PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Filip Mirkovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chuck Liddell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Liddell's choice of entrance music: It's Dark and Hell Is Hot. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mirkovic
vs
Liddell

190 cm
27
217 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

190 cm
45
207 lbs
33 - 41 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Filip Mirkovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 41 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Chuck Liddell!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Nard Betker and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice uppercut lands for Mirkovic. That snapped Liddell's head back.
That kick from Liddell tenderised Mirkovic's leg. Mirkovic is trying to keep his angry face on.
Mirkovic misses with a double jab
and Liddell counters with a thumping low kick.
Mirkovic scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Mirkovic closes the distance and clinches.
Liddell with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nice elbow from Liddell.

It looks like Filip Mirkovic has been cut.
Mirkovic looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Liddell lands an elbow just above Mirkovic 's eye.

Liddell manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mirkovic trying to stand up but can't free himself from Liddell's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mirkovic wants to control from the top but Liddell keeps moving.
Liddell tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mirkovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Liddell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mirkovic tries to stand but Liddell is controlling from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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.

Mirkovic moves into range and clinches up with Liddell.
Mirkovic is trying to push Liddell away but Liddell has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Mirkovic is trying to drag Liddell to the mat but Liddell just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Mirkovic fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mirkovic looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Mirkovic wants to get back to striking at distance but Liddell won't allow it.
Mirkovic is looking to break free of the clinch but Liddell has double underhooks.
Mirkovic is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liddell taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Liddell with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Mirkovic wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Liddell tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mirkovic working hard to break the clinch.
Mirkovic managing to block the knees to the body from Liddell.
Liddell tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mirkovic smiles and moves away.
Mirkovic fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Filip Mirkovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mirkovic misses with a double jab

and Liddell counters with a takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liddell is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Mirkovic wants to control but Liddell postures up.
Mirkovic is looking to regain half guard here but Liddell keeps moving and retains side control.
Liddell working away.
Mirkovic is looking for a sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
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.
Mirkovic is looking for a sweep.
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 Filip Mirkovic's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Liddell lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Mirkovic misses with a low kick.
Liddell fails with an attempt to clinch.

Liddell has Mirkovic up against the cage in a clinch.

Liddell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Liddell has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Liddell fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mirkovic swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Mirkovic misses with a jab, cross combination.
Liddell fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liddell moves out of range as Mirkovic throws a body kick.

Liddell clinches up against the cage.
Mirkovic tries to circle away but Liddell has him pinned against the cage.
Liddell keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mirkovic's efforts to push away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Liddell manages to break the clinch.
Liddell ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mirkovic moves away.
Mirkovic throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Liddell counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Liddell fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mirkovic manages to avoid it.
Mirkovic looks to land a combination. Liddell sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
A punch combination from Mirkovic misses.
Filip Mirkovic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Liddell clinches up against the cage.
Mirkovic tries to break free but Liddell pushes him back against the cage.
Mirkovic tries to circle away but Liddell has him pinned against the cage.
Liddell tries to land a knee to the head but Mirkovic blocks with his arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liddell tries to land a knee to the head but Mirkovic blocks with his arms.
Mirkovic can't break the clinch.
Liddell connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mirkovic's face.
Mirkovic tries to pull guard but Liddell holds him up against the cage and eventually Mirkovic drops back down to his feet.
Liddell taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Liddell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Liddell throws out a leg kick but Mirkovic moves out of range and Liddell only half commits.
Mirkovic seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Mirkovic gets caught napping as Liddell dives in and scores a takedown. Mirkovic manages to retain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liddell stops Mirkovic from standing up.
Mirkovic pulls Liddell in close to prevent any damage.
Liddell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mirkovic swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Mirkovic manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Mirkovic throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Liddell.
Liddell throws out a counter right but Mirkovic avoids it with no problem.
Mirkovic throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Liddell on the side of the head.
Mirkovic takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Mirkovic has taken the fight to the clinch.
Chuck Liddell seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Liddell misses with a knee to the head.
Liddell goes for a takedown attempt but Mirkovic pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mirkovic throws a series of punches but Liddell avoids them all with ease.

Mirkovic closes the distance and pushes Liddell back into the cage.

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

Liddell gets a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Liddell manages to break the clinch.

Mirkovic darts in and clinches Liddell up against the cage.

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

Mirkovic moves into the clinch.
Mirkovic tries to break the clinch but Liddell is controlling the position.

Liddell breaks from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Chuck Liddell will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Filip Mirkovic's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Liddell avoids a punch combination nicely.
Liddell lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Mirkovic throws a combination that misses
and Liddell counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Liddell is looking to clinch.
Liddell checks a leg kick nicely.
Nice body punch from Mirkovic.
Mirkovic changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Liddell tries to avoid it but Mirkovic manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Liddell to the ground. Liddell escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Liddell avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mirkovic connects with a looping right hand.
Mirkovic throws a one two combo.
Mirkovic gets cracked there but stands up to it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Liddell tries to clinch there but Mirkovic circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Liddell. No joy for Mirkovic on that attempt.
Filip Mirkovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Mirkovic enables Liddell to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Mirkovic manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Liddell is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Liddell advances to half guard.
Mirkovic trying to control from the bottom.
Liddell controlling the action here.
Liddell tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mirkovic knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mirkovic punching from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Liddell trying to control the pace.
Chuck Liddell has got the better of the ground game so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mirkovic looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Liddell tries to clinch up.

Liddell gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mirkovic jumps guard but Liddell stands there with Mirkovic around his waist. Mirkovic gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Filip Mirkovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Liddell fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Liddell is trying to pull guard but Mirkovic turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Filip Mirkovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mirkovic is trying to force a seperation but Liddell has the dominant position.
Mirkovic takes a shot to the head.
Liddell with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Mirkovic wants to break the clinch but can't.

Liddell manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mirkovic cracks Liddell with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Liddell rushes Mirkovic and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Liddell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Liddell stuffs the takedown attempt from Mirkovic. Mirkovic gets slowly back to his feet.
Mirkovic misses with a few strikes there.

Mirkovic pushes Liddell up against the cage in a clinch.
Liddell gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Chuck Liddell is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Mirkovic drags the fight down to the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mirkovic tries to strike from the bottom.
Liddell is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chuck Liddell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Liddell winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30

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