PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Piranha Chonan (ranked 433 p4p, 62 weight class) and Ronnie Hepple (ranked 279 p4p, 40 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Chonan
vs
Hepple

176 cm
35
180 lbs
23 - 14 - 1

187 cm
28
187 lbs
19 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Blue Moon

BuriedAlive// Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Piranha Chonan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Ronnie Hepple!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Steve Montenegro and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hepple tries a head kick but it misses.
Chonan avoids the head kick by Hepple.
Piranha Chonan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Chonan throws a body punch but Hepple moves out of range.
Hepple swats away the attempt to clinch by Chonan.
Hepple throws out a counter right but Chonan avoids it with no problem.
Hepple throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Chonan looks to score with a jab to the body but Hepple is just out of range.
Hepple slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Chonan thows a left - swing and a miss!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Chonan clinches.
Chonan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hepple blocks an elbow strike.
Hepple softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Chonan has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Chonan misses with a punch to the body.
Hepple tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chonan lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Hepple lands a body punch in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hepple.
Hepple misses with some punches.
Hepple misses with the head strike.
Hepple swings wildly with an uppercut but Chonan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hepple lands a right hand that snaps the head of Chonan backwards.
Hepple has a couple of punches blocked by Chonan.
Hepple can't find room to land a body shot as Chonan controls the action.
Chonan blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Chonan.
Chonan lands a right hand.
Hepple is working Chonan over against the cage.
Hepple misses with the head strike.
Chonan blocking some punches.
Hepple lands with a short shot to the head.
Chonan tries to throw a body punch but Hepple avoids it by throwing Chonan back against the cage.
Hepple blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hepple blocks an elbow strike from Chonan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chonan throws a head punch that misses.
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!
Hepple misses with some punches.
Hepple tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hepple misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hepple tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Chonan's elbow.
Hepple lands a shoulder strike.
Hepple blocks an elbow strike from Chonan.
Hepple lands a left hand that snaps the head of Chonan backwards.
Hepple lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Hepple breaks from the clinch.
Hepple has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Chonan is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Chonan blocks a head kick by Hepple.
Chonan lands with a cross.
Hepple slips under a jab from Chonan.
Chonan throws an off balance right hand
and Hepple counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Chonan lands a glancing blow to the side of Hepple's head.
Chonan looks to score with a jab to the body but Hepple is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chonan misses with a looping left.
Hepple is looking to chop away at Chonan's legs.
Chonan seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
A clash of legs there as Chonan blocks the low kick.
Hepple keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Chonan.
Chonan thows a left - swing and a miss!
Good standup being displayed there by Hepple as he connects with a hook.

It looks like Piranha Chonan has been cut.
Chonan stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hepple.
Chonan wants to clinch up but Hepple keeps it at a distance.
Chonan avoids the head kick by Hepple.

Chonan fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hepple, pushing him back against the cage.
Chonan works on Hepple's body with a couple of short punches.
Chonan blocking some punches.
Chonan using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Chonan.
Chonan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Chonan lands a hook that snaps the head of Hepple backwards.
Chonan lands a left hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Chonan goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hepple misses with a body punch.
Chonan blocks an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hepple.
Hepple has a couple of punches blocked by Chonan.
Chonan prevents a body shot from Hepple.
Chonan lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Chonan throws an elbow but it misses.
Chonan lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Hepple lands a left hand that snaps the head of Chonan backwards.
Hepple scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Chonan misses with a knee strike.
Chonan scores with a hook to the body.
Hepple misses with the head strike.
Chonan lands a hook that snaps the head of Hepple backwards.
Hepple struggles to land a body shot inside as Chonan controls his hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronnie Hepple dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Piranha Chonan's cut.
That's time! Chonan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Chonan wants to clinch up but Hepple keeps it at a distance.
Hepple throws a fast counter high kick but Chonan manages to duck under it in time.
Chonan doesn't manage to clinch there - Hepple circles away.
Hepple swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Hepple throws a jab but it's blocked by Chonan.
Chonan tries to clinch but Hepple moves away
and Hepple counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Chonan darts in and clinches Hepple up against the cage.
Hepple lands with a short shot to the head.
Hepple lands a body punch.
Hepple misses with a punch on the inside.
Hepple's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Hepple is working Chonan over against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hepple wants to get back to striking at distance but Chonan won't allow it.
Hepple misses with the head strike.

Hepple breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Chonan loads up on a big right hand but Hepple slips the punch.
Hepple has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Chonan lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chonan tries to clinch but Hepple is having none of it.
Hepple only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Chonan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hepple was well out of range. Poor timing from Chonan.
Hepple looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Hepple moves out of range of the strikes.
Hepple tries a quick counter leg kick but Chonan is wise to it.
Nice shot lands for Chonan.
Hepple misses with an uppercut. Chonan saw that one coming.

