PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Taran Chula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Azumah Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Chula
vs
Nelson

175 cm
24
155 lbs
9 - 5 - 1

178 cm
24
154 lbs
12 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 9 - 5 - 1, fighting out of New York, Taran Chula!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 1, fighting out of New York, Azumah Nelson!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, John Kavanagh and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chula throws a leg kick
and Nelson counters with a nice body shot.
Chula looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Chula swings for the body but Nelson moves out of range.
Chula wants to clinch.
Chula pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Nelson looks to land a left hand but Chula moved out of range nicely.
And Chula counters with a quick kick to the body but Nelson blocks it.
Chula with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Chula misses with a body kick.
Nelson lands with a hook. Chula tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

It looks like Taran Chula has been cut.
Nelson misses with a low kick.
It looked like Chula wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Chula lands with a thumping leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nelson fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Nelson throws an off balance right hand
and Chula counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Chula misses with a wild body shot.
Chula feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Nelsons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Chula walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Nelson checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Chula moves away.
Nelson looks to score with a jab to the body but Chula is just out of range.
Chula lands with a straight right. Nelson didn't see that one coming.
Nelson scores with a nice head shot.
An inside leg kick from Nelson misses.
Nelson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Chula can pounce on him.
Chula lands a body shot.
Chula connects with an inside leg kick.
Good exchange - Chula coming out on top.
Chula misses the jab.

Nelson drops Chula with a beautiful combination! Chula stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Nelson is looking for the KO!

Chula is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Chula scores with a punch to the head.
Nelson misses with a looping left.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Chula.
Chula lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
An inside leg kick from Chula misses.
It seemed like Nelson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Chula sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Chula throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Chula dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nelson with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Chula to score with a decent uppercut.
Nelson swings for the body but Chula moves out of range.
Taran Chula seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Chula lands with a shot to the body.
Chula tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nelson was well out of range. Poor timing from Chula.
Nelson misses with an uppercut. Chula saw that one coming.
Chula wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nelson throws a jab when Chula was well out of range.
Nelson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Chula moves away.
Chula tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Chula tries to clinch but Nelson moves out of range.
Chula tries to score with a low kick but Nelson moves his leg out of the way.
Nelson tries a quick counter leg kick but Chula is wise to it.
The fighters circling - Chula throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nelson counters with a body kick.
Nelson lands a right hook to the body.
Chula throws out a loose jab but Nelson uses good head movement to avoid it.
A little jabbing left from Nelson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Nelson moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Chula throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A little jabbing left from Nelson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Some wild striking there from Nelson.
Chula throws a quick counter head kick but Nelson was just out of range.
Nelson getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Chula throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nelson lands a nice shot to the body.
Chula throws a front kick that sends Nelson stumbling back into the cage.
A slapping leg kick lands for Chula.

Nelson gets tackled into the cage by Chula. Chula maintains the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Chula taking a breather.
Chula tries to throw a body punch but Nelson avoids it by throwing Chula back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chula swings wildly with an uppercut but Nelson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nelson struggles to land a body shot inside as Chula controls his hands.
Chula working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Chula presses Nelson against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Chula breaks from the clinch.
Chula connects with an inside leg kick.
Chula throws a leg kick
and Nelson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nelson throws a body shot but no joy.
Nelson keeps the fight on the outside.
Chula throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A countering left hand to the body from Nelson misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Chula moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Taran Chula's cut is getting worse.
Chula on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Chula misses with a wild body shot.
Chula misses with the body kick
and Nelson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Taran Chula will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Taran Chula's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A looping hook to the body misses from Chula. Nelson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Chula misses with a leg kick.
Nelson takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Nelson moves out of range of the strikes.
Nelson looks to land a left hand but Chula moved out of range nicely.
Nelson lands with a shot to the body.
Nelson blocks a jab.
Nelson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Chula sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Chula blocks a head kick by Nelson.
Chula takes one on the button.
Chula looks to land a body kick but Nelson moved away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chula misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nelson.
Nelson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Chula.
Azumah Nelson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Chula is looking to chop away at Nelson's legs.
Chula lands a body shot.
Nelson cracks Chula with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson throws a big shot that misses.
Chula tries a low kick but Nelson avoids it.
A nice side step and Nelson releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Chula goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Nelson takes a swing at Chula's ribcage but misses.
Chula connects with a solid leg kick.
Chula cracks Nelson with a right hand to the side of the head.
Nelson throws a big shot that misses.
Nelson slips under a jab from Chula.
The fight stays on the outside here - Chula looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Chula throws a nice outside leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nelson. Chula does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nelson thuds a left hand into Chula's body.
Nelson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Chula. Nelson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Chula scores with a jab to the jaw.
Chula misses with the body kick
and Nelson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nelson misses with an uppercut. Chula saw that one coming.
An attempted straight right counter from Chula misses the target.
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!
A lazy left from Nelson finds it's target.
Nelson lands a glancing blow to the side of Chula's head.
Nelson throws a hook to the side of Chula's head but Chula sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A slapping body kick lands there for Chula.
Chula swings widly with a right hand
enabling Nelson to counter with a crisp jab.
Chula lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Chula looks for the body kick but Nelson saw that one coming.
Nelson tries to score with a low kick but Chula moves his leg out of the way.
Good leg kick by Chula there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Chula shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Chula misses with an uppercut. Nelson saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chula connects with a body shot.
Nelson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Chula throws a jab but it's blocked by Nelson.
Nelson looks to land a body kick but Chula moved away.
Chula connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Nelson's hands.
Chula tries to clinch up.
Nelson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Chula on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Nelson just misses with a punch to the body.
Chula tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Nelson! But no joy.
Nelson takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Nelson walks into a straight right hand from Chula.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Chula chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nelson on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Chula throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Chula moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Nelson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Chula moves away.
Chula thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nelson's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A decent looking cross lands there for Nelson.
Chula looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nelson. Chula does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nelson lands a jab to Chula's midsection.
A solid leg kick lands there for Chula.
Chula scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Chula misses with a kick to the body.
A clash of legs there as Nelson blocks the low kick.
It seemed like Nelson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Nelson blocks the body kick.
Nelson staying out of range there.
Chula swings away with a leg kick that misses.
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 Taran Chula will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Taran Chula's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

