PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hyun Jun Choi (ranked 1685 p4p, 2536 weight class) and Pedro Paulo (ranked 101 p4p, 154 weight class). Hyun Jun Choi could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Pedro Paulo's chin.

Choi
vs
Paulo

175 cm
19
145
5 - 2 - 0

150 cm
24
135
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hyun Jun Choi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pedro Paulo!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Sano and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paulo avoids the body shot from Choi.
Choi misses with a straight right.
Paulo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A little feinted left hand from Choi on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Paulo has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Choi finds it's way round the side to connect with Paulo's head.
Choi is looking to land body kicks.
Choi misses the shot to the body.
A shot to the liver by Paulo. Beautiful body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paulo fails with a takedown attempt.
Choi swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Paulo looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulo misses with a straight right.
Paulo chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Choi can pounce on him.
Paulo fails with a takedown attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Paulo. Choi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Choi misses with a straight left.
Paulo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Choi.
Paulo changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paulo doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Choi to counter with a crisp jab.
Hyun Jun Choi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pedro Paulo.
Paulo dives in and grabs Choi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Choi pushes down on Paulo's head and hops out.
Choi scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Choi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Choi wants it to stay on the feet.
Choi missing with a left hand there. Paulo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Choi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Paulo.
Paulo misses with a takedown attempt
and Choi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Choi is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Choi swings for the body but Paulo moves out of range.
Paulo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Choi gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Paulo to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Choi is adopting a defensive guard.
Choi has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Choi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Paulo won't allow Choi to get back to his feet.
Choi wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Choi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paulo throwing strikes but missing.
Paulo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Choi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Choi pulls Paulo in close to prevent any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Paulo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Choi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Choi takes a swing at Paulo's ribcage but misses.
Paulo drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Choi defends it well.
No luck for Paulo with that takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Paulo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hyun Jun Choi dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Paulo moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Choi digs a good hook to Paulo's body.
Choi misses with a wild body shot.
Paulo is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Hyun Jun Choi is winning the standup battle so far.
Choi throws a leg kick which misses Paulo's front leg but catches the back leg as Paulo tries to avoid it.
The fighters circling - Paulo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Choi scores with a hook to the body. Paulo takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Choi is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Paulo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Choi was covering up waiting for the punch and Paulo finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Choi trying to control the position here.
Paulo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Choi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Paulo can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulo preventing the sweep.
Paulo throws an elbow that misses. Choi uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Paulo's guard. Nice move by Choi!

Choi wants to pass the guard but Paulo is keeping the position.
Paulo has his hands on Choi's head, controlling the position.
Choi sitting in guard here, content to control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Paulo can do anything to dispel that myth.
Choi postures up.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Choi trying to control but Paulo is working from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Paulo holds on and takes a little breather.
Paulo is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Choi stays in close to Paulo's body and controls the position.
Choi tries to free his leg and advance position but Paulo is retaining full guard.
Choi content to stall in guard here.
Paulo keeping moving, preventing Choi from controlling successfully.
Paulo keeping full guard, as Choi tries to pass.
Choi is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Choi throws a series of punches but Paulo moves out of range.
And Paulo tries to counter it with a takedown but Choi pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Paulo avoids the body shot from Choi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Choi finds it's target.
Paulo throws a lazy uppercut
and Choi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Paulo throws a hook but Choi blocks it.
Paulo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Choi counters with a stiff right hand.
Hyun Jun Choi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Paulo shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Paulo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Paulo is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Choi has managed to free his arm - good work.
Pedro Paulo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Paulo is thwarting Choi's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Choi is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Paulo is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Paulo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Choi tries to roll over but Paulo keeps him under control.
Paulo takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Paulo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Choi is concentrating on defense, preventing Paulo from advancing position.
Choi's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Paulo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Choi makes his way to full guard, as Paulo worked for a kimura.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Choi lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hyun Jun Choi dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Choi scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A decent looking cross lands there for Choi.
Paulo misses with a few strikes there.
Choi has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Paulo finds it's way round the side to connect with Choi's head.
Paulo slips a jab from Choi.

Paulo shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Paulo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Paulo throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Choi to regain full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Choi pulls Paulo in close to his closed guard and prevents Paulo from doing any damage or advancing position.
Paulo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Paulo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Paulo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Paulo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Paulo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Choi is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Paulo throws a strike but Choi rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Choi won't allow Paulo to sweep him here.
Paulo wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Paulo looking for a sweep. Not yet Paulo, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Choi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Paulo is keeping the position for now.
Choi trying to control the position from guard on top but Paulo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Paulo is on top in guard.

Paulo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Paulo working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Paulo is the more experienced fighter here and he's going to need to draw on some of that experience if he's going to pull this one out the bag.
Paulo throws a strike but Choi rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Choi controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Choi trying to control the position from guard on top but Paulo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hyun Jun Choi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulo looking for a sweep. Not yet Paulo, not yet.
Choi is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Paulo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Choi sitting in guard here, content to control.
Further stalling from Choi.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Paulo controls Choi momentarily but Choi frees himself.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four 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.
Choi checks a leg kick.
Choi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Paulo was well out of range. Poor timing from Choi.
A clash of legs there as Paulo blocks the low kick.
Paulo with the counter takedown but Choi avoids it easily.
Choi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Paulo moves away.
Choi lands a jab to the head.
Paulo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Choi.
Paulo is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Choi misses with a wild body shot.
Paulo is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Paulo fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Choi to the ground. Paulo is now in Choi's guard.
Pedro Paulo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paulo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Hyun Jun Choi.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Choi, 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Hyun Jun Choi!
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Hyun Jun Choi!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Hyun Jun Choi!

Hyun Jun Choi wins by unanimous decision!
Hyun Jun Choi bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.