PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hong Man Choi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roope Ankka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Man Choi
vs
Ankka

225 cm
22
300 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

225 cm
22
290 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hong Man Choi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Roope Ankka!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Taro Takaoka and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Choi closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Choi looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ankka with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Choi takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Still in half guard, Choi seems content to control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ankka is pressing down on Choi's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ankka seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ankka avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Choi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ankka not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ankka might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Choi kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Choi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Choi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Choi trying to control but Ankka is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ankka is on top in guard.
Choi trying to keep a closed guard but Ankka is proving a slippery customer.
Ankka trying to control but Choi is working from the bottom.

Ankka stands up from Choi's guard - Ankka perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ankka doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Choi counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A jab from Choi misses.
Ankka tries for a takedown but Choi circles away easily

and Choi counters with a single leg into guard. Ankka didn't expect that.
Ankka looks gassed!
Choi postures up and lands a big shot to Ankka's brow.
Choi controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ankka striking off his back but it's not causing Choi any problems.
Ankka wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Choi tries to free his leg and advance position but Ankka is retaining full guard.
Ankka working a defensive guard here.

Ankka looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Choi trying to control the position from guard on top but Ankka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Choi scores with a nice strike.
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!
Choi misses with a hook. Ankka ducked under it nicely.
Ankka dodges the punch combination from Choi.
Ankka shoots and misses
and Choi counters with a series of strikes. Ankka will be more careful next time no doubt.
Hong Man Choi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roope Ankka.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Choi tries for a takedown but Ankka circles away easily
and Ankka counters with a three punch combo that has Choi backing up. Choi nods at Ankka to acknowledge the strikes.
Choi misses with a two punch combination.
Ankka doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Choi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ankka keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ankka throws a left and a right that both miss

and Choi counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ankka wants to get back to his feet.
Ankka taking some punishment here, with Choi in his half guard.
Ankka is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Choi scores with a couple of nice shots.
Well, if Choi is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Ankka is staying active underneath Choi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ankka slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ankka is trying to control the position but Choi postures up.
Ankka looking to hit a scissor sweep but Choi is one step ahead there.
Choi won't allow Ankka to get back to his feet.
Choi seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Ankka throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Choi stopping the sweep attempt from Ankka.
Choi trying to control but Ankka is working from the bottom.
Choi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ankka is keeping the position for now.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Choi steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Ankka. That one must have hurt.
Ankka misses with a takedown attempt

and Choi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Choi wants to pass the guard but Ankka is keeping the position.
Ankka is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Choi throwing strikes from guard but Ankka blocks nicely.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Choi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ankka looking to hit a scissor sweep but Choi is one step ahead there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ankka shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Choi shoots in and bounces Ankka off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Choi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Choi preventing the sweep.
Ankka wants to stand but Choi is controlling the position.
Ankka will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Ankka looking for a sweep. Not yet Ankka, not yet.
Choi won't allow Ankka to get back to his feet.
Choi wants to pass the guard but Ankka is keeping the position.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Choi trying to control but Ankka is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ankka avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ankka's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Ankka duly obliges.
Ankka fails with the takedown
and Choi counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Choi darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Choi is thwarting Ankka's attempts to control the position.
Ankka is pressing down on Choi's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Choi wants to control from the top but Ankka keeps moving.

Ankka pushes Choi off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Choi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ankka sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A big left from Choi misses.
Ankka bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hong Man Choi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from Choi misses.
Ankka with a poor takedown
and Choi counters with a straight right hand.
Ankka tries for a takedown but Choi circles away easily

and Choi decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ankka's guard.
Ankka scores with a nice shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Choi trying to control the position from guard on top but Ankka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ankka wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Choi trying to control the position from guard on top but Ankka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Choi stopping the sweep attempt from Ankka.
Ankka is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Choi trying to control the position from guard on top but Ankka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Choi shoots in and bounces Ankka off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ankka trying to keep a closed guard but Choi is proving a slippery customer.
Choi won't allow Ankka to sweep him here.
Hong Man Choi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ankka throwing short punches from the bottom.
Choi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Choi tries to bum rush Ankka with a series of wild strikes but Ankka uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Choi throws a looping overhand right but Ankka ducks down to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ankka with a poor takedown
and Choi counters with a nice uppercut.
Hong Man Choi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roope Ankka.
Choi moves into range and connects with a jab.
Choi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ankka moves out of range as Choi strikes.

Choi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ankka looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Ankka regains half guard.
Ankka is looking to escape.
Ankka is trying to control but can't.
Ankka is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ankka kicks Choi off and gets back to his feet.
No joy there for Choi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ankka will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ankka tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Choi swivels and escapes.
Choi stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Ankka misses with a body kick.

Choi shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ankka's guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Choi won't allow Ankka to sweep him here.
Choi lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Choi throwing strikes from guard but Ankka blocks nicely.
Ankka striking off his back but it's not causing Choi any problems.
Choi content to stall in guard here.
Ankka punching from the bottom.
Ankka throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Ankka wants to stand but Choi is controlling the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Choi tries to clinch up.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Choi misses the jab.

