PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rasul Dolaev (ranked 4485 p4p, 0 weight class) and Byung Soo Choi (ranked 4726 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dolaev
vs
Soo Choi

178 cm
25
158 lbs
1 - 1 - 1

178 cm
25
158 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of New York, Rasul Dolaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Byung Soo Choi!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Columbo Gatti and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dolaev shoots for a takedown but Choi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Choi looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Choi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dolaev moves away from the strike by Choi.
Choi feints and then cracks Dolaev's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Dolaev down.
Choi lands a head kick!
Choi avoids a kick to the body.
Choi is looking for the big counter here.
Dolaev blocks a head kick by Choi.
Dolaev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dolaev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Choi's waist but Choi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dolaev off to one side.

Dolaev instigates a clinch.

Dolaev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dolaev shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Choi sprawls well. Choi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dolaev gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rasul Dolaev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dolaev shoots in looking for a takedown but Choi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dolaev's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Dolaev jabs at Choi's body.
Dolaev fails to land the takedown.
Choi unleashes a big counter combination but Dolaev bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Choi throws a body kick that misses.
Choi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Dolaev lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Stalling in the clinch from Dolaev.
Choi is trying to force a seperation but Dolaev has the dominant position.
Choi tries to break free but Dolaev pushes him back against the cage.
Choi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Dolaev trying to land knees to the body.

Dolaev decides to pull guard.
Choi wants to stand but Dolaev is controlling his posture from full guard.

Dolaev is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Choi defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dolaev trying to strike off his back.
Choi stopping the sweep attempt from Dolaev.
Dolaev has a closed guard, preventing Choi from standing up.
Dolaev on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Dolaev tries to get out of the position.

Choi stands and steps away. Dolaev gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Choi blocks a low kick nicely.
Dolaev misses with a jab, cross combination.
Choi connects with a high kick.
Dolaev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Choi but Choi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Choi throws a sloppy head kick

and Dolaev counters by clinching up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dolaev is struggling to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dolaev jumps guard but Choi stands there with Dolaev around his waist. Dolaev gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Choi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Choi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Dolaev has him pressed against the cage.
Dolaev lands a body punch in the clinch.
Choi wants to break the clinch but can't.

Dolaev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Choi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Choi throws a sloppy head kick
and Dolaev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Dolaev has managed to clinch.
Dolaev tries to pull guard but Choi holds him up against the cage and eventually Dolaev drops back down to his feet.
Dolaev has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Choi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dolaev tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Choi just stands there and leans against the cage.
Choi tries to circle away but Dolaev has him pinned against the cage.
Dolaev jumps guard but Choi stands there with Dolaev around his waist. Dolaev gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Choi is trying to force a seperation but Dolaev has the dominant position.

Dolaev breaks the clinch.
Dolaev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Choi pinned against the cage. Choi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Choi throws a head kick that Dolaev semi-blocks.

Dolaev closes the distance and clinches.
Dolaev has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Choi after a bit of a struggle.
Choi working hard to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rasul Dolaev will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Dolaev slips a straight right by Choi.

Dolaev shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Dolaev slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Choi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dolaev is controlling him.

Dolaev stands up from Choi's guard - Dolaev perhaps looking for a knockout.
Dolaev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Choi pinned against the cage. Choi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dolaev closes the distance and clinches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Choi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Dolaev has him pressed against the cage.
Choi tries to break free but Dolaev pushes him back against the cage.
Dolaev is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Choi to keep the fight standing.
Dolaev lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Choi or not.
A frustrated look appears on Choi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Choi wants to break free but Dolaev has control.
Choi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Dolaev.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rasul Dolaev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dolaev prevents Choi from breaking the clinch.
Choi is trying to push Dolaev away but Dolaev has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Dolaev tries to land knees in the clinch but Choi avoids the damage to the body.

Dolaev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dolaev scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Choi doesn't seem bothered though.
Dolaev swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dolaev instigates a clinch.
Choi wants to break the clinch but can't.
Choi wants to break free but Dolaev has control.
Dolaev lands a left hand that snaps the head of Choi backwards.

