PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Katsu Imai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Chavez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Juan Chavez is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Imai
vs
Chavez

185 cm
19
211 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

183 cm
19
212 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Katsu Imai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Juan Chavez!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Leandro Rodrigues and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chavez keeps the fight on the outside.
Chavez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Chavez checks a low kick from Imai.
Imai wants to clinch up but Chavez keeps it at a distance.
Chavez lands with a right hand.
Chavez misses with a low kick as Imai jumps back.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Chavez.
Imai trying to land knees to the body.
Chavez prevents a body shot from Imai.
Chavez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Imai tries to land a knee to the head but Chavez blocks with his arms.
Imai lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Chavez backwards.
Chavez avoiding damage as Imai throws knees to the body.
Imai throws an elbow but it misses.
Chavez slows down the pace here.

Chavez turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Chavez tries for a kimura but Imai is defending well.
Imai gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chavez wants to pass to mount but Imai is defending the position.
Chavez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Imai is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Chavez scores with a couple of nice shots.
Chavez is trying to control the action in half guard but Imai is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Chavez wants to free his trapped foot but Imai is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Chavez winds up and cracks Imai with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Imai blocking the ground and pound attempt from Chavez.

Chavez seems to be working for a kimura but Imai defends the submission attempt.
Imai is staying active underneath Chavez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Chavez keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Imai blocking the ground and pound attempt from Chavez.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Imai is looking to control Chavez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Imai avoid being mounted?
Imai blocking the ground and pound attempt from Chavez.
Chavez thows a huge punch but Imai dodges it nicely.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Chavez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Imai doesn't manage to clinch there - Chavez circles away.
Chavez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Imai clinches up with Chavez and pushes him back against the cage.
Chavez tries to land knees in the clinch but Imai avoids the damage to the body.
Chavez avoiding damage as Imai throws knees to the body.
Chavez is looking to control Imai's arms but Imai gets an underhook and turns him. Now Chavez has his back to the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imai lands a body punch.
A shot in the inside from Imai.
Imai dodges an elbow strike from Chavez.
Chavez takes a shot to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Chavez.
Chavez is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Imai is keeping busy.
Imai lands a left hand that snaps the head of Chavez backwards.
Chavez blocks a body shot from Imai.
Chavez is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Imai throws a knee to the head but misses.
Imai tries to land a knee to the head but Chavez blocks with his arms.
Imai tries to work over Chavez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch on the inside from Imai fails to land.
Chavez taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Imai as the two fighters clinch.
Imai scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Imai comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Imai softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Chavez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Imai looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Chavez leaning against his opponent.
Imai tries a body shot but Chavez blocks it.
A right hand to the body from Imai.
Imai misses with some punches.
Chavez trying to land knees to the body.

Chavez manages to break the clinch.
Imai tries to clinch but Chavez moves out of range.
Imai throws a head kick that misses.
Imai doesn't manage to clinch there - Chavez circles away.
Chavez swats away the attempt to clinch by Imai.
Chavez misses with a two punch combination.
A solid leg kick lands there for Imai.
Imai stalks Chavez and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Chavez's face. Chavez staggers backwards, shaken.
Imai looks to land a right hand but Chavez moved out of range.
Imai wants to clinch up but Chavez keeps it at a distance.

Chavez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Imai!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Juan Chavez will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Imai lands a head kick!
Imai throws out a leg kick but Chavez moves out of range and Imai only half commits.
Imai takes one to the chin there.
Imai tries to clinch but Chavez moves out of range.
Imai fails with an attempt to clinch.
Chavez lands a nice shot to the body.
Chavez throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Imai.
Imai dodges the punch combination from Chavez.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Imai.
Chavez swings for the body but Imai moves out of range.
A swing and a miss from Chavez.
Imai cracks Chavez with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Chavez has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Chavez.
Imai throws a leg kick but Chavez sees it coming and moves out of range.
Imai tries to clinch but Chavez is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imai tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Chavez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Imai checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Chavez scores with a takedown into Imai's guard.
Chavez working some strikes from top position.
Chavez passes Imai's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Imai wants to improve his position but Chavez is controlling well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Chavez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Chavez connects with a nice short shot to Imai's temple.
Chavez is looking to advance position but Imai won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chavez is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Imai kicks Chavez off and gets back to his feet.
Chavez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Chavez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Imai moves in looking to clinch but Chavez pushes him off.
Imai throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Katsu Imai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Chavez misses with a few strikes there.
Imai fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Chavez checks it well.

