PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Presley Chai (ranked 625 p4p, 594 weight class) and Dusty Rhodes (ranked 81 p4p, 79 weight class). Rhodes is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Bury My Bones. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Chai
vs
Rhodes

187 cm
26
185
12 - 7 - 0

178 cm
28
186
11 - 4 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

NARCOS
30th Century Beer Store

The Pharmacy Phuket
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Presley Chai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Dusty Rhodes!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Percy O'Donnell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chai shoots in and drives through. Rhodes sprawls well.
Chai shoots in looking for a takedown but Rhodes manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Chai's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Rhodes has Chai up against the cage in a clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Rhodes.
Rhodes blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Chai misses with the head strike.
We've been hearing reports that Chai has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Rhodes misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short uppercut from Rhodes.
Chai scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Chai working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Chai working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A short body shot lands from Rhodes as the two fighters clinch.
Rhodes scores with a shot to the side of Chai's head.
Rhodes is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Chai goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Chai tries to work over Rhodes's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Chai lands with a short shot to the head.
Rhodes has Chai pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Chai manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Chai lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rhodes blocking some punches.
Rhodes lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rhodes lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Rhodes.
Rhodes blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Chai throws a head punch that misses.
A right hand to the body from Rhodes.
Rhodes lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rhodes blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rhodes goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Chai misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Rhodes fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Chai fails to land.
Rhodes tries to work over Chai's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rhodes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nice body punch from Rhodes - that landed with a thud.
Rhodes lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rhodes lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Chai blocking some punches.
A right hand to the body from Rhodes.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rhodes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rhodes.
Rhodes lands a shoulder strike.
A short right from Rhodes.

Chai is rocked!
Rhodes struggles to land a body shot inside as Chai controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rhodes gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Rhodes wants to pass to mount but Chai is defending the position.
Chai trying to control but Rhodes postures up.
Rhodes not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rhodes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rhodes not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Chai is staying active underneath Rhodes, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rhodes is stalling here. Chai is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Rhodes seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Chai has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Chai working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chai in side control, throwing shots but Rhodes defends.
Chai throws a strike aimed at the side of Rhodes's head but Rhodes avoids it well.
Chai in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Rhodes is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Rhodes is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Chai scoring with punches and elbows.
Rhodes prevents Chai from improving position.
Rhodes manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rhodes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Chai trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chai scoring with some ground and pound.
Rhodes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Chai accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Chai avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rhodes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Chai throws a big elbow that misses.
Rhodes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Chai is one step ahead there.

Rhodes looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dusty Rhodes dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Chai fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rhodes avoids it really well and circles away.
Nice defenses there by Chai.
Rhodes scores with a shot to the body.
The fighters circling - Chai throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rhodes throws a lazy right hand but Chai sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Chai throwing a counter right hand but Rhodes manages to avoid it.
Rhodes stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rhodes wants it to stay on the feet.
Chai swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Chai moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rhodes connects with a crisp jab.
Chai moves out of range of the strikes.

Rhodes gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Chai.
Rhodes gets through Chai's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rhodes lands with a short shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhodes scores with a shoulder strike.
Oh Chai is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Chai goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rhodes scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Chai misses with a body punch.
Dusty Rhodes seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Chai throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Chai can't find room to land a body shot as Rhodes controls the action.
Chai seems to have got his legs back now.
Rhodes misses with a punch to the body.
Rhodes blocking some punches.

Chai works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Rhodes working a defensive guard here.
Rhodes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rhodes is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Chai works over Rhodes with some ground and pound from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rhodes is trying to control the position but Chai postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes looking for a sweep. Not yet Rhodes, not yet.
Chai landing some decent shots from guard.
Chai makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Chai working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Presley Chai overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Chai in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Chai preventing the sweep.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Chai landing some decent shots from guard.
Chai throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rhodes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Chai throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chai throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rhodes looking for a sweep. Not yet Rhodes, not yet.
Rhodes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Chai is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rhodes throws a strike but Chai avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Rhodes looking to pass the guard.
Rhodes is still trying to improve position.
Rhodes is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes throwing strikes but missing.
Rhodes preventing the sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rhodes lands a couple of digs.
Rhodes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Chai works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dusty Rhodes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Chai, as that shot connected.
Chai misses with a left hand
letting Rhodes counter with a right hand.
Chai pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rhodes takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Chai throws a combination. Rhodes tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Dusty Rhodes has been cut.
Chai moves out of range of the strikes.

Rhodes shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rhodes showed some decent athleticism there.
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!
Rhodes thows a huge punch but Chai dodges it nicely.
Rhodes working Chai over with strikes.
Nice strikes from Rhodes there.
Rhodes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhodes stalling.
Chai keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rhodes trying to control the action but Chai is working from the bottom.
Rhodes trying to pass the guard but Chai defending well.
Chai regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Chai looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rhodes showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Rhodes working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Dusty Rhodes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rhodes controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Chai not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chai throws a right hand that misses
and Rhodes counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Chai looks to clinch
and Rhodes counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rhodes lands a really nice looking cross but Chai seems unphased.

Rhodes fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Chai, pushing him back against the cage.
Rhodes lands a right hand.
Rhodes prevents a body shot from Chai.
Chai misses with a short punch on the inside.
Chai throws a punch but it's blocked by Rhodes.
Rhodes takes a shot to the head.
Chai goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rhodes.
Chai is working Rhodes over against the cage.
Chai misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chai blocks a body shot from Rhodes.
Chai jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rhodes walks away with a smile on his face. Chai gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rhodes swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Rhodes takes the fight into the clinch.
Rhodes works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rhodes blocks an uppercut.
Chai tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Chai misses with a punch on the inside.
Chai tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Chai has Rhodes pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rhodes manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Presley Chai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rhodes is pressed up against the cage. Chai has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rhodes down to the mat. Rhodes avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Presley Chai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dusty Rhodes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rhodes throws a lazy right hand but Chai sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dusty Rhodes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rhodes 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dusty Rhodes!
Dusty Rhodes opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.