PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Areski Chayem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joseph Wapner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chayem's entrance music is 3 6 mafia -Some bodies gonna get it. A fine choice. Areski Chayem could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Joseph Wapner's chin.

Chayem
vs
Wapner

180 cm
25
177 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

180 cm
23
182 lbs
4 - 1 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Areski Chayem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joseph Wapner!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Frank Dennis and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chayem fails with a takedown attempt.
Wapner tries a head kick but it misses.
Chayem fails in his attempt to clinch.
Wapner keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Chayem shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Chayem showed some decent athleticism there.
Wapner blocking the ground and pound attempt from Chayem.
Chayem thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Chayem with the ground and pound but Wapner uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Chayem throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wapner works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Wapner really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Chayem. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Chayem working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Chayem postures up in Wapner's guard and throws a big left but Wapner blocks it.
Chayem trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Wapner is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Chayem is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chayem missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Chayem accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Chayem thows a big elbow that misses.
Chayem postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Chayem loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Wapner preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Chayem is looking to work some ground and pound but Wapner has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Chayem accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Wapner working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Chayem.
Chayem throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Chayem throws and elbow that misses. Wapner uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Chayem's guard. Nice move by Wapner!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Chayem throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Chayem doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Chayem tries to strike from the bottom.
Wapner preventing the sweep.
Wapner has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Chayem is proving hard to escape from.
Chayem is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Wapner is controlling him.
Wapner would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Chayem trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Chayem has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Chayem tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Wapner stands up from Chayem's guard - Wapner perhaps looking for a knockout.

Wapner has closed the distance and engaged Chayem in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wapner throws an elbow but it misses.
Wapner lands an elbow just above Chayem 's eye.
Wapner comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Chayem tries to pull guard but Wapner holds him up against the cage and eventually Chayem drops back down to his feet.
Wapner misses with an elbow over the top.
Wapner lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Wapner connects with a nasty looking knee right to Chayem's face.
Chayem misses with an elbow strike.
Wapner lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Wapner.
Wapner lands a damaging elbow.
Wapner lands an elbow just above Chayem 's eye.
Wapner lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Chayem takes an elbow to the temple.
Chayem takes an elbow to the forehead.
Wapner connects with a knee to the head.
Wapner looks gassed!

Chayem breaks from the clinch.
Chayem tries to close the distance and clinch but Wapner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Chayem looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Areski Chayem. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wapner avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chayem tries to close the distance and clinch but Wapner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Chayem on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Wapner clinches up with Chayem and pushes him back against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Wapner.
Chayem is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nice elbow from Wapner.
Chayem tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Wapner throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Chayems head.
Wapner pushes Chayem back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Wapner lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Chayem jumps guard but Wapner stands there with Chayem around his waist. Chayem gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Chayem takes an elbow to the forehead.
Chayem avoids the elbow strike from Wapner, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Chayem fails to land.
Wapner throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Chayem with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Wapner creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Chayem's defenses.
Chayem tries to score a body lock takedown but Wapner shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Wapner lands a knee to the head.
Wapner lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Wapner comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Wapner lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Wapner connects with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Wapner dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A head kick from Wapner lands but Chayem takes it in his stride.

Wapner gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Chayem to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wapner is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Chayem in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Chayem trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Chayem postures up and lands a big shot to Wapner's brow.
Wapner keeping full guard, as Chayem tries to pass.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Chayem accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wapner avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Chayem throwing strikes from guard but Wapner blocks nicely.
Chayem throws a big right hand that misses.
Chayem throwing strikes from guard but Wapner blocks nicely.
Chayem makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Chayem with a flurry of punches that miss.
Chayem loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Chayem with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two 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.
Chayem working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Chayem throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Chayem throws a strike but Wapner rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chayem looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wapner is one step ahead there.

Wapner stands up from Chayem's guard - Wapner perhaps looking for a knockout.
Wapner stuffs the takedown.

Wapner has managed to clinch.
Chayem has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Wapner is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wapner connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Areski Chayem has been cut.
Wapner lands a hook that snaps the head of Chayem backwards.
Wapner lands a nice elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chayem blocks an elbow strike.
Wapner lands an elbow just above Chayem 's eye.
Wapner lands an elbow that stopped Chayem in his tracks for a moment.
Wapner lands an elbow inside.
Wapner throws an elbow but it misses.
Wapner throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Wapner lands an elbow inside that Chayem shrugs off.
Wapner creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Chayem's defenses.
Chayem blocks an elbow strike.
Chayem blocks an elbow strike from Wapner.
Wapner stops a takedown attempt from Chayem.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Areski Chayem. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wapner creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Chayem's defenses.
Wapner scores with a shot to the side of Chayem's head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Wapner.
Wapner throws an elbow but it misses.
Chayem takes a shot to the head.
Nice elbow from Wapner.
Chayem avoids a wild elbow strike from Wapner.
Wapner with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Chayem fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Wapner just misses with a elbow thrown towards Chayem's brow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Wapner.
Wapner softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's four 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.
Wapner lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Wapner throws an elbow that misses.
Chayem dodges an elbow strike from Wapner.
Wapner throws an elbow that misses.
Wapner keeps control of Chayem as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Wapner with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Chayem has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Chayem tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Chayem is trying to drag Wapner to the mat but Wapner just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Chayem scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Wapner lands a nice elbow.
Chayem is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Chayem jumps guard but Wapner stands there with Chayem around his waist. Chayem gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Wapner lands an elbow just above Chayem 's eye.
Wapner lands with a left to the head.
Wapner creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Chayem's defenses.
Wapner lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Wapner blocks a body shot from Chayem.
Wapner lands a damaging elbow.
Wapner misses with an elbow over the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Wapner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Areski Chayem's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Wapner clinches up against the cage.
Chayem tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Wapner smiles and moves away.
Chayem lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Wapner circles away quickly and effectively.
Chayem tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Wapner gets a clinch.
Wapner pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Wapner lands a left hand.
Chayem can't get the takedown.
Wapner pushes off an throws an elbow but Chayem leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Chayem blocks an elbow strike.
Chayem takes an elbow to the forehead.
Wapner tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Chayem turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Wapner is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Wapner can do anything to dispel that myth.
Wapner taking punishment in the form of punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wapner defending against the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wapner managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Chayem.
Chayem misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Chayem looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Wapner is avoiding damage well.
Wapner parries the strikes from Chayem easily there. Chayem is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Wapner to escape.
Chayem misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Chayem fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Chayem misses with the ground and pound.
Wapner is pushing Chayem's head away, looking to escape. Chayem manages to hold on to the position though.
Chayem in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The strikes coming from Chayem are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's two 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.
Chayem with the ground and pound but Wapner regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Chayem winds up and cracks Wapner with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Chayem not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Chayem throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Wapner avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Chayem.
Chayem throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Chayem looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Wapner with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Chayem not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Chayem throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wapner blocking the ground and pound attempt from Chayem.
Chayem not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Chayem wants to pass to mount but Wapner is defending the position.
Chayem looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Wapner with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Chayem missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Wapner keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Chayem.
Chayem throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

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.
Chayem thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Chayem takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Wapner keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Wapner keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Areski Chayem has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wapner blocking the ground and pound attempt from Chayem.
Chayem missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Wapner is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Chayem scores with a couple of nice shots.
Wapner avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Chayem.
Chayem passes the guard and advances to mount!
Chayem raining down shots from the mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Areski Chayem showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Wapner 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joseph Wapner!