PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Georges St. Georges (ranked 408 p4p, 2646 weight class) and Tae Shik Cha (ranked 49 p4p, 266 weight class). Cha has chosen Gaullin - Moonlight as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

St. Georges
vs
Cha

167 cm
27
138
8 - 3 - 0

178 cm
36
153
20 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

SynCity Fightwear
Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Georges St. Georges!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tae Shik Cha!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
St. Georges misses with a right hand
letting Cha counter with a right hand.
Cha throws a big shot that misses.
St. Georges scores with a hook to the body. Cha takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Cha throws a big shot that misses.
Cha throws a hook but St. Georges avoids it easily.
St. Georges lands with a thumping leg kick.
St. Georges slips a jab from Cha.
St. Georges fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Cha looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Cha lunges at St. Georges with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by St. Georges's hand.
St. Georges looks to score with a jab to the body but Cha is just out of range.
Cha throws a lazy right hand but St. Georges sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cha swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
St. Georges gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A nice leg kick from St. Georges, right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
St. Georges misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cha.
St. Georges scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Cha avoids the body shot from St. Georges.
Cha lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Cha has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
St. Georges throws a right hand that misses
and Cha counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cha misses with a looping left.
A slapping leg kick lands for St. Georges.
Cha uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from St. Georges.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Cha! But no joy.
St. Georges throws a body kick that misses.
It seemed like Cha was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
St. Georges misses with a low kick.
Cha is looking to clinch.
St. Georges ducks under a wild hook from Cha.

St. Georges shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Cha manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Cha keeping moving, preventing St. Georges from controlling successfully.
St. Georges stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cha swivels though and keeps the full guard.
St. Georges being controlled here momentarily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cha is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

St. Georges looking for a guillotine here but Cha defends easily.
Cha must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
St. Georges keeping moving, preventing Cha from controlling successfully.
Cha is looking to work some ground and pound but St. Georges has wrist control.
St. Georges working a defensive guard here.
St. Georges is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
St. Georges keeping full guard, as Cha tries to pass.

St. Georges looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Cha engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St. Georges is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
St. Georges is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cha defends well.
St. Georges might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
St. Georges wants to sweep here but Cha controlling him for the moment.
Cha controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Cha trying to control the position from guard on top but St. Georges is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four 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.
Cha passes easily into side control. Nice work.
St. Georges is looking to regain half guard here but Cha keeps moving and retains side control.
Cha is looking to take a break and control but St. Georges is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
St. Georges is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Canadian Elite Bruins Gym, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Cha tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Cha wants to control but St. Georges is keeping him busy.
A lull in the action here as Cha stalls from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cha wants to lay and pray for a moment but St. Georges keeps working.
St. Georges is trying to escape the position but Cha is controlling the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tae Shik Cha will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Nice defenses there by St. Georges.
Cha checks a leg kick.
Cha jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A jab lands there for Cha.

Cha gets caught napping as St. Georges dives in and scores a takedown. Cha manages to retain guard.
Georges St. Georges overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
St. Georges trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cha tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cha controls St. Georges momentarily but St. Georges frees himself.
Cha looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
St. Georges trying to control but Cha is working from the bottom.
Cha looking for a sweep. Not yet Cha, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
St. Georges trying to control but Cha is working from the bottom.
Cha looking to control.
Cha looking for a sweep. Not yet Cha, not yet.
St. Georges passes Cha's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Cha keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
St. Georges tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cha knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cha slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
St. Georges slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
St. Georges working the ground and pound from side control.

St. Georges is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cha has escaped the position, nice work there.
St. Georges moves into full mount!
Cha wants to hold on but St. Georges pushes him away.
St. Georges controlling from mount.
Cha wants to hold on but St. Georges pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
St. Georges works his way to his opponent's back.

St. Georges is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Cha has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Cha defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cha wants to escape the position.
Cha trying to control the action but St. Georges just sinks the hooks in.
St. Georges punches the canvas rather than the man.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting St. Georges here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
St. Georges not allowing Cha to control his hands.

