PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between CC Chai (ranked 2398 p4p, 545 weight class) and Ben Crispian (ranked 213 p4p, 52 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Chai
vs
Crispian

182 cm
21
155
4 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
155
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

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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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, CC Chai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ben Crispian!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Jorge Garcia and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crispian avoids a punch combination nicely.
Crispian is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Crispian walks into a jab.
Crispian scores with a jab to the head.
Nice body kick from Crispian.
Chai throws a big shot that misses.
Crispian scores with a head kick. Chai tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Chai clinches up with Crispian and pushes him back against the cage.
Crispian digs a right hand into Chai's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Chai's gas tank.
A short body shot lands from Chai as the two fighters clinch.
A short right from Chai.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Chai.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Chai misses with a hook to the ribs.
Crispian tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Chai wants a takedown.
Crispian displaying some good clinch control by pressing Chai up against the cage.
Chai lands a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chai lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Crispian.
Chai lands a shoulder strike.
Chai scores with a nice hook to the head.
Crispian blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Chai wants a takedown.
Crispian tries to work over Chai's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Crispian lands a hook that snaps the head of Chai backwards.
Chai lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
We've been hearing reports that Chai has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Chai has a couple of punches blocked by Crispian.
Crispian lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Chai throws a head punch that misses.
Chai lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Crispian blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Chai scores with a nice hook to the head.
Chai has Crispian pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Crispian manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for CC Chai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Crispian tries to pull guard but Chai holds him up against the cage and eventually Crispian drops back down to his feet.
Crispian softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Crispian lands with a left to the head.
Chai tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Chai lands with a light punch inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chai works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Chai has a couple of punches blocked by Crispian.
Crispian lands with a right to the head.
A short left from Crispian.
Crispian working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Chai doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Crispian fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Chai throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Crispians head.
Chai misses with a punch to the body.
Crispian lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Chai backwards.

Chai is rocked!

Crispian drags the fight down to the ground.
Oh Chai is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Chai trying to control the position from guard on top but Crispian is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Chai seems to have got his legs back now.
Chai tries to free his leg and advance position but Crispian is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chai wants to control from the top but Crispian keeps moving.
Crispian keeping full guard, as Chai tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crispian wants to control the position but Chai says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Crispian moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Chai looking to sit in guard and control but Crispian gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Chai has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Chai tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Chai looking to control.
Chai is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Crispian is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crispian not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Chai escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Crispian gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Crispian looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Chai looking to hit a scissor sweep but Crispian is one step ahead there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ben Crispian will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Chai darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Chai is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Crispian doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Chai.
Chai is trying to control the action in half guard but Crispian is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chai is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Crispian felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Crispian is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chai is keen to just control but Crispian is a slippery customer.
Chai prevents Crispian from improving his position.

Chai is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Crispian has managed to free his arm - good work.
Crispian desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Crispian slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Crispian manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Chai manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chai is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Crispian throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Chai works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Chai bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Crispian's guard.

Crispian is trying to control the position but Chai postures up.
Chai trying to control the position from guard on top but Crispian is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Chai won't allow Crispian to sweep him here.
Chai stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Crispian swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Crispian lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chai looking to control.
Crispian trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Chai looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Chai controls Crispian momentarily but Crispian frees himself.

Chai has his foot on Crispian's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Crispian works his way back into a safe position though.
Crispian stopping the sweep attempt from Chai.
Chai not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Crispian content to stall in guard here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Chai tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Chai working a defensive guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Chai closes the distance and pushes Crispian back into the cage.

Crispian ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Crispian no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Chai passes into half guard.
Crispian wants to control but Chai is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Chai passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Crispian!
Crispian is squirming around, avoiding Chai's attempts to control the action.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that CC Chai will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Crispian buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Good work by Chai as he checks the leg kick.
Crispian lands a nice shot that snaps Chai's head back.
Chai smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Chai misses with a straight left.
Chai checks a low kick from Crispian.
A lazy left from Chai finds it's target.
Jab by Chai.
Chai jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ben Crispian seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Crispian throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crispian throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Chai connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Chai connects with the punch.
Chai looks to land a right hand but Crispian moved out of range.
Crispian scores with a jab to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Crispian throws a looping overhand right but Chai ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chai takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Crispian misses with a low kick.
Crispian throws a chopping leg kick but Chai manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Chai jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

Chai closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Crispian tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Chai wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Chai controls the position.

Chai is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Crispian knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Crispian wants to control but Chai postures up.
Crispian is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Chai off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crispian doesn't have the hooks in and Chai manages to turn into his guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

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

A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Chai managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Crispian.
Chai is looking to reverse the position.
Crispian working away.
Chai is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Crispian's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chai wants to improve his position but Crispian is controlling well.
Crispian stalling.
Crispian prevents Chai from improving his position.
Chai is looking to get back to full guard here but Crispian has managed to pass to side control instead.
Ben Crispian has got the better of the ground game so far.
You can see the frustration on Chai's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

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.
The referee asks Crispian politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Crispian prefers to stall for the moment though.
Chai tries to bench press Crispian off him but Crispian keeps the position.
Chai manages to work his way to half guard, despite Crispian's best efforts.
Chai tries to roll over but Crispian keeps him under control.
Chai has his hands clasped together around Crispian's back. He's all about the action.
Chai trying to hold on to Crispian's head to control him but Crispian postures up.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
CC Chai showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Chai 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... CC Chai!
During a confident post fight interview, CC Chai thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.