PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kage Chiba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo Cristophe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Chiba
vs
Cristophe

180 cm
27
135 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

168 cm
21
143 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Insanely flexible

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Powerful

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 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kage Chiba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Leo Cristophe!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, John Mangel and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cristophe moves into the clinch successfully.
Chiba goes for a takedown in the clinch but Cristophe prevents it.
Cristophe comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Cristophe trying to land knees to the body.
The referee is keeping an eye on Cristophe - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Cristophe pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Cristophe throws an elbow but it misses.
Cristophe lands a nice elbow.
Cristophe lands an elbow inside.
Cristophe lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Cristophe comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Cristophe throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cristophe lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Chiba managing to block the knees to the body from Cristophe.
Chiba is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cristophe utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Chiba is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cristophe gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kage Chiba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chiba is working for takedown but Cristophe is calmly controlling the position for now.
A bit of stalling here from Cristophe.
Chiba takes an elbow to the temple.
Chiba avoiding damage as Cristophe throws knees to the body.
Chiba wants a takedown.
Cristophe lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cristophe misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Chiba.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cristophe.
Cristophe slowing the pace effectively.
Chiba avoiding damage as Cristophe throws knees to the body.
Chiba is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cristophe gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Cristophe lands with a right to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cristophe.
Chiba takes an elbow to the temple.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cristophe throws an elbow but it misses.
Cristophe throws an elbow but it misses.
Cristophe leaning his opponent against the cage.
Chiba is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cristophe pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chiba avoids the elbow strike from Cristophe, against the cage.
Chiba avoids a wild elbow strike from Cristophe.
Cristophe lands a nice elbow.
Chiba takes an elbow to the temple.
Chiba is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cristophe pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cristophe tries to land knees in the clinch but Chiba avoids the damage to the body.
Cristophe stalling the fight.
Chiba has Cristophe pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cristophe manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Chiba has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cristophe avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Cristophe lands a nice elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chiba takes a knee to the side of the body.
Cristophe taking a breather.
Cristophe lands an elbow inside.
Cristophe has Chiba pushed against the cage.
Chiba takes an elbow to the forehead.
Cristophe throws an elbow but it misses.
Chiba dodges an elbow strike from Cristophe.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Cristophe takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Cristophe lands an elbow inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Chiba on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Cristophe throws a push kick but Chiba slaps the foot to one side.
Chiba blocks the body kick.
Cristophe misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Chiba.
Cristophe misses with an attempted mid kick.

Cristophe clinches with his opponent.
Cristophe leaning against his opponent.
Chiba takes an elbow to the forehead.
Chiba really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cristophe is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Chiba is defending well for now.
Come on Cristophe - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Cristophe lands a damaging elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cristophe.
Cristophe lands with a light punch inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, Cristophe throws an elbow but misses.
Cristophe throws an elbow that misses.
Cristophe working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Chiba on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Chiba looking for a takedown.
Cristophe throws an elbow but it misses.
Chiba changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cristophe fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Chiba on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chiba fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kage Chiba. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cristophe moves into the clinch successfully.
Cristophe gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Cristophe tries to land knees in the clinch but Chiba avoids the damage to the body.
Cristophe trying to land knees to the body.
Chiba blocks an elbow strike.
Chiba wants a takedown.
Cristophe lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Chiba avoids the elbow strike from Cristophe, against the cage.
Cristophe stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leo Cristophe seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Chiba takes an elbow to the temple.
A bit of stalling here from Cristophe.
Cristophe tries to land knees in the clinch but Chiba avoids the damage to the body.
Cristophe lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Cristophe missing with knees to the body.
Cristophe pushes Chiba back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cristophe lands an elbow that stopped Chiba in his tracks for a moment.
Chiba takes an elbow to the forehead.
Cristophe is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cristophe working Chiba over with knees to the body.
Chiba has Cristophe pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cristophe manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Cristophe is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Cristophe displaying some good clinch control by pressing Chiba up against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Chiba takes an elbow to the forehead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Cristophe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Cristophe lands a jab to Chiba's midsection.

Cristophe closes the distance and clinches.
Come on Cristophe - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Cristophe makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Cristophe creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Cristophe lands a damaging elbow.
Cristophe is pushing Chiba up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Cristophe tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Chiba avoids it.
Cristophe displaying some good clinch control by pressing Chiba up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cristophe is working Chiba over against the cage.
Chiba goes for a takedown in the clinch but Cristophe prevents it.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The crowd are getting on Cristophe's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Leo Cristophe.

Cristophe has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cristophe lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Cristophe misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Chiba.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cristophe comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Still in the clinch, Cristophe scores with a nice short uppercut.
Cristophe lands a nice elbow.
Chiba drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cristophe lands a nice elbow.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Cristophe gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Chiba changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cristophe fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kage Chiba. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cristophe throws out a loose jab but Chiba uses good head movement to avoid it.
Chiba takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Cristophe buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Cristophe tries to close the distance and clinch but Chiba swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Cristophe drives through and clinches with Chiba against the cage.
Chiba takes an elbow to the temple.
Chiba blocks the elbow strike.
Leo Cristophe is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Chiba tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Cristophe.
Cristophe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Chiba on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cristophe lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Chiba.
Chiba is working for takedown but Cristophe is calmly controlling the position for now.
Chiba drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cristophe gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Cristophe throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Chibas head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leo Cristophe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cristophe 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leo Cristophe!
A very excited looking Leo Cristophe rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.