PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ridwan Chapman (ranked 5597 p4p, 25085 weight class) and Steven Garner (ranked 321 p4p, 332 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.

Chapman
vs
Garner

164 cm
18
135
2 - 1 - 0

173 cm
19
141
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid 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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ridwan Chapman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Steven Garner!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Franklyn Lucas and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chapman misses with a wild combination.
Garner scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Garner misses with a jab, cross combination.
Garner throws a right hand that Chapman ducks under and follows up with a left that Chapman also avoids with ease.
Chapman went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Garner fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Chapman manages to avoid it.
Garner misses with the combination.
Garner throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garner throws a leg kick but Chapman sees it coming and moves out of range.
Chapman appears to be looking for a big counter.
A right-left combo lands from Garner.
Chapman throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Garner throws a right and a left that both miss.
Garner throws a poor cross that misses
and Chapman counters with a series of strikes. Garner will be more careful next time no doubt.
Chapman is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chapman throws a nice looking combination but Garner bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Garner moves into range and clinches up with Chapman.

Garner breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Garner throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Garner tries to bum rush Chapman with a series of wild strikes but Chapman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Garner forces Chapman back against the cage and clinches.

Garner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Garner throws a right and a left that Chapman avoids nicely.
Garner connects with the punch.
Garner throws a right and a left that both miss.
Garner throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Garner scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Garner lands a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Garner moves into the clinch successfully.

Garner breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Chapman swats away the attempt to clinch by Garner.
Chapman changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Chapman slips a jab and a cross from Garner.
Chapman tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Garner manages to circle out of the way.
Garner tries to bum rush Chapman with a series of wild strikes but Chapman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A lazy left from Garner finds it's target.
Chapman has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Chapman walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Chapman misses with a double jab.
Garner pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Chapman back to the cage. Garner follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
A head kick misses from Garner.
Steven Garner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garner swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Garner lands a nice shot to the body.
Garner throws a nice head kick!

Garner darts in and clinches Chapman up against the cage.

Garner breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A punch combination from Chapman misses.
Garner stuns Chapman with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Garner fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Chapman.
Garner throws a nice outside leg kick.

Garner forces Chapman back against the cage and clinches.
Chapman is trying to force a seperation but Garner has the dominant position.

Garner breaks from the clinch.
Garner throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chapman throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Garner scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Garner just misses with a punch to the body.
Garner throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Chapman on the side of the head.

Garner closes the distance and clinches.

Garner breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Chapman ducks right into an uppercut from Garner.
Garner misses with a double jab.
Chapman seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Garner is working the combinations to good effect here.
Garner tries to work over Chapman's front leg with a kick but Chapman checks it.
Chapman is looking to counter the offense by Garner and move into the clinch.

Chapman gets tackled into the cage by Garner. Garner maintains the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Garner prevents Chapman from breaking the clinch.

Garner's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Garner connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Garner dominated that round.
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.

Garner throws a right and a left that both miss.
Garner lands with a nice combination. Chapman backs away looking to recover.
Garner looks to land a combination but Chapman avoids it well.
Garner lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Chapman circles away quickly and effectively.
Garner falls off balance throwing a combination

and Chapman counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Garner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Garner throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Garner slips a jab and a cross from Chapman.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garner ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Chapman fails to land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Garner fails with an attempt to clinch.

Garner gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Garner breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Garner fails to land with a series of punches.
Steven Garner seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Garner lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Garner misses with a few strikes there.
A punch combination from Garner misses.
Chapman half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Garner thumps Chapman with a low kick.
Garner throws a jab when Chapman was well out of range.
Garner misses with a wild combination.
Chapman throws a big counter combination but Garner scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Garner stalks Chapman and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Chapman's face. Chapman staggers backwards, shaken.
Garner tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Garner does no damage.
Garner has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Garner dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Chapman swats away the attempt to clinch by Garner.
Chapman swinging wildly here.
Garner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Garner cracks Chapman with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Garner fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Chapman stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Garner.
Garner scores with a one two! Chapman had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Chapman avoids the head kick by Garner.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chapman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Garner.
Garner misses with a wild combination.
Chapman attempts a counter takedown but Garner avoids it well and moves away.
Chapman avoids the head kick by Garner.
Chapman walks into a left hand.
Garner scores with a hook to the body. Chapman takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Chapman throws a nice looking combination but Garner bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Garner connects with a crisp jab.
Garner rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Chapman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Garner throws a head kick but Chapman moves out of range.
As Garner looks to move away, Chapman throws a big counter combo but Garner just gets out of the way.
Chapman takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Garner misses.
Garner wants to clinch up but Chapman keeps it at a distance.
Garner throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Chapman is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Garner.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A jab from Garner finds it's way through Chapman's defenses.
Chapman takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Garner scores with a nice strike.
Garner misses with a double jab.
Chapman moves out of range of the body kick.
Garner misses with a two punch combination.
Chapman is looking to counter the offense by Garner and move into the clinch.
Garner throws a right hand that Chapman ducks under and follows up with a left that Chapman also avoids with ease.
Chapman changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Garner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Garner avoids a punch combination nicely.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Garner throws a nice inside leg kick.
Chapman misses with a series of wild punches.
Nice straight punches there by Garner. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Garner.
Garner throws a series of punches but Chapman avoids them all with ease.
Chapman tries to counter with a takedown but Garner is quick to defend against it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chapman misses with a jab, cross combination.
Garner throws a series of punches but Chapman avoids them all with ease.
Chapman attempts a counter takedown but Garner avoids it well and moves away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Garner pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Chapman back to the cage. Garner follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Garner connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garner misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Chapman seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Garner throws a series of punches but Chapman moves out of range.
As Garner tries to get set, Chapman tries to push him back and clinch up but Garner manages to avoid the attempt.
Garner throws a low kick, looking for Chapman's leg but Chapman calmly moves out of range.
Garner throws a push kick but Chapman slaps the foot to one side.
Chapman walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Garner throws a series of punches but Chapman avoids them all with ease.
Garner smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Garner ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Chapman moves away.
Chapman wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
No joy there for Garner, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Garner throws a right hand that Chapman ducks under and follows up with a left that Chapman also avoids with ease.
As Garner tries to get set, Chapman tries to push him back and clinch up but Garner manages to avoid the attempt.
Nice uppercut lands for Garner. That snapped Chapman's head back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chapman misses with the combination.
Chapman will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Garner wants to counter with a clinch but Chapman pushes him away.
Garner scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Garner throws a right and a left that Chapman avoids nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Garner throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Chapman went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Garner scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Garner displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Garner throws a right hand that Chapman ducks under and follows up with a left that Chapman also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chapman throws a right hand that Garner ducks under and follows up with a left that Garner also avoids with ease.
Garner tries to bum rush Chapman with a series of wild strikes but Chapman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Garner lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Chapman misses with the combination.
Garner keeps Chapman at a distance using the push kick.
Garner lands with an uppercut that bounces Chapman off the cage and back into range.
Garner misses with a jab, cross combination.
Garner misses with a two punch combination.
Chapman checks the leg kick nicely there.
No joy there for Chapman, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Garner. That snapped Chapman's head back.
Garner scores with a three punch combo!
Chapman looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A combination from Garner does no damage.
As Garner looks to move away, Chapman throws a big counter combo but Garner just gets out of the way.
Garner misses with a low kick as Chapman jumps back.
Chapman went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Garner throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Garner misses with a two punch combination.
Garner throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Steven Garner is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Garner misses with a double jab
and Chapman counters with a two punch combo.
Garner throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ridwan Chapman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Garner misses with a jab, cross combination.
Chapman changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven Garner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Garner has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven Garner!