PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Calixto Cardona (ranked 313 p4p, 272 weight class) and Balagot Liu (ranked 35 p4p, 32 weight class). Calixto Cardona had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Cardona
vs
Liu

170 cm
29
149
18 - 10 - 0

173 cm
25
146
11 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter
Hot Spunk

HELLS BALLS RECOVERY
Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Calixto Cardona!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Balagot Liu!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Shimada and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Liu misses with a kick to the body.
Cardona takes a jab right on the kisser.
Liu throws a lazy right hand but Cardona sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Liu misses the shot to the body.
Nice defenses there by Cardona.
Liu tried to score with a low kick but Cardona checks it.
Liu thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cardona was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Liu is looking to slow Cardona down with leg kicks.
Cardona misses with a wild body shot.
Nice body kick there by Cardona.
Cardona misses with a head kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Cardona misses the target.
Cardona tries to score with a low kick but Liu moves his leg out of the way.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liu scores with a leg kick.
Liu thuds a left hand into Cardona's body.
A jab lands there for Cardona.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Liu delivers a nice body kick.
Cardona pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cardona walks into a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardona takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Cardona throws a looping overhand right but Liu ducks down to avoid it.
Liu takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Cardona scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Liu lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Cardona throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cardona looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Liu connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Liu takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Liu on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A jab lands there for Cardona.
Liu takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Liu connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
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!
Cardona throws a looping overhand right but Liu ducks down to avoid it.
Cardona tries to close the distance and clinch up but Liu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Liu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Liu! But no joy.
Cardona blocks a jab.
A quick step to the side and Cardona tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cardona scores with a jab. Liu acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Cardona takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardona throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cardona lands a nice looking body shot.
Liu with a nice calf kick.
Liu has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Cardona keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Calixto Cardona seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cardona drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Liu walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Liu throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Some bone on bone action there as Cardona checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Liu throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Liu dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Cardona. That did some damage!
Liu connects with a right hand. Cardona shakes it off.
Liu takes a swing at Cardona's ribcage but misses.
Cardona ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Cardona keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Cardona looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Liu misses with an attempted mid kick.
Liu feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Cardonas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardona throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Liu lands a jab to the head.
Liu's corner calls for a 1-2. Liu obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Cardona takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Cardona moves into the clinch.
Cardona prevents a body shot from Liu.
Liu blocks an uppercut.
Liu swings wildly with an uppercut but Cardona uses good head movement to avoid it.
A right hand to the body from Cardona.
Liu blocking some punches.
Liu tries a body shot but Cardona blocks it.
Liu digs a right hand into Cardona's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Cardona's gas tank.
A head punch on the inside from Liu fails to land.
Liu misses with a punch to the body.
Liu lands an uppercut.
Cardona blocks a body shot from Liu.
Cardona takes a shot to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cardona doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liu softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Cardona creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Liu lands a nice uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cardona.
Liu working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Liu fails to land.
Cardona softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Cardona misses with a punch on the inside.
Liu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cardona lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Cardona blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cardona tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Liu's elbow.
Nice body punch from Liu - that landed with a thud.
Liu blocking some punches.
Cardona lands with a light punch inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Liu tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cardona doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Liu blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cardona working aggressively here.
Cardona tries a body shot but Liu blocks it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Balagot Liu will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cardona misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cardona blocks the body kick.
No joy there for Cardona, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cardona goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Cardona throws a nice looking combination but Liu bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cardona throws a wild body kick that Liu sees coming a mile off.
Cardona steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Liu. That one must have hurt.
A solid leg kick lands there for Liu.
Cardona is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jab from Cardona.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cardona tries to clinch but Liu is having none of it.
Cardona looks to throw a body kick
and Liu counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Liu scores with a push kick.
Cardona jabs Liu right on the nose. Liu blinks but takes it well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Liu looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cardona closes the distance looking to clinch
and Liu counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardona looks to score with a jab to the body but Liu is just out of range.
Cardona feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Lius jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Cardona cracks Liu with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Liu tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Liu throws a body kick that misses.
Liu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cardona. Liu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Liu slips a jab and a cross from Cardona.
Cardona on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Cardona lands with an overhand left.
Cardona punishes Liu's body with a nice straight punch.
Cardona blocks a leg kick.
Liu throws a wild body kick that Cardona sees coming a mile off.
Liu throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cardona sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Liu takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Liu moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Cardona is looking to clinch.
A head kick misses from Liu.
Liu takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Liu's jab looks to have found its range, popping Cardona under the eye.
Cardona looks to land a left hand but Liu moved out of range nicely.
A solid leg kick lands there for Cardona.
A left lands for Liu.
Cardona scores with a punch to the head.
Liu misses with a straight right.
Cardona lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Cardona thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Liu if he has to take too many more of those.
Liu scores with a sloppy right hand. Cardona should have avoided that one.
Liu swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cardona throws a wild body kick that Liu sees coming a mile off.
Cardona throws the left hand but Liu avoids the punch easily.
Liu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Liu darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Liu.
Cardona tries to work over Liu's front leg with a kick but Liu checks it.
Liu takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Liu uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cardona.
Cardona is looking to clinch but Liu is avoiding it.
Cardona wants to clinch up but Liu keeps it at a distance.
Liu throws the left hand but Cardona avoids the punch easily.
Cardona with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Liu to score with a decent uppercut.
Cardona is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

