PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Balagot Liu (ranked 31 p4p, 142 weight class) and Action Bastard (ranked 5 p4p, 18 weight class). Bastard has chosen Japanese And Lovely - Jucifer as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Liu
vs
Bastard

173 cm
29
146
21 - 3 - 1

169 cm
36
150
27 - 13 - 3

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

SynCity Fightwear

Carnage Clothing
Voodoo Nutrition

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 21 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Balagot Liu!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 13 - 3, fighting out of Los Angeles, Action Bastard!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Liu misses with a looping left.
Bastard throws a body shot but no joy.
Bastard takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Liu catches Bastard with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Bastard uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Liu.
Bastard misses with a hook. Liu ducked under it nicely.
Liu steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bastard.
Liu connects with a looping right hand.
Liu ducks under a wild hook from Bastard.
Bastard just misses with a punch to the body.
Bastard moves out of range of the body kick.
Liu with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Bastard throws a body shot but no joy.
Bastard blocks a jab.
Liu scores with a nice strike.
Bastard tries to score with a low kick but Liu moves his leg out of the way.
We've been told by Liu's head coaches at Spartan Mixed Martial Arts that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Liu misses with a straight left.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bastard fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bastard throws a jab but it's blocked by Liu.
Liu moves out of range of the strikes.
Bastard fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Liu avoids it really well and circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liu lands with an uppercut that bounces Bastard off the cage and back into range.
Bastard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Liu missing with a left hand there. Bastard was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
An inside leg kick from Liu misses.
Bastard needs to keep his hands up - Liu had a free shot at his head there.
Bastard with a nice cross.
Liu throws a nice looking combination but Bastard bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Liu is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bastard.
Bastard looks to land a right hand but Liu moved out of range.
Liu lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Bastard looks to score with a jab to the body but Liu is just out of range.
Liu tries to score with a low kick but Bastard moves his leg out of the way.
Bastard uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Liu.
Nice uppercut there from Liu.
Bastard misses with a jab to the body
and Liu counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bastard cracks Liu with an open hand slap.
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!
Liu fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Bastard throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bastard shoots for a double leg takedown but Liu sprawls well. He's pushed Bastard's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Balagot Liu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Action Bastard.
Bastard just misses with a punch to the body.
Bastard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Liu.
Liu throws a hook to the side of Bastard's head but Bastard sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bastard throws a looping overhand right but Liu ducks down to avoid it.
An attempted straight right counter from Liu misses the target.
A shot to the liver by Bastard. Beautiful body shot.
Bastard throws a hook but Liu blocks it.
Bastard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Liu moves away.
Liu staying out of range there.
Liu misses with a hook
and Bastard counters with a thumping low kick.
Liu looks to score with a jab to the body but Bastard is just out of range.
Liu throws a shot from downtown. Bastard moves away and avoids it.
Bastard looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Bastard just misses with a punch to the body.
Bastard connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Bastard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Liu lands with a straight right. Bastard didn't see that one coming.

