PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Choo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Deon Du Plessis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Du Plessis has chosen Fort Minor - Remember the name as his entrance music. Deon Du Plessis struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 156.1lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Choo
vs
Du Plessis

175 cm
28
164 lbs
10 - 8 - 2

175 cm
28
168 lbs
14 - 12 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 - 8 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, Daniel Choo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Deon Du Plessis!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Damien Edna and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Du Plessis tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Choo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
No luck for Choo with that takedown attempt.
Choo fails to land the takedown.

Du Plessis is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Choo's half guard.
Choo is looking to control Du Plessis's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Choo avoid being mounted?

Choo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Choo tries to roll over but Du Plessis keeps him under control.
Du Plessis tries to stand and escape but Choo is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Du Plessis trying to pass the guard but Choo defending well.
Du Plessis wants to take a breather but Choo is having none of it.
Du Plessis tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Choo.
Du Plessis tries to pass to full mount but Choo defends it.
Du Plessis is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Choo is looking to improve his position.
Du Plessis tries to pass the half guard into mount. Choo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

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.

Du Plessis decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Du Plessis tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Choo decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Du Plessis's guard.
Choo wants to control from the top but Du Plessis keeps moving.
Choo works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Choo tries to pass to full mount but Du Plessis defends it.
Still in half guard, Choo seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Choo seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Du Plessis for as long as he can get away with.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Du Plessis trying to control from the bottom.
Choo is trying to control the action in half guard but Du Plessis is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Du Plessis is looking to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Choo tries to clinch but Du Plessis is having none of it.
Good leg kick by Du Plessis there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Du Plessis moves to clinch but Choo breaks away
and Choo counters with a thumping low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Choo shoots in for a takedown but Du Plessis shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Choo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Choo is breathing heavily.

Du Plessis clinches with his opponent.
Du Plessis throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Du Plessis turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Du Plessis manages to end up in side control.
Choo is trying to get back to half guard.

Du Plessis has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Du Plessis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Choo swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Du Plessis closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Choo to the mat! Choo manages to get full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Deon Du Plessis dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Du Plessis tries to clinch but Choo moves away

so Choo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Du Plessis is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Choo decides to pull guard.
Du Plessis is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Choo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Du Plessis throwing strikes from guard but Choo blocks nicely.

Du Plessis stands up and waves to Choo to follow him.
Du Plessis moves to clinch but Choo breaks away

so Choo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Du Plessis scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Du Plessis wants to clinch

and Choo counters with a single leg into guard. Du Plessis didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Choo advances position into side control!
Du Plessis struggling a bit here.

Choo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Choo gets to mount! Du Plessis was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

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.
Choo controlling from mount.
Du Plessis can't escape the position.
Choo looking to control but Du Plessis is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Choo moves to take his opponent's back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Choo misses with a punch to the head.
Choo punches the canvas rather than the man.
Du Plessis tries to escape but Choo has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Daniel Choo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Du Plessis is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Choo gets his way!

Du Plessis is trying to shake Choo off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Choo won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
Du Plessis closes the distance looking to clinch

and Choo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Du Plessis won't be happy with that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Choo tries to score with some ground and pound. Du Plessis controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Du Plessis gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Choo wants to control the pace but Du Plessis is squirming around nicely.
Choo content just to control the position here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Du Plessis can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Choo dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Du Plessis wants to clinch

and Choo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Du Plessis is trying to hold Choo in close to prevent damage but Choo has managed to pass into half guard.
Choo not doing much here.
Choo works his way into full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Du Plessis is looking to get to half guard.
Du Plessis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Choo looking to control but Du Plessis is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Choo controlling the position easily from mount.
Du Plessis keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Choo has hold of Du Plessis's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Du Plessis manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Du Plessis wants to hold on but Choo pushes him away.

Choo goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Du Plessis turns into him and now he's in Choo's guard.
Du Plessis tries to stand but Choo is controlling from the bottom.
Du Plessis trying to control the position from guard on top but Choo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Du Plessis wants to stand and escape but instead Choo has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Choo trying to control but Du Plessis is working from the bottom.
Du Plessis trying to control the position here.
Du Plessis keeping moving, preventing Choo from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Du Plessis has Choo pulled in close to control his posture.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Du Plessis.
Choo dodges the ground and pound from Du Plessis.
Choo prevents Du Plessis from improving position.
Du Plessis wants to control for a moment but Choo uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

Choo looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Choo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Choo 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Choo!