PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Neville Southall (ranked 1842 p4p, 229 weight class) and William Chandler (ranked 1804 p4p, 227 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.

Southall
vs
Chandler

185 cm
24
286 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

190 cm
24
245 lbs
5 - 3 - 2

Great wrestler
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Neville Southall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, William Chandler!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Columbo Gatti and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chandler cracks the inside of Southall's front leg.
Chandler throws a right and a left that both miss.
Southall tries to score with a low kick but Chandler moves his leg out of the way.
Southall throws a body shot but no joy.
Southall ducks under a wild hook from Chandler.
Chandler lands a slapping body shot.

Southall closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Southall working away.
Southall scores with punches from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chandler regains half guard, as Southall was trying to land strikes.
Chandler keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Southall wants to control but Chandler is keeping him busy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Southall throwing shots but Chandler is blocking nicely.
Chandler is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chandler blocking the ground and pound attempt from Southall.
Southall missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Chandler has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Chandler is staying active underneath Southall, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Chandler regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Southall.
Southall landing some decent shots from guard.
Southall trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Chandler working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Southall.
Chandler looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Chandler controlling the position.
Chandler keeping full guard, as Southall tries to pass.
Southall throws an elbow that misses. Chandler uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Southall's guard. Nice move by Chandler!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Southall doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Southall looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Chandler puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Southall flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The fighters are battling for position here. Southall manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Southall wants to stand up but Chandler is controlling him.
Chandler slips nicely into half guard.
Southall flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chandler is taking a breather. Southall says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Southall wants to get back to full guard.
Southall tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Southall manages to get to full guard.
Southall will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Southall tries to strike from the bottom.
Southall 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.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Chandler's corner calls for a 1-2. Chandler obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

It looks like Neville Southall has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chandler throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A nice inside leg kick there by Chandler. That's going to slow Southall down.
Chandler lands with an uppercut that bounces Southall off the cage and back into range.
Chandler lands the left hand.
Chandler throws out a loose jab but Southall uses good head movement to avoid it.
William Chandler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Southall thuds his right hand into Chandler's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Southall throws a quick inside leg kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Southall crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Chandler - the referee stops the clock and Southall gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Chandler. Southall manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Chandler lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Southall gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Chandler tries to land a body kick
and Southall counters with a straight right hand.
Chandler thumps Southall with a low kick.
Chandler with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Chandler dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Neville Southall's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Southall scores with a spinning back kick!
Chandler throws out a loose jab but Southall uses good head movement to avoid it.
Southall looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Chandler changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Chandler misses with a hook. Southall ducked under it nicely.
Southall wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Southall dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Chandler. That did some damage!
Southall uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Chandler.
Some wild striking there from Southall.
Southall doesn't manage to clinch there - Chandler circles away.
Chandler throws a lazy uppercut

and Southall counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Southall loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Chandler avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Southall throws an elbow that misses. Chandler uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Southall's guard. Nice move by Chandler!

Neville Southall overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Southall looking to hit a scissor sweep but Chandler is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Southall is trying to keep Chandler in close.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Southall is on top in guard.

Southall throwing strikes from guard but Chandler blocks nicely.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Southall accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Chandler avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Southall in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chandler is pulling down on Southall's head. It's preventing any offense from Southall, at least for the moment.
Southall postures up and lands a big shot to Chandler's brow.

Southall gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Chandler lands with a good body shot.
Chandler moves into range and connects with a jab.
Chandler throws a leg kick

and Southall counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Southall.
Chandler working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Southall.
Southall has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Chandler keeping moving, preventing Southall from controlling successfully.
Southall throws a strike but Chandler rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Southall throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Southall not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Southall trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Southall looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Southall is wriggling around but Chandler manages to pass to half guard.
Southall wants to sweep but Chandler has passed to side control!
Chandler controls the position.
Southall misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Southall gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Chandler controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Southall actively working from the bottom here.
Southall wants to get back to full guard but Chandler has mounted him!
Southall is looking to improve his position but Chandler isn't that keen on the idea.
Southall wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Southall can't escape the position.
Chandler has good solid back control here.
Southall trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Neville Southall will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Neville Southall's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

A decent looking cross lands there for Chandler.
Nice shot lands for Southall.

It looks like William Chandler has been cut.
Chandler scores with a jab.
Chandler chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A bone on bone clash there as Chandler blocks the leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Chandler, right into the meat.

Chandler gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Southall with a flurry of punches that miss.
Southall won't allow Chandler to sweep him here.
Southall is looking to work some ground and pound but Chandler has wrist control.
Southall throws a strike but Chandler rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Southall doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Southall working for submissions but it's allowed Chandler to get to half guard.
Southall tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Chandler has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Southall is trying to reverse the position but instead Chandler has taken his back - oops!
Southall trying to control the position but Chandler manages to sink in the hooks.
Southall is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Chandler is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Southall is in bad spot here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chandler avoiding Southall 's attempts to control his hands.
Southall tries to escape but Chandler has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Chandler is trying to stick to Southall's back but Southall is turning into Chandler. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Chandler's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Southall.
Southall with a flurry of punches that miss.
Southall loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Chandler preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Southall passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Southall postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Southall is looking to take a break and control but Chandler is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Southall tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Southall wants to lay and pray for a moment but Chandler keeps working.
Check out the look on Southall's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Southall lands an elbow.
Chandler sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Southall not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Southall wants to pass to mount but Chandler is defending the position.
Chandler regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Southall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Southall postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Southall throws an elbow that misses. Chandler uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Southall's guard. Nice move by Chandler!

Southall throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Southall is striking from the bottom but Chandler uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Southall punching from the bottom.
Southall flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Southall wants to improve his position but Chandler is controlling well.
Southall wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to William Chandler.
I think Chandler 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... William Chandler!
William Chandler took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Sully's Bar & Grill for their support in the buildup to the fight.