PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Davdio Branko (ranked 1729 p4p, 1465 weight class) and Dragon Li Chai (ranked 104 p4p, 91 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Branko
vs
Chai

180 cm
27
144
15 - 13 - 0

165 cm
29
146
10 - 7 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
New Standard

Brooklyn Apothecary

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 15 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Davdio Branko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dragon Li Chai!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Chris Dean and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Branko takes one to the side of the head.
Branko shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Chai pinned against the cage. Chai gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Branko tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Chai defends well and Branko ends up having to push Chai into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Chai is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Chai has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Branko is trying to keep an underhook but Chai manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Branko looking for submissions off his back.
Branko tries to roll over but Chai keeps him under control.

Branko looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Branko moves into full guard.
Chai trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chai passes Branko's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Chai seems to be working for a kimura but Branko defends the submission attempt.
Chai wants to lay and pray for a moment but Branko keeps working.
Chai is looking to advance position but Branko won't allow it.

Branko looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Chai trying to pass the guard but Branko defending well.
Branko wants to improve his position but Chai is controlling well.
Chai is trying to control the action in half guard but Branko is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Branko works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two 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.
Chai slips nicely into half guard.

Chai seems to be working for a kimura but Branko defends the submission attempt.
Branko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Branko is refusing to be controlled, as Chai sits in half guard.

Chai looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Branko moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chai trying to control but Branko is working from the bottom.

Branko throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Branko has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Chai can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Branko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Chai pushes down on Branko's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Chai sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Branko wants to get back to full guard.

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.

Branko has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Chai escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Chai!
Branko regains half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
It looks like Chai might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
My spies in Rollins Fitness inform me that Chai has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Branko is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Chai pulls his head out easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Chai is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Branko sees it coming and defends easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Branko actively working from the bottom here.
Branko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dragon Li Chai dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Branko ducks under a wild hook from Chai.
Chai lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Chai displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Branko.
Branko shoots in but Chai avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Chai scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Branko with a poor takedown

so Chai counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Branko seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Davdio Branko. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Branko throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Chai tries to free his leg and advance position but Branko is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chai wants to control from the top but Branko keeps moving.

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

Branko looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Chai passes into half guard.
Branko really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Chai seems to be looking for submissions.

Chai is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Chai has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Chai is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Chai is trying to control the action in half guard but Branko is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two 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.
Branko wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Branko manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Chai controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Chai won't allow Branko to sweep him here.

Branko working for a triangle but Chai defends it easily.
Chai controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Chai trying to control but Branko is working from the bottom.

Branko is looking for a triangle but Chai pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Branko keeping full guard, as Chai tries to pass.

Branko had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Chai defends it easily.
Chai trying to control but Branko is working from the bottom.

Branko looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Branko keeping full guard, as Chai tries to pass.
Chai trying to control but Branko is working from the bottom.
Chai content to stall in guard here.

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.

Branko has his foot on Chai's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Chai works his way back into a safe position though.
Branko keeping moving, preventing Chai from controlling successfully.

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

Branko escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Chai gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Branko will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Chai pushes down on Branko's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Branko regains full guard. Nicely done.
Branko looking for a sweep. Not yet Branko, not yet.

Branko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dragon Li Chai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Chai throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Branko on the side of the head.
Branko has his takedown stuffed
and Chai counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Branko misses with a takedown attempt

and Chai counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Chai pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Branko is keeping the position for now.
Chai trying to control the position from guard on top but Branko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Chai lying in Branko's guard like a wet fish here, stalling away. Branko decides he's had enough of all that nonsense - he escapes his hips and locks up an armbar! Wow, that was slick! Chai taps! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Davdio Branko!