PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Finnegan Chapman (ranked 5386 p4p, 5287 weight class) and Nikolas Conner (ranked 291 p4p, 288 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Chapman
vs
Conner

170 cm
23
135
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
144
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Good knees
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BANZAI COMBAT NUTRITION

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Finnegan Chapman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nikolas Conner!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Fujiwara and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chapman misses with a looping right.
Conner misses with a few strikes there.
Conner tries to bum rush Chapman with a series of wild strikes but Chapman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Conner throws a nice looking combination but Chapman bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Conner moves into the clinch.
Chapman scores with a shot to the side of Conner's head.
Conner pushes Chapman back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Chapman tries a knee to the head but Conner blocks it.
Chapman lands a nice uppercut.
Chapman with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Chapman lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Conner blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Chapman scores with a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Chapman.
Chapman tries a knee to the head but Conner blocks it.
Chapman has Conner pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chapman tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Conner avoids it.
Chapman tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Chapman tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Chapman tries to land knees in the clinch but Conner avoids the damage to the body.
Conner looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Chapman landing knees to the head.
Chapman throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Conner blocks it with crossed arms.
Chapman misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Conner.
Conner tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Chapman avoids it.
Chapman presses Conner against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Chapman blocking some punches.
Conner on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Chapman working Conner over with knees to the body.
Chapman scores with a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chapman is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Conner is defending well for now.
Chapman has Conner pushed against the cage.
Conner tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Chapman's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Chapman tries a knee to the head but Conner blocks it.
Chapman displaying some good clinch control by pressing Conner up against the cage.
Chapman using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Conner has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Chapman as Conner tries to tie him up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chapman putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Conner in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Chapman tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Chapman trying to land knees to the body.
Chapman with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Chapman scores a nice knee to the body.
Conner throws a punch but it's blocked by Chapman.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Conner.
Chapman stalling against the cage.
Conner misses with a punch to the body.
Conner managing to block the knees to the body from Chapman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Conner is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Chapman is keeping busy.
Chapman lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short right from Chapman on the inside.
Conner managing to block the knees to the body from Chapman.
Conner stalling in the clinch but Chapman improves position.
A hook to the body from Chapman.
Chapman scores a nice knee to the body.
Chapman throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Conner blocks it with crossed arms.
A nice left hand lands by Chapman.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Chapman as Conner tries to tie him up.
Chapman pushes Conner back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Finnegan Chapman dominated that round.
That's time! Chapman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Conner misses with a few strikes there.
It looked like Chapman wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Chapman gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Chapman.
Chapman utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Chapman connects with a nasty looking knee right to Conner's face.
Chapman with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Chapman misses with a knee strike.
Chapman tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Conner avoids it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Conner swings wildly with an uppercut but Chapman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Chapman crunches a lovely knee into Conner's ribcage.
Conner takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chapman lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Conner or not.
Chapman lands a knee to the body.
Conner is breathing heavily.
A nice left hand lands by Chapman.
Chapman misses with a knee to the head.
Chapman looking to throw knees to the head but Conner is blocking nicely.
Conner is looking to control Chapman's arms but Chapman gets an underhook and turns him. Now Conner has his back to the cage.
Chapman presses Conner against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Chapman using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Conner has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Conner wants to stall.
Come on Chapman - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Conner on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chapman lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Conner.
Conner takes a knee to the side of the body.
Chapman with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Finnegan Chapman has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Conner takes a knee to the side of the body.
Chapman effectively controlling the action here.
Chapman on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Chapman lands a knee to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Chapman obliges.
Chapman lands a body shot in the clinch.
Chapman connects with a knee to the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chapman connects with a nasty looking knee right to Conner's face.

It looks like Nikolas Conner has been cut.
Chapman scores with a knee to the head.
Chapman looking to throw knees to the head but Conner is blocking nicely.
Chapman landing knees to the head.
Conner wants to stall.
Chapman tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Conner throws an elbow but it misses.
Chapman dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Chapman misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Conner is trying to maintain a safe position but Chapman gets an underhook and turns Conner into the cage.
Chapman makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Chapman scores with a nice hook to the head.
Conner looking to stall.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Chapman takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Chapman lands with a left to the head.
Chapman scores with an uppercut up the middle.
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!
Conner swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Chapman tries a knee to the head but Conner blocks it.
Chapman tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Finnegan Chapman dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Nikolas Conner's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Conner fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Jab by Conner.
Nice defenses there by Conner.
Conner looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Chapman throws a big counter combination but Conner scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Conner throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Chapman.
Conner swinging wildly here.

Chapman clinches with his opponent.
Chapman scores with a knee to the head.
Chapman lands a nice knee to the body.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Conner fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Conner takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Chapman looking to throw knees to the head but Conner is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chapman working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Chapman controlling the action here for a moment.
Chapman using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Conner has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Chapman tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Conner avoids it.
Chapman using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Conner has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Knees to the body from Chapman.
A shot in the inside from Chapman.
Conner throws an elbow but it misses.
Chapman tries a knee to the head but Conner blocks it.
Chapman lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chapman lands a knee to the head.
Chapman looking to throw knees to the head but Conner is blocking nicely.
Conner tries to stall but Chapman uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Chapman looking to throw knees to the head but Conner is blocking nicely.
Chapman lands a nice knee to the body.
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!
Conner has a couple of punches blocked by Chapman.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Chapman as Conner tries to tie him up.
Chapman scores with a knee to the head.
Conner misses with the head strike.
Chapman tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Chapman is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Conner is defending well for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chapman stalling against the cage.
Chapman scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Conner misses with a body punch.
Chapman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Conner can do to turn this around?
Chapman misses with a knee strike.
Chapman tries a knee to the head but Conner blocks it.
Chapman missing with knees to the body.
Chapman has Conner pushed against the cage.
Chapman lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Chapman landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Chapman landing knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chapman tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Conner has a couple of punches blocked by Chapman.
Conner managing to block the knees to the body from Chapman.
Finnegan Chapman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Chapman connects with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Chapman.
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!
Conner tries to throw a body punch but Chapman avoids it by throwing Conner back against the cage.
Conner landing knees to the body.
Conner blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Chapman working Conner over with knees to the body.
Chapman using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Conner taking a breather.
Nikolas Conner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chapman lands a knee to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Finnegan Chapman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Chapman, 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:26
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:26
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Finnegan Chapman!