St. Georges working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
St. Georges has the hooks in. Cha is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Cha is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get St. Georges off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cha tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Cha is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cha tries to hold on but St. Georges pushes him away.
Cha is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
St. Georges controlling the position easily from mount.
St. Georges wants to take his opponent's back but Cha doesn't allow it.
St. Georges takes Cha's back.
St. Georges trying to control momentarily.
Cha just trying to survive but St. Georges is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
St. Georges thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.

Cha fending off the submission attempt from St. Georges.
St. Georges has the hooks in. Cha is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
St. Georges is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cha can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cha trying to control the hands but St. Georges won't let him.
Cha breaks St. Georges's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Cha working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

St. Georges is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cha trying to control the position from guard on top but St. Georges is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cha 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.

St. Georges is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Georges St. Georges dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cha swings for the body but St. Georges moves out of range.
St. Georges takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Cha is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
St. Georges bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
St. Georges fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cha manages to avoid it.
St. Georges throws a lazy uppercut
and Cha counters with a straight right hand.
St. Georges keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cha.
Cha throws an uppercut from half a mile away. St. Georges sees it coming and avoids it easily.
It looked like St. Georges was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
St. Georges ducks under a wild hook from Cha.
St. Georges half committed to a counter leg kick.
Both fighters circling a little - St. Georges finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Cha avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cha dodges the punch combination from St. Georges.
Cha doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slow jab from Cha misses its intended target.
St. Georges missing with a left hand there. Cha was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cha misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from St. Georges.
A leg kick checked by Cha.
Cha might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
St. Georges lands a jab-cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cha takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
A chopping leg kick lands by St. Georges.
Cha moves out of range of the leg kick from St. Georges.
Cha misses with a looping right.
St. Georges appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Cha looks to throw the jab but St. Georges is out of range.
St. Georges scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Cha doesn't seem bothered though.
Tae Shik Cha is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cha walks into a left hand.
St. Georges shoots for a takedown but Cha saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
St. Georges lands a nice looking body kick.
Cha pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cha ducks under a wild hook from St. Georges.
St. Georges moves away from the strike by Cha.
Cha connects with a looping right hand.
Cha bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of St. Georges's head.
St. Georges moves away from the strike by Cha.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
St. Georges lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St. Georges takes a swing at Cha's ribcage but misses.
Georges St. Georges seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cha throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
St. Georges misses with a leg kick.
Nice straight punches there by St. Georges. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of St. Georges.
St. Georges scores with a three punch combo!
Cha fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Cha avoids the head kick by St. Georges.
St. Georges throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Cha counters with a right hand to the body.
St. Georges slips a straight right by Cha.
St. Georges is looking to counter punch.
Nice takedown defense from Cha. No joy for St. Georges on that attempt.
A telegraphed right hand from Cha misses the target.
St. Georges throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cha misses with a body shot.
St. Georges swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Cha throws a combination but it was largely blocked by St. Georges.
Cha misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from St. Georges.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St. Georges throws out a loose jab but Cha uses good head movement to avoid it.
St. Georges ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cha moves away.
St. Georges slips under a jab from Cha.
St. Georges was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
St. Georges throws a leg kick that is checked
and St. Georges takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
St. Georges connects with a body shot.
Cha swings and misses with a hook to the body.
St. Georges throws a wild body kick that Cha sees coming a mile off.
St. Georges fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Georges St. Georges. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cha misses with a hook to the body
and Cha takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
St. Georges lands with a shot to the body.
Cha defending well as St. Georges loads up on a big left hand.
A big left from Cha misses.
Cha ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
St. Georges staying out of range there.
Cha misses with a looping right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St. Georges misses with a low kick.
St. Georges is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Cha has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from St. Georges.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
St. Georges jabs Cha right on the nose. Cha blinks but takes it well.
St. Georges cracks Cha with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Cha throws a jab when St. Georges was well out of range.
Cha walks into a straight right hand from St. Georges.
St. Georges misses with an uppercut
enabling Cha to counter with a crisp jab.
St. Georges throws an off balance right hand
and Cha counters with a nice body shot.
St. Georges works Cha's body with a nice hook.
A jab from Cha misses.
St. Georges moves out of range of the strikes.
St. Georges avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
St. Georges swings away with a body shot that misses
and Cha connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
St. Georges will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
St. Georges throws a nice looking combination but Cha bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Georges St. Georges did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
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.

