PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Raate Road (ranked 38 p4p, 84 weight class) and Jensen Chelios (ranked 6 p4p, 13 weight class). Road's entrance music is For Heavy Metal we will die!. A fine choice. Chelios comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Shabba kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Jensen Chelios has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Road
vs
Chelios

183 cm
31
173
21 - 4 - 1

179 cm
34
177
19 - 8 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Conviction
Heavy Metal Drugs

HELLBENT
Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Raate Road!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jensen Chelios!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Road ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Chelios moves away.
Chelios unleashes a big counter combination but Road bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
We've been hearing reports that Road has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
A big right from Road misses.
Road sets himself, and Chelios steps forward looking for the clinch! Road avoids it this time.
Road misses with a left hand
letting Chelios counter with a right hand.
Road misses with a looping left.
Road throws a right hand that misses
and Chelios counters with an outside leg kick.
Raate Road seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Road misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Chelios pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A slow jab from Chelios misses its intended target.
Road half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Chelios tries to move into range but Road moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Road misses the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Road staying out of range there.
Chelios missing with a left hand there. Road was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Road throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Chelios counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Road missing with a left hand there. Chelios was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Road looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Chelios is fending him off so far but Road persists. Nope, Chelios circles away and we're back to standing.
Chelios wants to counter with a clinch but Road pushes him away.
Road scores with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chelios looks to land a left hand but Road moved out of range nicely.
Chelios takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Chelios dips to his left and cracks Road with an uppercut!
Chelios has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Road loads up on a big right hand but Chelios slips the punch.
A jab from Chelios misses.
Chelios connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Road momentarily.

Road gets a double leg takedown into Chelios's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Chelios holds on and takes a little breather.
Road stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Chelios swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chelios looking to hit a scissor sweep but Road is one step ahead there.
Road cracks Chelios with a solid left hand.
Road works over Chelios with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Road accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Road stands up over Chelios, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Road scoring with some ground and pound.
Road has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Road being controlled here momentarily.
Chelios looking to hit a scissor sweep but Road is one step ahead there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Road accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Chelios working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Road.
Road chips away with some ground and pound.
Chelios has his hands on Road's head, controlling the position.
Road is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Road trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Road lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Road is looking to work some ground and pound but Chelios has wrist control.
Road postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Chelios pulls Road in close to prevent any damage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Chelios is continuing to stall.
Chelios wants to sweep but no luck.
Chelios working a defensive guard here.
Road throws an elbow that misses. Chelios uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Road's guard. Nice move by Chelios!

Road is trying to control the position but Chelios postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Road had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Chelios defends it easily.

Road looking for a guillotine here but Chelios defends easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Chelios accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Road is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Chelios is looking to work some ground and pound but Road has wrist control.

Road had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Chelios defends it easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Road is on top in guard.

Hammerfist, elbow! yells Road's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Raate Road dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Chelios takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Road is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Chelios can do to turn this around?
Chelios tries to clinch
letting Road counter with a right hand.
Chelios displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Road.
Chelios swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Chelios ducks under a wild hook from Road.
Chelios is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Road throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Chelios sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Chelios slips under a jab.
Road is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Road misses with a hook.
Chelios takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Road feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Chelioss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Road takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chelios throws a nice inside leg kick.
Road misses with a body punch
and Chelios counters with a leg kick.
Chelios throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Chelios looks to land a combination but Road avoids it well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Road dips to his left and cracks Chelios with an uppercut!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Road throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Road misses with a low kick.
Road misses with a looping left.
Road thumps Chelios with a low kick.
A nice leg kick from Road, right into the meat of the thigh.
Road clobbers Chelios with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Chelios scoring well with a low kick there.
Road throws a leg kick
and Chelios counters with a low kick, right behind Road 's knee.
A nice leg kick from Chelios, right into the meat of the thigh.
Chelios throws a hook but Road blocks it.
Road throws a hook to the side of Chelios's head but Chelios sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Road throws out a loose jab but Chelios uses good head movement to avoid it.
Road throws a jab but it's blocked by Chelios.
Road moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Chelios has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Road finds it's way round the side to connect with Chelios's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Chelios tries to work over Road's front leg with a kick but Road checks it.
Road throws a jab but it's blocked by Chelios.
Road sets himself, and Chelios steps forward looking for the clinch! Road avoids it this time.

Road gets the takedown into side control.
Road working away.
Road tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Road lands a few punches from side control.
Chelios manages to work his way to half guard, despite Road's best efforts.
Chelios taking some punishment here, with Road in his half guard.
Chelios controlling the position for now.
Chelios is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Road scores with a couple of nice shots.
Chelios works his way to full guard. Good work.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Road's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Road makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Road throws an elbow that misses. Chelios uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Road's guard. Nice move by Chelios!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chelios pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Road is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Road keeping moving, preventing Chelios from controlling successfully.
Chelios sitting in guard here, content to control.
Road preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Road is trying to control the position but Chelios postures up.
Road wants to hit a sweep here but Chelios passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Road there!
Road is working to get back to half guard.
Chelios tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Chelios looking to control but Road is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chelios is trying to take his opponent's back.
Road tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Road tries to improve his position but instead Chelios has taken his back!
Chelios is punishing Road with some ground and pound.
Chelios trying to control.
Chelios biding his time, looking for the opening.
Road can't escape the position.
Road is working hard here to advance position.
Chelios avoiding Road 's attempts to control his hands.
Chelios struggling to keep hold of the position.
Chelios thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
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 Raate Road will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Chelios tries to clinch but Road moves out of range.
Chelios takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Good work by Road as he checks the leg kick.
Road lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Chelios.
Chelios uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Road.
Chelios has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Road finds it's way round the side to connect with Chelios's head.
Road keeps the fight on the outside.
A jab from Road misses.
It seemed like Chelios was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Chelios looks to land a right hand but Road moved out of range.
Road attempts a counter takedown but Chelios avoids it well and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chelios slips under a jab.
Road connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Chelios's hands.
Chelios throws a hook but Road avoids it easily.
A swing and a miss from Chelios.
Chelios takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Road lands a nice looking body shot.
Chelios walks into a left hand.
Road attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Road misses with a looping right.
Chelios wants to counter with a clinch but Road pushes him away.
Chelios throws a leg kick

