PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Steve Cho (ranked 4358 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Aurelius (ranked 4405 p4p, 441 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cho
vs
Aurelius

168 cm
25
159 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Steve Cho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marcus Aurelius!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shigeki Fujiwara and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cho throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cho lands a jab-cross combination.
Aurelius shoots in for a takedown but Cho shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Aurelius bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aurelius in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The strikes coming from Aurelius are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Aurelius is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cho knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Cho is working to avoid the ground and pound but Aurelius connects with a decent elbow.

Aurelius stands up and beckons Cho to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aurelius throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Cho was covering up waiting for the punch and Aurelius finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Aurelius is standing up over Cho. Cho looks to escape but Aurelius dives into side control.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cho dodges the ground and pound from Aurelius.
Aurelius throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Cho is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Aurelius has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Cho takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Aurelius throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Aurelius stands up and beckons Cho to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aurelius gets the takedown into side control.

Cho bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Aurelius with a poor takedown
and Cho counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cho lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Aurelius backs up against the cage.
Aurelius shoots for a double leg takedown but Cho sprawls well. He's pushed Aurelius's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Steve Cho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcus Aurelius.
Cho works the jab nicely.
Steve Cho is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Aurelius misses with a hook
enabling Cho to counter with a crisp jab.
A left lands for Cho.

Aurelius shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Cho napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Aurelius looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cho managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Aurelius.
Aurelius trying to control the position but Cho is working away.
Cho managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Aurelius.
Cho tries to escape but Aurelius is in control.
Aurelius working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Aurelius tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Cho parries the strikes from Aurelius easily there. Aurelius is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Cho to escape.
Aurelius has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

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.
Aurelius trying to control the action but Cho is working from the bottom.
Aurelius looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Cho is avoiding damage well.
Cho tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Aurelius throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Cho wants to get back to his feet.
Cho is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Cho squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
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 Steve Cho will probably get the nod.
That's time! Cho's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cho throws a series of punches but Aurelius moves out of range.
Aurelius looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Aurelius gets a double leg takedown into Cho's guard.
Cho not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Aurelius accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cho is looking to stand back up but Aurelius counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Cho.
Aurelius seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cho does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cho knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Aurelius on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aurelius not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cho is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Aurelius scores with a couple of nice shots.
Still in half guard, Aurelius seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aurelius thows a huge punch but Cho dodges it nicely.
Cho regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Aurelius.
Aurelius throwing strikes but missing.
Marcus Aurelius has got the better of the ground game so far.
Aurelius sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Cho's guard.
Aurelius throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cho avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Aurelius.
Cho is staying active underneath Aurelius, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Aurelius not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Aurelius not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aurelius sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cho defending well though.

Aurelius is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Aurelius is keen to just control but Cho is a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cho pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Aurelius back to the cage. Cho follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Cho scores with a jab to the head.

Aurelius closes the distance and clinches.
Cho is pressed up against the cage. Aurelius has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Cho down to the mat. Cho avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Cho.
Aurelius fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cho keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Steve Cho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcus Aurelius.
Cho lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Cho defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Aurelius.
Cho lands a nice shot to the body.
Aurelius tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cho sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Aurelius somewhat.
Steve Cho is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cho defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Aurelius.
Cho half committed to a counter leg kick.
Cho lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Aurelius takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Cho is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Aurelius can do to turn this around?
No luck with that takedown attempt from Aurelius.
It looked like Cho wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aurelius has his takedown stuffed
enabling Cho to counter with a crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Cho dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Aurelius blocks a head kick by Cho.
Aurelius shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Cho counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Cho sizes up Aurelius with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Steve Cho is winning the standup battle so far.
Aurelius misses with a straight right.
Aurelius changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cho tries to avoid it but Aurelius manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cho to the ground. Cho escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A little feinted left hand from Cho on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Aurelius darts in trying to clinch
and Cho counters with a straight right hand.
Aurelius takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cho throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Cho does it's job there.

Aurelius looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Cho!
Sloppy strikes there by Aurelius.
Aurelius throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Cho tries to buck Aurelius off but Aurelius is having none of it.
Cho wants to get back to his feet but Aurelius drags him back down.
Cho struggling a bit here.
Aurelius working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Aurelius lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Cho down.
Steve Cho is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aurelius is working Cho over with some ground and pound from side control.
The ground and pound from Aurelius seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Cho sneaks out the side door and pushes Aurelius away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Aurelius throws a head kick that misses.
Cho is looking to counter punch.
Aurelius shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cho as he jumps to the side.
Steve Cho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcus Aurelius.
Aurelius falls off balance throwing a combination
and Cho counters with a straight right hand.
Cho catches Aurelius with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aurelius tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Aurelius on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Cho misses with a double jab.
Aurelius shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Aurelius walks into a jab.
Cho is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Cho fails to land with a series of punches.
Cho wants to land a leg kick but Aurelius is out of range.
Cho throws a nice looking combination but Aurelius bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cho lands a right hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aurelius fails with the takedown.
Aurelius takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Cho jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Cho misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Aurelius.
Aurelius has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Aurelius pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Marcus Aurelius has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cho connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Cho showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cho, 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Cho!