PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nicholas Chandler (ranked 4283 p4p, 4221 weight class) and Dominick Poirier (ranked 413 p4p, 407 weight class). Dominick Poirier is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Chandler
vs
Poirier

178 cm
25
145
2 - 1 - 0

176 cm
25
145
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Cuts easily

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nicholas Chandler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dominick Poirier!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paulsen Ambrosius and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chandler shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Poirier as he avoids it easily.
Poirier scores with a hook.
Poirier shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Chandler sprawls well. Chandler wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Poirier gets slowly back to his feet.
Poirier tries for a takedown but Chandler circles away easily

and Chandler decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Poirier's guard.

Poirier is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Chandler presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Poirier has picked Chandler up - he's going for a ride! Poirier dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Chandler is holding on to half guard well.
Chandler taking some punishment here, with Poirier in his half guard.
Chandler looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poirier missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Poirier prevents Chandler from improving his position.
Chandler is trying to maintain the position but Poirier is very close to passing his half guard.
Chandler controlling the position for now.
Chandler is looking for a sweep. Poirier is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Poirier passes into side control, despite Chandler's attempt to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Chandler tries to buck Poirier off but Poirier is having none of it.

Poirier is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Chandler is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Chandler is looking to regain half guard here but Poirier keeps moving and retains side control.
Chandler trying to control but Poirier flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poirier is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Poirier is not going to allow Chandler to sit and survive in this position.
Poirier is looking to control Chandler but Chandler is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Chandler trying to control the action but Poirier just sinks the hooks in.

Poirier seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Chandler's chin but Chandler turns very nicely into Poirier's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Chandler.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chandler controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Chandler drops back, looking for a kneebar! Poirier looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Poirier looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Poirier!

Poirier trying to control the position but Chandler is working away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Chandler is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Chandler shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Poirier's guard.
Poirier looking for a sweep. Not yet Poirier, not yet.

Poirier has his foot on Chandler's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Chandler works his way back into a safe position though.
Poirier has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Chandler wanted to stand there but Poirier had control of the position.
Chandler looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Poirier not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chandler 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.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chandler wants to pass the guard but Poirier is keeping the position.
Chandler throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Poirier works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Chandler looking to score a takedown here. Poirier is defending well but Chandler drives through and ends up in Poirier's guard.
Chandler lands a couple of digs.
Chandler is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Chandler trying to control but Poirier is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chandler content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Poirier controls Chandler momentarily but Chandler frees himself.
Chandler trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Poirier manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Chandler working a defensive guard here.
Poirier wants to control from the top but Chandler keeps moving.
Chandler looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poirier wanted to stand there but Chandler had control of the position.
Poirier stops Chandler from standing up.
Chandler controls Poirier momentarily but Poirier frees himself.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Chandler escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Poirier gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Chandler has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Poirier can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Poirier trying to control the position from guard on top but Chandler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Chandler displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Poirier.

Poirier dives in and scores a takedown into Chandler's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chandler is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicholas Chandler dominated that second round.
That's time! Chandler's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Chandler closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Poirier to the mat! Poirier manages to get full guard.
Chandler would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Poirier is trying to control the position but Chandler postures up.
Chandler stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Poirier swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Poirier trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chandler trying to control the position from guard on top but Poirier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Chandler makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chandler trying to control the position from guard on top but Poirier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Good work by Poirier as he checks the leg kick.

Poirier looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Chandler keeping moving, preventing Poirier from controlling successfully.
Chandler is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Poirier stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Chandler swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Chandler striking off his back but it's not causing Poirier any problems.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chandler controlling the position.
Chandler wants to sweep here but Poirier controlling him for the moment.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Poirier must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Chandler is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Poirier wants to control from the top but Chandler keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Chandler shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poirier trying to control the position.

Poirier looking for a guillotine here but Chandler defends easily.
Chandler pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Poirier is keeping the position for now.
Chandler stopping the sweep attempt from Poirier.

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.
Chandler stands up over Poirier, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Poirier is trying to control the position but Chandler postures up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Poirier keeping moving, preventing Chandler from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Poirier swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Chandler closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Chandler misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Poirier can't do much from the bottom here.
Poirier is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Chandler is staying active.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicholas Chandler showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Chandler has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicholas Chandler!
Nicholas Chandler spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.