Chonan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Chonan tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hepple fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hepple tries to throw a body punch but Chonan avoids it by throwing Hepple back against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Hepple.

Hepple escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hepple displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Chonan throws out the jab.
Chonan loads up on a big right hand but Hepple slips the punch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Chonan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hepple throws out a counter right but Chonan avoids it with no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hepple avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Chonan throws a lazy uppercut
and Hepple counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Chonan lands an overhand right.
Chonan misses with a body punch
and Hepple counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hepple is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Hepple takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Chonan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hepple swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hepple fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Chonan.
Chonan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hepple was well out of range. Poor timing from Chonan.
Nice defenses there by Hepple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hepple lands a left and a right that send Chonan crashing to the mat, dazed. Hepple thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Chonan darts in trying to clinch
enabling Hepple to counter with a crisp jab.
Chonan misses with an uppercut
and Hepple counters with a nice uppercut.

Piranha Chonan's cut is getting worse.

Chonan moves into the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Hepple fails to land.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hepple working aggressively here.
Chonan tries to throw a body punch but Hepple avoids it by throwing Chonan back against the cage.
Hepple doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Chonan blocks an uppercut.

Hepple pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ronnie Hepple seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A left lands for Hepple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chonan throws a right hand that misses
letting Hepple counter with a right hand.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hepple. That's going to slow Chonan down.
Hepple throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A quick step to the side and Chonan tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A big right from Chonan misses.
Hepple misses with an uppercut.
Hepple lunges at Chonan with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Chonan's hand.
Chonan misses the jab.
Hepple lands a nice hook to Chonan's body. Chonan takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Chonan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hepple swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hepple swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Chonan blocks a jab.
Chonan tries to clinch but Hepple moves out of range.
Hepple lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Hepple throws a jab but it's blocked by Chonan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronnie Hepple showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Piranha Chonan'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!

Hepple connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Chonan takes a swing at Hepple's ribcage but misses.
Hepple is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Hepple has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hepple steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Chonan.
Hepple is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Hepple is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Hepple wants to slow Chonan down by chopping away at his legs.
Chonan stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hepple.
Hepple slips a jab from Chonan.
Hepple tries a quick counter leg kick but Chonan is wise to it.
Chonan tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Chonan takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Chonan misses with an uppercut
and Hepple counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hepple cracks Chonan with a good jab.
Chonan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Chonan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hepple keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Chonan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chonan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hepple paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Chonan lands a really nice looking cross but Hepple seems unphased.
Chonan takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Piranha Chonan's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Hepple misses the jab.
Chonan checks the leg kick.

Chonan has closed the distance and engaged Hepple in a clinch.
Hepple scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hepple throws a head punch that misses.
Chonan lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Chonan throws an elbow that misses.
Chonan prevents a body shot from Hepple.
Chonan tries to work over Hepple's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hepple has had enough of the clinch but Chonan keeps him there for the moment.
Chonan blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Piranha Chonan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chonan throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A right handed body shot lands from Chonan.
Chonan has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Chonan with an attempt at a knee that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hepple.
Ronnie Hepple seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A short left from Hepple.
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!
Chonan lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hepple backwards.
A right hand to the body from Hepple.
Chonan lands a nice knee to the body.
Hepple swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Chonan blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Chonan throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hepple lands a right hand.
Chonan blocks a body shot from Hepple.
Hepple working aggressively here.
Hepple presses Chonan against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hepple.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hepple.
Hepple misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hepple.
A shot in the inside from Chonan.
Chonan misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hepple fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Chonan blocking some punches.
Hepple misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hepple blocks a body shot from Chonan.
Chonan misses with a hook from the clinch.
Chonan comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A head punch on the inside from Hepple fails to land.
Hepple avoids a wild elbow strike from Chonan.
A nice right hand lands inside from Chonan.
Hepple swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Chonan creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Hepple misses with the head strike.
Chonan blocking some punches.
A short right from Hepple.
A short right from Hepple.
Hepple throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Chonans head.
Ronnie Hepple is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hepple misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch on the inside from Chonan fails to land.
Nice body punch from Chonan.
Hepple avoids the elbow strike from Chonan, against the cage.
Chonan has a couple of punches blocked by Hepple.
Chonan swings wildly with an uppercut but Hepple uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hepple doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Chonan tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Chonan throws an elbow but misses.

Hepple escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hepple keeps the fight on the outside.
Hepple is trying to counter with his kicks.
Chonan feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Hepples jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Hepple bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Chonan looks to land a left hand but Hepple moved out of range nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ronnie Hepple.
Well Hepple has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ronnie Hepple!
After the fight, Ronnie Hepple was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.