PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chase Storm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aphachai Hopachai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Storm kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Pantera (Walk). Chase Storm has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Storm
vs
Hopachai

195 cm
27
249 lbs
19 - 6 - 0

197 cm
20
280 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Chase Storm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Aphachai Hopachai!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, John Mangel and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab from Storm.
Storm scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hopachai in his tracks.
Hopachai walks into a jab.
Storm is looking to clinch but Hopachai is avoiding it.
Storm lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Storm moves out of range of the body kick.
Hopachai throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Storm.
Storm works the jab nicely.
Hopachai throws a head kick that misses.
Hopachai throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Storm blocks the body kick.
Hopachai uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Storm.
Hopachai misses with a hook.
Storm lands a jab to the nose.
Hopachai takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Storm throws a combination. Hopachai tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Storm takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
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!
Storm connects with a body shot.
Hopachai finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Storm, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Storm misses with a few strikes there.
Chase Storm seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Hopachai. Storm shrugs it off though.
Storm is breathing heavily.
Hopachai lands a head kick!

It looks like Chase Storm has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Storm swings for the body but Hopachai moves out of range.
Storm misses with a wild combination.
Storm avoids the head kick by Hopachai.
Hopachai throws the kick towards the body but Storm avoids it.
Storm checks the leg kick nicely there.
Hopachai misses with a kick to the body.
Some wild striking there from Hopachai.
No luck for Storm with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopachai goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Hopachai keeps the fight on the outside.
Storm misses the shot to the body.
Storm takes a kick to the side of the head.
Storm pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hopachai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A right-left combo lands from Storm.
Aphachai Hopachai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Storm misses with a body kick.
Storm scores with the left hand. Hopachai knows he should have avoided that one.
A clash of legs there as Storm blocks the low kick.
Hopachai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Storm throws the kick towards the body but Hopachai avoids it.
Storm lands a jab-cross combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Storm is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hopachai throws a sloppy head kick and Storm moves out of range easily.
Hopachai throws a sloppy head kick and Storm moves out of range easily.
Hopachai goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Chase Storm's cut is getting worse.
Storm thuds his right hand into Hopachai's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Storm scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Storm connects with a jab.
Storm tests Hopachai's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A combination from Hopachai does no damage.
Storm cracks Hopachai with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Hopachai misses with a kick to the body.
Storm lands with a straight right. Hopachai didn't see that one coming.
Storm throws a wild body kick that Hopachai sees coming a mile off.
Storm looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Storm.
Hopachai throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Storm lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Hopachai backs up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Storm lands with a nice combination. Hopachai backs away looking to recover.
Storm lands a nice shot that snaps Hopachai's head back.
Hopachai on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Storm uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Hopachai displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Storm.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chase Storm. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Storm lands a right hook to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hopachai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A lazy left from Storm finds it's target.
Hopachai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Storm fakes the leg kick and cracks Hopachai in the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Aphachai Hopachai will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Chase Storm's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Storm connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hopachai. Hopachai circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Storm lands with a good body shot.

Storm gets a clinch.
Storm'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.
Hopachai stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A left hand lands to the body for Storm.
Hopachai stops a takedown attempt from Storm.
Hopachai is trying to force a seperation but Storm has the dominant position.
Storm is working Hopachai over against the cage.
Hopachai looking to stall.
Hopachai gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Storm.
Hopachai is breathing heavily.
Hopachai stops a takedown attempt from Storm.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chase Storm. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Storm tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hopachai is looking to break free of the clinch but Storm has double underhooks.
Hopachai looking to slow down the pace here.
Storm tries for a takedown. No joy.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Storm jumps guard.
Hopachai wants to stand and escape but instead Storm has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Storm trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Storm with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hopachai wants to sweep but no luck.
Storm pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hopachai is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Storm 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.

Hopachai wriggles free and stands up.
Hopachai takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Aphachai Hopachai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Storm scores with a shot to the body.
Storm lands with an uppercut that bounces Hopachai off the cage and back into rage.
Storm throws a half hearted mid kick.
Storm jabs at Hopachai's body.
Storm connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hopachai. Hopachai circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Storm darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopachai has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Hopachai there as he acknowledges the shot.
Hopachai tries a head kick but it misses.
Storm blocks a head kick by Hopachai.
Chase Storm is winning the standup battle so far.
Storm scores with a nice head shot.
Storm lands a nice hook to Hopachai's body. Hopachai takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Storm connects with a body shot.
Storm fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Storm lands a nice shot to the body.
Good shot there by Storm.
Storm moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Storm is looking to land body kicks.
Storm scores with a hook to the body. Hopachai takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hopachai misses with a double jab
and Storm counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Storm lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hopachai at a distance.
Storm lands with an overhand left.
Storm lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Hopachai backs up against the cage.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Storm here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Hopachai takes one to the side of the head.

Storm closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Storm tightens his grip and picks Hopachai up, before dumping him to the ground. Hopachai manages to land in guard.

Storm 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.
Storm passes into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Storm is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hopachai doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Storm.
Storm wants to take a breather but Hopachai is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chase Storm dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Chase Storm's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Hopachai falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hopachai takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hopachai throws a head kick but Storm moves out of range.
Storm jabs Hopachai right on the nose. Hopachai blinks but takes it well.
Storm lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Hopachai throws a left and a right that both miss
and Storm counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Storm lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A head kick misses from Hopachai.
Storm throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Hopachai throws a hook but Storm blocks it.
Hopachai looks to land a combination but Storm avoids it well.
A right-left combo lands from Storm.
Hopachai takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hopachai gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Storm counters with a straight right hand.
Hopachai has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Storm scores with a hook to the body. Hopachai takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Storm closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Storm cracks Hopachai with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Storm throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hopachai.
Storm fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Storm tries to clinch but Hopachai moves out of range.
Storm dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Storm changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Storm scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hopachai in his tracks.

Storm drives through and clinches with Hopachai against the cage.
Storm lands a body punch in the clinch.
Storm tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hopachai smiles and moves away.

Storm has managed to clinch.

Storm has picked Hopachai up - he's going for a ride! Storm dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Storm is trying to control. Hopachai wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Storm is really struggling to control Hopachai but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Storm is working for a submission of some sort.

Hopachai is defending against the submission attempts here by Storm.
Hopachai is trying to maintain the position but Storm is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Storm is looking to advance position but Hopachai won't allow it.

Hopachai kicks Storm off and gets back to his feet.
Storm blocks the body kick.
Hopachai throws a head kick that misses.
Storm lands an overhand right.
A low kick from Hopachai misses
and Storm counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Nice uppercut there from Storm.
Storm lunges at Hopachai with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Hopachai's hand.
Hopachai does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Storm as he connects with a hook.
Hopachai throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Storm fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Storm punishes Hopachai's body with a nice straight punch.
Hopachai drops his hands momentarily and Storm takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Storm lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hopachai at a distance.
Storm is looking to land body kicks.

Storm closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hopachai did well to prevent Storm getting side control.
Hopachai tries to roll over but Storm keeps him under control.

Storm is looking for a kimura here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Storm is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chase Storm showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Storm has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 29:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:27
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chase Storm!