PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Castor Antonopolous (ranked 5223 p4p, 490 weight class) and Shang Chi (ranked 5436 p4p, 502 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Chi's choice of entrance music: Incomplete. Castor Antonopolous has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Antonopolous
vs
Chi

186 cm
19
170 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

177 cm
19
175 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Castor Antonopolous!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Shang Chi!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Hirohito Nitta and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chi throws a series of punches but Antonopolous avoids them all with ease.
Antonopolous takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Chi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Antonopolous lands a nice looking body shot.
Antonopolous ducks under a wild hook from Chi.
Chi misses with a straight left.
Chi darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Chi connects with a leg kick. Antonopolous looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A telegraphed right hand from Antonopolous misses the target.
Antonopolous has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Chi throws a right hand that misses
and Antonopolous counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Antonopolous throws a right and a left that Chi avoids nicely.
Chi lands a jab to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Antonopolous misses with a hook.
Antonopolous takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
The fighters circle momentarily. Chi darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Jab, jab by Chi - just one landing.
Chi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot by Chi.
A right-left combo lands from Chi.
Antonopolous keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Chi.
Chi throws a big shot that misses.
Chi moves out of range as Antonopolous strikes.
Chi appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Chi with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Antonopolous to score with a decent uppercut.
Antonopolous keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Antonopolous tries to counter by clinching up but Chi breaks away and moves out of range.
Chi scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Chi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Antonopolous sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Chi wants to land a leg kick but Antonopolous is out of range.
Antonopolous displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Chi throws out the jab.
Chi throws a right hand that misses
and Antonopolous counters with a nice uppercut.
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!
Antonopolous misses with a looping right.
Chi tries a head kick but it misses.
Antonopolous throws a hook but Chi avoids it easily.
Antonopolous slips a jab from Chi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chi throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Antonopolous on the side of the head.
Antonopolous misses with a hook.
Chi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Antonopolous.
Chi scores with a jab to the body.
Antonopolous gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Antonopolous uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Chi.
Chi with a nice cross.
Antonopolous cracks a nice hook into Chi's ribs.
Antonopolous throws a low kick but Chi avoids it.
Chi lands with an uppercut that bounces Antonopolous off the ropes and back into range.
Chi throws a solid leg kick but Antonopolous takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Chi.
Chi goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Antonopolous jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Antonopolous ducks under a wild hook from Chi.
Decent striking displayed by Chi there.
Chi lands with a cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Chi misses.
Antonopolous displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Chi throws out the jab.
Chi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Antonopolous uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Chi.
Chi misses with a hook
and Antonopolous cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Antonopolous moves away from the strike by Chi.
Chi feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Antonopolouss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Chi walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Antonopolous on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Chi. Chi obviously looking to wear him down.
Antonopolous is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Chi scores with a decent looking hook.
Shang Chi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Chi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Antonopolous.
An attempted straight right counter from Antonopolous misses the target.
Chi is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Antonopolous had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Antonopolous on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Chi. Chi obviously looking to wear him down.
Antonopolous throws a big shot that misses.
Antonopolous keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Chi.
Chi fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Antonopolous checks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chi moves out of range of the strikes.
A lazy left from Chi finds it's target.
Antonopolous defending well as Chi loads up on a big left hand.
Nice defenses there by Antonopolous.
Chi swings widly with a right hand
and Antonopolous counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Chi throws a low kick, looking for Antonopolous's leg but Antonopolous calmly moves out of range.
Chi misses with a series of wild punches.
Antonopolous throws out a powerful jab.
Antonopolous misses with a low kick.
Despite the aggression on Chi's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Chi scores with a nice right hand.
Antonopolous uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Chi.
Chi throws a nice looking combination but Antonopolous bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A slow jab from Antonopolous misses its intended target.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Antonopolous bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nice uppercut there from Antonopolous.
Chi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Antonopolous.
Chi slips a straight right by Antonopolous.
Chi scores with a sloppy right hand. Antonopolous should have avoided that one.
A head kick misses from Chi.
Antonopolous is looking to counter punch.
Antonopolous moves away from the strike by Chi.
Chi scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Antonopolous scores with a crisp jab that stopped Chi in his tracks.
Antonopolous misses the jab.
Chi throws a lazy right hand but Antonopolous sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Chi. That's going to slow Antonopolous down.
Antonopolous with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Chi to score with a decent uppercut.
Antonopolous throws the left hand but Chi avoids the punch easily.
Chi bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Antonopolous's head backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Chi feints a jab promting Antonopolous to slip. Chi then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Antonopolous slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Chi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nice uppercut lands for Chi. That snapped Antonopolous's head back.
Antonopolous takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Antonopolous will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Chi lands with a straight right. Antonopolous didn't see that one coming.
Chi keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Antonopolous throws a shot from downtown. Chi moves away and avoids it.
Antonopolous backing away here, and Chi unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Antonopolous blocks a jab.
Chi misses the jab.
Antonopolous takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Chi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Antonopolous.
