PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Normand Chen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randy Badger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Chen
vs
Badger

172 cm
19
193 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Hates pizza

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Normand Chen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Randy Badger!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Ryoma Takatsuka and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Badger closes the distance and pushes Chen back into the cage.
Chen tries to break free but Badger pushes him back against the cage.
Chen wants to break the clinch but can't.

Chen has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Badger uses from the top position.
Badger lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Chen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Badger tries to free his leg and advance position but Chen is retaining full guard.
Badger is still trying to improve position.
Badger looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Chen keeping full guard, as Badger tries to pass.
Badger stopping the sweep attempt from Chen.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Badger fails with the takedown

and Chen decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Badger's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Badger keeping full guard, as Chen tries to pass.
Chen wants to control from the top but Badger keeps moving.
Badger trying to keep a closed guard but Chen is proving a slippery customer.
Chen tries to free his leg and advance position but Badger is retaining full guard.
Badger is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Chen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Chen stopping the sweep attempt from Badger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Badger swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Badger is pulling down on Chen's head. It's preventing any offense from Chen, at least for the moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Badger throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Chen tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Badger is in Chen's guard.
Badger trying to stand up but can't free himself from Chen's guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Badger connects with a couple of short punches.
Chen has momentary wrist control but Badger slips an elbow through the middle.
Chen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Badger must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Badger trying to control but Chen is working from the bottom.
Badger throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Badger preventing the sweep.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Chen is on top in guard.
Badger looking for a sweep. Not yet Badger, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Badger has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Badger wants to sweep but no luck.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Chen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Badger wants to stand but Chen is controlling the position.
Badger is pulling down on Chen's head. It's preventing any offense from Chen, at least for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Badger dominated that round.
That's time! Chen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Chen keeps the fight on the outside.

Chen has managed to clinch.
Chen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Chen slowing the pace effectively.

Badger has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Chen clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Badger is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Chen knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Chen for a finish.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Badger has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Chen has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Chen turns into Badger and is now in his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Badger wants to stand but Chen is controlling the position.
Badger looking for a sweep. Not yet Badger, not yet.
Chen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Badger is proving hard to escape from.
Chen looking to pass the guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Badger can do anything to dispel that myth.
Badger bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Chen's guard.
Chen keeping moving, preventing Badger from controlling successfully.
Chen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Chen could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Badger is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Chen keeping moving, preventing Badger from controlling successfully.
Badger pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Chen is keeping the position for now.
Badger throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chen working a defensive guard here.
Badger scoring with some ground and pound.

Chen has his foot on Badger's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Badger works his way back into a safe position though.
Badger trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Chen keeping moving, preventing Badger from controlling successfully.
Badger lands a couple of digs.

Badger drops back, looking for a kneebar! Chen looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Chen looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Chen!
Badger tries to bench press Chen off him but Chen keeps the position.
Badger is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Badger is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Badger keeps trying to improve his position.
Chen tries to stand but Badger is controlling his head.
Badger is looking for a sweep.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Chen looks up at the clock and then as Badger takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Chen smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Chen misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Badger showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Chen shoots in and gets a takedown into Badger's guard.
Badger looking to hit a scissor sweep but Chen is one step ahead there.
Badger is trying to control the position but Chen postures up.
Chen wants to control from the top but Badger keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Badger is on top in guard.
Chen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Badger is controlling him.
Badger trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Badger is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Chen keeping full guard, as Badger tries to pass.

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

Badger clinches.
Badger slows down the pace here.
Badger is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Chen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Badger takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Chen jumps into guard, dragging Badger to the mat.
Badger is looking to pass into half guard but Chen pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Chen is in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Badger trying to control the position.

Badger had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Chen defends it easily.
Badger keeping moving, preventing Chen from controlling successfully.
Chen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Chen preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Badger has a closed guard, preventing Chen from standing up.
Badger keeping moving, preventing Chen from controlling successfully.

Badger has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Chen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Badger is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Badger looking to hit a scissor sweep but Chen is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Chen stands and throws Badger's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Badger is not content to let Chen control the position.
Randy Badger has got the better of the ground game so far.
Chen working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Badger is looking for a sweep.
Normand Chen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Randy Badger is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Badger manages to work his way to half guard, despite Chen's best efforts.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Randy Badger.
I've got Badger 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Randy Badger!