PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Steve Cho (ranked 2311 p4p, 6552 weight class) and Jon Rambo (ranked 244 p4p, 460 weight class). The key to victory for Steve Cho has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Cho
vs
Rambo

168 cm
30
154
8 - 4 - 1

180 cm
24
149
9 - 13 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 St Petersburg, Steve Cho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Jon Rambo!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rambo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Cho is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Cho's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rambo trying to control the action but Cho is working from the bottom.

Rambo swings around for an armbar but Cho sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Rambo's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cho slips nicely into half guard.
Rambo wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cho wants to pass the guard but Rambo is defending well.
Rambo told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Cho controlling the pace.
Rambo trying to hold on to Cho's head to control him but Cho postures up.
Cho perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cho is thwarting Rambo's attempts to control the position.
Cho controlling the action here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Cho trying to control the action but Rambo is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Rambo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rambo stands up and beckons Cho to his feet.
Rambo throws out a leg kick but Cho moves out of range and Rambo only half commits.
Cho lunges at Rambo with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rambo's hand.

Cho scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rambo is trying to get back to full guard.
Cho content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rambo tries to roll over but Cho keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cho controlling the pace.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rambo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rambo.

Cho drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rambo manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cho has Rambo in his guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cho is pulling down on Rambo's head to control his posture.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jon Rambo will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rambo with a poor takedown
and Cho counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cho checks a leg kick.
Rambo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Cho counters with a nice uppercut.
Rambo tries to clinch up but Cho circles away and keeps his distance.
Cho seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Rambo tries for a takedown but Cho circles away easily
and Cho counters with a left and a right that stings Rambo.
Steve Cho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jon Rambo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rambo enables Cho to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rambo manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Cho might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cho wants to pass the guard but Rambo is keeping the position.
Cho trying to control but Rambo is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cho tries to free his leg and advance position but Rambo is retaining full guard.
Rambo working a defensive guard here.
Cho controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Cho looking to sit in guard and control but Rambo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rambo looking to pass the guard.
Rambo trying to control the position from guard on top but Cho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jon Rambo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rambo wants to pass the guard but Cho is keeping the position.
Rambo trying to control but Cho is working from the bottom.
Cho is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cho looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rambo is one step ahead there.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rambo tries for a takedown but Cho circles away easily
and Cho counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rambo tries to clinch but Cho moves away
and Cho counters with a leg kick.
Rambo shoots in for a takedown but Cho shows good takedown defense.

Cho looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Rambo keeping full guard, as Cho tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rambo trying to keep a closed guard but Cho is proving a slippery customer.
Rambo looking for a sweep. Not yet Rambo, not yet.
Cho is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rambo can do to turn this around?
Rambo pulls Cho in close to his closed guard and prevents Cho from doing any damage or advancing position.
Rambo controls Cho momentarily but Cho frees himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Rambo has his foot on Cho's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cho works his way back into a safe position though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Cho dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Cho shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rambo manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rambo is on top in guard.

Cho controlling Rambo's posture.
Rambo is looking to pass into half guard but Cho pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Cho is in guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cho tries to free his leg and advance position but Rambo is retaining full guard.
Rambo looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cho wants to control from the top but Rambo keeps moving.
Cho trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cho knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rambo on the ground.
Rambo lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Rambo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cho swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cho wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Cho trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cho trying to control the position here.
Rambo stops Cho from standing up.
Rambo wants to control from the top but Cho keeps moving.
Rambo 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.
Cho controls Rambo momentarily but Rambo frees himself.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cho decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Rambo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cho pulls his head out easily.
Cho is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Rambo!
Rambo tries to lock up and control but Cho gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cho looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rambo tries to hold on but Cho pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cho content just to control the position here.
Cho wants to control the pace but Rambo is squirming around nicely.
Cho controlling from the full mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rambo tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Cho showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cho 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Cho!
Steve Cho decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.