Antonopolous slips a jab from Chi.
Chi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Antonopolous was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Antonopolous shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Antonopolous jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Antonopolous walks into a stiff left hand from Chi.
Chi throws a lazy right hand but Antonopolous sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Antonopolous looks to throw the jab but Chi is out of range.
Antonopolous blocks a low kick nicely.
Antonopolous on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Chi feints a jab promting Antonopolous to slip. Chi then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Antonopolous slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Chi, as that shot connected.
A solid leg kick lands there for Chi.
Chi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Chi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Chi dips to his left and cracks Antonopolous with an uppercut!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Antonopolous misses with a wild body shot.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Antonopolous blocks a jab.
Antonopolous thows a left - swing and a miss!
Antonopolous throws a looping overhand right but Chi ducks down to avoid it.
Chi with a hook.
Antonopolous checks the leg kick.
Antonopolous is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Antonopolous misses with a series of wild punches.
Chi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Chi throws a series of strikes that have Antonopolous backpedaling.
Antonopolous takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Antonopolous slips a straight right by Chi.
Antonopolous slips under a jab.
Chi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Antonopolous.
Chi's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Antonopolous connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Chi scrambles back to his feet.
Chi slips under a jab from Antonopolous.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Chi throws a series of punches but Antonopolous moves out of range.
Chi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Antonopolous.
Chi sizes up Antonopolous with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Antonopolous defending well as Chi loads up on a big left hand.
Chi smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Chi misses with a hook.
Antonopolous looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Chi swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Antonopolous.
Antonopolous slips under a jab.
Chi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Antonopolous throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Chi throws a hook to the side of Antonopolous's head but Antonopolous sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Chi cracks Antonopolous with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Chi takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Chi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Antonopolous moves out of range as Chi strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shang Chi dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Antonopolous throws the left hand but Chi avoids the punch easily.
Chi cracks Antonopolous with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Antonopolous throws a hook to the side of Chi's head but Chi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Antonopolous moves out of range of the strikes.
Chi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Chi keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Chi misses with a double jab
letting Antonopolous counter with a right hand.
Jab by Antonopolous.
Chi connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Good shot there by Chi.
Chi scores with a nice head shot.
Antonopolous catches Chi with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Chi is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Chi scores with a decent looking hook.
Chi lands with a cross.
Antonopolous steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Chi.
Antonopolous seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Shang Chi seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chi throws a hook but Antonopolous avoids it easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Antonopolous misses its target.
Antonopolous slips under a jab.
Antonopolous ducks right into an uppercut from Chi.
Antonopolous misses with an uppercut. Chi saw that one coming.
A countering left hand to the body from Chi misses.
Antonopolous slips a jab from Chi.
A little feinted left hand from Antonopolous on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Chi throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Antonopolous.
Chi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Antonopolous. That did some damage!
Antonopolous moves out of range of the strikes.
Chi blocks a jab.
Antonopolous takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Antonopolous throws a jab but it's blocked by Chi.
Chi looks to land a left hand but Antonopolous moved out of range nicely.
Antonopolous keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Chi.
Antonopolous throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Antonopolous has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Antonopolous fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Antonopolous dodges the punch combination from Chi.
Chi moves out of range as Antonopolous strikes.
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!
A nice leg kick lands there from Chi.
Chi blocks a jab.
Chi getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
The fighters circling - Antonopolous throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Antonopolous misses with an uppercut. Chi saw that one coming.
Chi scores with the left hand. Antonopolous knows he should have avoided that one.
Chi scores with a punch to the head.
Antonopolous walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Antonopolous throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Chi bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Antonopolous's head.
Chi jabs Antonopolous to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Antonopolous throws a jab when Chi was well out of range.
Antonopolous has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Chi finds it's way round the side to connect with Antonopolous's head.
Chi ducks under a wild hook from Antonopolous.
Jab, jab by Chi - just one landing.
Antonopolous dodges the punch combination from Chi.
A slapping leg kick lands for Chi.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Antonopolous might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Chi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Chi looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Antonopolous looks to land a right hand but Chi moved out of range.
Chi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Chi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Antonopolous.
Antonopolous was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Chi throws a shot to the body.
Antonopolous lands a jab.
Antonopolous throws a right hand that Chi ducks under and follows up with a left that Chi also avoids with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Antonopolous throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Chi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Chi connects with a right hand. Antonopolous shakes it off.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Chi lands a glancing blow to the side of Antonopolous's head.
Antonopolous throws the left hand but Chi avoids the punch easily.
Chi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Antonopolous circles away quickly and effectively.
Chi looks to land a right hand but Antonopolous moved out of range.
Chi slips under a jab.
Antonopolous misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Chi.
Chi swings widly with a right hand
letting Antonopolous counter with a right hand.
Chi scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Antonopolous doesn't seem bothered though.
Chi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Chi misses with a jab to the body