Bastard fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Liu to the ground. Bastard is now in Liu's guard.
Bastard is pushing down on Liu's leg trying to pass to half guard. Liu is fighting to maintain full guard but Bastard has managed to sneak the leg through.
Bastard throwing shots but Liu is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bastard throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bastard thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nice strikes from Bastard there.
Bastard is looking to take a break and control but Liu is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bastard not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bastard is pressing down on Liu's thigh, looking to free his foot. Liu is holding on for now.
Bastard is controlling the pace.
Let's hope that Bastard has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bastard wants to pass the guard but Liu is defending well.
Bastard prevents Liu from standing back up.
Bastard scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Bastard has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Liu is refusing to be controlled, as Bastard sits in half guard.
Liu avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bastard.
Bastard wants to free his trapped foot but Liu is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Balagot Liu will probably get the nod.
That's time! Liu's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Liu pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Liu steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bastard.
A jab from Liu misses.
Bastard swings for the body but Liu moves out of range.
Bastard throws an overhand right that lands on Liu's shoulder, as Liu tries to avoid the shot.
Bastard slips a straight right by Liu.
Bastard throws a body shot but no joy.
Bastard uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Liu.
Liu throws a low kick, looking for Bastard's leg but Bastard calmly moves out of range.
Liu scores with a leg kick.
Jab by Liu.
Bastard misses the shot to the body.
Bastard throws a lazy right hand but Liu sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bastard. Liu does a little dance to reset his feet.
A little feinted left hand from Liu on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A clash of legs there as Liu blocks the low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bastard throws out a loose jab but Liu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bastard rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Liu to counter with a crisp jab.
Liu is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Bastard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Liu lands a nice looking body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Liu's jab looks to have found its range, popping Bastard under the eye.
Bastard misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Liu half committed to a counter leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liu walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Bastard digs a good body shot into Liu's ribs.
Liu keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Balagot Liu is winning the standup battle so far.
Bastard throws a low kick but Liu moves out of range easily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Bastard.
Liu moves out of range of the strikes.
Liu looks to land a combination. Bastard sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Liu misses with an uppercut. Bastard saw that one coming.
Good standup being displayed there by Bastard as he connects with a hook.
Liu throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Liu misses with a straight right.
Good exchange - Bastard coming out on top.
Liu misses with a straight right.
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.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bastard looks to land a right hand but Liu moved out of range.
Liu swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Balagot Liu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Liu misses with an uppercut.
Bastard slips a jab from Liu.
Liu thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liu's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Liu duly obliges.
Bastard misses with a looping left.
A big right from Bastard misses.
A little feinted left hand from Liu on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Liu connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Bastard momentarily.
Bastard throws out a loose jab but Liu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bastard throws a jab but it's blocked by Liu.
Liu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bastard moves away.
Liu lands with an overhand left.
Liu throws a jab when Bastard was well out of range.
Liu misses with a straight left.
Bastard misses with a hook
and Liu counters with a nice low kick that buckles Bastard's knee momentarily.
Bastard blocks a jab.
Bastard throws a front kick aimed at Liu's knee but Liu avoids it well.
It looked like Liu was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Bastard.
Bastard with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Liu to score with a decent uppercut.
Liu misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Liu throws a hook but Bastard blocks it.
Bastard is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Liu with a body shot.
Liu thows a left - swing and a miss!
Liu lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Liu takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Good exchange - Bastard coming out on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liu works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Bastard scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Liu explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Liu missing with a left hand there. Bastard was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Liu ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Liu throws a head kick but Bastard moves out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A jab from Bastard misses.
Bastard fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Liu looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Liu takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Liu doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Bastard misses with a looping right.
Liu misses with a looping right.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bastard. Liu does a little dance to reset his feet.
A head kick misses from Liu.
Bastard has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Liu swings for the body but Bastard moves out of range.
Liu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bastard misses with a body shot.
Liu looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bastard bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Liu's head backwards.
Liu steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bastard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liu misses with an uppercut.
It seemed like Bastard was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Bastard waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Liu.
Liu works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Bastard throws a big shot that misses.
Liu's jab looks to have found its range, popping Bastard under the eye.