Ankka looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Choi misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Ankka decides to stand and escape the position.

Ankka looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Choi throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Choi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Choi looking for a sweep. Not yet Choi, not yet.
Ankka is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ankka sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Choi's guard.
Nice strikes from Ankka there.
Ankka wants to pass to mount but Choi is defending the position.
Choi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ankka seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Choi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Choi wants to control but Ankka is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Choi is looking for a sweep. Ankka is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ankka passes into side control, despite Choi's attempt to control the position.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Ankka lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Choi down.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Ankka takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Choi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ankka manages to avoid it.
Ankka with a lazy takedown attempt
and Choi counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice straight punches there by Choi. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Choi.
Choi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Ankka counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Ankka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Choi fails with the takedown
and Ankka counters with a nice body shot.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Ankka gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Choi counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Choi is thwarting Ankka's attempts to control the position.
Ankka gets back to full guard.
Choi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ankka is keeping the position for now.
Ankka looking for a sweep. Not yet Ankka, not yet.
Choi throwing strikes from guard but Ankka blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hong Man Choi dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Choi gets caught flat footed, as Ankka shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ankka trying to control the position from guard on top but Choi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Choi wants to sweep but no luck.
Ankka postures up.
Ankka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Choi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ankka postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ankka wants to control from the top but Choi keeps moving.
Ankka stopping the sweep attempt from Choi.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ankka passes Choi's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ankka thows a huge punch but Choi dodges it nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ankka doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Choi counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ankka's guard now.
Choi is working Ankka over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ankka is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ankka lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Choi!
Choi is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ankka with the ground and pound from mount.
Choi is working to get back to half guard.
Ankka punishing his opponent with strikes.
Ankka postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Choi looks a forlorn figure.
Choi is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ankka trying to control but Choi is having none of it.
Ankka lands a heavy elbow.
Choi wants to control but Ankka is having none of it.
Ankka pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Choi in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Choi can't escape the position.
Ankka with a couple of short strikes.
Ankka lands a big shot there that rocks Choi but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Choi working to try and regain half guard.
Ankka landing shots from mount.
Choi can't escape the position.
Ankka working the ground and pound effectively.
Ankka lands a nice shot to the head.
Ankka can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Choi is looking to escape.
Ankka has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Choi's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Choi is looking to improve his position but Ankka isn't that keen on the idea.
Ankka landing shots from mount.

Ankka is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Choi has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Ankka throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Choi avoids a series of strikes thrown by Ankka.
Ankka landing strikes from the mount and Choi is in trouble!
Choi is in all sorts of trouble here.
Choi wants to hold on but Ankka pushes him away.
Ankka landing strikes from the mount and Choi is in trouble!
Ankka fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Ankka controlling the pace for now.
Choi is trying to escape the mount.
Ankka lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Choi takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Ankka dominating with strikes here.
Choi tries to hold on but Ankka postures up.
Ankka working Choi over with strikes here.
Choi throwing hammer fists to the chest of Ankka. What's that going to do exactly?
Ankka working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Ankka trying to control but Choi is having none of it.
Ankka landing strikes from the mount and Choi is in trouble!

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Choi can't escape the position.
Ankka landing strikes from the mount and Choi is in trouble!
Choi can't escape the position.
Choi is working hard here to advance position.
Choi is squirming around, avoiding Ankka's attempts to control the action.

Ankka working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Choi tries to hold on but Ankka postures up.
Ankka lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Choi hang on?
BOOM! Ankka connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Ankka lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Choi hang on?
Choi tries to lock up and control but Ankka gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Choi is looking to get to half guard.
Ankka fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Ankka unloading with bombs!
The referee warns Choi that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Choi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ankka scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Ankka is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Choi can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Ankka working for a guillotine from mount but Choi is in no mood to give up.
Choi regains half guard.
Roope Ankka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ankka in particular looking to stall.
Ankka uses his free foot to push down on Choi's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Choi.

Ankka looking to secure an arm triangle but Choi defends it well.
Choi is desperately trying to improve his position but Ankka has a good base and remains in mount.
Ankka landing shots from mount.
Choi wants to control but Ankka is having none of it.
Ankka breaks from Choi's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Ankka with the ground and pound from mount.
Ankka has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Choi is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Choi is working to get back to half guard.
Ankka breaks from Choi's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Ankka with a couple of short strikes.
Ankka lands a big elbow.
Ankka pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Choi tries to reverse the position but Ankka maintains control.
Choi is in a horrible position here. Ankka smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Choi is working to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ankka breaks from Choi's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The referee warns Choi that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Ankka misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Choi tries to reverse the position but Ankka maintains control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roope Ankka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Choi has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Hong Man Choi!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Hong Man Choi!
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Hong Man Choi!

Hong Man Choi wins by unanimous decision!