and Antonopolous counters by clinching up.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Chi blocks a body shot from Antonopolous.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Chi swings wildly with an uppercut but Antonopolous uses good head movement to avoid it.

Chi breaks the clinch.
Antonopolous throws a right and a left that both miss.
Chi moves out of range of the strikes.
Antonopolous defending well as Chi loads up on a big left hand.
Chi's jab looks to have found its range, popping Antonopolous under the eye.
Antonopolous missing with a left hand there. Chi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A jab from Antonopolous misses.
Chi misses with a lunging right hand
and Antonopolous counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Antonopolous moves away from the strike by Chi.
Chi blocks a jab.
Chi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Antonopolous sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Chi just misses with a punch to the body.
Chi misses with an uppercut.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Chi misses.
Antonopolous is looking for a counter combo.
Nice shot lands for Chi.
Chi scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Antonopolous misses with a hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Chi scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Antonopolous has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Antonopolous there as he acknowledges the shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Antonopolous. Chi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Antonopolous ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A nice leg kick lands there from Chi.
Nice shot lands for Chi.
A big left from Antonopolous misses.
Antonopolous tries to move into range but Chi moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
The crowd cheers as Chi lands an impressive looking overhand right. Antonopolous doesn't seem phased though.
Antonopolous throws a right and a left that both miss.
Castor Antonopolous has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Chi takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Chi connects with a looping right hand.
Chi swings widly with a right hand
letting Antonopolous counter with a right hand.
Chi lands a lovely overhand right.
A big left from Chi misses.
Chi ducks under a wild hook from Antonopolous.
Antonopolous doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Chi clobbers Antonopolous with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Chi looks to throw the jab but Antonopolous is out of range.
Chi scores with a jab to the jaw.
Chi tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice cross by Chi.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Chi scores with a hook.
Some wild striking there from Chi.
Antonopolous is looking to counter punch.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Antonopolous throws a leg kick but Chi moved away.
Well,Antonopolous is on his way to losing a decision here. Can he use his experience to pull something off in the closing minutes?
Antonopolous ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Chi throws a head kick that misses
enabling Antonopolous to counter with a crisp jab.
Chi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Antonopolous. That did some damage!
A jab from Antonopolous misses.
Chi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Antonopolous's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Chi connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Antonopolous scrambles back to his feet.
Chi slips a straight right by Antonopolous.
Chi is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Antonopolous moves away from the strike by Chi.
Chi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Chi works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Chi just misses with a punch to the body.
A swing and a miss from Chi.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Chi cracks Antonopolous with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Chi misses with a wild body shot.
The fighters circling - Antonopolous throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Chi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A telegraphed right hand from Antonopolous misses the target.
Antonopolous looks to score with a jab to the body but Chi is just out of range.
Antonopolous scores with a jab.
Chi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Antonopolous sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Chi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Antonopolous throws out the jab.
Chi looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Shang Chi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Chi scores with a jab to the jaw.
Antonopolous bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Antonopolous seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Antonopolous takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Chi's jab looks to have found its range, popping Antonopolous under the eye.
Antonopolous with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Chi to score with a decent uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shang Chi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Chi 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight for Shang Chi!
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Shang Chi!
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight for Shang Chi!

Shang Chi wins by unanimous decision!
After the fight, Shang Chi was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.