PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Balagot Liu (ranked 131 p4p, 180 weight class) and Darren Dixon (ranked 18 p4p, 25 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Liu
vs
Dixon

173 cm
30
146
23 - 5 - 1

169 cm
30
145
19 - 8 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

SynCity Fightwear
Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Balagot Liu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Darren Dixon!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Percy O'Donnell and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A low kick from Liu misses

and Dixon counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Dixon looking to sit in guard and control but Liu gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Liu is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Spartan Mixed Martial Arts that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.

Dixon looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Dixon working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Liu doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Liu manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Dixon working for a triangle but Liu defends it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Liu avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liu tries to stand but Dixon is controlling from the bottom.

Dixon escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Liu gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Dixon throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Dixon working for a triangle but Liu defends it easily.

Dixon had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Liu defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Liu stopping the sweep attempt from Dixon.

Liu got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dixon has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Liu has managed to get both his arms back between Dixon's legs - danger averted.

Dixon has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Liu can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Liu preventing the sweep.
Dixon pulls Liu in to control the position.
Our spies down at at King's Cross MMA inform us that Dixon has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dixon is trying to keep Liu in close.

Dixon looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Liu passes into half guard.
Dixon is looking to improve his position.
Liu tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Dixon is trying to maintain the position but Liu is very close to passing his half guard.
Dixon wants to get back to full guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Dixon trying to hold on to Liu's head to control him but Liu postures up.

That's four 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.
Dixon wants to improve his position but Liu is controlling well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Liu walks into a straight right hand from Dixon.
Liu lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A telegraphed right hand from Liu misses the target.
Dixon throws a body punch but Liu moves out of range.
Liu avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Dixon lunges at Liu with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Liu's hand.
Dixon throws a looping overhand right but Liu ducks down to avoid it.
Dixon lands with an overhand left.
Dixon cracks Liu with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Liu lands with a cross.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dixon uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Liu.
Liu turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Liu throws a shot from downtown. Dixon moves away and avoids it.
Dixon throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Liu sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Dixon scores with a decent looking hook.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Dixon dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Dixon misses with a body shot.
Liu looks to score with a jab to the body but Dixon is just out of range.
Dixon throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dixon waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Liu.
A big left from Dixon misses.
It looked like Liu wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Liu jabs at Dixon's body.
Balagot Liu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dixon tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Liu defends well and Dixon ends up having to push Liu into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Liu slips a jab from Dixon.
A big right from Liu misses.
Dixon shoots in for a takedown but Liu shows good takedown defense.
Dixon steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Liu.
Dixon throws a body shot but no joy.
Nice jab there from Liu.
Liu swings for the body but Dixon moves out of range.
Dixon avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dixon has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Liu finds it's way round the side to connect with Dixon's head.
Liu throws a half hearted mid kick.
Dixon moves out of range of the strikes.
Dixon lands a nice shot to the body.
Liu tries a low kick but Dixon avoids it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dixon misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dixon walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Dixon takes a swing at Liu's ribcage but misses.
Dixon misses with a hook
and Liu counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Liu takes a swing at Dixon's ribcage but misses.
Dixon fails with a takedown attempt.
Balagot Liu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darren Dixon.
Liu showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Dixon.
Liu lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Dixon takes a swing at Liu's ribcage but misses.
Jab, jab by Liu - just one landing.
Dixon misses the jab.
Nice defenses there by Dixon.
Liu connects with a solid leg kick.
Dixon throws a sloppy body shot
and Liu counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Liu throws a series of punches but Dixon moves out of range.
Liu swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Liu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dixon was well out of range. Poor timing from Liu.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dixon scores with a punch to the head.
Liu lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liu lands a nice shot to the body.
Dixon takes a swing at Liu's ribcage but misses.
Good standup being displayed there by Dixon as he connects with a hook.
Dixon takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Balagot Liu is winning the standup battle so far.
Dixon cracks a nice hook into Liu's ribs.
Liu uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Dixon.
Balagot Liu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Liu walks into a stiff left hand from Dixon.
Dixon connects with the punch.
Liu slips a jab from Dixon.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Liu throws a chopping leg kick but Dixon manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Dixon takes one to the chin there.
Dixon gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Liu throws a jab but it's blocked by Dixon.
Liu avoids the body shot from Dixon.
A nice leg kick lands there from Liu.
Dixon ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Dixon feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Lius jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Liu looks to throw the jab but Dixon is out of range.
Liu throws a jab but it's blocked by Dixon.
Liu connects with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dixon on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A big right from Liu misses.
Liu throws a leg kick which misses Dixon's front leg but catches the back leg as Dixon tries to avoid it.
Dixon throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Dixon misses with a hook
and Liu counters with a straight right hand.
A solid leg kick lands there for Liu.
A big left from Liu misses.
Dixon changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
A swing and a miss from Dixon.
A slow jab from Dixon misses its intended target.
Dixon misses with an uppercut. Liu saw that one coming.
Liu scores with a crisp jab that stopped Dixon in his tracks.
Dixon shoots in but no luck this time.
Liu lands a leg kick that knocks Dixon off balance momentarily.
Dixon throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Dixon ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Liu moves away.
Liu walks into a jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dixon uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Dixon darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Liu scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Dixon's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dixon's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Liu connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Dixon scrambles back to his feet.
Liu misses with a right hand

and Dixon counters with a single leg into guard. Liu didn't expect that.
Dixon passes into half guard.

Dixon is trying to work for a kimura but Liu is defending well.
Dixon wants to lay and pray for a moment but Liu keeps working.

Dixon is looking for a kimura here.
Darren Dixon has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dixon is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Balagot Liu dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Dixon lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Liu lands the left hand.
Liu throws a big shot that misses.
Liu fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Dixon misses with a wild body shot.
Liu throws a hook but Dixon blocks it.
Dixon lunges at Liu with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Liu's hand.
Liu throws the left hand but Dixon avoids the punch easily.

Liu tries to sprawl but Dixon drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Dixon is working for a submission of some sort.
Liu is not content to let Dixon control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dixon is looking for a kimura here.
Dixon is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Dixon is looking for a kimura here.

That's two 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.

Dixon is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Liu doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dixon.
Dixon wants to control but Liu is keeping him busy.

Dixon is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Liu is just riding it out for now. Dixon eventually gives up the hold.
Dixon passes to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dixon goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Liu has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Dixon but great work by Liu.
Dixon is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Liu's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Dixon trying to control but Liu postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dixon is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Liu's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Liu's back!

Liu is trying to defend against the choke here but Dixon has an arm under his chin. This one might not last much longer. Dixon Tightens the hold and Liu taps out furiously! Dixon displays superior BJJ to win the fight.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Darren Dixon!
In his post fight interview, Darren Dixon started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.