PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Rowley (ranked 2413 p4p, 2349 weight class) and Jeong Hoon Chai (ranked 208 p4p, 203 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Rowley
vs
Chai

175 cm
21
152
4 - 2 - 0

175 cm
21
145
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Great low kicks
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Northern Zombie
Shadow Realm Apparel

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Stephen Rowley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Jeong Hoon Chai!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Gregory Folan and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chai looks to land a left hand but Rowley moved out of range nicely.
Rowley swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Rowley looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Rowley checks a low kick from Chai.
Chai bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rowley's head backwards.
Chai turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rowley chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Chai can pounce on him.
Rowley takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Rowley misses the jab.
Rowley tries to clinch but Chai moves out of range.
Rowley swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Chai throws a body punch but Rowley moves out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Chai.
Chai throws a sloppy head kick and Rowley moves out of range easily.
Rowley looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Danga de danga de dang - Chai scores with a four punch combination!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Chai throws an off balance right hand
and Rowley counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Chai connects with a single shot there.
A combination from Chai does no damage.
Rowley fires out a quick counter leg kick but Chai just manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rowley pushes Chai up against the cage in a clinch.
Chai tries to circle away but Rowley has him pinned against the cage.
Chai misses with the head strike.
Chai fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Chai prevents a body shot from Rowley.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Chai.
Rowley misses with a body punch.
Rowley lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Chai backwards.
Rowley is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Chai to keep the fight standing.
Chai works on Rowley's body with a couple of short punches.
Chai misses with a punch to the body.
Chai working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Chai tries to throw a body punch but Rowley avoids it by throwing Chai back against the cage.
Chai prevents a body shot from Rowley.
Rowley cracks Chai with a nice body shot.
Rowley lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Chai.
Chai misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rowley misses with a hook to the ribs.
Chai misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rowley misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rowley tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A nice left hand lands by Chai.
Chai throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Chai fails to land.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Chai.
Rowley tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Chai just stands there and leans against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rowley.
Rowley misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Rowley fails to land.
Chai lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rowley or not.
Rowley can't find room to land a body shot as Chai controls the action.
Chai lands a body punch.
Chai lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rowley backwards.
Rowley softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Chai scores with a shot to the side of Rowley's head.
Rowley tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Chai misses with a hook from the clinch.
Chai lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Chai breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rowley looks to score with a jab to the body but Chai is just out of range.
Chai's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Chai duly obliges.
Chai paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A punch combination from Rowley misses.
Chai fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rowley has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rowley checks a leg kick nicely.
Chai keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rowley.
Chai misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Chai ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rowley moves away.
Rowley wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Rowley checks a leg kick.
Rowley wants to clinch up but Chai keeps it at a distance.
Chai fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rowley has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rowley misses with a kick to the body
and Chai counters with a good low kick that Rowley was not able to check.
Chai moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
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!
Chai tries to bum rush Rowley with a series of wild strikes but Rowley uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rowley tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Chai was well out of range. Poor timing from Rowley.
Rowley misses with a hook
and Rowley takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rowley wants to clinch.
A little jabbing left from Chai on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Rowley tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Chai paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Rowley drives through and clinches with Chai against the cage.
Chai swings wildly with an uppercut but Rowley uses good head movement to avoid it.
Chai tries to work over Rowley's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rowley gets through Chai's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Chai on the inside.
Chai makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rowley working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A right hook to the body lands for Chai.
Chai misses with a body punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jeong Hoon Chai dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rowley throws a body kick that misses.
Chai connects with a looping right hand.
Chai scores with a hook to the body. Rowley takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Chai turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Jab from Chai.
Chai throws a shot from downtown. Rowley moves away and avoids it.
Chai waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rowley.
Chai with a nice calf kick.
Chai throws a series of punches but Rowley avoids them all with ease.
Rowley is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chai waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rowley.
Rowley seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Chai gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Chai throws a lazy right hand but Rowley sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Chai with a nice cross.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rowley takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Rowley misses.
Chai is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Rowley has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Chai.
Rowley tries to close the distance and clinch up but Chai swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A chopping leg kick lands by Chai.
Chai keeps the fight on the outside.
Jeong Hoon Chai seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Chai is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rowley.
A telegraphed right hand from Chai misses the target.
Rowley moves out of range of the leg kick from Chai.
Rowley lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Rowley looks to land a left hand but Chai moved out of range nicely.
Rowley avoids a kick to the body.
Rowley scores with a nice head shot.
Jeong Hoon Chai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rowley avoids the head kick by Chai.
Rowley wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Chai.
Chai misses with a right hand
and Rowley counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chai misses with a series of wild punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rowley does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Chai misses with a two punch combination.
Chai keeps the fight on the outside.
Chai lands with an uppercut that bounces Rowley off the cage and back into range.
Rowley throws a push kick but Chai slaps the foot to one side.
Chai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rowley avoids the body shot from Chai.
Chai misses with a head kick.
Chai fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rowley manages to avoid it.
Chai tries to land a front kick but Rowley steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rowley walks into a stiff left hand from Chai.
Rowley lands a really nice looking cross but Chai seems unphased.
Rowley blocks a jab.
Rowley throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chai looks to throw the jab but Rowley is out of range.
Chai throws out a powerful jab.
Chai keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Chai throws the left hand but Rowley avoids the punch easily.
Chai has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rowley ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Chai moves away.
Chai misses with a left hand
and Rowley counters with a nice body kick.
Rowley blocks a jab.
Chai takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Rowley is looking to clinch but Chai is avoiding it.
Chai throws a right and a left that Rowley avoids nicely.
Rowley moves out of range of the strikes.
Rowley defending well as Chai loads up on a big left hand.
Rowley lands a really nice looking cross but Chai seems unphased.
Rowley takes a swing at Chai's ribcage but misses.
Chai scores with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chai is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rowley.
Rowley is looking to counter punch.
Chai swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rowley throws a sloppy head kick and Chai moves out of range easily.
Rowley throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Chai sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Chai takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Chai throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Chai cracks Rowley with a right hand to the side of the head.
Chai throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Chai throws a series of punches but Rowley avoids them all with ease.
Rowley stuns Chai with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Rowley uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Chai.
Rowley on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Rowley loads up on a big right hand but Chai slips the punch.
Rowley throws a body shot but no joy.
Chai lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jeong Hoon Chai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

