PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Giuseppe Amodei (ranked 2110 p4p, 1777 weight class) and Tzu Chu (ranked 82 p4p, 62 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Amodei
vs
Chu

165 cm
34
140
17 - 14 - 2

155 cm
35
135
8 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Granite chin

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 17 - 14 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Giuseppe Amodei!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tzu Chu!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Amodei takes a swing at Chu's ribcage but misses.
Chu fails with the takedown.
Chu looks to land a left hand but Amodei moved out of range nicely.
Amodei misses with the combination.
Chu throws a shot from downtown. Amodei moves away and avoids it.
It looked like Amodei was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Chu.
Chu lands with a good body shot.
Chu misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Amodei counters with a nice uppercut.
Tzu Chu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Amodei moves out of range as Chu strikes.
Amodei misses the jab.
Chu avoids the head kick by Amodei.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Amodei with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Amodei lands a nice shot that snaps Chu's head back.
Chu shoots in for a double leg but Amodei sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A right-left combo lands from Chu.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Chu stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Chu misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Amodei throws a leg kick that misses.
Amodei connects with a single shot there.
Amodei fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Chu is out of range.
Amodei looks to land a left hand but Chu moved out of range nicely.
Chu looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Amodei fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Chu loads up on a big right hand but Amodei slips the punch.
Amodei throws a lazy right hand but Chu sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Chu walks forward, straight into a front kick from Amodei.
Amodei looks to score with a jab to the body but Chu is just out of range.
Chu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Amodei moves away.

Chu drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Amodei manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Amodei is pressing down on Chu's thigh, looking to free his foot. Chu is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chu keeping control of the position.
Amodei tries to pass the half guard into mount. Chu knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Amodei is working hard here to advance position.
Amodei uses his free foot to push down on Chu's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Chu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chu tries to hold on but Amodei postures up.
Amodei is trying to take his opponent's back.
Amodei wants to control the pace but Chu is squirming around nicely.
Amodei fails to move to back control.
Chu really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Amodei tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Chu wants to control but Amodei is having none of it.
Amodei pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Chu manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Chu is doing well to control the position and prevent Amodei from advancing to side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Giuseppe Amodei dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Chu displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Giuseppe Amodei is winning the standup battle so far.
A nice leg kick lands there from Amodei.
Amodei scores with a jab to the head.
Amodei uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Chu.
A low kick lands for Amodei.
Chu swings widly with a right hand
and Amodei cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Chu throws a lazy uppercut
and Amodei counters with an outside leg kick.
Amodei swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Chu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
It looked like Amodei wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Chu throws a sloppy head kick
and Amodei counters with a stiff right hand.
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!
Amodei lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Chu at a distance.
Amodei fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Chu checks it well.
Chu scores with a hook.
Chu connects with a good right hand that stumbles Amodei. Amodei circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Chu lands a jab to the head.
Chu is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Amodei.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Amodei lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Chu throws a looping overhand right but Amodei ducks down to avoid it.
Chu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Amodei manages to avoid it.
Chu scores with a nice strike.
Amodei throws a leg kick but Chu checks it.
Amodei throws a head kick but Chu moves out of range.
Amodei is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Chu blocks a leg kick.
Amodei throws a leg kick which misses Chu's front leg but catches the back leg as Chu tries to avoid it.
Chu throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Amodei.
Amodei pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Chu finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Chu rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Amodei counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Some wild striking there from Chu.
Amodei scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Amodei needs to keep his hands up - Chu had a free shot at his head there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Amodei uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Chu.
Chu is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Amodei throws a lazy right hand but Chu sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Chu looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Chu checks a leg kick.
Chu missing with a left hand there. Amodei was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Amodei lunges at Chu with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Chu's hand.

Chu decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Amodei looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Chu thows a huge punch but Amodei dodges it nicely.
Amodei avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Chu.
Chu lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Amodei gets back to full guard.
Chu wants to pass the guard but Amodei is keeping the position.

Amodei is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Chu is aware though and is defending well.
Chu with a flurry of punches that miss.
Amodei manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Chu manages to get himself to full guard.

Amodei looking to pass the guard.
Giuseppe Amodei overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Amodei looking to sit in guard and control but Chu gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Chu trying to control but Amodei is working from the bottom.
Chu pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Amodei is keeping the position for now.

Amodei looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Amodei is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tzu Chu will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Chu jabs Amodei right on the nose. Amodei blinks but takes it well.
Chu connects with a nice looking jab.
Amodei showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Chu.
Chu fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Amodei on the side of the head.
Amodei fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Chu looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Amodei keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A big left from Chu misses.
Tzu Chu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Amodei looks to score with a jab to the body but Chu is just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chu misses with a head kick.
Amodei scores with a punch to the head.
Chu tries to close the distance and clinch up but Amodei swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Chu sizes up Amodei with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Amodei lands with a nice body kick.
Chu needs to keep his hands up - Amodei had a free shot at his head there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Amodei misses with a body shot.
Chu moves out of range of the body kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Amodei. That's going to slow Chu down.
Chu with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Nice straight punches there by Chu. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Chu.
Amodei uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Chu has time to react.
Chu fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Chu connects with a crisp jab.
Amodei looks to score with a jab to the body but Chu is just out of range.
Chu misses with a hook
and Amodei counters with a left to the body.
Amodei moves into range and connects with a jab.
Amodei misses with a body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Chu shoots in looking for a takedown. Amodei tries to sprawl out of it but Chu keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Amodei manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chu uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Amodei.
Amodei throws a body punch but Chu moves out of range.
Chu looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Chu slips a jab from Amodei.
Chu checks a low kick from Amodei.
Amodei takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Chu, as that shot connected.
Chu is looking to clinch.
Chu circles away from the clinch attempt.
Amodei throws a jab when Chu was well out of range.
The fighters circling - Chu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Amodei avoids the body shot from Chu.
Amodei moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Amodei throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Chu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Amodei misses its target.
Chu fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
It looked like Amodei was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Chu throws a big shot that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chu avoids the body shot from Amodei.
Chu lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Giuseppe Amodei is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Chu scores with a jab.
Chu misses with a double jab
and Amodei counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Amodei slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Chu paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A jab from Chu misses.
Chu misses with a jab, cross combination.
Amodei loads up on a big right hand but Chu slips the punch.
Chu misses with the combination.
Chu just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromAmodei.
Chu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Chu tries for a takedown but Amodei sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Amodei cracks Chu with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
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!
Chu tries to clinch but Amodei moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chu throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Chu throws a body punch but Amodei moves out of range.
Chu's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Amodei connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Chu scrambles back to his feet.
Chu works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Good leg kick by Amodei.
Chu walks forward, straight into a front kick from Amodei.
Amodei lands a jab to Chu's midsection.
Amodei lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Chu at a distance.
Amodei throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Chu slips a straight right by Amodei.
The fight stays on the outside here - Chu looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Amodei throws a head kick but Chu moves out of range.
Jab, jab by Amodei - just one landing.
Chu looks to throw the jab but Amodei is out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Giuseppe Amodei.
I think Amodei 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Giuseppe Amodei!
A very excited looking Giuseppe Amodei made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.