Cardona forces Liu back against the cage and clinches.
Cardona takes a shot to the head.
Liu blocks a body shot from Cardona.
Liu misses with a punch on the inside.
Cardona cracks Liu with a nice body shot.
Liu works on Cardona's body with a couple of short punches.
Cardona lands a nice shot to the body.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cardona forces Liu back against the cage and clinches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cardona works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Liu struggles to land a body shot inside as Cardona controls his hands.
A right hook to the body lands for Cardona.
Cardona lands a body punch.
Liu lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Cardona tries a body shot but Liu blocks it.
Calixto Cardona has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Cardona lands a body shot.
Cardona scores with a hook to the body.
Liu is breathing heavily.
Liu misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cardona.
Cardona lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Liu misses with some punches.
Liu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cardona misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Cardona's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Liu thumps Cardona with a low kick.
Liu lands a nice hook to Cardona's body. Cardona takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Cardona takes one on the button.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Calixto Cardona will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cardona pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cardona throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Liu moves into range and connects with a jab.
Cardona misses with a looping left.
Cardona throws an overhand right that lands on Liu's shoulder, as Liu tries to avoid the shot.
Cardona tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Liu manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cardona has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Liu.
Liu uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cardona.
Cardona scores with a kick to the midsection.
Liu scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Cardona gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cardona has a couple of punches blocked by Liu.
Cardona lands a shoulder strike.
Cardona misses with a short punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Cardona.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Liu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cardona just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardona throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Liu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A little feinted left hand from Cardona on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Liu blocks a jab.
Balagot Liu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cardona looks to score with a jab to the body but Liu is just out of range.
Cardona takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Cardona throws a body shot but no joy.
Liu steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Cardona.
Cardona throws a shot from downtown. Liu moves away and avoids it.
Liu lands with a thumping leg kick.
Liu feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Cardonas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Cardona misses with a wild body shot.
Liu cracks Cardona with a good jab.
Cardona looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Cardona tries a head kick but it misses.
Cardona throws a body punch but Liu moves out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Liu.
Cardona scores with a head kick. Liu tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cardona lands with a good body shot.
Cardona looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardona punishes Liu's body with a nice straight punch.
Liu cracks Cardona with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Cardona takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Liu misses with a straight left.
Liu staying out of range there.
Liu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cardona manages to avoid it.
Cardona is looking to land body kicks.
Cardona misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Liu.
Liu doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Cardona goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Liu throws out a leg kick but Cardona moves out of range and Liu only half commits.
Liu slips under a jab.

Cardona has closed the distance and engaged Liu in a clinch.
Liu gets through Cardona's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Liu blocking some punches.

