PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jushin Liger (ranked 24501 p4p, 4259 weight class) and Francis OMalley (ranked 584 p4p, 432 weight class). Jushin Liger has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Liger
vs
OMalley

170 cm
28
165
3 - 5 - 0

184 cm
23
165
1 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jushin Liger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Francis OMalley!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Steve Montenegro and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

OMalley closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Liger did well to prevent OMalley getting side control.
OMalley thows a huge punch but Liger dodges it nicely.
OMalley looks to land a strike but Liger avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Liger might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Liger working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from OMalley.
Liger wants to sweep here but OMalley controlling him for the moment.
Liger utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Liger lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

OMalley is looking to stand up but Liger isn't so interested in that idea.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
OMalley has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Liger has passed into side control.

Liger wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by OMalley, who protects the arm well.
OMalley is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Liger looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
OMalley felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
OMalley is looking for a sweep.

Liger tries for a kimura but OMalley is defending well.
Liger content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Liger is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, OMalley has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
OMalley is trying to get back to half guard.

Liger tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
OMalley is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Liger asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Liger is looking to take a break and control but OMalley is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Liger goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, OMalley rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Liger's guard! Nice work there by OMalley!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as OMalley accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Liger is on top in guard.

Liger stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. OMalley swivels though and keeps the full guard.
OMalley is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Liger is controlling him.
Liger postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liger wants to pass the guard but OMalley is keeping the position.
Liger prevents OMalley from getting back to his feet.
Liger is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Liger drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Liger jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Liger stops OMalley from standing up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jushin Liger dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

OMalley fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Liger sprawls well initially but OMalley persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Liger on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Liger tries to get out of the position.
OMalley with the ground and pound but Liger uses the opportunity to regain guard.
OMalley throwing strikes from guard but Liger blocks nicely.
OMalley throwing strikes from guard but Liger blocks nicely.

OMalley has gone for a leg lock! Liger slips out almost immediately though and dives into OMalley's guard.

OMalley keeping moving, preventing Liger from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liger trying to stand up but can't free himself from OMalley's guard.

OMalley working for a triangle but Liger defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liger stopping the sweep attempt from OMalley.

Liger drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Liger jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
OMalley looking for a sweep. Not yet OMalley, not yet.
Liger controls from within his opponent's guard.
Liger trying to control but OMalley is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Liger has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Liger controlling from the top position.
OMalley has a closed guard, preventing Liger from standing up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
OMalley with a body punch. A glancing blow.
OMalley scores with a decent looking hook.
OMalley bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Liger's head backwards.
Liger's hands are dropping dangerously low here and OMalley connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Liger scrambles back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Donk. OMalley catches Liger right on the button with a cross.
Jushin Liger is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Liger tries to move into range but OMalley moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OMalley closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Liger did well to prevent OMalley getting side control.
Jushin Liger overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
OMalley throws a strike but Liger avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
OMalley loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

OMalley has gone for a leg lock! Liger slips out almost immediately though and dives into OMalley's guard.

OMalley keeping moving, preventing Liger from controlling successfully.

OMalley is looking for a triangle but Liger pushes his legs off easily.
Liger with a flurry of punches that miss.
OMalley looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liger controlling from the top position.
Liger wants to control from the top but OMalley keeps moving.
OMalley is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Liger is controlling him.

OMalley is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Liger controlling from the top position.
Liger trying to control but OMalley is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Francis OMalley showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Liger fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging OMalley to the ground. Liger is now in OMalley's guard.
Liger passes into half guard.

OMalley is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Liger pulls his head out easily.
OMalley is trying to stand up here but Liger is controlling him well.
Liger working OMalley over with strikes.
OMalley is staying active underneath Liger, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
OMalley really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Liger. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
OMalley is looking to improve his position.
OMalley is trying to stand.
OMalley blocking the ground and pound attempt from Liger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liger tries to pass to full mount but OMalley defends it.
Liger seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but OMalley does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Liger seems to be working for a kimura but OMalley defends the submission attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Liger is looking for a kimura but OMalley is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Liger to get the leverage.
OMalley is looking to escape.
Liger is looking to take a break and control but OMalley is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
OMalley connects with a right hand. Liger shakes it off.
Liger walks into a straight right hand from OMalley.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
OMalley bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

OMalley throws a big overhand right that connects, sending Liger tumbling to the canvas!

Liger is rocked!
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!
OMalley trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Oh Liger is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
OMalley postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Liger tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Liger avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Liger seems to have got his legs back now.
OMalley throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Liger works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Liger preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
OMalley must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
OMalley with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
OMalley trying to stand up but can't free himself from Liger's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells OMalley's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Liger is trying to control the position but OMalley postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
OMalley throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
OMalley working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Liger preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
OMalley is looking to work some ground and pound but Liger has wrist control.
OMalley throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
OMalley scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
OMalley throwing strikes from guard but Liger blocks nicely.

OMalley drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and OMalley jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as OMalley accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
OMalley connects with a body shot that sends Liger's belly button to the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liger takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
OMalley jabs Liger right on the nose. Liger blinks but takes it well.

OMalley 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.
Liger trying to control the position.
OMalley makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
OMalley loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
OMalley sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Liger's guard.
OMalley has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
OMalley sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Liger defending well though.
OMalley missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
OMalley missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

OMalley is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Liger defends it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Francis OMalley comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well OMalley has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Francis OMalley!
Jushin Liger spoke after the fight, saying 'Oh no'.