PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Top Heavy (ranked 2831 p4p, 355 weight class) and Weimin Liaw (ranked 19840 p4p, 592 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Heavy
vs
Liaw

190 cm
35
212 lbs
12 - 11 - 0

187 cm
30
187 lbs
5 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Top Heavy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Weimin Liaw!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksandr Martynov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Liaw defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Heavy.
Liaw let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Liaw throws a body punch but Heavy moves out of range.
Top Heavy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Liaw is looking to clinch.
Heavy darts in looking for a takedown but Liaw gets double underhooks and turns Heavy into the cage.
Liaw is looking to land body kicks.
Liaw throws a push kick but Heavy slaps the foot to one side.
Heavy appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Heavy slips under a jab from Liaw.
Liaw tries to clinch there but Heavy circles away.
Nice body punch from Liaw.
Horrible takedown attempt by Heavy or perhaps it was just good defense by Liaw, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Top Heavy. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Liaw rushes Heavy and presses him up against the cage.
Liaw wants to get back to striking at distance but Heavy won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Liaw manages to break the clinch.

Liaw clinches with his opponent.
Heavy lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Liaw or not.
Liaw tries to break the clinch but Heavy is controlling the position.
Heavy swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Heavy doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Heavy lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liaw tries to circle away but Heavy has him pinned against the cage.
Heavy misses with a punch on the inside.
Heavy working aggressively here.
Liaw blocks a body shot from Heavy.
Heavy struggles to land a body shot inside as Liaw controls his hands.

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

Heavy closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Heavy is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Liaw tries to kick Heavy off but Heavy keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Liaw looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Heavy is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Heavy is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liaw trying to control here.

Heavy looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Heavy is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Heavy looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liaw tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Heavy is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Liaw trying to control from the bottom.

Heavy is working for a kimura but Liaw is defending it quite comfortably.

Heavy is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

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.

Heavy is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Liaw really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Heavy. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Liaw is looking to escape.
Liaw keeps control of the position for the meantime.

Heavy is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Liaw is defending against the submission attempts here by Heavy.
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 Top Heavy 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.

Liaw does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Nice sprawl there from Liaw as Heavy shoots in.
Heavy dives in for a single leg takedown but Liaw sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Heavy tries for a takedown but Liaw sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Top Heavy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Heavy swings widly with a right hand
and Liaw cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

It looks like Top Heavy has been cut.
Liaw tries to clinch up but Heavy circles away and keeps his distance.
Liaw throws a body shot but no joy.
Liaw chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Heavy closes this distance looking for a takedown but Liaw circles away.

Liaw instigates a clinch.
Heavy tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Liaw manages to break the clinch.
Liaw throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Heavy keeps the fight on the outside.
Liaw just misses with a punch to the body.
Liaw throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Heavy stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Liaw. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Heavy gets a takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Liaw trying to control but Heavy postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heavy wants to control but Liaw is keeping him busy.

Heavy is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Liaw doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Heavy.
Liaw trying to control but Heavy postures up.
Heavy throwing shots but Liaw is blocking nicely.

Heavy is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Heavy wants to work for an arm triangle but Liaw is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Liaw is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Liaw is trying to stand.

Heavy is working for a submission of some sort.
Heavy is keen to just control but Liaw is a slippery customer.

Liaw looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Heavy seems to be looking for submissions.
Heavy content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Liaw trying to hold on to Heavy's head to control him but Heavy postures up.
Liaw looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Liaw closes the distance and clinches.
Heavy misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Liaw.
Heavy tries to throw a body punch but Liaw avoids it by throwing Heavy back against the cage.

Liaw breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heavy shoots in looking for a takedown. Liaw tries to sprawl out of it but Heavy keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Liaw manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Heavy fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Heavy looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Liaw doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Heavy shoots and misses
and Liaw counters with a nice uppercut.
Liaw just misses with a punch to the body.

Liaw rushes Heavy and presses him up against the cage.
Liaw blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Liaw breaks the clinch.
Heavy gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Liaw works Heavy's body with a nice hook.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Heavy with a poor takedown
and Liaw counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Liaw moves into the clinch successfully.

Liaw pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Liaw is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Weimin Liaw showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Top Heavy's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Heavy tries for a takedown but Liaw sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Liaw swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Jab by Heavy.
Heavy misses with a takedown attempt - Liaw sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Heavy looks for a takedown but Liaw sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Top Heavy. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Liaw pushes Heavy up against the cage in a clinch.
Liaw lands an elbow just above Heavy 's eye.
Liaw can't break the clinch.
Liaw has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Liaw breaks the clinch.
Liaw tries to close the distance and clinch up but Heavy swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Liaw, as that shot connected.

Liaw pushes Heavy up against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Heavy fails to land.

Liaw breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Heavy circles away from the clinch attempt.

Liaw closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Liaw is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Liaw forces Heavy back against the cage and clinches.

Liaw pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Liaw has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Liaw keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Liaw clinches.
Heavy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Liaw's elbow.
Heavy misses with a punch on the inside.
Heavy tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Liaw's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Liaw defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Heavy.
Heavy shoots and misses
and Liaw makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Both fighters circling a little - Liaw finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

Liaw rushes Heavy and presses him up against the cage.

Liaw breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Heavy has his takedown stuffed
and Liaw counters with a solid body kick.

Liaw instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Liaw's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Liaw connects with a body shot.
Heavy swats away the attempt to clinch by Liaw.
Heavy takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Top Heavy's cut is getting worse.
Liaw connects with a single shot there.
Liaw tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Heavy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Heavy drops down looking for a counter takedown but Liaw sprawls and moves away.

Liaw lands a left and a right that send Heavy crashing to the mat, dazed. Liaw thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Heavy is rocked!

Liaw pushes Heavy up against the cage in a clinch.
Oh Heavy is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Liaw's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Liaw throws an overhand right that drops Heavy like a sack of potatoes! Liaw dives in to finish the fight with more strikes and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Weimin Liaw!
A relieved looking Weimin Liaw thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.