PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joey Chandler (ranked 1553 p4p, 2440 weight class) and Khalil Amrani (ranked 159 p4p, 222 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.

Chandler
vs
Amrani

178 cm
31
160
19 - 24 - 1

178 cm
31
161
10 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

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 19 - 24 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joey Chandler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Khalil Amrani!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Phil Schofield and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Chandler looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Chandler trying to control from Amrani's half guard. Amrani has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Chandler accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Chandler throws an elbow that misses. Amrani uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Chandler's guard. Nice move by Amrani!

Chandler working a defensive guard here.
Chandler looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Chandler pulls Amrani in close to prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chandler looking to hit a scissor sweep but Amrani is one step ahead there.
Chandler being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chandler looking for a sweep. Not yet Chandler, not yet.
Chandler is working hard here to advance position.
Amrani passes Chandler's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Chandler keeping hold of Amrani's head, controlling as best he can.
The fighters are battling for position here. Chandler manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Amrani engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Amrani with a flurry of punches that miss.

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.
Chandler tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Chandler is trying to keep Amrani in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chandler is pulling down on Amrani's head to control his posture.
Chandler wants to sweep here but Amrani controlling him for the moment.
Chandler not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Amrani slips a jab and a cross from Chandler.
Amrani scores with a crisp jab that stopped Chandler in his tracks.

It looks like Joey Chandler has been cut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Chandler. Amrani does a little dance to reset his feet.
Chandler lands a glancing blow to the side of Amrani's head.
Amrani throws a hook but Chandler avoids it easily.
A nice leg kick lands there from Amrani.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chandler swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Amrani to counter with a crisp jab.
Chandler just misses with a punch to the body.
Khalil Amrani is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Amrani fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Chandler manages to avoid it.
Amrani throws a jab when Chandler was well out of range.
Amrani ducks under a wild hook from Chandler.
Chandler ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Chandler shoots in but no luck this time.
Amrani throws a hook but Chandler blocks it.
Amrani slips under a jab from Chandler.
Chandler thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nice shot by Amrani.

Chandler gets a double leg takedown into Amrani's guard.
Chandler throws a strike but Amrani rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Amrani won't allow Chandler to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chandler wants to control the position but Amrani says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chandler trying to control here.
Chandler is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Well, if Amrani is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Amrani prevents Chandler from improving his position.
Chandler misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Chandler manages to get to full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Khalil Amrani will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Joey Chandler's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Chandler dives in and scores a takedown into Amrani's guard.
Chandler stops Amrani from standing up.
Amrani pulls Chandler in close to prevent any damage.
We've been hearing that Chandler has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Chandler prevents Amrani from getting back to his feet.
Chandler has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chandler is working Amrani over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Amrani wants to get back to his feet but Chandler is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Chandler is looking to pass into half guard but Amrani pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Amrani is in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chandler working a defensive guard here.
Chandler wants to sweep here but Amrani controlling him for the moment.
Chandler pulls Amrani in to control the position.
Chandler looking to hit a scissor sweep but Amrani is one step ahead there.
Amrani is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Chandler keeping full guard, as Amrani tries to pass.
Amrani in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Amrani trying to control the position from guard on top but Chandler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Donk. Chandler catches Amrani right on the button with a cross.
Khalil Amrani seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Amrani connects with a leg kick.
Chandler is looking to clinch but Amrani is avoiding it.
Chandler tries to close the distance and clinch but Amrani swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Amrani swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Chandler appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Chandler dives in and scores a takedown into Amrani's guard.
Amrani looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Chandler trying to control the position from guard on top but Amrani is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Chandler accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Amrani is looking to stand up but Chandler isn't so interested in that idea.
Amrani keeping moving, preventing Chandler from controlling successfully.
Amrani is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Amrani looking to hit a scissor sweep but Chandler is one step ahead there.
Chandler postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Chandler in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

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 looking to pass the guard.
Amrani utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Chandler throws a big right hand that misses.
Amrani managing to control the position.
Joey Chandler overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Amrani keeping moving, preventing Chandler from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Amrani works Chandler's body with a nice hook.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Amrani ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Chandler moves away.
Chandler takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Amrani dodges the punch combination from Chandler.
Chandler scores with a nice head shot.
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 Joey Chandler will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Joey Chandler's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Chandler lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Amrani at a distance.
Amrani showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Chandler.
Amrani with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Amrani throws a lazy right hand but Chandler sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Amrani defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Chandler.
Chandler walks into a jab.
Chandler misses with a wild body shot.
Chandler tries to close the distance and clinch but Amrani swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Amrani is looking for the big counter here.
Amrani steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Chandler.
Amrani throws a series of punches but Chandler avoids them all with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Chandler drives through and clinches with Amrani against the cage.

Chandler breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Chandler looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A nice inside leg kick there by Amrani. That's going to slow Chandler down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Amrani takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Amrani waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Chandler.
Amrani defending well as Chandler loads up on a big left hand.
Chandler takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
A telegraphed right hand from Amrani misses the target.
Amrani pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Amrani attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Amrani misses with a body shot.
Chandler lands with a nice body punch.
Chandler misses with a straight left.
Chandler dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Chandler drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Horrible takedown attempt by Chandler or perhaps it was just good defense by Amrani, which made it look bad.
Chandler lands with a nice body punch.
Amrani lands with an uppercut that bounces Chandler off the cage and back into range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Amrani lands with an uppercut that bounces Chandler off the cage and back into range.
Chandler keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jab by Chandler.
Amrani misses with an uppercut.
Chandler fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Chandler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chandler slips under a jab from Amrani.
Amrani staying out of range there.
Chandler misses the shot to the body.
Amrani lands a really nice looking cross but Chandler seems unphased.
Chandler doesn't manage to clinch there - Amrani circles away.
Amrani misses with a looping left.
Chandler looks for a takedown but Amrani sprawls well.
Amrani fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Chandler showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Amrani.
Joey Chandler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Amrani misses.
A cross from Amrani lands.
Chandler throws a good cross that connects.
Amrani connects with a jab.
Chandler tries to close the distance and clinch but Amrani swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Amrani looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Chandler shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Amrani sprawls well. Amrani wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Chandler gets slowly back to his feet.
Amrani throws a hook to the side of Chandler's head but Chandler sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Chandler changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Amrani scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Amrani is looking to slow Chandler down with leg kicks.
Chandler tries to score a power double leg takedown but Amrani sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Chandler somewhat.
Amrani throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Chandler on the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chandler lands a nice shot to the body.
Nice shot by Chandler.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Chandler digs a good hook to Amrani's body.
Chandler misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Amrani counters with a nice uppercut.
Chandler swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Chandler.
Amrani swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Chandler throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Amrani sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Chandler throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Amrani showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Chandler.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Chandler looks for a takedown but Amrani sprawls well.
Amrani swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Chandler staying out of range there.

Amrani gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Chandler to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Amrani pushes Chandler off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khalil Amrani comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Amrani has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khalil Amrani!
Khalil Amrani bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.