A slow jab from Chai misses its intended target.
Chai scores with a sloppy right hand. Rowley should have avoided that one.
Rowley's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Chai connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Rowley scrambles back to his feet.

Rowley moves into the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rowley.
Rowley tries to work over Chai's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rowley tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Chai's elbow.
Rowley lands a nice shot to the body.
Chai throws a punch but it's blocked by Rowley.
Rowley is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Rowley misses with a body punch.
Chai misses with a punch on the inside.
Rowley has a couple of punches blocked by Chai.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chai misses with a punch to the body.
Chai working aggressively here.
Chai throws a punch but it's blocked by Rowley.
Rowley blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rowley blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Rowley pulls guard.
Chai must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Rowley working for a triangle but Chai defends it easily.

Rowley is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rowley wants to control but Chai passes easily into half guard.
Rowley trying to control here.
Stephen Rowley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Rowley looking for submissions off his back.

Rowley looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rowley trying to hold on to Chai's head to control him but Chai postures up.

Rowley actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowley regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rowley trying to control the position.

Rowley looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Chai passes into half guard.
Rowley manages to get to full guard.
Rowley is controlling Chai's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Rowley is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chai trying to control the position from guard on top but Rowley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jeong Hoon Chai is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rowley not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Chai looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Chai looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Chai connects with a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jeong Hoon Chai.
I've got Chai winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30

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