Dolaev breaks from the clinch.
Choi throws a head kick but Dolaev moves out of range.
Byung Soo Choi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Choi slaps away a takedown attempt from Dolaev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Horrible takedown attempt by Dolaev or perhaps it was just good defense by Choi, which made it look bad.
Byung Soo Choi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Choi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Choi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Choi throws a sloppy head kick and Dolaev moves out of range easily.

Dolaev clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dolaev misses with a knee to the head.
Choi is looking to break free of the clinch but Dolaev has double underhooks.
Choi tries to break the clinch but Dolaev is controlling the position.
Choi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Dolaev pulls Choi into guard.
Dolaev is pulling down on Choi's head. It's preventing any offense from Choi, at least for the moment.
Choi tries to stand but Dolaev is controlling from the bottom.
Choi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Choi would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four 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 in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dolaev has control of Choi's left arm, preventing Choi from doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A head kick misses from Choi.

Dolaev instigates a clinch.
Dolaev has Choi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Choi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Choi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Choi's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Dolaev is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Choi gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Choi is trying to break the clinch but Dolaev is controlling him.
Choi working hard to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rasul Dolaev dominated that second round.
That's time! Dolaev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Dolaev gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Dolaev tries for a takedown. No joy.
Dolaev has Choi pressed against the cage, preventing Choi from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Dolaev misses with an elbow strike.
Choi is trying to push Dolaev away but Dolaev has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Good body shot from Dolaev.
Dolaev throws a knee to the head but misses.

Dolaev has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Choi uses from the top position.
Choi wants to stand but Dolaev is controlling his posture from full guard.

Dolaev is looking for a triangle but Choi pushes his legs off easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Choi wants to stand but Dolaev is controlling his posture from full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Dolaev throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Choi decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Dolaev shoots in for a double leg but Choi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Choi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Choi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dolaev slips a straight right by Choi.
Dolaev appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Dolaev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Choi's waist but Choi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dolaev off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rasul Dolaev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Choi throws a series of punches but Dolaev moves out of range.
Choi tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice sprawl there from Choi as Dolaev shoots in.
Despite the aggression on Choi's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Choi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dolaev moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Choi throws a head kick but Dolaev moves out of range.
Dolaev thuds his right hand into Choi's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Choi throws a nice head kick!
Choi blocks a leg kick.

Dolaev clinches up against the cage.
Dolaev prevents Choi from breaking the clinch.
Dolaev content to slow the pace in the clinch.
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!
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Dolaev.
Dolaev drops down looking for an ankle pick but Choi pulls his leg out and moves away.
Dolaev takes a kick to the side of the head.
Dolaev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Choi throws a sloppy head kick and Dolaev moves out of range easily.
Dolaev tries to counter with a takedown but Choi is quick to defend against it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Choi.
Dolaev lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Dolaev shoots for a double leg takedown but Choi sprawls well. He's pushed Dolaev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Byung Soo Choi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No joy there for Choi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Dolaev fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Choi is out of range.
Choi throws a head kick that misses.
Dolaev takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Dolaev instigates a clinch.
Dolaev tries to pull guard but Choi holds him up against the cage and eventually Dolaev drops back down to his feet.
Choi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Dolaev has him pressed against the cage.
Choi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Choi wants to get back to striking at distance but Dolaev won't allow it.

Dolaev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A head kick by Choi misses
and Dolaev counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Choi lands with a kick to the temple. Dolaev shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Dolaev slips a straight right by Choi.
Dolaev takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Choi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Dolaev shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Choi as he avoids it easily.
Dolaev blocks a head kick by Choi.
Choi throws a sloppy head kick and Dolaev moves out of range easily.
A head kick misses from Choi.
Dolaev catches Choi with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Choi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Dolaev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Choi but Choi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Dolaev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Choi is fending him off so far but Dolaev persists. Nope, Choi circles away and we're back to standing.
Byung Soo Choi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rasul Dolaev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A head kick misses from Choi.
Dolaev feinted with a counter takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Byung Soo Choi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Dolaev 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Rasul Dolaev!