Bastard tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Liu was well out of range. Poor timing from Bastard.
Liu throws an off balance right hand
enabling Bastard to counter with a crisp jab.
Bastard slips under a jab.
Bastard ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Bastard lands with a right hand.
Bastard misses with a body shot.
Liu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bastard is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Liu with a body shot.
Liu misses with an uppercut.
Liu fails to land with a series of punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Liu throws a body punch but Bastard moves out of range.
A countering left hand to the body from Bastard misses.
Liu paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Bastard uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Liu.
Liu misses with an uppercut.
Liu moves forwards but Bastard connects with a nice, crisp jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Balagot Liu dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bastard misses with a jab to the body
and Liu counters with a stiff right hand.
Liu walks into a straight right hand from Bastard.
Liu just misses with a punch to the body.
Bastard throws a big shot that misses.
A big left from Bastard misses.
Bastard moves out of range of the strikes.
Liu looks to land a right hand but Bastard moved out of range.
Liu throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bastard.
Bastard misses with a low kick.
A punch lands to the side of Bastard 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Bastard pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bastard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Liu.
A big left from Bastard misses.
Liu is looking to counter punch.
Liu steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bastard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bastard digs a good body shot into Liu's ribs.
Bastard with a jab.
Liu gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Bastard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bastard takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Liu sizes up Bastard with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Liu takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bastard jabs Liu right on the nose. Liu blinks but takes it well.
A left lands for Liu.
Bastard ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Liu throws an overhand right that lands on Bastard's shoulder, as Bastard tries to avoid the shot.
Bastard dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Bastard throws a looping overhand right but Liu ducks down to avoid it.
A slow jab from Liu misses its intended target.
Bastard takes a swing at Liu's ribcage but misses.
Bastard looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Bastard throws out a loose jab but Liu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bastard scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Liu throws a leg kick which misses Bastard's front leg but catches the back leg as Bastard tries to avoid it.
A telegraphed right hand from Bastard misses the target.
Bastard throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Liu throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Bastard waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Liu.
Liu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Liu scores with a hook.
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!
Liu lands a body shot.
Liu throws an overhand right that lands on Bastard's shoulder, as Bastard tries to avoid the shot.
A countering left hand to the body from Bastard misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bastard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Liu moves away.
Liu swings away with a body shot that misses
and Liu takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Liu staying out of range there.
Liu misses the shot to the body.
Liu ducks under a wild hook from Bastard.
A looping hook to the body misses from Liu. Bastard does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bastard misses with a right hand
and Liu counters with a nice uppercut.
Bastard is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Liu.
Bastard lands with a right hand.
Liu tests Bastard's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Bastard looks for a takedown but Liu sprawls well.
Jab by Liu.
Bastard misses with a body shot.
Liu connects with a crisp jab.
Liu throws a hook but Bastard avoids it easily.
Bastard just misses with a punch to the body.
Bastard stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bastard blocks a leg kick.
A cross from Liu lands.
Liu fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Bastard has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Bastard takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Bastard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Liu.
Liu takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Bastard misses with a body shot.
Bastard gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Liu throws a looping overhand right but Bastard ducks down to avoid it.
Liu misses with a looping right.
Bastard misses with an uppercut. Liu saw that one coming.
Bastard misses with a straight right.
A little feinted left hand from Liu on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Liu waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bastard.
Liu throws a body shot but no joy.
Bastard pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Liu looks to land a right hand but Bastard moved out of range.
Liu with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Bastard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Liu.
Liu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bastard on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liu misses with a hook
and Bastard counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Bastard lands with a right hand.
Bastard misses with a body shot.
Nice defenses there by Bastard.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bastard. Liu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Liu throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A swing and a miss from Bastard.
It looked like Liu wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Liu misses with a straight left.
Bastard moves away from the strike by Liu.
Bastard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Liu.
Bastard slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Liu scores with a three punch combo!
Bastard loads up on a big right hand but Liu slips the punch.
Liu misses with a wild combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Liu moves away from the strike by Bastard.
Good standup being displayed there by Liu as he connects with a hook.
Liu will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Balagot Liu did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bastard scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Bastard working the strikes but Liu uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Well, if Bastard 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.
Bastard lands strikes from half guard.
Bastard throwing shots but Liu is blocking nicely.
Bastard controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bastard trying to control the action but Liu is working from the bottom.

