PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Olof Hellstrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phi Cho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hellstrom
vs
Cho

170 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

164 cm
21
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Olof Hellstrom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Phi Cho!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Hugh Johnson and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hellstrom looks to land a left hand but Cho moved out of range nicely.

Cho bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cho working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Cho decides to stand back up. Cho steps back and let's Hellstrom get back to his feet.

Cho clinches.
Cho slows down the pace here.
Cho lands a hook that snaps the head of Hellstrom backwards.

Cho pulls Hellstrom into guard.
Hellstrom wants to control from the top but Cho keeps moving.
Cho lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hellstrom!
Hellstrom is desperately trying to improve his position but Cho has a good base and remains in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cho lands a nice shot to the head.
Cho controlling his opponent.
Hellstrom is wriggling around trying to escape.
Cho sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hellstrom working to try and regain half guard.
Cho looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hellstrom is desperately trying to improve his position but Cho has a good base and remains in mount.
Cho controlling from mount.
Hellstrom slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Hellstrom tries to roll over but Cho keeps him under control.
Hellstrom is working hard here to advance position.
Cho trying to pass the guard but Hellstrom defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cho trying to control the pace.
Cho throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cho is taking a breather. Hellstrom says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Hellstrom moves into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cho slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

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

Despite being in the dominant position, Phi Cho just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Cho clinches with his opponent.
Hellstrom tries for a takedown. No joy.
A short uppercut from Cho.
Cho leaning his opponent against the cage.

Cho breaks from the clinch.
Cho lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Cho tries to clinch up but Hellstrom circles away and keeps his distance.
Hellstrom wants to clinch
and Cho counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Hellstrom is breathing heavily.
Hellstrom misses with a takedown attempt
and Cho counters with a right hand to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Cho has taken the fight to the clinch.

Cho pulls guard successfully.
Cho wants to improve his position but instead Hellstrom has moved into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phi Cho dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cho clinches.
Cho lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Hellstrom or not.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Cho.

Cho pulls guard effortlessly.
Cho has control of Hellstrom's left arm, preventing Hellstrom from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cho wants to sweep but no luck.
Cho trying to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Cho has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Hellstrom has passed into side control.
Cho is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hellstrom working away.
Cho tries to bench press Hellstrom off him but Hellstrom keeps the position.
Cho is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hellstrom gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Cho counters with a shoot takedown. Hellstrom fights it but they end up in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cho looking to pass the guard.
Cho really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hellstrom. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cho controlling from the top position.
Cho throws a big right hand that misses.
Cho's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phi Cho showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Cho clinches with his opponent.
Cho prevents a takedown attempt there.
Hellstrom wants a takedown.
Cho prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Olof Hellstrom. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cho breaks from the clinch.

Cho closes the distance and clinches.
Cho lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Cho jumps into guard, dragging Hellstrom to the mat.
Phi Cho has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hellstrom pushing down on Cho's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cho can do anything to dispel that myth.
Cho keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Cho is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Cho manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Cho trying to control the position 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.
Hellstrom trying to control the position from guard on top but Cho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cho is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cho is controlling the pace.

Cho is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Phi Cho is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cho sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Hellstrom flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Cho performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Despite being in the dominant position, Phi Cho just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Cho moves into the clinch.
Hellstrom goes for a takedown attempt but Cho pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Cho lands with an overhand left.
Hellstrom swinging wildly here.
Hellstrom has his takedown stuffed

and Cho counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cho.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

Cho changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hellstrom looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Olof Hellstrom has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phi Cho comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cho 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phi Cho!