PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Veljko Bakocevic (ranked 2673 p4p, 3427 weight class) and Norris Chow (ranked 277 p4p, 317 weight class). Veljko Bakocevic has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bakocevic
vs
Chow

177 cm
24
154
4 - 8 - 0

166 cm
27
152
3 - 4 - 1

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Good gas tank

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 4 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Veljko Bakocevic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Norris Chow!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shigeki Sano and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Chow misses with a body punch.

Chow jumps into guard, dragging Bakocevic to the mat.
Chow controls Bakocevic momentarily but Bakocevic frees himself.
Chow manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bakocevic manages to get himself to full guard.

Bakocevic working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Chow.
Chow stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bakocevic swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chow controls from within his opponent's guard.
Bakocevic seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakocevic wants to sweep here but Chow controlling him for the moment.
Chow throws a big elbow that misses.

Chow drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Bakocevic dives on top into guard.

Bakocevic preventing the sweep.
Chow not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bakocevic with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bakocevic 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.
Bakocevic loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chow keeping moving, preventing Bakocevic from controlling successfully.
Bakocevic preventing the sweep.
Bakocevic is stalling in the full guard.
Bakocevic seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Chow for as long as he can get away with.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Chow misses with a wild combination.

Chow clinches with his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Chow fails to land.
Chow working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Bakocevic tries for a takedown. No joy.

Chow pulls guard successfully.
Chow is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bakocevic's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Chow working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bakocevic doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bakocevic manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bakocevic slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Chow looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Bakocevic has picked Chow up and slammed him! Chow can't keep hold of the triangle and Bakocevic manages to pass to side control!
Bakocevic works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Chow is not content to let Bakocevic control the position.
Chow gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Chow is trying to maintain the position but Bakocevic is very close to passing his half guard.
Bakocevic trying to control from Chow's half guard. Chow has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Norris Chow dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Chow lands a nice leg kick that just misses Bakocevic's sensitive parts.

Chow instigates a clinch.

Chow pulls guard effortlessly.

Chow is looking for a triangle but Bakocevic pushes his legs off easily.
Bakocevic postures up in Chow's guard and throws a big left but Chow blocks it.
Bakocevic is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Chow is trying to keep Bakocevic in close.
Chow has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bakocevic 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.
Bakocevic wants to pass the guard but Chow is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chow tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Chow escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bakocevic gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Chow looking to control.
Chow wants to sweep but no luck.

Bakocevic avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Chow lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Bakocevic working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Chow doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Chow manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bakocevic bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Chow's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chow had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bakocevic defends it easily.
Chow looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bakocevic is one step ahead there.
Bakocevic wants to pass the guard but Chow is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakocevic trying to control but Chow is working from the bottom.
Chow working a defensive guard here.
Chow keeping moving, preventing Bakocevic from controlling successfully.
Bakocevic is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bakocevic postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Chow is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bakocevic is aware though and is defending well.
Chow working a defensive guard but Bakocevic manages to pass into side control anyway.
Bakocevic controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bakocevic lands some shots froms side control.

Bakocevic tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Bakocevic lands a nice forearm strike.
You can see the frustration on Chow's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Chow manages to work his way to half guard, despite Bakocevic's best efforts.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bakocevic wants to control but Chow is keeping him busy.
Chow keeping hold of Bakocevic's head, controlling as best he can.
Chow is trying to get back to full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Veljko Bakocevic will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Chow misses with a double jab
and Bakocevic counters with an outside leg kick.
Chow falls off balance throwing a combination

and Bakocevic decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Chow's guard.

Chow is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Chow can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bakocevic controls the pace.
Bakocevic is in close to Chow's body, working some short punches and elbows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Chow is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bakocevic defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakocevic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Chow working a defensive guard here.

Chow escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bakocevic gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Chow working a defensive guard here.
Bakocevic content to stall in guard here.
Chow tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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.
Bakocevic is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Bakocevic prevents Chow from getting back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Bakocevic tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bakocevic takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Chow misses with a head kick.
Bakocevic drops down looking for a counter takedown but Chow sprawls and moves away.
Chow misses with an uppercut.
Chow looks to land a right hand but Bakocevic moved out of range.

Bakocevic bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Bakocevic remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Bakocevic has control of an arm but Chow manages to advance to Bakocevic's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakocevic tries to break free.
Bakocevic wants to get back to his feet.
Despite being in a bad position, Bakocevic is controlling the hands, preventing any submission attempts.
Chow avoiding Bakocevic 's attempts to control his hands.
Bakocevic rolls, trying to escape but Chow keeps control of the position.
Chow trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Bakocevic doesn't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Bakocevic trying to control the action but Chow just sinks the hooks in.

Chow working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Chow misses with punches from the back.
I really don't envy Bakocevic right now.
Bakocevic wants to control his opponent's hands but Chow gets his hands free.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Chow throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Norris Chow has got the better of the ground game so far.

Chow working for the choke.

And that's the end of the fight!
Norris Chow comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Chow 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Norris Chow!
During a confident post fight interview, Norris Chow thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.