PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chuck Liddell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ezio Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franco has chosen BASS as his entrance music. Chuck Liddell has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Liddell
vs
Franco

187 cm
24
213 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
24
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chuck Liddell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ezio Franco!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Edson Gomes and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Franco has closed the distance and engaged Liddell in a clinch.

Liddell lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Franco kicks off Liddell and gets to his feet.

Franco closes the distance and pushes Liddell back into the cage.
Franco tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Liddell.
Franco swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Franco misses with an elbow over the top.

Liddell gets control of Franco's arms and successfully pulls guard. Liddell will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Franco looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Franco stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Liddell tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Liddell is defended easily by Franco.
Franco leaves Liddell with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Franco lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Franco misses with a takedown attempt - Liddell sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franco forces Liddell back against the cage and clinches.
Franco lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Liddell has Franco pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Franco manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chuck Liddell. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Franco escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ezio Franco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Franco gets a clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Franco takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Franco has a couple of punches blocked by Liddell.
Franco lands a hook to the side of the head.
Liddell is looking to control Franco's arms but Franco gets an underhook and turns him. Now Liddell has his back to the cage.

Liddell breaks from the clinch.

Franco gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

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

Franco closes the distance and clinches.
A shot in the inside from Franco.
Liddell blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Liddell manages to break the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Franco gets a clinch.
Franco throws a head punch that misses.
Franco working some nice short punches in the clinch.

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

Franco clinches.
Franco softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Liddell is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Franco pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Franco slowing the pace effectively.
Franco tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Franco working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Franco content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Liddell drops down looking for an ankle pick but Franco pulls his leg out and moves away.
Franco fails with the takedown

and Liddell moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liddell is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Franco to keep the fight standing.

Liddell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Liddell pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Franco gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Liddell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Liddell misses with the combination.
Liddell just misses with a punch to the body.
Liddell tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Franco fails with an attempt to clinch.

Franco closes the distance and clinches.
Franco looking to stall.
Liddell wants to break free but Franco has control.
Franco lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Franco working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liddell content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Franco pulls Liddell into guard.
Liddell distracts Franco with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Franco has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Liddell is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Liddell tries a body shot but Franco blocks it.

Liddell manages to break the clinch.
Franco stuffs the takedown attempt from Liddell. Liddell gets slowly back to his feet.

Franco moves into the clinch.
Franco scores with a nice hook to the head.
Franco misses with some punches.

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

Ezio Franco dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Liddell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Franco moves into the clinch successfully.
Franco misses with a punch on the inside.
Franco throws a punch but it's blocked by Liddell.
Liddell blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Franco lands with a short shot to the head.

Liddell breaks the clinch.
Liddell throws a sloppy head kick and Franco moves out of range easily.
Franco tries to clinch but Liddell is having none of it.
Franco is looking to clinch but Liddell is avoiding it.
Liddell keeps the fight on the outside.
Liddell seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Franco gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Franco breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Franco misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Franco clinches up with Liddell and pushes him back against the cage.

Franco manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franco wriggles free and stands up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Franco misses with some punches.
Liddell is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Franco is keeping busy.
Franco has a couple of punches blocked by Liddell.

Franco pulls guard effortlessly.
Liddell throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Franco works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Liddell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Liddell is looking to stand up but Franco won't let him.
Ezio Franco has got the better of the ground game so far.
Liddell with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Liddell accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Liddell trying to control the position from guard on top but Franco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Franco wriggles free and stands up.
Nice takedown defense from Franco. No joy for Liddell on that attempt.

Franco moves into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Franco.
Liddell blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Liddell ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Liddell no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Franco stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Liddell shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Franco as he avoids it easily.

Liddell gets tackled into the cage by Franco. Franco maintains the clinch.

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

Franco has managed to clinch.
Franco misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Liddell.
Franco is trying to pull guard but Liddell turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Franco scores with a nice hook to the head.
Franco lands a left hand.
Franco lands a nice uppercut.

Franco decides to pull guard.
Liddell missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Liddell gets to his feet - Franco follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liddell is looking to clinch but Franco is avoiding it.
Franco will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Franco is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Liddell fails with an attempt to clinch.
Franco closes this distance looking for a takedown but Liddell circles away.
Liddell tries to counter by clinching up but Franco breaks away and moves out of range.
Chuck Liddell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ezio Franco.
Franco tries to clinch up
letting Liddell counter with a right hand.
Liddell cracks Franco with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Liddell darts in and clinches Franco up against the cage.
Ezio Franco seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Liddell breaks from the clinch.
Franco tries to clinch up.
Liddell looks for a takedown but Franco sprawls well.

Franco clinches up with Liddell and pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ezio Franco showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Franco rushes Liddell and presses him up against the cage.
Franco swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Liddell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Liddell tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Franco counters with a three punch combo that has Liddell backing up. Liddell nods at Franco to acknowledge the strikes.
Liddell misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Franco pushes Liddell up against the cage in a clinch.
Franco misses with a hook from the clinch.
Liddell looking for a takedown.
Franco working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco lands with a left to the head.
Franco tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Franco gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Liddell.
Franco has a couple of punches blocked by Liddell.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liddell jumps guard but Franco turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chuck Liddell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franco has a couple of punches blocked by Liddell.
Liddell blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Franco lands a right hand that snaps the head of Liddell backwards.

Franco jumps guard and drags Liddell to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Franco pushes Liddell off and scrambles back to his feet.
Franco tries to close the distance and clinch up but Liddell swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Franco takes the fight into the clinch.
Franco prevents a body shot from Liddell.

Franco's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Franco stuffs the takedown.
Franco fails with a takedown attempt.
Ezio Franco is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Franco takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco is looking to clinch.

Liddell closes the distance and pushes Franco back into the cage.
Franco tries to land a knee to the head but Liddell blocks with his arms.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Franco with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Franco misses with some punches.
Liddell misses with a body punch.
Liddell fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Liddell is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Franco pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liddell is trying to break the clinch but Franco has him pressed against the cage.
Liddell tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Franco just stands there and leans against the cage.
Franco tries to pull guard but Liddell won't allow it.

Franco has clasped his hands together around Liddell's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Franco has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Franco tries to clinch there but Liddell circles away.
Liddell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Liddell gets tackled into the cage by Franco. Franco maintains the clinch.

Liddell manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Franco decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Liddell, up you get!
Franco tries to clinch there but Liddell circles away.

Franco closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Liddell is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Franco to keep the fight standing.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Liddell takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Liddell has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Franco is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Franco keeps control of Liddell as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Chuck Liddell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Liddell is struggling to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ezio Franco comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Franco 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ezio Franco!
A determined Ezio Franco didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!