PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chuck Liddell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Firbino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Liddell kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is It's Dark and Hell Is Hot. Andre Firbino has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Liddell
vs
Firbino

190 cm
42
207 lbs
27 - 38 - 0

195 cm
27
220 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

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 27 - 38 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Chuck Liddell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Andre Firbino!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Nard Betker and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Firbino has managed to clinch.
Firbino is trying to push Liddell away but Liddell has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Firbino tries to stall but Liddell uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Liddell unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Firbino doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A knee to the head by Liddell.

It looks like Andre Firbino has been cut.
Firbino has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Liddell after a bit of a struggle.
Firbino fails to pull the fight into his guard.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Firbino leaning against his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Firbino is trying to stall.
Firbino tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Liddell avoids it.
Firbino working hard to break the clinch.
Liddell lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Liddell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Firbino forces Liddell back against the cage and clinches.
Firbino tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Liddell avoids it.
Liddell connects with a nasty looking knee right to Firbino's face.
Liddell just leaning against Firbino, taking a breather.
Firbino tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Liddell just stands there and leans against the cage.
Chuck Liddell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andre Firbino.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Liddell has taken the fight to the clinch.
Firbino tries to break free but Liddell pushes him back against the cage.
Firbino wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Firbino looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Firbino wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Liddell has him pressed against the cage.
Firbino taking a breather.
Firbino is trying to pull guard but Liddell turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Knees to the body from Liddell.
Firbino looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Firbino looking to slow down the pace here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Liddell's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Firbino forces Liddell back against the cage and clinches.
Liddell controlling the action here for a moment.

Liddell breaks the clinch.

Liddell drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Firbino looking for a sweep. Not yet Firbino, not yet.
Liddell's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Liddell wants to pass the guard but Firbino is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liddell stopping the sweep attempt from Firbino.
Firbino working a defensive guard here.
Liddell controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Liddell has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Liddell seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Firbino for as long as he can get away with.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Firbino looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chuck Liddell dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Andre Firbino's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Firbino dives in for a single leg takedown but Liddell sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Firbino takes a knee right on the jaw!
Liddell lands with a right to the head.
Chuck Liddell has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Liddell manages to break the clinch.

Liddell has managed to clinch.
Firbino has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Liddell is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Firbino tries to pull guard but Liddell holds him up against the cage and eventually Firbino drops back down to his feet.
Chuck Liddell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andre Firbino.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Liddell breaks the clinch.

Liddell darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Firbino is trying to get back to full guard.
Firbino is still trying to improve position.
Well, if Liddell is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Firbino is trying to maintain the position but Liddell is very close to passing his half guard.
Liddell takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the 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.
Nice strikes from Liddell there.
Firbino has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Liddell is working away from the top position though.
Liddell sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Firbino wants to improve his position but Liddell is controlling well.
Firbino trying to hold on to Liddell's head to control him but Liddell postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Liddell swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Firbino.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Firbino misses
and Liddell counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Firbino is trying hard to land a takedown here. Liddell sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Liddell moves into the clinch.
Firbino working hard to break the clinch.

Liddell has the Thai plumb, controlling the head nicely. He loads up with a big knee to the head and Firbino goes down! Liddell pounces into side control - this one could be over soon!

Firbino is rocked!
Firbino tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Liddell wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The referee asks Liddell politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Liddell prefers to stall for the moment though.
Liddell continues to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Liddell working the head with strikes.
Liddell controlling the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chuck Liddell dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Andre Firbino's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Firbino fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Liddell, pushing him back against the cage.
Liddell landing knees to the head.
Firbino tries for a takedown but Liddell manages to get underhooks.
Firbino wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Firbino can't break the clinch.
Firbino wants a takedown but no success here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Liddell's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Liddell moves into range and clinches up with Firbino.
Firbino has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Firbino tries to pull guard but Liddell won't allow it.
Chuck Liddell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andre Firbino.
Firbino is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A knee to the head by Liddell.

Liddell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Liddell has closed the distance and engaged Firbino in a clinch.
Firbino wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Firbino tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Liddell has picked Firbino up - he's going for a ride! Liddell dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Liddell not doing much here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Firbino is trying to control but can't.
Liddell tries to pass to full mount but Firbino defends it.
Liddell is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Firbino is looking to control Liddell's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Firbino avoid being mounted?
Firbino manages to get to full guard.
Liddell is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Liddell fails to land the takedown.
Firbino shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Liddell as he jumps to the side.
Firbino shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Liddell counters with a nice leg kick.
Firbino takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Liddell pushes Firbino up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Liddell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Firbino rushes Liddell and presses him up against the cage.
Liddell leaning against his opponent.
Liddell lands a knee to the head.
Firbino will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Liddell up against the cage.
Liddell lands a nice elbow.
Chuck Liddell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A knee to the head by Liddell.
Andre Firbino has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That has opened up Andre Firbino's cut even more.

Liddell breaks from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chuck Liddell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Liddell 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:26
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:26
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:26

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