liddell trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant 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.

Liddell working for a choke but Bader is defending well.
Bader trying to control but not successfully.

Liddell is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Bader defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Bader holding both Liddell 's hands and preventing any damage.
Bader rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bader trying to control here.
Bader tries to roll over but Liddell keeps him under control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Liddell tries a head kick but it misses.
Bader throws a series of punches but Liddell moves out of range.
Bader shoots in but no luck this time.
Liddell will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bader with a poor takedown
and Bader takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wolfgang Bader. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Liddell swats away the attempt to clinch by Bader.
Liddell fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bader shoots in for a double leg but Liddell sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Liddell shoots in but Bader avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Bader scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liddell tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Liddell is being controlled here.
Bader throws an elbow but Liddell slips to the side and avoids it well.
Bader is looking to take a break and control but Liddell is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bader misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Bader is looking to take a break and control but Liddell is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Liddell is trying to get back to half guard.
Liddell is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bader gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Liddell counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Wolfgang Bader will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Wolfgang Bader's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Liddell stuffs the takedown.
Liddell's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Liddell duly obliges.
Shane Liddell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bader fails with the takedown.
Liddell misses with a takedown attempt - Bader sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Liddell tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bader swivels and escapes.
Liddell fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Wolfgang Bader has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shane Liddell.
Bader shoots in but Liddell avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nice takedown defense from Liddell. No joy for Bader on that attempt.
Wolfgang Bader seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Liddell shoots for a double leg takedown but Bader sprawls well. He's pushed Liddell's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Bader closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Liddell to the mat! Liddell manages to get full guard.
Liddell bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bader's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

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.
Bader wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bader 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.
Liddell trying to control but Bader is working from the bottom.
Bader pulls Liddell in close to prevent any damage.
Liddell wants to pass the guard but Bader is keeping the position.
Bader 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.

Liddell drops back looking for a leg! Bader is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bader manages to kick Liddell off! Liddell jumps back into Bader's guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Bader scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bader moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Liddell sneaks back into half guard.
Bader is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Wolfgang Bader overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Liddell is looking to control Bader's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Liddell avoid being mounted?
Bader thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Liddell wants to improve his position but Bader is controlling well.

Liddell looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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. Bader connects with a nice short shot to Liddell's temple.
Liddell is looking to improve his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Bader shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Liddell working for a triangle but Bader defends it easily.
Bader is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Shane Liddell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bader wanted to stand there but Liddell had control of the position.
Liddell tries to strike from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bader won't allow Liddell to sweep him here.
Bader controlling from the top position.

Liddell is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bader looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Bader has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Liddell escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bader gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

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 Wolfgang Bader.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bader, 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Wolfgang Bader!