A big left from Chula misses.
Nelson counters with a body kick.
Chula throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nelson moves into range and connects with a jab.
Nelson blocks a leg kick.
Nelson has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Chula, right into the meat.
Chula misses with an uppercut. Nelson saw that one coming.
Chula throws a poor cross that misses
and Nelson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Chula throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
letting Nelson counter with a right hand.
Oh Chula is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Nelson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Chula.
Chula seems to have got his legs back now.
Chula throws a hook but Nelson avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chula swings for the body but Nelson moves out of range.
Chula throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Chula tries to land a leg kick but Nelson saw it coming and moves away.

Chula rushes Nelson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nice body punch from Chula - that landed with a thud.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chula tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nelson's elbow.
Nelson digs a right hand into Chula's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Chula's gas tank.
Chula misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Nelson manages to break the clinch.
Chula wants to land a leg kick but Nelson is out of range.
Chula throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Chula wants to clinch up but Nelson keeps it at a distance.
Chula misses the shot to the body.
Nelson lands a nice leg kick that just misses Chula's sensitive parts.
Nelson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Chula looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Chula jabs Nelson to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Chula avoids the body shot from Nelson.
Chula scores with a body shot.
Nelson throws a big shot that misses.
Chula avoids the body shot from Nelson.
Azumah Nelson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chula throws a leg kick but Nelson sees it coming and moves out of range.
Nelson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Chula swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nelson misses with a hook to the body
and Chula counters with a slapping leg kick.

Chula moves into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Chula lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Nelson.

Chula manages to break the clinch.
Chula throws a leg kick that is checked
and Nelson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Chula scores with a nice head shot.
Chula moves out of range as Nelson strikes.
Chula tries to clinch up
and Nelson counters with a nice body shot.
Chula misses with a low kick.
Nelson has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Chula.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chula steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Nelson. That one must have hurt.
Chula displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nelson throws out the jab.
Chula misses with a leg kick.
Chula tries to clinch but Nelson moves out of range.
Chula scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Taran Chula is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jab by Chula.
Nelson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nelson now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Nelson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Chula feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Nelson looks to score with a jab to the body but Chula is just out of range.
Chula lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Nelson looks to throw the jab but Chula is out of range.
Nelson closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Chula finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Chula tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Chula closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nelson digs a right hand underneath Chula's ribcage. Chula let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Nelson misses with a body punch.
Chula misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nelson misses with a punch to the body.
Nelson misses with a punch to the body.
Nelson prevents a body shot from Chula.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nelson blocks an uppercut.
Chula works on Nelson's body with a couple of short punches.
Chula misses with a punch to the body.
Nelson will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Chula up against the cage.
Nelson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Chulas head.

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 Taran Chula.
Well Chula 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Taran Chula!
Azumah Nelson spoke after the fight, saying 'the slowest learner I have ever had. lol had no chance'.