PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between George Phelps (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hedi Chekir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Hedi Chekir was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Phelps
vs
Chekir

196 cm
18
278 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
18
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, George Phelps!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Hedi Chekir!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Phil Schofield and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chekir circles away from the clinch attempt
and Chekir counters with a stiff right hand.
Phelps tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Chekir manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Phelps fails with an attempt to clinch.
Chekir has his takedown stuffed

and Phelps counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Chekir's guard now.

Chekir escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Phelps gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Chekir throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Phelps throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Phelps wants to stand but Chekir is controlling his posture from full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phelps postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Phelps trying to control the position from guard on top but Chekir is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Phelps is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Chekir is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

We're going to have a standup here because George Phelps wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Phelps throws a body punch but Chekir moves out of range.
Phelps could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Chekir fails with the takedown
and Phelps counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phelps tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Chekir manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Phelps on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Phelps tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Chekir makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Chekir pushes Phelps up against the cage in a clinch.
Phelps tries for a takedown. No joy.

Chekir escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Chekir pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Phelps looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Phelps tries to clinch but Chekir moves out of range.
Phelps tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chekir throws a combination. Phelps tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like George Phelps has been cut.
Chekir throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Chekir shoots in and drives through. Phelps sprawls well.
George Phelps has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hedi Chekir.
Chekir throws a hook to the side of Phelps's head but Phelps sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Chekir tries to clinch but Phelps moves out of range.
Chekir takes one to the side of the head.
Chekir gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Phelps counters with a takedown into side control.
Chekir looks winded!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Phelps decides to stand back up. Phelps steps back and let's Chekir get back to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Chekir.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chekir avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Chekir dives in for a single leg takedown but Phelps sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Phelps jumps guard but Chekir stands there with Phelps around his waist. Phelps gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Chekir is pressed up against the cage. Phelps has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Chekir down to the mat. Chekir avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Phelps moves in looking to clinch but Chekir pushes him off.

Phelps gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Phelps prevents a takedown attempt there.
Phelps wants a takedown.

Chekir breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Phelps dominated that round.
The cut man is working on George Phelps's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Chekir shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Phelps closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Phelps stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Chekir tries to stall but Phelps uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Phelps drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Chekir gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Phelps changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Chekir fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Chekir tries for a takedown but Phelps circles away easily
and Chekir takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Chekir throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Phelps is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chekir shoots in looking for a takedown. Phelps tries to sprawl out of it but Chekir keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Phelps manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Chekir with a lazy takedown attempt
and Phelps counters with a lovely shot to the body.
George Phelps has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hedi Chekir.
Chekir is breathing heavily.
Chekir wants to clinch

so Phelps counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Chekir wants to stand but Phelps is controlling the position.
Chekir can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Phelps controls the pace.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Phelps is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Phelps stands and steps away. Chekir gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Phelps moves in looking to clinch but Chekir pushes him off.
Hedi Chekir seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Chekir closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Phelps is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Chekir is defending well.
Phelps tries to break free but Chekir pushes him back against the cage.
Phelps looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Chekir works on Phelps's body with a couple of short punches.
Phelps is trying to break the clinch but Chekir has him pressed against the cage.
Chekir tries for a takedown. No joy.

Chekir breaks from the clinch.
Chekir wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Phelps clinches.

Chekir manages to break the clinch.
Phelps swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Chekir counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Chekir gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Phelps counters by moving into the clinch.
Chekir has Phelps pressed against the cage, preventing Phelps from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Chekir tries to pull guard but Phelps forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Chekir breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Phelps avoids the head kick by Chekir.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Phelps closes the distance and pushes Chekir back into the cage.

Phelps drags the fight down to the ground.
Chekir really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Phelps. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Phelps striking off his back but it's not causing Chekir any problems.
Phelps keeping moving, preventing Chekir from controlling successfully.
Phelps trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Chekir stops Phelps from standing up.

Chekir gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Chekir circles away from the clinch attempt.
Phelps tries to close the distance and clinch up but Chekir swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Phelps dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on George Phelps's cut.
That's time! Phelps's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Chekir fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Phelps misses with a kick to the body.
Phelps misses with a wild body shot.

Phelps clinches up with Chekir and pushes him back against the cage.
Phelps is working for takedown but Chekir is calmly controlling the position for now.

Chekir breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Chekir moves in looking to clinch but Phelps pushes him off.
Chekir fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Phelps leaves Chekir with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
George Phelps has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hedi Chekir.
Chekir takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Phelps as Chekir shoots in.
Chekir goes for a double leg but Phelps avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Phelps continues to drive forward.

Phelps manages to pull guard.

Phelps is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Chekir wants to stand but Phelps is controlling his posture from full guard.

Phelps has his feet on Chekir's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
The fight stays on the outside here - Phelps looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phelps misses with a body kick.
Chekir darts in trying to clinch

and Phelps counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Phelps looking for a takedown.
Chekir fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Chekir breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
George Phelps is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Chekir shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Phelps sprawls well. Phelps wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Chekir gets slowly back to his feet.

Phelps takes the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chekir is pressed up against the cage. Phelps has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Chekir down to the mat. Chekir avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Chekir tries for a takedown but Phelps circles away easily
and Phelps counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Chekir circles away from the clinch attempt.
Chekir darts in looking for a takedown but Phelps gets double underhooks and turns Chekir into the cage.
Chekir has had enough of the clinch but Phelps keeps him there for the moment.
Phelps wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Phelps misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phelps jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Chekir walks away with a smile on his face. Phelps gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Phelps has Chekir up against the cage in a clinch.
Phelps throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Chekir blocks it with crossed arms.

Chekir jumps guard.
Chekir trying to strike off his back.
Phelps 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.
Chekir is trying to keep Phelps in close.

Phelps gets to his feet. Chekir looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Phelps tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Chekir counters with a slapping leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Phelps showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Phelps, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Phelps!