Liu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A good leg kick by Liu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liu throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Cardona looks to score with a jab to the body but Liu is just out of range.
Liu dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Liu scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Liu cracks Cardona with an open hand slap.
Liu with a hook.
Liu displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cardona throws out the jab.
Cardona takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Good work by Cardona as he checks the leg kick.
Liu pivots, looking for a leg kick but Cardona is out of range and Liu settles back down.
Liu scores with a jab to the jaw.
Cardona lands with a good body shot.
Liu lands a jab to Cardona's midsection.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Liu misses with a looping left.
Cardona is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Liu connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Cardona checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Cardona misses with a looping left.
Nice body punch from Cardona.
Cardona digs a good hook to Liu's body.
Cardona is looking to land body kicks.
Cardona just misses with a punch to the body.
Cardona throws a body kick that misses
letting Liu counter with a right hand.
Liu ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Cardona with a nice calf kick.
Cardona is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Liu wants to clinch up but Cardona keeps it at a distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cardona moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Cardona takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Liu looking to land some kicks to the body here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Balagot Liu just about did enough to take it.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cardona misses with a two punch combination.
Cardona moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Liu moves out of range of the body kick from Cardona.
Cardona lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Liu throws a shot to the body.
Liu chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nice cross by Cardona.
A nice leg kick lands there from Liu.
Liu moves forwards but Cardona connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Liu takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Liu scores with a sloppy right hand. Cardona should have avoided that one.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Liu crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Cardona - the referee stops the clock and Liu gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Cardona. Liu manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Liu scores with a jab to the body.
Liu throws a leg kick which misses Cardona's front leg but catches the back leg as Cardona tries to avoid it.
A leg kick checked by Cardona.
Cardona throws a counter high kick but Liu was just alert enough to avoid it.
Cardona looks to score with a jab to the body but Liu is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good exchange - Cardona coming out on top.
Cardona scores with a body shot.
Cardona looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cardona throws a series of punches but Liu moves out of range.
Cardona swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cardona throws a low kick, looking for Liu's leg but Liu calmly moves out of range.
Cardona moves forwards but Liu connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Liu throws a hook to the side of Cardona's head but Cardona sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Liu throws a hook but Cardona blocks it.
A slapping body kick lands there for Cardona.
Cardona pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Liu! But no joy.
Cardona swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Liu to counter with a crisp jab.
Cardona takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Jab by Liu.
Liu throws out a loose jab but Cardona uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cardona throws a head kick that misses
and Liu counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Cardona doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Cardona fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cardona throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Cardona steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Liu.
Cardona is looking to counter punch.
Cardona tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Liu was well out of range. Poor timing from Cardona.
It seemed like Liu was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Liu gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Cardona is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Cardona on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Liu lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Cardona misses with an uppercut.
Liu thuds a left hand into Cardona's body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cardona looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cardona takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardona throws a body kick that misses.
Cardona tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cardona pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A little jabbing left from Liu on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Liu has Cardona up against the cage in a clinch.
Cardona has a couple of punches blocked by Liu.
Cardona cracks Liu with a nice body shot.
Nice body punch from Cardona.
Liu is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Liu lands a shot to the body.
Liu lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Cardona backwards.
Liu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Liu working aggressively here.
Liu misses with a short punch on the inside.
Liu has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Cardona.
Cardona works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Liu digs a right hand underneath Cardona's ribcage. Cardona let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Liu blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Liu trying to land knees to the body.
Liu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Liu struggles to land a body shot inside as Cardona controls his hands.
Liu lands with a light punch inside.
Cardona struggles to land a body shot inside as Liu controls his hands.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Liu.
Liu working aggressively here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cardona misses with a body punch.
Liu lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Liu throws a head punch that misses.
Cardona lands with a right to the head.
Cardona misses with a punch to the body.
Liu lands a hook that snaps the head of Cardona backwards.
Cardona presses Liu against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Cardona working aggressively here.
Cardona blocking some punches.
A hook to the body from Liu.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Balagot Liu will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Cardona fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Liu manages to avoid it.
Liu connects with a good right hand that stumbles Cardona. Cardona circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Liu misses with a looping left.
A left lands for Cardona.
Cardona throws a looping overhand right but Liu ducks down to avoid it.
An inside leg kick lands from Cardona.
Cardona misses with a wild combination.
Liu connects with a solid leg kick.
Liu avoids the body shot from Cardona.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liu lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Cardona uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Liu.
Liu fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Cardona looks to land a left hand but Liu moved out of range nicely.
Liu throws a wild body kick that Cardona sees coming a mile off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardona throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Liu counters with a body kick.
Cardona throws a body shot but no joy.
Liu dodges the punch combination from Cardona.
Cardona thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Liu if he has to take too many more of those.
Cardona tries to clinch up but Liu circles away and keeps his distance.
Liu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cardona throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Liu throws a shot to the body.
Cardona misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Liu. Cardona does a little dance to reset his feet.
Liu displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cardona throws out the jab.
Cardona moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Liu cracks Cardona with an open hand slap.
Calixto Cardona has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liu wants to slow Cardona down by chopping away at his legs.
Cardona misses with a leg kick
and Liu counters with a slapping leg kick.
Liu scores with a kick to the midsection.
Cardona misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Liu avoids the body shot from Cardona.
Liu looks to land a left hand but Cardona moved out of range nicely.
Liu chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Liu lands a jab.
Cardona loads up on a big right hand but Liu slips the punch.
Cardona ducks right into an uppercut from Liu.
Liu scores with a punch to the head.
Liu bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Liu has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Liu there as he acknowledges the shot.
Cardona tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Liu lands a nice looking body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Cardona there.
Cardona has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Liu.
Liu with a jab.
Liu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cardona cracks Liu with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Cardona throws a body punch but Liu moves out of range.

Liu forces Cardona back against the cage and clinches.
Cardona blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cardona misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cardona goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cardona doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cardona misses with a hook to the ribs.
Liu tries to work over Cardona's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cardona tries a body shot but Liu blocks it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Liu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liu misses with a punch to the body.
Liu's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Cardona working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Liu can't find room to land a body shot as Cardona controls the action.
Liu misses with a punch to the body.
Liu lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Cardona or not.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Cardona breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cardona is looking to land body kicks.
Cardona misses with a kick to the body.
Cardona pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cardona uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Liu.
Cardona has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Liu.
Liu just misses with a punch to the body.
A slow jab from Liu misses its intended target.
Cardona misses with a hook.
Cardona throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Liu stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Balagot Liu.
I think Liu has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 46:49
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 49:47
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Calixto Cardona!
Calixto Cardona retains his featherweight title!
Calixto Cardona decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.