A cross from Cha lands.
Cha on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Cha stuffs the takedown.
A jab from Cha misses.
St. Georges lands a nice shot that snaps Cha's head back.
A shot to the liver by Cha. Beautiful body shot.
St. Georges tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
St. Georges doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cha counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cha looks to land a left hand but St. Georges moved out of range nicely.

St. Georges throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Cha tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. St. Georges is in Cha's guard.
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!
St. Georges looking to pass the guard.
Cha lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Cha's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cha trying to control the position from guard on top but St. Georges is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cha forces his way into half guard.
St. Georges moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Cha controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
St. Georges keeping moving, preventing Cha from controlling successfully.

St. Georges working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cha doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cha manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
St. Georges is trying to keep Cha in close.
St. Georges looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cha is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
St. Georges wants to sweep but no luck.
Cha is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Cha slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cha wants to lay and pray for a moment but St. Georges keeps working.
St. Georges is trying to get back to half guard.
Cha controlling the position from side mount.
Cha wants to lay and pray for a moment but St. Georges keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Cha controlling the position from side mount.
St. Georges is trying to control Cha's posture but Cha avoids it.
Cha trying to control the position but St. Georges is working away.
Cha remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
St. Georges slips under a jab.
Cha throws a right hand that St. Georges ducks under and follows up with a left that St. Georges also avoids with ease.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tae Shik Cha dominated that fourth round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

St. Georges ducks under a wild hook from Cha.
Tae Shik Cha seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cha misses with a body shot.
St. Georges's jab looks to have found its range, popping Cha under the eye.
Cha ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
It seemed like Cha was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
St. Georges dives in and grabs Cha's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cha pushes down on St. Georges's head and hops out.
St. Georges throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Cha on the side of the head.
Cha is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by St. Georges.
Cha waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract St. Georges.
Cha misses with an uppercut.
A low kick lands for St. Georges.
St. Georges lands a leg kick that knocks Cha off balance momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cha jabbing away but nothing is landing.
St. Georges paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Cha scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. St. Georges doesn't seem bothered though.
St. Georges scores with a nice strike.
Cha tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but St. Georges was well out of range. Poor timing from Cha.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St. Georges lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
St. Georges is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Cha throws a looping overhand right but St. Georges ducks down to avoid it.
It looked like St. Georges wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Cha throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sloppy strikes from St. Georges. Those never looked like landing.
St. Georges throws a lazy right hand but Cha sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
St. Georges with a jab.
Cha takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Good leg kick by St. Georges.

St. Georges changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Cha looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cha is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Cha tries to get to full guard but St. Georges has control of the leg.
Cha controlling the position well.

St. Georges is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St. Georges tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cha knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Cha wants to control but St. Georges is keeping busy.
St. Georges wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cha keeps working.

St. Georges is working for a submission of some sort.
St. Georges wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cha keeps working.
Cha regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St. Georges looking to pass the guard.
St. Georges slips nicely into half guard.
Cha gets back to full guard.
Cha manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. St. Georges manages to get himself to full guard.

Cha showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Cha wants to control from the top but St. Georges keeps moving.

St. Georges is looking for a triangle but Cha pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cha passes St. Georges's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Cha is taking a breather. St. Georges says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Cha tries to pass the half guard into mount. St. Georges knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Cha trying to control from St. Georges's half guard. St. Georges has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Cha passes easily into side control. Nice work.
St. Georges seems a little lost for a moment, as Cha dominates the positioning.

And that's the end of the fight!
Georges St. Georges showed his dominance in that final round.
I think St. Georges 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 48:47
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 48:47
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Georges St. Georges!
Georges St. Georges retains his featherweight title!
Georges St. Georges tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.