PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pann Khumpai (ranked 2462 p4p, 6356 weight class) and Chris George (ranked 258 p4p, 464 weight class). Pann Khumpai has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Khumpai
vs
George

170 cm
26
152
8 - 4 - 1

187 cm
29
150
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good low kicks
Heavy handed

Conviction

Voodoo Nutrition

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 8 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Pann Khumpai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chris George!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Khumpai moves into the clinch successfully.
Khumpai throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
George looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Khumpai lands a body shot in the clinch.
Khumpai stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Khumpai prevents a takedown attempt there.
Khumpai can't find room to land a body shot as George controls the action.
A short left from Khumpai.
George blocks a body shot from Khumpai.
Khumpai tries a body shot but George blocks it.
Khumpai lands a left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khumpai using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
George is trying to break free.
Khumpai tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A right hook to the body lands for Khumpai.
Khumpai's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Good body shot from Khumpai.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Khumpai breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Khumpai fails to land with a series of punches.
George looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Khumpai clinches up against the cage.
Knees to the body from Khumpai.
George looks winded!
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Khumpai takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Khumpai lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
George's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Khumpai.
Khumpai throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Georges head.
George is trying to stall.
A body shot lands from Khumpai.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khumpai pushes George back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A short body shot lands from Khumpai as the two fighters clinch.
Come on Khumpai - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Khumpai's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
George fails to pull the fight into his guard.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Khumpai creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Khumpai breaks the clinch.
George is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

George clinches with his opponent.
Khumpai lands a body shot.
Khumpai lands a nice uppercut.
Khumpai taking a breather.
The referee calls for Khumpai to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khumpai lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Khumpai lands a shoulder strike.
Good body shot from Khumpai.
A right hand to the body from Khumpai.
Khumpai scores with a shoulder strike.
Khumpai works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Khumpai working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Khumpai.
Nice elbow from Khumpai.

It looks like Chris George has been cut.
I was talking to Khumpai's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Khumpai lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Khumpai stalling in the clinch.
Khumpai is working George over against the cage.
Khumpai stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Khumpai breaks the clinch.
Khumpai swinging wildly here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Both fighters circling a little - Khumpai finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Khumpai looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Khumpai fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. George looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

George tries to keep at a distance but Khumpai has taken the fight into the clinch.
Khumpai putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has George in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Khumpai presses George against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Khumpai lands a shoulder strike.
Khumpai lands a body punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pann Khumpai dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Chris George's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Khumpai drives through and clinches with George against the cage.
Khumpai misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Khumpai pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Khumpai moves into the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Khumpai.
Khumpai tries to land knees in the clinch but George avoids the damage to the body.
Khumpai doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Khumpai landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Khumpai landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Khumpai lands a nice uppercut.
Khumpai is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that George can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khumpai putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has George in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
George is breathing heavily.
Khumpai lands a body shot.
Khumpai works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Khumpai lands an elbow just above George 's eye.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Khumpai digs a right hand into George's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on George's gas tank.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khumpai pushes George back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Khumpai will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning George up against the cage.
Pann Khumpai has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Khumpai is working George over against the cage.
A body shot lands from Khumpai.
Khumpai unloads a knee to the mid-section. George lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Khumpai works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Khumpai's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jab by Khumpai.

George tries to keep at a distance but Khumpai has taken the fight into the clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A hook to the body from Khumpai.
The referee is keeping an eye on Khumpai - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khumpai leaning against his opponent.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Khumpai for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Khumpai slows down the pace here.
Khumpai missing with knees to the body.
Khumpai throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
George jumps guard but Khumpai stands there with George around his waist. George gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Khumpai scores a nice knee to the body.
Khumpai lands with a right to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Khumpai lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down George.
Khumpai lands a shot to the body.
Khumpai pushes George back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A right handed body shot lands from Khumpai.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khumpai lands a left hand.
Khumpai lands a body shot.
Khumpai lands a body shot.
Khumpai stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Khumpai.
Khumpai lands a nice shot to the body.
Khumpai lands a body punch in the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Khumpai.
Khumpai unloads a knee to the mid-section. George lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Khumpai lands a nice uppercut.
Khumpai is leaning against George and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Khumpai cracks George with a nice body shot.
Nice body punch from Khumpai.
A short body shot lands from Khumpai as the two fighters clinch.
Khumpai presses George against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice body punch from Khumpai - that landed with a thud.
Khumpai crunches a lovely knee into George's ribcage.
A right hand to the body from Khumpai.
Khumpai holding his opponent close, against the cage.
George's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Khumpai.
Khumpai throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Khumpai lands a body shot in the clinch.
Khumpai cracks George with a nice body shot.
Khumpai is working George over against the cage.
Khumpai lands an elbow inside.
A right hand to the body from Khumpai.
Khumpai unloads a knee to the mid-section. George lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Khumpai throws a right and a left that both miss.
George shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Khumpai but Khumpai pushes him off and we're back to square one.
George throws a right and a left that both miss.

Khumpai drives through and clinches with George against the cage.
Khumpai lands a body shot.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Khumpai.
The referee is keeping an eye on Khumpai - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Khumpai holding his opponent close, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khumpai throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Khumpai.
Khumpai lands a right hand that snaps the head of George backwards.
George takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khumpai digs a right hand into George's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on George's gas tank.
Khumpai putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has George in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Khumpai lands a hook to the side of the head.
Khumpai digs a right hand into George's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on George's gas tank.

Khumpai manages to break the clinch.
Khumpai scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

George is rocked!
Khumpai looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Khumpai lands a nice looking body shot.
Khumpai thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on George if he has to take too many more of those.
Khumpai works the jab nicely.
Khumpai lands with a nice body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Khumpai throws a nice looking combination but George bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Khumpai closes the distance and clinches.
Khumpai is leaning against George and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Khumpai pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Khumpai throws a right and a left that both miss.

Khumpai clinches.

Khumpai breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Khumpai fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with George, pushing him back against the cage.
George tries to circle away but Khumpai has him pinned against the cage.
Khumpai pushes George back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Khumpai obliges.
Khumpai works on George's body with a couple of short punches.
Khumpai lands an uppercut.
Pann Khumpai is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Khumpai breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khumpai thumps George with a low kick.
George misses with a straight right.
Chris George seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Khumpai feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Georges jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Khumpai shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. George eats them both and turns towards Khumpai to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
George gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A thudding body kick lands there by Khumpai!

Khumpai moves into the clinch successfully.
Khumpai scores with a hook to the body.
A body shot lands from Khumpai.
George fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Khumpai lands a knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khumpai landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Knees to the body from Khumpai.
Khumpai stalls.

Khumpai breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Khumpai moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Khumpai lands with a nice body kick.
Danga de danga de dang - Khumpai scores with a four punch combination!
No luck with that takedown attempt from George.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pann Khumpai showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Khumpai has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:24
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:24
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pann Khumpai!
Pann Khumpai really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Fist MMA Gear logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.
Chris George was interviewed post fight and said 'he fought better'.