PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ali Ajan (ranked 9208 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Chandler (ranked 22635 p4p, 0 weight class). Ali Ajan has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ajan
vs
Chandler

155 cm
18
130 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

171 cm
25
137 lbs
4 - 11 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Ali Ajan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Chris Chandler!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Daniel Bishop and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ajan closes the distance and clinches.

Ajan manages to break the clinch.
Chandler fails in his attempt to clinch.

Ajan moves into the clinch successfully.
Ajan manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Chandler drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ajan blocks an uppercut.
Ajan could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ajan drags the fight down to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chandler with a nice head shot there.
Ajan looking for a sweep. Not yet Ajan, not yet.
Ajan definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Chandler throws a strike but Ajan rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ajan preventing the sweep.
Chandler being controlled here, momentarily.
Chandler controls Ajan momentarily but Ajan frees himself.
Ajan is stalling in the full guard.
Chandler not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Ajan stands up and waves to Chandler to follow him.
Chandler explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Chandler tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ajan defends well and Chandler ends up having to push Ajan into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Chandler shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ajan sprawls well. Ajan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Chandler gets slowly back to his feet.
It looked like Ajan was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Ali Ajan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Chandler.
Chandler tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ajan looks for a takedown but Chandler sprawls well.
Chandler misses with a double jab
and Ajan counters with a three punch combo that has Chandler backing up. Chandler nods at Ajan to acknowledge the strikes.
Ajan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Chandler swivels and escapes.
Jab, jab by Chandler - just one landing.
Ajan takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Ajan looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chandler misses with an attempted mid kick.

Ajan instigates a clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Ajan.
Ajan is trying to drag Chandler to the mat but Chandler just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ajan tries to pull guard but Chandler holds him up against the cage and eventually Ajan drops back down to his feet.
Ajan with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ajan tries to pull guard but Chandler holds him up against the cage and eventually Ajan drops back down to his feet.
Chandler wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ajan stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Ajan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ajan throws a nice outside leg kick.
Ajan has a takedown stuffed.
Chris Chandler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Chandler will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ajan seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Chandler gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Chandler.

Ajan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Chandler throws a combination. Ajan tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Chandler shoots for a double leg takedown but Ajan sprawls well. He's pushed Chandler's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ajan is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Chandler connects with a crisp jab.
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 Ali Ajan will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ajan fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Chandler, pushing him back against the cage.
Ajan has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Chandler is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Chandler goes for a takedown attempt but Ajan pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Chandler shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ajan as he jumps to the side.
Ajan shoots for a takedown but Chandler saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ajan on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Ajan misses with a takedown
and Chandler counters with a straight right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ali Ajan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chandler misses with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck for Ajan with that takedown attempt.
Chandler throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Ajan's head.
Some wild striking there from Chandler.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chandler looks for a takedown but Ajan sprawls well.
Chandler throws a head kick but Ajan moves out of range.
Ajan seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Ajan has Chandler up against the cage in a clinch.
Ajan jumps guard but Chandler stands there with Ajan around his waist. Ajan gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Ajan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Chandler fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ajan lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Chandler tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ajan swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chandler throws a right and a left that Ajan avoids nicely.
Chandler buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Ajan clinches.
Ajan stalls.
Ajan tries to work over Chandler's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Chandler being controlled against the cage.
Ajan drops down looking for an ankle pick but Chandler pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ajan fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ajan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Chandler counters with a body kick.
Chandler lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Ajan shoots in looking for a takedown but Chandler manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ajan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Chandler fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ajan avoids it really well and circles away.
Ajan throws a lazy head kick
and Chandler counters with a left to the body.
Chandler gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ajan counters with a nice uppercut.
Ajan shoots in for a takedown but Chandler shows good takedown defense.
Chandler tries to land a front kick but Ajan steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Chandler looks to land a combination but Ajan avoids it well.
The crowd cheers as Chandler lands an impressive looking overhand right. Ajan doesn't seem phased though.
Chandler blocks a head kick by Ajan.
Ajan leaves Chandler with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chandler throws a right and a left that both miss.

Chandler has taken the fight to the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ajan prevents a takedown attempt there.
Come on Ajan - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Ajan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ajan tries to clinch but Chandler is having none of it.
Chandler keeps the fight on the outside.
Ali Ajan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ajan takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Ajan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Chandler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Chandler is looking to clinch.
Chandler ducks under a wild hook from Ajan.
Chandler fails to land with a series of punches.
Ajan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Chandler is fending him off so far but Ajan persists. Nope, Chandler circles away and we're back to standing.
Chandler tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ajan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice takedown defense from Chandler. No joy for Ajan on that attempt.
Ajan scores with a three punch combo!
Ajan swings for the body but Chandler moves out of range.
Chandler lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ajan circles away quickly and effectively.
Chandler lands with a cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chandler throws a right and a left that Ajan avoids nicely.
Chandler lands a nice shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ajan has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ali Ajan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Chandler shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Chandler is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Chandler is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ajan sees it coming and defends easily.

Chandler seems to be working for a kimura but Ajan defends the submission attempt.

Chandler is working for a submission of some sort.

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.
Chandler stops Ajan from getting back to his feet.
Ajan wants to control but Chandler passes into side.
Ajan takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Ajan is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Ajan is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Chandler off and has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chandler trying to control the hands but Ajan won't let him.
Ajan slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Chandler just trying to survive but Ajan is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Ali Ajan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Chandler is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Ajan is staying active.

Ajan is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Chandler defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Ajan looking to break Chandler's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Chandler remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Ajan will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Chandler breaks Ajan's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Ajan can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Chandler controls the pace.
Chandler preventing the sweep.
Ajan keeping moving, preventing Chandler from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Chandler postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Ajan is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Chandler, into his guard.

Ajan trying to control but Chandler is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Chris Chandler.
I think Chandler 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 James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Chandler!
A very excited looking Chris Chandler rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.