PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Konichiwa Jempsa (ranked 591 p4p, 2937 weight class) and Chet Knox (ranked 88 p4p, 380 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Knox's choice of entrance music: Chet Baker | Almost Blue. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Jempsa
vs
Knox

170 cm
30
170
24 - 13 - 0

177 cm
24
177
2 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains
The Dirty Needle Project

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Konichiwa Jempsa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Chet Knox!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Aafke Stam and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jempsa looks to land a combination but Knox avoids it well.
Jempsa shoots for a takedown but Knox saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Knox! But no joy.
Jempsa fails with the takedown.
Knox lands a right hook to the body.

Jempsa shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Knox manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Knox is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jempsa showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Jempsa looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jempsa working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Jempsa looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Jempsa postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Knox looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Knox being controlled here, momentarily.
Knox utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two 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.
Jempsa controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Jempsa 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.
Knox 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.
We've been hearing that Jempsa has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Jempsa shoots for a takedown but Knox saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Knox swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Konichiwa Jempsa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jempsa swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Knox counters with a nice uppercut.

Knox gets caught flat footed, as Jempsa shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Knox avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jempsa tries to free his leg and advance position but Knox is retaining full guard.
Jempsa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Jempsa trying to control the position from guard on top but Knox is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Jempsa sitting in guard here, content to control.
Knox bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Jempsa's guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jempsa looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Knox must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Jempsa working for a triangle but Knox defends it easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Knox stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jempsa swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa working a defensive guard here.
Knox trying to control the position from guard on top but Jempsa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jempsa is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Konichiwa Jempsa dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nice cross by Knox.
Jempsa tries for a takedown but Knox circles away easily
enabling Knox to counter with a crisp jab.
Knox stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Knox wants it to stay on the feet.
Knox has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Jempsa is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Jempsa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Knox was well out of range. Poor timing from Jempsa.
Knox digs a good body shot into Jempsa's ribs.
Jempsa dives in and grabs Knox's left leg, looking for a takedown. Knox pushes down on Jempsa's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Konichiwa Jempsa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knox lands with an uppercut that bounces Jempsa off the cage and back into range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knox fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jempsa manages to avoid it.
Jempsa tries to counter with a takedown but Knox is quick to defend against it.
Jempsa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Knox avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jempsa shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Knox is trying to defend but Jempsa finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Knox moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Knox wants to sweep here but Jempsa controlling him for the moment.
Jempsa is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Konichiwa Jempsa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa wants to control from the top but Knox keeps moving.
Jempsa tries to free his leg and advance position but Knox is retaining full guard.
Jempsa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Jempsa throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Jempsa takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Jempsa gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Jempsa is defended easily by Knox.
Jempsa dives in and grabs Knox's left leg, looking for a takedown. Knox pushes down on Jempsa's head and hops out.
It seemed like Knox was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Jempsa misses with a takedown attempt
and Knox connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Knox lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Jempsa.
Jempsa darts in looking for a takedown but Knox gets double underhooks and turns Jempsa into the cage.

Knox manages to break the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Knox as Jempsa shoots in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Jempsa throws a poor cross that misses
and Knox counters with a straight right hand.
Jempsa shoots in for a takedown but Knox shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jempsa shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Knox as he avoids it easily.
Knox throws out a powerful jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Knox clobbers Jempsa with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

It looks like Konichiwa Jempsa has been cut.
Jempsa ducks under a wild hook from Knox.
Knox swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Knox uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Jempsa.
Jempsa shoots in for a takedown but Knox shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jempsa shoots in and drives through. Knox sprawls well.
Jempsa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Knox avoids it really well and circles away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chet Knox showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Konichiwa Jempsa's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Knox swings for the body but Jempsa moves out of range.
Jempsa shoots and misses
and Knox counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Jempsa tries to score a power double leg takedown but Knox sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jempsa somewhat.
Jempsa shoots in for a double leg but Knox sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Konichiwa Jempsa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jempsa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Knox looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Jempsa throws a nice looking combination but Knox bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Knox has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jempsa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Knox defends it nicely.
Jab, jab by Knox - just one landing.
Chet Knox is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Knox. Beautiful body shot.
Jempsa tries to score a power double leg takedown but Knox sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jempsa somewhat.
Knox lands a nice hook to Jempsa's body. Jempsa takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A lazy left from Knox finds it's target.
Jempsa throws a predictable looking body shot
and Knox connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jempsa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Knox moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa dives in for a single leg takedown but Knox sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
It seemed like Knox was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Knox misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Jempsa's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Knox tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Knox misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Knox fails to land.

Knox breaks the clinch.
Knox stuffs the takedown.
Jempsa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Knox pinned against the cage. Knox gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Knox! But no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Knox.
Knox displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Jempsa.
Jempsa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Knox as he jumps to the side.
Chet Knox seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jempsa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jempsa takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Knox. Jempsa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jempsa will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Knox ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Jempsa misses the body punch
and Knox counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa moves forwards but Knox connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Jempsa darts in looking for a takedown but Knox gets double underhooks and turns Jempsa into the cage.
Jempsa wants a takedown.

Knox manages to break the clinch.
Jempsa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Knox swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Jempsa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Jempsa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Knox's waist but Knox gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Jempsa off to one side.
Knox uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Jempsa has time to react.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jempsa takes one on the button.
Jempsa takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Jempsa misses with a takedown attempt - Knox sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chet Knox comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Knox 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chet Knox!
During a confident post fight interview, Chet Knox thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.