PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Martin Svensson (ranked 5828 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chienh Chih Wu (ranked 24028 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Svensson
vs
Chih Wu

187 cm
25
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

171 cm
25
156 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Martin Svensson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Chienh Chih Wu!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Peter Branson and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Svensson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Svensson throws a front kick aimed at Wu's knee but Wu avoids it well.

Wu darts in and clinches Svensson up against the cage.
Svensson is trying to break free.
Svensson has Wu pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Wu manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Wu utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Wu fails to pull guard.
Svensson takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Martin Svensson has been cut.
Wu dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Svensson is pressed up against the cage. Wu has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Svensson down to the mat. Svensson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Wu shoots in for a takedown but Svensson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Martin Svensson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chienh Chih Wu.
Wu goes for a double leg but Svensson avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Svensson continues to drive forward.
Wu circles away from the clinch attempt.
Wu feints the counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Svensson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Wu.
Svensson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Wu has managed to clinch.

Svensson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Wu uses from the top position.
Svensson looking to control but Wu passes into half guard.
Wu wants to get back to his feet.
Wu wants to take a breather but Svensson is having none of it.
Svensson pushes Wu off looking to stand but Wu dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wu is thwarting Svensson's attempts to control the position.
Wu tries to stand but can't do so whilst Svensson controls his leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Svensson is trying to maintain the position but Wu is very close to passing his half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Svensson tries to get to full guard but Wu has control of the leg.
Wu throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Wu not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Wu keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wu shoots and misses

and Svensson counters by moving into the clinch.

Svensson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wu fails to land the takedown.
Wu is looking to clinch but Svensson is avoiding it.

Wu pushes Svensson up against the cage in a clinch.
Svensson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Wu prevents it.
Svensson can't break the clinch.
Svensson controlling the action here for a moment.
Svensson gets underhooks to prevent Wu's takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wu drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Wu has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Wu has Svensson pressed against the cage, preventing Svensson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Wu drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Svensson gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Wu jumps guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Svensson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Svensson looking to sit in guard and control but Wu gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chienh Chih Wu dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Martin Svensson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Wu takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Martin Svensson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Svensson shoots for a takedown but Wu saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Svensson doesn't manage to clinch there - Wu circles away.
Wu with the counter takedown but Svensson avoids it easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Svensson lands a glancing blow to the side of Wu's head.
Svensson throws a head kick that misses.

Svensson gets tackled into the cage by Wu. Wu maintains the clinch.

Svensson breaks the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Wu. Svensson does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Svensson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Wu.
Svensson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Wu is fending him off so far but Svensson persists. Nope, Wu circles away and we're back to standing.
Wu shoots in looking for a takedown. Svensson tries to sprawl out of it but Wu keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Svensson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wu looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Svensson is fending him off so far but Wu persists. Nope, Svensson circles away and we're back to standing.
Svensson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Svensson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Wu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Wu misses with a takedown attempt - Svensson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Martin Svensson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chienh Chih Wu.
Wu tries to close the distance and clinch up but Svensson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Svensson shoots in but Wu avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Svensson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Svensson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Svensson closes the distance but Wu moves to the side
and Wu counters with a body kick that stops Svensson in his tracks momentarily.

Wu clinches with his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Svensson shoots and misses
and Wu makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Wu throws a hook but Svensson blocks it.
Svensson misses with a takedown attempt - Wu sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wu shoots in looking for a takedown but Svensson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Wu's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Wu instigates a clinch.
Svensson jumps guard but Wu stands there with Svensson around his waist. Svensson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Svensson trying to land knees to the body.
Svensson is trying to drag Wu to the mat but Wu just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Wu jumps guard but Svensson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wu breaks from the clinch.
Svensson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Wu circles away.
Svensson slaps away a takedown attempt from Wu, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Svensson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Wu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Wu fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Martin Svensson is winning the standup battle so far.
Svensson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Wu sprawls well. Wu wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Svensson gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Wu. No joy for Svensson on that attempt.
Wu connects with a high kick.
Wu lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Svensson circles away quickly and effectively.

Wu pushes Svensson up against the cage in a clinch.

Wu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Svensson throws out a leg kick but Wu moves out of range and Svensson only half commits.
Svensson slaps away a takedown attempt from Wu, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Wu gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Wu pulls guard successfully.
Svensson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Svensson wants to stand and escape but instead Wu has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chienh Chih Wu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Martin Svensson's cut.
That's time! Svensson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Wu avoids the body shot from Svensson.
Wu fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Svensson avoids it really well and circles away.
Svensson goes for a double leg but Wu avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Wu continues to drive forward.
Wu fails to land the takedown.
Svensson tries to clinch up but Wu circles away and keeps his distance.
Svensson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Svensson wants to clinch but Wu slips to the side
and Wu makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Svensson throws a sloppy head kick and Wu moves out of range easily.
Wu keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wu fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Svensson.

Wu rushes Svensson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Wu is looking to take this one to the mat.
Martin Svensson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chienh Chih Wu.
Wu tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Svensson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Wu wants a takedown.

Wu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Svensson moves into the clinch successfully.
The referee calls for Svensson to work.

Svensson manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wu has a takedown stuffed.
Svensson stuffs the takedown attempt from Wu. Wu gets slowly back to his feet.
Wu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Svensson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Wu pinned against the cage. Wu gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Svensson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from Svensson.
Svensson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
The fight stays on the outside here - Svensson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wu has managed to clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Svensson - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Wu tries a knee to the head but Svensson blocks it.
Svensson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Wu fails to pull guard.
Wu drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Svensson tries for a takedown but Wu manages to get underhooks.
Wu tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Svensson just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wu is trying to pull guard but Svensson has him pressed against the cage.
Wu has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Svensson after a bit of a struggle.
Svensson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Wu just stands there and leans against the cage.
Wu letting Svensson take a breather here.
Svensson jumps guard but Wu stands there with Svensson around his waist. Svensson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Svensson is trying to pull guard but Wu has him pressed against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wu jumps guard but Svensson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Svensson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Wu gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Martin Svensson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chienh Chih Wu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Svensson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Martin Svensson.
Well Wu 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chienh Chih Wu!