PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joey Chandler (ranked 2941 p4p, 3291 weight class) and Sterling Bridge (ranked 340 p4p, 368 weight class). Joey Chandler has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Chandler
vs
Bridge

178 cm
21
160
5 - 6 - 0

175 cm
21
165
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
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 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joey Chandler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Sterling Bridge!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Alec Ball and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bridge misses with the body kick

and Chandler counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Bridge is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Chandler presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
A nice right hand lands inside from Chandler.
Bridge throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Chandler lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Chandler avoiding damage as Bridge throws knees to the body.
Bridge stops a takedown attempt from Chandler.
Chandler drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bridge wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Chandler has him pressed against the cage.
Bridge swings wildly with an uppercut but Chandler uses good head movement to avoid it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bridge is looking to break free of the clinch but Chandler has double underhooks.

Chandler gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Bridge regains guard.

Bridge has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Chandler has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Chandler wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Chandler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bridge tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Chandler's elbow.
Chandler blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Chandler lands a left hand.
A left hand lands to the body for Chandler.
Bridge's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Bridge has had enough of the clinch but Chandler keeps him there for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bridge working aggressively here.
A short right from Chandler.
Bridge scores with a shoulder strike.

Bridge is fighting off a takedown attempt but Chandler is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Bridge to the mat. Bridge regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Bridge trying to keep a closed guard but Chandler is proving a slippery customer.
Chandler working some strikes from top position.
Chandler wants to pass the guard but Bridge is keeping the position.
Bridge manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Chandler manages to get himself to full guard.

Bridge stopping the sweep attempt from Chandler.
Bridge trying to control but Chandler is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bridge preventing the sweep.
Chandler has Bridge pulled in close to control his posture.
Bridge won't allow Chandler to sweep him here.
Chandler manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bridge manages to get himself to full guard.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Chandler postures up and lands a big shot to Bridge's brow.
Bridge working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Chandler.
Bridge looking to hit a scissor sweep but Chandler is one step ahead there.
Chandler throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chandler throws a big elbow that misses.
Bridge wants to sweep but no luck.
Chandler trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Chandler lands a couple of digs.
Chandler is in close to Bridge's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bridge is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Bridge is trying to control. Chandler wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Chandler controlling the position for now.
Bridge works his way into side control.
Chandler regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chandler is staying active underneath Bridge, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Bridge thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Chandler's head.
Bridge trying to control from half guard but Chandler is working away.
Bridge might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Chandler haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chandler is pressing down on Bridge's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Bridge slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Chandler controlling the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Joey Chandler will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Chandler darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Chandler seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Bridge is refusing to be controlled, as Chandler sits in half guard.
Bridge felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Bridge is looking to improve his position.
Chandler is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Bridge blocking the ground and pound attempt from Chandler.
Bridge is looking to control Chandler's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bridge avoid being mounted?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chandler missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Chandler is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Chandler missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bridge trying to hold on to Chandler's head to control him but Chandler postures up.
Chandler has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bridge is looking to improve his position.
Bridge avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Chandler.
Chandler working over Bridge with some ground and pound. Bridge looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Chandler scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Chandler prevents Bridge from standing back up.
Bridge makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Bridge.
Chandler loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Chandler working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Bridge's head.
Joey Chandler overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bridge is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bridge avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Chandler stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bridge swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Bridge is looking for a triangle but Chandler pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chandler scoring with punches to the head and body.
Chandler postures up in Bridge's guard and throws a big left but Bridge blocks it.
Chandler is in close to Bridge's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Chandler postures up.
Chandler throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Chandler lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Bridge wants to sweep but no luck.
Chandler is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Chandler throwing strikes but missing.
Bridge trying to control the position.
Chandler lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Chandler is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bridge can do to turn this around?
Chandler is in close to Bridge's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Chandler lands a couple of elbows.
Chandler is in close to Bridge's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chandler throws a big elbow that misses.
Chandler trying to control the position from guard on top but Bridge is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Chandler is in close to Bridge's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bridge keeping moving, preventing Chandler from controlling successfully.
Chandler controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Chandler trying to control but Bridge is working from the bottom.
Bridge is trying to control the position but Chandler postures up.
Chandler with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Chandler in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bridge is trying to keep Chandler in close.
Chandler trying to move into half guard but instead Bridge has managed to sweep!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bridge won't allow Chandler to sweep him here.
Bridge is looking to stand up but Chandler won't let him.
Chandler looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bridge is one step ahead there.
Bridge must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bridge trying to control the position from guard on top but Chandler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Chandler controlling the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bridge wants to control from the top but Chandler keeps moving.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Chandler dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Jab from Bridge.

Chandler shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bridge's guard.
Bridge trying to keep a closed guard but Chandler is proving a slippery customer.
Chandler throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Chandler keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bridge's head.
Bridge 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.
Chandler with a nice head shot there.
Chandler trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Chandler postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chandler throwing strikes from guard but Bridge blocks nicely.
Chandler trying to control but Bridge is working from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Chandler's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chandler missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bridge wants to sweep but no luck.
Chandler lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Bridge pulls Chandler in to control the position.
Bridge keeping moving, preventing Chandler from controlling successfully.
Chandler trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Chandler postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Chandler throwing strikes from guard but Bridge blocks nicely.
Chandler postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Chandler is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Bridge has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Chandler off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Bridge lands with a cross.
Chandler connects with a body shot.
Bridge fails to land with a series of punches.
Chandler tries to counter with a takedown but Bridge is quick to defend against it.
Joey Chandler is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chandler misses with a straight left.
Bridge jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Chandler tries to counter with a takedown but Bridge is quick to defend against it.
We've been told by Chandler's head coaches at Crapollas Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Bridge dips to his left and cracks Chandler with an uppercut!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bridge slips a jab from Chandler.
Chandler takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Bridge throws a leg kick that misses.
Bridge uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Chandler.
Bridge misses with a leg kick.
Sterling Bridge is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bridge lands a nice leg kick that just misses Chandler's sensitive parts.
Chandler shoots in for a double leg but Bridge sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Bridge lands a glancing blow to the side of Chandler's head.
Bridge connects with a looping right hand.
Bridge throws a low kick, looking for Chandler's leg but Chandler calmly moves out of range.
Bridge misses with a series of wild punches.
Bridge misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chandler slips a straight right by Bridge.
Bridge throws an off balance right hand

and Chandler decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bridge's guard.

Bridge kicks Chandler off and gets to his feet.
Bridge throws a leg kick

and Chandler counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
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!
Chandler controlling the pace.
Bridge is controlling Chandler's trapped leg to prevent Chandler from advancing to side control.
Chandler takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Chandler's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bridge is trying to control but can't.
Chandler keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Chandler uses his free foot to push down on Bridge's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Bridge.
Sterling Bridge has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bridge tries to hold on but Chandler postures up.
Chandler controlling from the full mount.
Bridge is in all sorts of trouble here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sterling Bridge.
I think Chandler 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Joey Chandler!
Our winner, Joey Chandler, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.