PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Moses (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taavi Liisteri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Moses comes into the arena with Black Label Society - too tough to die blaring out of the sound system. Liisteri has chosen Solid Base - I like it as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Moses
vs
Liisteri

176 cm
21
166 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
162 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

Syndicate Drugs
Black Skull Clothing

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 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ricky Moses!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Taavi Liisteri!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Colin Fotheringham and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Moses throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Moses throws a leg kick but Liisteri sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Moses tries to bum rush Liisteri with a series of wild strikes but Liisteri uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Moses throws the left hand but Liisteri avoids the punch easily.

Liisteri fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Moses sprawls well initially but Liisteri persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Liisteri is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Liisteri throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Moses sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Liisteri is looking for a kimura but Moses is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Liisteri to get the leverage.
Moses is positioning himself well to prevent Liisteri advancing to mount.

Moses is defending against the submission attempts here by Liisteri.
Moses blocking the ground and pound attempt from Liisteri.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moses trying to control here.

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

Liisteri is trying to work for a kimura but Moses is defending well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Moses manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Liisteri throwing strikes but missing.

Liisteri is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Moses is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Moses has escaped and now he's on top!
Liisteri can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Moses controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Moses has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Liisteri has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Moses can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Liisteri is trying to control the position but Moses postures up.

Moses gets to his feet - Liisteri follows without any prompting.
Liisteri looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Moses is fending him off so far but Liisteri persists. Nope, Moses circles away and we're back to standing.
Moses connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Liisteri momentarily.
Ricky Moses is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moses stuffs the takedown.

Liisteri looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Moses has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Liisteri is working away from the top position though.

Liisteri is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Liisteri looks gassed!
Moses keeping control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Liisteri is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Moses tries to get to full guard but Liisteri has control of the leg.

Liisteri is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Liisteri trying to control the action but Moses is working from the bottom.
Moses moves into full guard.
Liisteri controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
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 Ricky Moses will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Liisteri fails with a takedown attempt.
Moses throws a hook but Liisteri avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moses rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Liisteri moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Liisteri tries to score a power double leg takedown but Moses sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Liisteri somewhat.
Moses fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moses throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Moses tries to clinch up but Liisteri circles away and keeps his distance.
Moses just misses with a punch to the body.
Liisteri shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Moses but Moses pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ricky Moses has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taavi Liisteri.
Liisteri throws a jab but it's blocked by Moses.

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.
Moses throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Moses is looking to clinch but Liisteri is avoiding it.
Liisteri misses with a takedown attempt - Moses sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Moses moves into the clinch.
Moses stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Moses throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Liisteri fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Moses lands with a short shot to the head.
Nice body punch from Moses - that landed with a thud.
Moses scores with a shot to the side of Liisteri's head.
Liisteri tries to pull guard but Moses won't allow it.
Moses pressing his opponent against the cage.

Liisteri ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Liisteri no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liisteri is trying to control the position but Moses postures up.

Moses gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Liisteri bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Moses wants to control but Liisteri postures up.
Liisteri trying to control the position but Moses is working away.
Moses is trying to get back to half guard.

Liisteri tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Liisteri is breathing heavily.

Liisteri tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liisteri tries to move to mount but Moses blocks the move with his legs.

Liisteri goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Moses has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Liisteri but great work by Moses.
Moses lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Liisteri down.
Liisteri is trying to get back to half guard.
Liisteri seems a little lost for a moment, as Moses dominates the positioning.
Liisteri tries to improve position but can't.
Moses is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Liisteri tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Moses dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Moses misses with a body shot.
Liisteri dives in and grabs Moses's left leg, looking for a takedown. Moses pushes down on Liisteri's head and hops out.
Liisteri shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Moses as he jumps to the side.
Moses loads up on a big right hand but Liisteri slips the punch.
Moses is looking to wear down Liisteri with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Moses thows a left - swing and a miss!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from Moses as Liisteri shoots in.
Ricky Moses has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taavi Liisteri.
Moses throws out a loose jab but Liisteri uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jab by Moses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moses throws a body punch but Liisteri moves out of range.
Liisteri changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Moses tries to avoid it but Liisteri manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Moses to the ground. Moses escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Moses lands a head kick!
A head kick misses from Moses.
Liisteri takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Nice defenses there by Liisteri.
Liisteri changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Moses tries to avoid it but Liisteri manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Moses to the ground. Moses escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Moses. No joy for Liisteri on that attempt.
Liisteri shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Moses but Moses pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Liisteri takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Moses scores with a body shot.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Liisteri.
Moses fails to land with a series of punches.
Moses tries to clinch but Liisteri moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moses scores with a jab to the head.
Moses throws a hook but Liisteri avoids it easily.
Liisteri shoots in for a double leg but Moses sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Liisteri has a takedown stuffed.
Moses looks to score with a jab to the body but Liisteri is just out of range.
Liisteri shoots in for a double leg but Moses sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Liisteri shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Moses as he avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Liisteri tries for a takedown but Moses sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Moses misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ricky Moses is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A punch combination from Moses misses.
Moses misses the shot to the body.
Moses throws a hook to the side of Liisteri's head but Liisteri sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Liisteri changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Moses tries to avoid it but Liisteri manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Moses to the ground. Moses escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Moses misses with the combination.
Taavi Liisteri has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Liisteri misses with a combination
and Moses counters with a thumping low kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Moses showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Moses, 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Moses!