PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Philander Chavez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Pyle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Pyle's choice of entrance music: Bate Pesadão. Richard Pyle will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Chavez
vs
Pyle

165 cm
19
142 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

177 cm
27
146 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Philander Chavez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Richard Pyle!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Paulo Santos and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pyle circles away from the clinch attempt

and Pyle counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Jeez, both these guys look absolutely knackered already, that's not a good sign!
Pyle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Chavez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pyle is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Chavez lands some strikes from the bottom.
Pyle works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Pyle trying to pass the guard but Chavez defending well.
Pyle keeps trying to improve his position.
Chavez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pyle is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pyle looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Chavez wants to improve his position but Pyle is controlling well.
Pyle is looking to advance position but Chavez won't allow it.
Chavez wants to control but Pyle is keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chavez won't allow Pyle to pass to mount.
Chavez is looking for a sweep. Pyle is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pyle passes the guard and advances to mount!
Pyle avoids the attempt from Chavez to control.

Pyle working for a submission but Chavez is keeping him at bay.
Chavez tries to hold on but Pyle postures up.

Pyle looking to secure an arm triangle but Chavez defends it well.

Pyle working for a submission but Chavez is keeping him at bay.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pyle has control of Chavez's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Chavez regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Pyle is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Chavez can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Pyle moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Chavez has worked his arm free - good work by Chavez!
Chavez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Chavez gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chavez manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Pyle looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pyle is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Chavez!
Chavez looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Pyle looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Pyle looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Pyle is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Chavez is surviving well by controlling Pyle's body position as best he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Chavez tries to hold on but Pyle postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Pyle dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Chavez wants to clinch

and Pyle counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Chavez!

Pyle tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Pyle has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Chavez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Chavez prevents Pyle from moving into mount.
You can see the frustration on Chavez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Pyle moves into full mount!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Pyle goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Chavez is on top in guard.
Richard Pyle has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chavez stopping the sweep attempt from Pyle.
Chavez wants to pass the guard but Pyle is keeping the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Pyle working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Chavez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Chavez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Pyle has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Chavez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Chavez preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pyle keeping full guard, as Chavez tries to pass.
Chavez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Pyle working for a triangle but Chavez defends it easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pyle is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Pyle blocks the strikes from Chavez.
Pyle is looking to advance position but Chavez won't allow it.
Chavez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Pyle is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Chavez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Pyle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pyle looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Pyle is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Chavez sees it coming and defends easily.
Chavez is trying to maintain the position but Pyle is very close to passing his half guard.
Pyle is pressing down on Chavez's thigh, looking to free his foot. Chavez is holding on for now.
Pyle has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chavez manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Chavez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pyle is working away from the top position though.
Pyle is pressing down on Chavez's thigh, looking to free his foot. Chavez is holding on for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pyle wants to advance to full mount but Chavez doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Pyle passes easily into side control. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Pyle showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Chavez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Chavez fails with the takedown.
Chavez throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Pyle counters with a takedown into side control.
Chavez tries to buck Pyle off but Pyle is having none of it.

Pyle working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Pyle advances to full mount.

Pyle swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Chavez is now in Pyle's guard. A big mistake from Pyle there, giving up the dominant position!
Pyle keeping moving, preventing Chavez from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chavez won't allow Pyle to sweep him here.
Pyle manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Chavez manages to get himself to full guard.
Pyle slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Pyle has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Pyle goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Chavez turns into him and now he's in Pyle's guard.
Chavez trying to control the position from guard on top but Pyle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Chavez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pyle tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Pyle is on top in guard.
Pyle looking to pass the guard.
Pyle stopping the sweep attempt from Chavez.
Chavez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pyle forces his way into half guard.
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!
Pyle tries to pass to full mount but Chavez defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chavez is trying to maintain the position but Pyle is very close to passing his half guard.
Pyle is looking to advance position but Chavez won't allow it.
Pyle uses his free foot to push down on Chavez's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Chavez.
Philander Chavez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Pyle goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Chavez turns into him and now he's in Pyle's guard.

Pyle working for a triangle but Chavez defends it easily.
Pyle is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chavez scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Pyle tries to land a sweep but no joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Chavez scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
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!
Pyle manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Pyle goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Chavez is on top in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard Pyle comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pyle 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richard Pyle!
A relieved looking Richard Pyle thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.