Bastard is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Liu has managed to free his arm - good work.
Bastard throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bastard not doing much here.
Bastard trying to control from half guard but Liu is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bastard lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Bastard trying to mount his opponent but Liu defends it.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bastard connects with a nice short shot to Liu's temple.
Balagot Liu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bastard tries to pass to full mount but Liu defends it.
Bastard missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bastard not landing any meaningful shots this time.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Liu takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Bastard throws a big shot that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liu misses the shot to the body.
Bastard cracks Liu with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Bastard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Liu.
Liu doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Bastard swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Liu checks a leg kick nicely.
Liu throws out a loose jab but Bastard uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bastard throws a shot from downtown. Liu moves away and avoids it.
Liu swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Liu lands a head kick. Bastard smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Liu takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Liu works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Bastard throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Liu makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Bastard throws a hook but Liu blocks it.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Liu. Bastard shrugs it off though.
Bastard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Liu moves away.
Bastard throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Liu throws a body punch but Bastard moves out of range.
Liu defending well as Bastard loads up on a big left hand.
Liu scores with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bastard manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Liu on his heels. He'll look to pass Liu's guard now, I'm sure.

Liu has his feet on Bastard's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Bastard ducks under a wild hook from Liu.
Bastard takes a swing at Liu's ribcage but misses.
The fighters circling - Bastard throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Liu thows a left - swing and a miss!
Liu avoids the body shot from Bastard.
That kick from Liu tenderised Bastard's leg. Bastard is trying to keep his angry face on.
Liu throws a hook but Bastard avoids it easily.
Bastard thows a left - swing and a miss!
Liu throws a lazy right hand but Bastard sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bastard on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Liu throws a wild body kick that Bastard sees coming a mile off.
Liu cracks Bastard with a good jab.
Bastard's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bastard. Liu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Liu swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Liu ducks under a wild hook from Bastard.
Liu takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Balagot Liu will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Bastard throws a body shot but no joy.
A big left from Liu misses.
Bastard misses with an uppercut. Liu saw that one coming.
Bastard attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Bastard misses with a takedown attempt
and Bastard takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bastard lands with a shot to the body.
Bastard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Liu manages to avoid it.
Bastard is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Liu fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Bastard has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Liu takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Bastard throws a looping overhand right but Liu ducks down to avoid it.
Liu fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Bastard misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bastard moves away.
Bastard changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Liu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bastard.
Both fighters circling a little - Liu finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Liu fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Bastard has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bastard throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bastard needs to keep his hands up - Liu had a free shot at his head there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liu misses with a straight right.
Liu misses with a straight left.
Nice jab there from Liu.
Liu moves out of range as Bastard strikes.
Liu with a nice calf kick.

Bastard feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Bastard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bastard with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bastard scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Bastard wants to pass the guard but Liu is keeping the position.
Bastard slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Bastard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Liu is keeping the position for now.
Action Bastard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liu can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bastard controls the pace.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Action Bastard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bastard in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Liu misses the shot to the body.
Bastard throws a body punch but Liu moves out of range.
Bastard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bastard lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Liu throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bastard swings for the body but Liu moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Liu scores with a hook.
Bastard misses with a wild body shot.
Bastard cracks a nice hook into Liu's ribs.
Bastard misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bastard throws a low kick but Liu avoids it.
Bastard looks to land a right hand but Liu moved out of range.
Liu lands with a right hand.
Liu throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bastard sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Liu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bastard.
Bastard misses with a looping right.
Liu misses with a straight right.
Bastard takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A left and a right from Liu both land. Nice combination.
Liu will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Liu stuns Bastard with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Bastard looks to land a left hand but Liu moved out of range nicely.
Bastard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Liu scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Bastard doesn't seem bothered though.
Bastard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Liu moves away from the strike by Bastard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Liu defending well as Bastard loads up on a big left hand.
Liu appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Bastard is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Liu.
Liu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bastard.
Liu scores with a nice head shot.
Liu with a hook.
Liu moves into range and connects with a jab.
A big right from Bastard misses.
Good shot there by Liu.
Liu lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Bastard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Liu moves away.
Liu throwing a counter right hand but Bastard manages to avoid it.
A big right from Bastard misses.
Bastard looks to score with a jab to the body but Liu is just out of range.
The fighters circling - Bastard throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A nice leg kick from Liu, right into the meat of the thigh.
Liu lands a head shot.
Liu lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Bastard at a distance.
Bastard misses with a body shot
and Liu counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bastard. Liu does a little dance to reset his feet.
An attempted straight right counter from Liu misses the target.
Liu moves out of range as Bastard strikes.
A little feinted left hand from Liu on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Balagot Liu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Liu, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 50:45
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 49:46
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Balagot Liu!
Balagot Liu retains his featherweight title!
Our winner, Balagot Liu, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.