PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Eduardo Chavez (ranked 1509 p4p, 1762 weight class) and Pope Callixtus (ranked 114 p4p, 134 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Chavez
vs
Callixtus

171 cm
26
138
5 - 1 - 0

167 cm
26
140
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Eduardo Chavez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Pope Callixtus!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Sandra Marshall and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Callixtus ducks under a wild hook from Chavez.

Callixtus closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Chavez quickly recovers to half guard.
Chavez works his way to full guard. Good work.
Callixtus stopping the sweep attempt from Chavez.
Chavez is working hard here to advance position.
Callixtus trying to control the position from guard on top but Chavez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chavez being controlled here, momentarily.
Chavez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Callixtus thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Chavez lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Chavez trying to control but Callixtus is working from the bottom.
Callixtus keeping full guard, as Chavez tries to pass.
Callixtus trying to keep a closed guard but Chavez is proving a slippery customer.
Callixtus pulls Chavez in close to his closed guard and prevents Chavez from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two 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.
Chavez preventing the sweep.
Callixtus keeping full guard, as Chavez tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Callixtus escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Chavez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Chavez looking to pass the guard.
Callixtus lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Chavez has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chavez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Callixtus is one step ahead there.
Callixtus wants to control from the top but Chavez keeps moving.

Chavez is looking for a triangle here but Callixtus uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Callixtus looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Chavez sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
The fighters are battling for position here. Chavez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Callixtus looking to pass the guard.
Chavez trying to keep a closed guard but Callixtus is proving a slippery customer.
Callixtus pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Chavez is keeping the position for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pope Callixtus dominated that round.
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.

Chavez lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Chavez connects with a right hand. Callixtus shakes it off.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Callixtus closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Chavez did well to prevent Callixtus getting side control.
Callixtus is controlling the pace.
Callixtus has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Callixtus is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Chavez sees it coming and defends easily.
Chavez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pope Callixtus has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Callixtus seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chavez keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Chavez wants to control but Callixtus is keeping busy.
Chavez tries to roll over but Callixtus keeps him under control.
Chavez wants to control but Callixtus is keeping busy.
Chavez tries to get to full guard but Callixtus has control of the leg.
Callixtus not doing much here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Chavez is looking to control Callixtus's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Chavez avoid being mounted?

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Chavez moves into the clinch.

Callixtus is trying to trip Chavez. He has hold of a leg but Chavez is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Callixtus persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Callixtus looking to sit in guard and control but Chavez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Callixtus trying to control the position.
Chavez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Callixtus working for a triangle but Chavez defends it easily.

Callixtus looking for a guillotine here but Chavez defends easily.
Chavez wants to control from the top but Callixtus keeps moving.
Callixtus trying to control the position here.

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

Chavez is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Callixtus is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Chavez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Chavez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Chavez looking to pass the guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Chavez postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Callixtus is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Chavez, into his guard.

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

Pope Callixtus showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Callixtus closes the distance and clinches.
Eduardo Chavez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chavez wants a takedown.
Chavez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Callixtus gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Chavez pulls guard successfully.
Callixtus trying to control the position from guard on top but Chavez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chavez wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Callixtus sitting in guard here, content to control.
Callixtus is continuing to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chavez with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Callixtus can't handle though.
Callixtus trying to control the position from guard on top but Chavez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Chavez holds on and takes a little breather.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Callixtus changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Chavez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Callixtus working away.

Callixtus looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Chavez is trying to control Callixtus's posture but Callixtus avoids it.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Callixtus has control of an arm but Chavez manages to advance to Callixtus's back!

Callixtus showing good submission defense here.
Chavez controlling well, preventing Callixtus from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Callixtus is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Chavez not allowing Callixtus to control his hands.
Callixtus rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Callixtus is looking to improve his position.
Chavez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Callixtus defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Callixtus is looking to improve his position.
Chavez drops an elbow to the side of Callixtus's head.

Chavez is looking for a kimura here.
Chavez wants to control but Callixtus is keeping him busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Callixtus wants to improve his position but Chavez is controlling well.

Chavez is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Callixtus sees it coming and defends easily.

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 Eduardo Chavez.
I think Callixtus has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:30
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pope Callixtus!