PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Devecka (ranked 6440 p4p, 0 weight class) and xu Chen (ranked 5398 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Daniel Devecka has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Devecka
vs
Chen

225 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
21
208 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Daniel Devecka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, xu Chen!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, John Mangel and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Devecka.
Chen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Chen wants it to stay on the feet.
Chen is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Devecka with a body shot.

Chen clinches with his opponent.
Devecka fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Devecka. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Chen pulls Devecka into guard.
Chen has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Devecka trying to control the position from guard on top but Chen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Chen working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Devecka has passed into half guard!
Chen punching from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chen wants to get back to full guard.
Chen is not content to let Devecka control the position.
Devecka not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Devecka wants to control but Chen is keeping him busy.
Chen is trying to get back to full guard.
Chen wants to control but Devecka is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Chen landing small, sideways elbows.
Devecka tries to stand but can't do so whilst Chen controls his leg.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Devecka really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Devecka trying to control from half guard but Chen is working away.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Chen.
Devecka bucks up and tries to throw Chen off but instead Chen has got his back!
Chen controlling the position well here. Devecka rolled but Chen kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Devecka just trying to survive but Chen is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Chen looking for the choke but no joy.

Devecka is having to fend off submission attempts from Chen, who is looking to sink in the choke. Chen doesn't have the hooks in though and Devecka manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Chen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Chen keeping moving, preventing Devecka from controlling successfully.

Chen scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Chen closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Devecka manages to break the clinch.

Chen dives in and scores a takedown into Devecka's guard.
Chen passes into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Chen stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Devecka to get to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Devecka as Chen shoots in.
Devecka tries to counter by clinching up but Chen breaks away and moves out of range.
Devecka slips a jab and a cross from Chen.
Chen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Devecka's waist but Devecka gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Chen off to one side.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Chen moves into the clinch.
Devecka is trying to maintain a safe position but Chen gets an underhook and turns Devecka into the cage.
Devecka wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Knees to the body from Chen.

Chen manages to pull guard.

Chen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Devecka defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Devecka is defended easily by Chen.
Chen moves in looking to clinch but Devecka pushes him off.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Devecka.
Devecka throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Chen's waist but Chen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Devecka off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Devecka. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Chen shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Devecka is trying to defend but Chen finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Devecka is not content to let Chen control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Devecka wants to improve his position but Chen is controlling well.
Chen prevents Devecka from standing back up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Chen decides to stand up.
Chen misses with a head kick.
Chen fails to land the takedown.
Devecka misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Devecka looks to score with a jab to the body but Chen is just out of range.

Chen takes the fight into the clinch.
Devecka blocks the elbow strike.

Devecka breaks the clinch.
Chen throws a combination. Devecka tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Daniel Devecka has been cut.

Chen rushes Devecka and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Chen tries to pull guard but Devecka forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Chen tries to pull guard but Devecka won't allow it.

Chen manages to break the clinch.
Devecka moves out of range of the body kick from Chen.
Devecka is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Chen.

Chen forces Devecka back against the cage and clinches.
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!
Chen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Chen is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Devecka is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Chen is defending well.

Chen wants the takedown. Devecka is fighting it off but Chen persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Devecka's guard against the cage.
Devecka has momentary wrist control but Chen slips an elbow through the middle.
Chen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chen's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Chen stands up and waves to Devecka to follow him.
Devecka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Some wild striking there from Chen.

Chen drives through and clinches with Devecka against the cage.
Chen drops down looking for an ankle pick but Devecka pulls his leg out and moves away.
Devecka fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Chen finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Chen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chen throws a sloppy head kick and Devecka moves out of range easily.

Chen clinches up against the cage.
Chen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Chen wants a takedown.
Devecka tries to pull guard but Chen won't allow it.

Chen breaks from the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Chen. No joy for Devecka on that attempt.

Chen shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Devecka napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Devecka on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Chen working away.
Devecka is trying to escape the position but Chen is controlling the position.
Devecka takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

xu Chen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Daniel Devecka's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Chen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Devecka is not content to let Chen control the position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Chen working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Devecka trying to control but Chen postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chen controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chen lands strikes from half guard.
Devecka moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Chen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Devecka looking to control.
Devecka throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Devecka keeping moving, preventing Chen from controlling successfully.
Chen is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Chen landing with the ground and pound.

Devecka is rocked!
Devecka looking to control but Chen passes into half guard.
Chen perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Chen trying to mount his opponent but Devecka defends it.
Chen controlling the action here.
Chen winds up and cracks Devecka with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Oh Devecka is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Chen passes the guard and advances to mount!
Chen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Chen quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Chen but it's paid off an Devecka is forced to tap! Nice work by Chen.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). xu Chen!
xu Chen seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.