PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Francisco Villa (ranked 5117 p4p, 5142 weight class) and Jai Cheng (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Villa
vs
Cheng

170 cm
18
150
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
25
146
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Francisco Villa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jai Cheng!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Donald Grub and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cheng fails to land with a series of punches.

Villa decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Villa is looking to advance position but Cheng won't allow it.

Villa is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Cheng has his hands clasped together around Villa's back. He's all about the action.

Cheng looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Villa wants to pass to mount but Cheng is defending the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cheng regains full guard. Nicely done.
Villa tries to free his leg and advance position but Cheng is retaining full guard.
Cheng is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Villa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Villa looking to pass the guard.
Cheng has control of Villa's left arm, preventing Villa from doing any damage.
Villa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cheng swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Villa is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Cheng is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Cheng has escaped and now he's on top!

Villa looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Cheng passes into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cheng gets to mount! Villa was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Villa is trying desperately to improve position.
Villa on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Villa tries to get out of the position.

Cheng looking for a guillotine from mount but Villa is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Villa is working to get back to half guard.
Villa knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cheng on the ground.
Cheng looking to control but Villa is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Villa is looking to improve his position but Cheng isn't that keen on the idea.
Cheng unloading with bombs!
Cheng manages to capitalize on a mistake by Villa to take his back!
Villa is trying to break free.

Cheng is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villa wants to escape the position.
Cheng misses with an elbow to the head.
Cheng has the hooks in. Villa is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
I would not like to be Villa right now.
Villa rolls, trying to escape but Cheng keeps control of the position.
Villa is working hard here to advance position.

Villa preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Cheng.

Cheng looking to break Villa's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Villa remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Cheng will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Cheng looks winded!
You can see the frustration on Villa's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Cheng's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Villa rolls, trying to escape but Cheng keeps control of the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Villa rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jai Cheng dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Villa tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cheng sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Villa somewhat.
Cheng tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Cheng explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Cheng throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Villa changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Villa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cheng pinned against the cage. Cheng gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck for Villa with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Francisco Villa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Villa has a takedown stuffed.
Villa misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cheng closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Villa did well to prevent Cheng getting side control.

Villa looking for submissions off his back.

Villa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cheng pulls his head out easily.

Cheng stands up from half guard.

Villa tries to sprawl but Cheng drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Cheng lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Villa manages to get to full guard.

Villa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cheng defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Villa is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cheng is aware though and is defending well.

Villa looking for a guillotine here but Cheng defends easily.
Cheng wants to control from the top but Villa keeps moving.

Cheng stands up from Villa's guard - Cheng perhaps looking for a knockout.
Villa shoots in for a takedown but Cheng shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cheng steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Villa.
Cheng keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cheng stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cheng wants it to stay on the feet.
As Villa backs off Cheng throws a huge counter combo but Villa manages to avoid it all.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villa tries for a takedown but Cheng sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Cheng gets a takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, Cheng seems content to control.

Villa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cheng pulls his head out easily.

Villa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cheng wants to take a breather but Villa is having none of it.

Villa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Villa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cheng pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Villa actively working from the bottom here.
Villa is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Villa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cheng pulls his head out easily.

Villa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cheng pulls his head out easily.
Cheng thows a huge punch but Villa dodges it nicely.
Cheng has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Villa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cheng pulls his head out easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cheng controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jai Cheng showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Villa swats away the attempt to clinch by Cheng.

Villa gets caught napping as Cheng dives in and scores a takedown. Villa manages to retain guard.

Villa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cheng doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cheng manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Villa can't keep his opponent in guard - Cheng advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Cheng is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Villa actively working from the bottom here.

Villa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Villa actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Villa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Villa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cheng pulls his head out easily.

Cheng moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Villa.
Cheng has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Cheng manages to capitalize on a mistake by Villa to take his back!

Cheng is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Villa is defending well though. Cheng let's go of the attempt for now.
Francisco Villa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Villa tries to break free.
Cheng scores with strikes from the back.
Jai Cheng has got the better of the ground game so far.
Villa is in bad spot here.
Cheng is looking to control Villa but Villa is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Cheng keeps control of the position as Villa tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cheng has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Villa's body.
Villa wants to escape the position.

Cheng working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Villa tries to break free.
Villa covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Cheng has the hooks in. Villa is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cheng has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Villa has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Villa is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Cheng struggling to land strikes to the head as Villa covers up.
You can see the frustration on Villa's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Villa breaks Cheng's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Villa advances to half guard.
Villa wants to pass to mount but Cheng is defending the position.

Villa is looking for a kimura but Cheng is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Villa to get the leverage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jai Cheng comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cheng has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jai Cheng!