PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Peekah Chou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Weichanthal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Peekah Chou has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Chou
vs
Weichanthal

225 cm
20
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
21
192 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Peekah Chou!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Weichanthal!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Igor Prikhodko and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Chou shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Chou really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Chou thows a big elbow that misses.
Chou has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Weichanthal keeping moving, preventing Chou from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Weichanthal manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Weichanthal can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Chou is looking to escape.
Weichanthal tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Chou squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weichanthal can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Chou is looking to escape.
Weichanthal is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Weichanthal takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's two 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.
Chou on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Chou tries to get out of the position.

Despite being in the dominant position, John Weichanthal just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Weichanthal defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Chou.
Weichanthal is looking to clinch but Chou is avoiding it.
John Weichanthal is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Chou fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Weichanthal tries to close the distance and clinch up but Chou swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Chou tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Weichanthal swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Peekah Chou. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Weichanthal has managed to clinch.
Weichanthal lands a good knee to the midsection. Chou won't want to take too many of those.
Weichanthal comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weichanthal with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Weichanthal with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Chou takes a knee to the side of the body.
Weichanthal tries a knee to the head but Chou blocks it.

Weichanthal pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Weichanthal stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Weichanthal wants it to stay on the feet.
Weichanthal pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Chou blocks a head kick by Weichanthal.

Weichanthal moves into the clinch successfully.
Weichanthal throws a knee to the head but misses.
Weichanthal lands a knee to the head.
Weichanthal slowing the pace effectively.
Weichanthal looks gassed!

Weichanthal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Chou shoots in for a takedown but Weichanthal shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Chou tries to score a power double leg takedown but Weichanthal sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Chou somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chou misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Chou circles away from the clinch attempt.
Weichanthal tries to clinch but Chou moves out of range.

Chou shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Chou was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Weichanthal really wants to buck Chou off and get back to his feet.
Chou unloading with bombs!
Chou pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Chou working the ground and pound effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Weichanthal will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Chou fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Weichanthal throws a sloppy head kick and Chou moves out of range easily.
Chou fails to land the takedown.
Chou will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Peekah Chou. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Weichanthal tries to close the distance and clinch but Chou 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.
Weichanthal moves in looking to clinch but Chou pushes him off.
Weichanthal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Chou paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Chou shoots for a double leg takedown but Weichanthal sprawls well. He's pushed Chou's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Chou tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Weichanthal swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weichanthal tries to clinch but Chou moves out of range.
Chou keeps the fight on the outside.
Chou throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Weichanthal's waist but Weichanthal gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Chou off to one side.
Nice takedown defense from Weichanthal. No joy for Chou on that attempt.
Weichanthal leaves Chou with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Chou misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Chou looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Weichanthal pushes Chou up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weichanthal throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Chou blocks it with crossed arms.
Knees to the body from Weichanthal.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Weichanthal obliges.
Weichanthal lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Peekah Chou has been cut.
Weichanthal tries to land a knee to the head but Chou blocks with his arms.
Weichanthal prevents a takedown attempt there.
Weichanthal tries a knee to the head but Chou blocks it.
Weichanthal throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Chou blocks it with crossed arms.
Knees in the clinch landing for Weichanthal.
Weichanthal lands a knee to the head.

Weichanthal manages to break the clinch.

Chou drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Chou will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Chou working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Chou with a nice head shot there.
Chou prevents Weichanthal from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chou loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Chou working some strikes from top position.
Chou working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Chou with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Weichanthal pushes Chou off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Weichanthal stuffs the takedown.
Weichanthal misses with an attempted mid kick.
No luck for Chou with that takedown attempt.
Chou shoots in for a double leg but Weichanthal sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Chou feints and as Weichanthal raises his hands in defense, Chou changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Weichanthal has his feet on Chou's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Chou tries for a takedown but Weichanthal sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Weichanthal displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Chou.

Weichanthal rushes Chou and presses him up against the cage.
Weichanthal prevents a takedown attempt there.
Weichanthal lands an elbow inside.

Weichanthal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Weichanthal tries to clinch but Chou is having none of it.
No luck for Chou with that takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Weichanthal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Peekah Chou's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Weichanthal clinches.
Weichanthal scores with a knee to the head.
Weichanthal working Chou over with knees to the body.
Chou is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Weichanthal lands an elbow inside.
Chou tries for a takedown but Weichanthal manages to get underhooks.
Weichanthal is pressed up against the cage. Chou has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Weichanthal down to the mat. Weichanthal avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Peekah Chou. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chou shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Weichanthal defends it nicely.
Chou closes this distance looking for a takedown but Weichanthal circles away.
Weichanthal doesn't manage to clinch there - Chou circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weichanthal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Weichanthal stuffs the takedown attempt from Chou. Chou gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Weichanthal clinches with his opponent.
Weichanthal connects with a knee to the head.
Weichanthal unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Weichanthal unloads a knee to the mid-section. Chou lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Weichanthal tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Chou looking for a takedown.
Weichanthal stops a takedown attempt from Chou.
Weichanthal dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Weichanthal working Chou over with knees to the body.
Chou has Weichanthal pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Weichanthal manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Weichanthal is pushing Chou up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chou takes a knee right on the jaw!
Chou wants a takedown but no success here.
Weichanthal with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Weichanthal misses with a knee to the head.
Weichanthal taking a breather.
Nice elbow from Weichanthal.
Chou takes an elbow to the forehead.
Weichanthal landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Weichanthal gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Chou.
Chou wants a takedown but no success here.
Weichanthal throws a knee to the head but misses.
Weichanthal misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weichanthal prevents the takedown attempt.
Weichanthal misses with an elbow strike.

Weichanthal manages to break the clinch.
Chou closes this distance looking for a takedown but Weichanthal circles away.

Chou shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Weichanthal manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Chou throwing strikes but missing.

Weichanthal wriggles free and stands up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Chou is defended easily by Weichanthal.

Chou darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weichanthal is trying to stand up here but Chou is controlling him well.
Chou drops an elbow to the side of Weichanthal's head.
Weichanthal is trying to stand.
Chou takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Chou trying to control the action but Weichanthal is working from the bottom.
Chou lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Chou performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Weichanthal has hold of Chou's hands but Chou slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Weichanthal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Weichanthal 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight for John Weichanthal!
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight for John Weichanthal!
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight for John Weichanthal!

John Weichanthal wins by unanimous decision!