PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Byung Soo Choi (ranked 3700 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rasul Dolaev (ranked 5655 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Soo Choi
vs
Dolaev

178 cm
25
158 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

178 cm
25
158 lbs
2 - 3 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
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 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Byung Soo Choi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 1, fighting out of New York, Rasul Dolaev!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Steve Montenegro and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Choi misses with a head kick.
Choi looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Dolaev shoots in looking for a takedown. Choi tries to sprawl out of it but Dolaev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Choi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Choi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Dolaev has Choi up against the cage in a clinch.
Dolaev is struggling to control the position.
Dolaev is working for takedown but Choi is calmly controlling the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Choi stops a takedown attempt from Dolaev.
Byung Soo Choi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rasul Dolaev.
Choi can't break the clinch.
Dolaev has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Choi after a bit of a struggle.
Choi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Dolaev is pushing Choi up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dolaev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dolaev blocks a head kick by Choi.
Byung Soo Choi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Choi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Dolaev gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Dolaev throws a sloppy head kick and Choi moves out of range easily.
Dolaev scores with a hook to the body. Choi takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Choi tries a head kick but it misses.

Dolaev fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Choi, pushing him back against the cage.
Dolaev goes for a takedown attempt but Choi pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Dolaev displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Choi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dolaev wants to counter the offense by Choi and move into the clinch position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Dolaev dives in and scores a takedown into Choi's guard.
Choi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Dolaev content to stall in guard here.
Choi wants to get back to his feet but Dolaev is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Dolaev thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Choi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dolaev is controlling him.
Dolaev looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dolaev showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Dolaev must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dolaev stops Choi from standing up.
Dolaev stays in close to Choi's body and controls the position.
Dolaev lands a couple of elbows.

That's four 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.

Dolaev stands and steps away. Choi gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Nice sprawl there from Choi as Dolaev shoots in.
An inside leg kick from Dolaev misses.
Choi throws a left and a right that both miss
and Dolaev counters with a nice uppercut.

Dolaev closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Dolaev stalls.
Dolaev controlling the action here for a moment.
Choi is trying to break the clinch but Dolaev is controlling him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Dolaev drags the fight down to the ground.
Dolaev has a closed guard, preventing Choi from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rasul Dolaev dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

The crowd cheers as Choi lands an impressive looking overhand right. Dolaev doesn't seem phased though.

Dolaev shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Choi being controlled here, momentarily.

Dolaev gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Choi enables Dolaev to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Choi manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Dolaev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Choi wants to stand but Dolaev is controlling the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dolaev content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Dolaev not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
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.
Choi wants to stand but Dolaev is controlling the position.
Dolaev really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Choi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Dolaev content to stall in guard here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Dolaev gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A body shot lands from Dolaev.

Dolaev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dolaev fails with the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dolaev fails with a takedown attempt.
Choi plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Choi leaves Dolaev with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Choi appears to be looking for a big counter.
Byung Soo Choi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rasul Dolaev.
Choi throws a head kick but Dolaev moves out of range.
Choi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Dolaev swinging wildly here.
Dolaev avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Dolaev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Choi pinned against the cage. Choi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Choi throws a head kick that half lands.
Sloppy strikes from Choi. Those never looked like landing.
And Dolaev tries to counter it with a takedown but Choi pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Dolaev moves into the clinch.

Dolaev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Choi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dolaev.
Dolaev just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromChoi.
Dolaev blocks a head kick by Choi.
Sloppy strikes from Choi. Those never looked like landing.
Choi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Choi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Dolaev lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Dolaev drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Choi wants to stand up but Dolaev is controlling him.
Dolaev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dolaev prevents Choi from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Choi is working an open guard so Dolaev takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Choi stuffs the takedown.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Choi falls off balance throwing a combination

and Dolaev counters by moving into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rasul Dolaev will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Choi throws a head kick but Dolaev moves out of range.
Dolaev closes this distance looking for a takedown but Choi circles away.
Dolaev tries a head kick but it misses.
Dolaev shoots in but no luck this time.
Choi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick by Choi misses
and Dolaev counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Choi looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Choi lands with a slapping head kick.
Choi avoids the head kick by Dolaev.
A head kick by Choi misses

and Dolaev counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Dolaev.
Choi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Choi has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Dolaev has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dolaev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A nice combination there by Choi.
Choi takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Choi throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Dolaev.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dolaev is defended easily by Choi.
Byung Soo Choi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rasul Dolaev.
Choi throws a head kick that half lands.

Dolaev instigates a clinch.
Choi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Dolaev manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Dolaev will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Choi would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rasul Dolaev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Choi trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Dolaev has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Choi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Choi is looking to stand up but Dolaev won't let him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dolaev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Byung Soo Choi is winning the standup battle so far.
Choi tries a head kick but it misses.
Dolaev misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Choi throws a sloppy head kick
and Dolaev counters with a straight right hand.
Choi misses with a few strikes there.
Choi tries to bum rush Dolaev with a series of wild strikes but Dolaev uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Dolaev blocks a head kick by Choi.
Choi throws a head kick that misses
and Dolaev counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Dolaev drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Choi wants to stand up but Dolaev is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Choi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Choi wants it to stay on the feet.
Choi slaps away a takedown attempt from Dolaev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Choi is looking for a counter combo.
Choi throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

And that's the end of the fight!
Byung Soo Choi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dolaev 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 29:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Byung Soo Choi!