and Road counters with a nice double leg into side control. Chelios won't be happy with that.
Chelios on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Road tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Road working away.
Road misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The ground and pound from Road seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Road landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Road throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Chelios works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
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!
Road prevents Chelios from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Road lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Chelios wants to get back to full guard.
Road slips a nice elbow through Chelios's hands, connecting with Chelios's forehead.
Road trying to mount his opponent but Chelios defends it.
Road missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Road looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Road winds up and cracks Chelios with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Chelios keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Road thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Road lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Chelios avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Road.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chelios wants to control but Road is keeping busy.
Road thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Road lands with a punch from half guard.
Chelios trying to control from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Road there.
Road throws a strike but Chelios avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Road loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Chelios trying to keep a closed guard but Road is proving a slippery customer.
Chelios wants to sweep here but Road controlling him for the moment.
Road connects with a couple of short punches.
Road throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Road chips away with some ground and pound.
Road postures up in Chelios's guard and throws a big left but Chelios blocks it.
Raate Road overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Road working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Road in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Chelios is pulling down on Road's head to control his posture.
The adventures of Chelios the control monster continue. Boring.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Road accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Chelios has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Road stands up over Chelios, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Road lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Road throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Raate Road clearly takes that round.
That's time! Road's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Chelios misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Road.
Chelios uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Road.
The fighters circling - Chelios throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Chelios is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Road.
Road is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Road connects with a single shot there.
Chelios misses with a looping right.
Road is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Road throws a body punch but Chelios moves out of range.

Road drives through with a takedown into Chelios's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Chelios working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Road.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chelios looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Chelios has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Road can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Road postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chelios wants to sweep but no luck.
Road throwing strikes from guard but Chelios blocks nicely.
Chelios avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Chelios pulls Road in close to prevent any damage.
Let's hope that Chelios has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Chelios controls Road momentarily but Road frees himself.
Road working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Road is in close to Chelios's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Road working some strikes from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chelios is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Road defends well.
Chelios is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Road postures up and lands a big shot to Chelios's brow.
Road connects with a couple of short punches.
Chelios trying to keep a closed guard but Road is proving a slippery customer.
Road throws a strike but Chelios rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Road looking for subs off his back but Chelios has passed one foot through into half guard.
Road gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Road is looking to sweep but instead, Chelios has passed into half guard.
Chelios tries to pass the half guard into mount. Road knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Road is not content to let Chelios control the position.
Road trying to hold on to Chelios's head to control him but Chelios postures up.
Road wants to improve his position but Chelios is controlling well.
Road moves into full guard.
Road is pulling down on Chelios's head to control his posture.

That's four 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.
Chelios engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Road is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Chelios is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Chelios looking to pass the guard.
Chelios controlling from the top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Chelios passes Road's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Chelios keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Raate Road will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A shot to the liver by Road. Beautiful body shot.
Chelios ducks under a wild hook from Road.
Road scores with a jab to the jaw.
Raate Road is winning the standup battle so far.
Road tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Chelios is able to avoid easily.
Chelios walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Road checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Road connects with a crisp jab.
Road connects with a right hand. Chelios shakes it off.
Road throws a poor cross that misses

and Chelios counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Chelios.
Road is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Chelios gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Road ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Road no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chelios is fighting to break Road's control of his arms but Road is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Chelios wants to control from the top but Road keeps moving.
Chelios controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Road wants to sweep here but Chelios controlling him for the moment.
Road working a defensive guard here.
Chelios pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Road is keeping the position for now.
Road is trying to keep Chelios in close.
Chelios trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Chelios trying to control the position from guard on top but Road is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Road escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Chelios gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Road wants to sweep here but Chelios controlling him for the moment.
Jensen Chelios has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two 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.
Chelios missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Road working a defensive guard here.
Chelios throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Road works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Chelios decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Road, up you get!
Road catches Chelios with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Road shoots for a double leg takedown but Chelios sprawls well. He's pushed Road's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Chelios looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Road slips a straight right by Chelios.
Road shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Chelios sprawls well. Chelios wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Road gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raate Road. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Road throws a nice outside leg kick.
Jensen Chelios is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Road is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Chelios's half guard.
Road missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Chelios regains full guard. Nicely done.
Road with a flurry of punches that miss.
Chelios not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Chelios utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Road scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Chelios had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Road defends it easily.
Road scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Road postures up in Chelios's guard and throws a big left but Chelios blocks it.
Road throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Road postures up in Chelios's guard and throws a big left but Chelios blocks it.
Chelios trying to control the position.
Road working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Road is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Road throws a big elbow that misses.
Road passes into half guard.
Road winds up and cracks Chelios with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Road working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Chelios is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Road scores with a couple of nice shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raate Road showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Road, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 50:45
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 50:45
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raate Road!
Raate Road is the new welterweight champion!
A very excited looking Raate Road made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.