Imai closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Imai trying to land knees to the body.
Imai throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Chavez blocks it with crossed arms.
Chavez lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Chavez gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chavez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Imai preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Imai keeping moving, preventing Chavez from controlling successfully.
Imai is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Imai prevents Chavez from improving his position.
Imai missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Chavez manages to get to full guard.
Chavez keeping moving, preventing Imai from controlling successfully.
Chavez wants to sweep but no luck.
Chavez is trying to keep Imai in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Imai misses the jab.
No joy there for Chavez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Imai gets a clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Chavez just misses with a elbow thrown towards Imai's brow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Chavez 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A punch combination from Chavez misses.
Imai throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Chavez.
Chavez defending well as Imai loads up on a big left hand.
Katsu Imai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Imai uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Chavez.
Chavez checks a leg kick nicely.
Katsu Imai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Chavez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Imai circles away.
Imai avoids the head kick by Chavez.
A jab from Imai misses.
Chavez closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Imai throws a big shot that misses.
Imai scores with a nice body kick.
Imai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Imai is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Imai clinches up against the cage.
Imai blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Imai tries to work over Chavez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Imai misses with a hook to the ribs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Imai throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imai missing with knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Chavez.
With the fighters up against the cage, Chavez throws an elbow but misses.
Chavez holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Imai misses with a punch to the body.
Imai misses with some punches.
Chavez lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Imai goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Imai swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Chavez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Chavez misses with a short punch on the inside.

Chavez manages to break the clinch.
Chavez connects with a good right hand that stumbles Imai. Imai circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Chavez keeps the fight on the outside.
Chavez throws a right hand that Imai ducks under and follows up with a left that Imai also avoids with ease.
Chavez throws and low kick but Imai moves out of range easily.
Chavez feints and then cracks Imai's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Imai down.
Imai throws a nice looking combination but Chavez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chavez shoots in but Imai avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Katsu Imai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juan Chavez.
Imai tries to clinch up.
Imai throws a big shot that misses.
Imai wants to clinch up but Chavez keeps it at a distance.
Imai is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Chavez.
Chavez keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Imai misses with a straight left.
Chavez throws a good cross that connects.
Imai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Chavez takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Chavez tries to bum rush Imai with a series of wild strikes but Imai uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Chavez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Imai looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Imai fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Chavez, pushing him back against the cage.
Chavez tries to stall but Imai uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Imai takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imai scores with a shoulder strike.
Chavez stalling the fight.
A short body shot lands from Imai as the two fighters clinch.
Imai throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Imai tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Chavez's elbow.
Imai throws a head punch that misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Imai dodges an elbow strike from Chavez.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Chavez.
Imai tries to throw a body punch but Chavez avoids it by throwing Imai back against the cage.
Chavez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Imai tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Chavez's elbow.
Chavez avoiding damage.
Chavez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A hook to the body from Chavez.
Chavez is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Chavez prevents a body shot from Imai.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Imai missing with knees to the body.
Imai throws an elbow but it misses.
Chavez throws a head punch that misses.
Imai cracks Chavez with a nice body shot.
Imai using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Chavez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Chavez misses with the head strike.
Chavez blocks a body shot from Imai.
Chavez lands a nice elbow.
Imai blocks an elbow strike.
Chavez lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Chavez gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Katsu Imai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chavez is pushing down on Imai's leg trying to pass to half guard. Imai is fighting to maintain full guard but Chavez has managed to sneak the leg through.
Imai keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Chavez lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Chavez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Imai defending well though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juan Chavez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Chavez 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Chavez!