PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between James Chaney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and bj Ferguson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Chaney
vs
Ferguson

190 cm
33
144 lbs
19 - 27 - 0

164 cm
41
135 lbs
50 - 24 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

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 19 - 27 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Chaney!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 50 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, bj Ferguson!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Chris Downing and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chaney with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ferguson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Chaney looks to clinch

and Ferguson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Chaney regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Ferguson.
Ferguson postures up.
Ferguson is looking to advance position but Chaney has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Ferguson throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Chaney thowing shots but they're missing.
Ferguson's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Ferguson is squirming around, avoiding Chaney's attempts to control the action.
Ferguson throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Ferguson is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Chaney really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ferguson is working to get back to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chaney can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ferguson is looking to escape.
Ferguson swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Ferguson wants to try and get back to his feet.

Chaney with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Ferguson throwing hammer fists to the chest of Chaney. What's that going to do exactly?
Chaney will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ferguson is looking to improve his position but Chaney isn't that keen on the idea.
Ferguson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Chaney blocks Ferguson's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Ferguson is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Ferguson throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ferguson throwing hammer fists to the chest of Chaney. What's that going to do exactly?
Ferguson is trying to escape the mount.
Chaney trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Chaney looking to finish with strikes here!
Ferguson is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Chaney throws some wild stikes that Ferguson manages to avoid easily.
Chaney unloads with some shots from mount but Ferguson bucks and avoids them well.
Ferguson flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Ferguson slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Ferguson makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
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!

Ferguson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chaney has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ferguson is working away from the top position though.
Ground and pound from Ferguson.
Ferguson is looking to advance position but Chaney won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chaney is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ferguson scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ferguson trying to mount his opponent but Chaney defends it.
Ferguson working the head and body with strikes.
Ferguson wants to pass the guard but Chaney is defending well.
Ferguson winds up and cracks Chaney with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Ferguson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Chaney is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chaney is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ferguson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ferguson's back!
Ferguson manages to reverse the position and now he's in Chaney's guard. Nice work there by Ferguson.
Chaney bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ferguson's guard.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ferguson has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Chaney off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Ferguson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Chaney quickly recovers to half guard.
Ferguson working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Chaney's thigh. Chaney counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Chaney trying to control the position.
Ferguson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Chaney is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but bj Ferguson will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ferguson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Chaney looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Chaney tries to clinch up.

Ferguson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Chaney has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ferguson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Chaney lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Chaney trying to control but Ferguson is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ferguson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Ferguson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ferguson is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Chaney presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Chaney is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ferguson to keep the fight standing.

Ferguson gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Chaney makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Chaney.
Ferguson is pushing down on Chaney's leg trying to pass to half guard. Chaney is fighting to maintain full guard but Ferguson has managed to sneak the leg through.
Ferguson trying to pass the guard but Chaney defending well.
Ferguson winds up and cracks Chaney with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Ferguson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Chaney has hold of Ferguson's hands but Ferguson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Ferguson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ferguson lands a nice short elbow.
Ferguson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chaney pushes Ferguson off looking to stand but Ferguson dives back in and keeps control.
Chaney is looking to improve his position.
Chaney moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Chaney wants to sweep here but Ferguson controlling him for the moment.
Chaney has momentary wrist control but Ferguson slips an elbow through the middle.
Ferguson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Chaney has momentary wrist control but Ferguson slips an elbow through the middle.
Ferguson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ferguson forces his way into half guard.
Ferguson is thwarting Chaney's attempts to control the position.
Ferguson moves nicely into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chaney takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Ferguson tries to move into full mount but can't pass Chaney's legs.
Ferguson advances nicely into full mount.
Chaney bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ferguson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ferguson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Ferguson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Ferguson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Ferguson working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Chaney has passed into half guard!
Ferguson is breathing heavily.
Chaney tries to pass to full mount but Ferguson defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Ferguson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Ferguson landing a few short strikes.
Chaney wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ferguson keeps working.
Ferguson connecting with a few gentle strikes.
Ferguson punching from the bottom.

Ferguson actively working from the bottom here.

Ferguson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Chaney is looking to advance position but Ferguson won't allow it.
Chaney blocks the strikes from Ferguson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Chaney shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Ferguson counters by clinching up.

Chaney is fighting off a takedown attempt but Ferguson is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Chaney to the mat. Chaney regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Chaney keeping full guard, as Ferguson tries to pass.
Ferguson throwing strikes from guard but Chaney blocks nicely.
Chaney wants to sweep but no luck.
Ferguson throwing strikes from guard but Chaney blocks nicely.
Ferguson advances position into side control!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ferguson tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Chaney is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Chaney to see if he's OK.
Ferguson tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Ferguson moves into full mount!
Ferguson lands a couple of good shots and Chaney has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Ferguson not allowing Chaney to control his hands.
Ferguson is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Chaney up.
Ferguson is punishing Chaney with some ground and pound.
Ferguson throwing damaging strikes from the back! Chaney could be in trouble here!

Chaney is rocked!
Ferguson lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Oh Chaney is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ferguson cracks Chaney with a big right hand from the back mount! Chaney immediately covers up and the referee dives in to save him under a barrage of more strikes! Ferguson takes this one by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). bj Ferguson!
As bj Ferguson got his breath back, he grabbed the microphone and managed to blurt out the following: I keep putting these good guys away. I'm 38 and ready to go'.