PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Khalil Amrani (ranked 1674 p4p, 2600 weight class) and Joey Chandler (ranked 176 p4p, 256 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.

Amrani
vs
Chandler

178 cm
31
161
10 - 4 - 0

178 cm
30
160
18 - 24 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Wrestler Wayfare

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Khalil Amrani!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 24 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joey Chandler!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, William Gold and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chandler takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Chandler drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Chandler working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Chandler tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Chandler throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Chandler in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Chandler trying to control the action but Amrani is working from the bottom.
Amrani dodges the ground and pound from Chandler.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Amrani gets back to half guard.
Amrani tries to roll over but Chandler keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chandler throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Chandler with the ground and pound but Amrani uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Chandler connects with a couple of short punches.
Chandler working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Amrani preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Amrani bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Chandler's guard.

Chandler lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Chandler is looking to work some ground and pound but Amrani has wrist control.
Amrani wants to sweep but no luck.
Chandler must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Chandler trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Chandler trying to control the position from guard on top but Amrani is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Chandler with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Amrani wants to stand but Chandler is controlling the position.
Chandler stands up over Amrani, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Chandler wants to control from the top but Amrani keeps moving.
Chandler lands a couple of digs.
Chandler working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Amrani's head.
Chandler stands up over Amrani, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Chandler is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Amrani has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Amrani can't keep his opponent in guard - Chandler advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chandler missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Amrani blocking the ground and pound attempt from Chandler.
Chandler thows a huge punch but Amrani dodges it nicely.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Chandler connects with a nice short shot to Amrani's temple.
Amrani keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Amrani avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Chandler.
Amrani is doing well to control the position and prevent Chandler from advancing to side control.
Chandler looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chandler throwing shots but Amrani is blocking nicely.
Ground and pound from Chandler.
Amrani is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Chandler not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Amrani desperately trying to maintain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ground and pound from Chandler.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Chandler keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Ground and pound from Chandler.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Chandler steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Amrani.
Amrani leaves Chandler with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Chandler closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Chandler lands in his opponent's guard.
Amrani wants to stand up but Chandler is controlling him.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Chandler accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chandler is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Amrani wants to sweep here but Chandler controlling him for the moment.
Chandler tries to free his leg and advance position but Amrani is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chandler with a flurry of punches that miss.
Chandler with a flurry of punches that miss.
Chandler has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Chandler stays in close to Amrani's body and controls the position.
Chandler in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Chandler won't allow Amrani to get back to his feet.
Chandler landing with the ground and pound.
Chandler throwing strikes but missing.
Amrani is controlling Chandler's posture.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Chandler shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Amrani but Amrani pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two 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.
Chandler missing with a left hand there. Amrani was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Amrani misses with a low kick as Chandler jumps back.
Chandler is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Joey Chandler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Chandler avoids a punch combination nicely.
Chandler is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Chandler closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Amrani's guard.

Amrani wriggles free and stands up.
Khalil Amrani is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Amrani is looking to score with low kicks.
Amrani has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Amrani there as he acknowledges the shot.
Chandler tries to clinch but Amrani moves out of range.
Amrani swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Chandler changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Amrani looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Amrani managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Chandler.
Chandler misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
An elbow from Chandler crashes against the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chandler cracks Amrani with a big elbow.
Chandler looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Amrani is avoiding damage well.
Chandler throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Chandler scores with punches from side control.
Amrani takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Amrani is looking for a sweep.
Chandler lands a decent elbow from side control.
Chandler sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Amrani is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Check out the look on Chandler's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Amrani regains half guard, as Chandler was trying to land strikes.
Amrani avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Chandler.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chandler throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Chandler lands a nice short elbow.
Chandler missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Chandler looks to land a strike but Amrani avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Chandler throwing strikes from guard but Amrani blocks nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Chandler is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Chandler throwing strikes from guard but Amrani blocks nicely.
Chandler working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Amrani controls Chandler momentarily but Chandler frees himself.
Chandler is working Amrani over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Chandler 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!

Amrani walks into a stiff left hand from Chandler.
Joey Chandler is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Chandler ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Chandler drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Amrani seems a little lost for a moment, as Chandler dominates the positioning.
Amrani struggling a bit here.
Amrani is holding Chandler down, trying to stall.
Amrani is trying to escape the position but Chandler is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chandler wants to control but Amrani is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Amrani wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Chandler trying to control the action but Amrani is working from the bottom.
Chandler is staying tight to Amrani's torso, preventing him from escaping.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Chandler is continuing to stall.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Amrani lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's two 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.
Amrani misses with a hook.

Amrani gets caught napping as Chandler dives in and scores a takedown. Amrani manages to retain guard.
Amrani is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Chandler dives into side control.

A lull in the action here as Chandler stalls from top position.
Chandler trying to control the position but Amrani is working away.
Chandler might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Amrani haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Joey Chandler has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chandler takes a little break here. Amrani wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

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.
Chandler wants to control but Amrani is keeping him busy.
Chandler looking to control but instead Amrani has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Chandler trying to control from half guard but Amrani is working away.
Chandler looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Chandler looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Khalil Amrani has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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!
Joey Chandler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Chandler winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joey Chandler!
After winning the bout, Joey Chandler thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.