PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Amare Herring (ranked 4915 p4p, 5293 weight class) and Seung Woo Choi (ranked 282 p4p, 294 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Herring
vs
Choi

165 cm
18
138
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
24
153
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Amare Herring!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Seung Woo Choi!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, John Roberts and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Herring is defended easily by Choi.
Herring throws a head kick that misses.

Choi clinches.
Choi throws an elbow but it misses.
Choi utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Choi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Herring tries to pull guard but Choi forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.
Choi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Choi breaks from the clinch.
Choi tries to close the distance and clinch but Herring swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Choi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Choi landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Choi lands an elbow that stopped Herring in his tracks for a moment.

Choi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Herring will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Amare Herring. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Herring is breathing heavily.

Choi pushes Herring up against the ropes in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Choi misses with the head strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Choi.

It looks like Amare Herring has been cut.
Choi lands a nice uppercut.
Herring is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Herring blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Choi throws an elbow but misses.
Herring has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Herring wants to get back to striking at distance but Choi won't allow it.
Choi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Herring.
Choi gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Choi with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Choi prevents Herring from breaking the clinch.

Choi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Choi lands a head kick. Herring smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Choi is looking to clinch.

Herring rushes Choi and presses him up against the ropes.
Choi looking for a takedown.
Herring takes an elbow to the forehead.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Herring jumps guard and drags Choi to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Herring wants to hit a sweep here but Choi passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Herring there!
Choi controlling from mount.
Choi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Herring is looking to escape.
Choi controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Choi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Herring is looking to escape.
Herring keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Choi content just to control the position here.
Herring keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Choi tries to control but Herring wriggling away.
Choi is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Choi content just to control the position here.
Choi tries to control but Herring wriggling away.
Herring is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Choi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Herring is looking to escape.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Herring is trying to stand.
Herring keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Choi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Herring throwing hammer fists to the chest of Choi. What's that going to do exactly?
Choi looking to control but Herring is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Herring working to try and regain half guard.
Choi wants to control the pace but Herring is squirming around nicely.
Herring is desperately trying to improve his position but Choi has a good base and remains in mount.
Choi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Herring tries to hold on but Choi postures up.
Choi prevents Herring from getting the reversal.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Herring is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Herring is squirming around, avoiding Choi's attempts to control the action.
Herring is wriggling around trying to escape.
Choi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Herring is looking to escape.
Herring is in all sorts of trouble here.
Herring is squirming around, avoiding Choi's attempts to control the action.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Herring tries to hold on but Choi pushes him away.
Choi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Herring is looking to escape.
Choi wants to control the action but instead Herring gets a body lock and reverses into Choi's guard! Nice work!

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Herring scoring with punches to the head and body.
Choi will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Choi wants to get back to his feet but Herring is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Herring pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Choi is keeping the position for now.
Herring might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Choi is looking to stand up but Herring isn't so interested in that idea.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Herring wants to pass the guard but Choi is keeping the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Seung Woo Choi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Amare Herring's cut.
That's time! Herring's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Herring takes the fight into the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Choi.
Choi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Choi fails to land.
Still in the clinch, Choi scores with a nice short uppercut.
Choi with a knee to the head.
Herring blocks a body shot from Choi.

Herring gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Choi regains guard.

Choi has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Herring off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Herring crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Choi - the referee stops the clock and Herring gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Choi. Herring manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

Choi clinches up against the ropes.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Choi just misses with a elbow thrown towards Herring's brow.
Herring is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herring wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Choi has him pressed against the ropes.
Choi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Choi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Choi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Herring has Choi pushed against the ropes.
Choi jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Herring walks away with a smile on his face. Choi gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Herring will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Choi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Herring doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Choi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Choi.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Amare Herring. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Choi landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Choi lands a damaging elbow.
Herring avoids a wild elbow strike from Choi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Choi lands a nice elbow.

Choi breaks the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Choi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Herring tries to clinch but Choi moves out of range.
Choi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Choi wants to clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Choi swats away the attempt to clinch by Herring.
Choi pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Choi closes the distance and clinches.
Choi throws an elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herring tries to pull guard but Choi holds him up against the ropes and eventually Herring drops back down to his feet.
Herring blocks an elbow strike from Choi.
A nice right hand lands inside from Choi.
Herring on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Herring has clasped his hands together around Choi's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Choi tries to bench press Herring off him but Herring keeps the position.
Herring trying to control the position but Choi is working away.
Choi is trying to improve his position.
Herring taking a breather here.
Choi is looking to regain half guard here but Herring keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herring in side control lands a decent elbow.
Herring controlling the position from side mount.
Choi is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Herring has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Herring working the head with strikes.
Choi is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Herring off and has taken his back!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Choi is hanging on to Herring's back as he tries to escape.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Choi wants to control but Herring is keeping busy.

Herring manages to escape to his feet.
Herring shoots in for a takedown but Choi shows good takedown defense.
Seung Woo Choi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Herring dives in and grabs Choi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Choi pushes down on Herring's head and hops out.

Herring gets tackled into the ropes by Choi. Choi maintains the clinch.
Herring avoids a wild elbow strike from Choi.

Choi breaks the clinch.

Choi has taken the fight to the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Choi.
Choi lands a damaging elbow.
Choi swings wildly with an uppercut but Herring uses good head movement to avoid it.
Choi softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Choi throws an elbow but it misses.
Choi misses with an elbow strike.
Choi pushes Herring back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Seung Woo Choi seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Herring dodges an elbow strike from Choi.
Choi tries a knee to the head but Herring blocks it.
Choi tries a knee to the head but Herring blocks it.
Herring tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Herring is trying to break free.
Herring is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Choi gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Choi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Choi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Herring with a poor takedown

and Choi counters by moving into the clinch.
Choi pushes off an throws an elbow but Herring leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Choi throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Herring avoids the elbow strike from Choi, against the ropes.
Good body shot from Choi.
Choi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Choi misses with an elbow over the top.
Herring wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Choi has him pressed against the ropes.
Herring is trying to pull guard but Choi turns him against the ropes and we stay in the clinch.
Choi throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Choi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Choi comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Choi landing knees to the body.

Herring breaks the clinch.

Choi moves into range and clinches up with Herring.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Choi stops a takedown attempt from Herring.

Herring breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Choi closes the distance and clinches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Choi.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Choi just misses with a elbow thrown towards Herring's brow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Choi lands a nice elbow.
Herring tries to pull guard but Choi won't allow it.
A short body shot lands from Choi as the two fighters clinch.
Herring is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Choi is keeping busy.
Herring dodges an elbow strike from Choi.
Choi landing knees to the head.
Herring goes for a takedown in the clinch but Choi prevents it.
Choi gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Herring takes an elbow to the forehead.
Seung Woo Choi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Herring takes an elbow to the forehead.
Choi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Herring drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Choi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Choi with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Choi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Herring.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Choi obliges.
Amare Herring has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Choi landing knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Seung Woo Choi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Choi 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 18:20
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 18:20
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 18:20

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Seung Woo Choi!