PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Normand Chen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Weidman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Weidman has chosen Alab ng Puso-Abra as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Normand Chen has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Chen
vs
Weidman

172 cm
19
193 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
189 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Divinity 160Q for $150

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Normand Chen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Chris Weidman!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Roger Salmon and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Weidman looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Chen darts in looking for a takedown but Weidman gets double underhooks and turns Chen into the cage.
Chen has Weidman pressed against the cage.
Weidman misses with a hook from the clinch.

Chen manages to break the clinch.
Chen could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Chen throws a sloppy head kick and Weidman moves out of range easily.
Chen throws a front kick aimed at Weidman's knee but Weidman avoids it well.

Chen has Weidman up against the cage in a clinch.

Chen breaks from the clinch.
Weidman tries to clinch but Chen moves out of range.
Chen tries to clinch up.

Chen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Weidman trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weidman is looking to escape.

Chen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Weidman doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Chen.
Weidman trying to hold on to Chen's head to control him but Chen postures up.
It looks like Chen is going to stand back up.
Chen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Weidman keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Weidman has managed to free his arm - good work.
Weidman keeps control of the position for the meantime.
The fighters are battling for position here. Weidman manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Weidman pulls Chen in close to prevent any damage.
Chen trying to control the position from guard on top but Weidman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chen is fighting to break Weidman's control of his arms but Weidman is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Chen with a flurry of punches that miss.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Chen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Weidman avoids it really well and circles away.
Weidman swats away the attempt to clinch by Chen.
Weidman displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Chen.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Normand Chen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chen keeps the fight on the outside.

Chen closes the distance and clinches.
Chen missing with knees to the body.

Chen has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Weidman uses from the top position.
Weidman is stalling in the full guard.

Chen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Weidman can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Chen trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Normand Chen dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Weidman looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Weidman preventing the sweep.

Chen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Weidman is aware though and is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Weidman trying to control the position from guard on top but Chen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Chen wants to stand and escape but Weidman is having none of it.
Weidman trying to control but Chen is working from the bottom.
Weidman is breathing heavily.
Chen has a closed guard, preventing Weidman from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Weidman controls the pace.

Chris Weidman has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Chen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The referee calls for Chen to work.
Weidman is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Chen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Chen wants to get back to striking at distance but Weidman won't allow it.
Chen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Chen is trying to break the clinch but Weidman is controlling him.

Chen ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Chen no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Chen looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weidman is looking to stand up but Chen won't let him.
Chen trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Weidman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Chen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Chen prevents Weidman from improving his position.
Normand Chen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Weidman is trying to maintain the position but Chen is very close to passing his half guard.
Chen wants to take a breather but Weidman is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weidman wants to control but Chen is keeping busy.
Chen trying to control the action but Weidman is working from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

We're going to have a standup here because Normand Chen wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Chen throws a wild body kick that Weidman sees coming a mile off.
Weidman moves in looking to clinch but Chen pushes him off.
Chen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Chen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Weidman swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chen tries to clinch up but Weidman circles away and keeps his distance.

Chen clinches up with Weidman and pushes him back against the cage.
Weidman on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Chen tries for a takedown. No joy.
Chen is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Weidman pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Normand Chen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chen is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Chen is trying to force a seperation but Weidman has the dominant position.

Chen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice sprawl there from Weidman as Chen shoots in.

Weidman closes the distance and clinches.
Weidman wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Normand Chen will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Weidman.
Chen is looking for a sweep.
Weidman tries to stand but Chen is controlling his head.
Chen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Weidman wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Chen gets back to half guard.
Weidman tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Chen.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Chen is trying to stand back up but Weidman is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chen is trying to get back to full guard.
Chen wants to control but Weidman is keeping busy.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Normand Chen.
Chen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Weidman dives in and scores a takedown into Chen's guard.
Weidman trying to control but Chen is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weidman slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Weidman wants to pass the guard but Chen is keeping the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Chen is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Chris Weidman has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Chen shoots in and bounces Weidman off the cage to secure the takedown into 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!
Weidman has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weidman wants to sweep here but Chen controlling him for the moment.
Chen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Weidman is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Chen has Weidman up against the cage in a clinch.
Chen lands a body punch.
Chen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Weidman backwards.

Chen pulls guard.
Weidman trying to control but Chen is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Chen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Weidman defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Normand Chen.
Well Chen 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Normand Chen!
In defeat, Chris Weidman stepped up to the mic, saying 'We will rise again.!'.