PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jamaal Chavez (ranked 6610 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeff Rinaldi (ranked 6196 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Chavez
vs
Rinaldi

153 cm
19
161 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
166 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jamaal Chavez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jeff Rinaldi!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Saam Ante and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rinaldi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Chavez will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Rinaldi up against the cage.
Rinaldi is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Chavez is defending well.
Rinaldi working hard to break the clinch.
Chavez has Rinaldi pushed against the cage.

Rinaldi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from Chavez. No joy for Rinaldi on that attempt.

Chavez pushes Rinaldi up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rinaldi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Chavez has him pressed against the cage.

Rinaldi breaks from the clinch.

Chavez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rinaldi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Chavez gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Jamaal Chavez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff Rinaldi.
Rinaldi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chavez slows down the pace here.
Rinaldi is looking to break free of the clinch but Chavez has double underhooks.

Rinaldi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
No joy there for Rinaldi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Chavez tried to counter with a leg kick but Rinaldi avoided it.
Jamaal Chavez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Chavez tries to clinch up but Rinaldi circles away and keeps his distance.
Chavez really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...
Rinaldi closes the distance and clinches up with Chavez, looking for a takedown. Rinaldi pushes Chavez against the cage but Chavez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rinaldi keeps the fight on the outside.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rinaldi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Chavez fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rinaldi shoots in but Chavez avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chavez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Chavez fails to pull guard.
Rinaldi has Chavez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Chavez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A frustrated look appears on Rinaldi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rinaldi tries to break the clinch but Chavez is controlling the position.
Chavez could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Chavez stops a takedown attempt from Rinaldi.
Chavez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rinaldi smiles and moves away.
Chavez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Chavez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rinaldi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Chavez stuffs the takedown attempt from Rinaldi. Rinaldi gets slowly back to his feet.
Rinaldi looks winded!
Rinaldi lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chavez wants to clinch.
Rinaldi is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Chavez leaves Rinaldi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A quick step to the side and Chavez tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Chavez is looking to clinch but Rinaldi is avoiding it.
Rinaldi tries to counter with a clinch but Chavez shakes him off and moves away.
Jeff Rinaldi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Chavez closes the distance and clinches.
Chavez controlling the action here for a moment.

Chavez pulls guard.
Chavez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rinaldi seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi won't allow Chavez to sweep him here.
Chavez trying to strike off his back.
Rinaldi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Chavez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Chavez working a defensive guard here.

Rinaldi has gone for a leg lock! Chavez slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rinaldi's guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rinaldi is wriggling around but Chavez manages to pass to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jamaal Chavez dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rinaldi closes the distance and pushes Chavez back into the cage.

Rinaldi breaks from the clinch.
Chavez stuffs the takedown attempt from Rinaldi. Rinaldi gets slowly back to his feet.
Chavez throws a quick counter kick to the body but Rinaldi avoids it.
Rinaldi tries to score a power double leg takedown but Chavez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rinaldi somewhat.

Rinaldi pushes Chavez up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rinaldi managing to block the knees to the body from Chavez.
Chavez tries to pull guard but Rinaldi won't allow it.
Rinaldi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chavez keeps control of Rinaldi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rinaldi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rinaldi is trying to break the clinch but Chavez has him pressed against the cage.
Chavez stalling.
Chavez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rinaldi smiles and moves away.
Chavez is looking to clinch but Rinaldi is avoiding it.
Rinaldi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Chavez as he jumps to the side.
Jamaal Chavez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff Rinaldi.
Rinaldi throws a right and a left that Chavez avoids nicely.
Rinaldi throws a series of punches but Chavez avoids them all with ease.
Chavez is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Rinaldi.

Rinaldi pushes Chavez up against the cage in a clinch.
Chavez prevents Rinaldi from breaking the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chavez prevents Rinaldi from breaking the clinch.
Rinaldi is breathing heavily.
Rinaldi is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Come on Chavez - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Rinaldi is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Chavez can't fight it off and eventually Rinaldi manages to take the fight to the floor. Chavez looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Chavez is on top in guard.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Chavez is standing up over Rinaldi. Rinaldi looks to escape but Chavez dives into side control.
Rinaldi is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Chavez has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi taking a bit of punishment here - Chavez scoring with strikes.
Chavez lands an elbow.
Chavez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rinaldi keeps working.
Chavez prevents Rinaldi from escaping the position.
Chavez is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Rinaldi's shoulder. That is not cool.
Rinaldi tries to improve position but can't.
Jamaal Chavez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Chavez is working Rinaldi over with some ground and pound from side control.

Chavez stands up.
Rinaldi misses with a left hand
and Chavez counters with a good low kick that Rinaldi was not able to check.

Chavez pushes Rinaldi up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chavez is struggling to control the position.
Rinaldi is working for takedown but Chavez is calmly controlling the position for now.
Chavez displaying some good clinch control by pressing Rinaldi up against the cage.
Rinaldi letting Chavez take a breather here.
Rinaldi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rinaldi breaks from the clinch.

Rinaldi closes the distance and clinches.
Chavez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rinaldi just stands there and leans against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jeff Rinaldi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Rinaldi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Chavez has momentary wrist control but Rinaldi slips an elbow through the middle.
Chavez wants to get back to his feet but Rinaldi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chavez wants to sweep here but Rinaldi controlling him for the moment.
Rinaldi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Chavez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Chavez throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Rinaldi content to stall in guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chavez trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Chavez wants to improve his position but instead Rinaldi has moved into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rinaldi is trying to control. Chavez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Chavez works his way to full guard. Good work.

Chavez kicks Rinaldi off and gets to his feet.

Rinaldi shoots in and gets a takedown into Chavez's guard.
Chavez looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rinaldi puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Rinaldi wants to control but Chavez is keeping him busy.
Rinaldi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Chavez misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Chavez moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Chavez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rinaldi is controlling him.
Chavez keeping moving, preventing Rinaldi from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Chavez darts in and clinches Rinaldi up against the cage.
Rinaldi can't break the clinch.

Chavez has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Rinaldi uses from the top position.
Rinaldi stopping the sweep attempt from Chavez.
Rinaldi is looking to stand up but Chavez won't let him.
Chavez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi wants to control from the top but Chavez keeps moving.
Chavez is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Chavez tries to strike from the bottom.
Rinaldi wants to control from the top but Chavez keeps moving.
Rinaldi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Chavez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rinaldi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rinaldi misses with a jab, cross combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jeff Rinaldi.
I think Rinaldi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jamaal Chavez!