PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zhan Dhelan (ranked 4880 p4p, 422 weight class) and Athens Christopher (ranked 6731 p4p, 513 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dhelan
vs
Christopher

150 cm
19
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

173 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zhan Dhelan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Athens Christopher!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Alyssa Summers and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Christopher has taken the fight to the clinch.
A short right from Dhelan.
A head punch on the inside from Dhelan fails to land.
Dhelan pushes Christopher back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Dhelan swings wildly with an uppercut but Christopher uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dhelan lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Dhelan.
Dhelan swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Dhelan blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Dhelan manages to pull guard.
Christopher has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dhelan is proving hard to escape from.
Dhelan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Christopher manages to get himself to full guard.

Dhelan has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Dhelan forces his way into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Dhelan is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Christopher tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dhelan works his way into side control.

Dhelan wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Christopher, who protects the arm well.

Dhelan tries for a kimura but Christopher is defending well.
Christopher wants to control but Dhelan postures up.
Christopher is looking to regain half guard here but Dhelan keeps moving and retains side control.

Dhelan tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Dhelan has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
You can see the frustration on Christopher's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Dhelan thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Dhelan tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Dhelan advances nicely into full mount.

Dhelan working for a guillotine from mount but Christopher is in no mood to give up.
Dhelan moves to back control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dhelan has got his arm under Christopher's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Christopher has spun round into Dhelan's guard beautifully! Well done that man!

Dhelan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Christopher gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Dhelan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Christopher is one step ahead there.

Dhelan looking for a guillotine here but Christopher defends easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dhelan is on top in guard.

Dhelan advances to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan tries to pass to full mount but Christopher defends it.
Christopher trying to control but Dhelan postures up.

Dhelan is working for a kimura but Christopher is defending it quite comfortably.
Dhelan works his way into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Dhelan in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Christopher is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Zhan Dhelan!
Zhan Dhelan decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.