PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kaimana Makani (ranked 1814 p4p, 2804 weight class) and Shahriyar Chai (ranked 242 p4p, 341 weight class). Makani kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is How far I'll go. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Makani
vs
Chai

160 cm
20
163
4 - 0 - 0

179 cm
19
169
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kaimana Makani!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Shahriyar Chai!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Dillan Fox and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Makani dips to his left and cracks Chai with an uppercut!
Nice sprawl there from Chai as Makani shoots in.
Makani walks into a stiff left hand from Chai.
Chai scores with a jab.
Makani uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Chai.
Chai throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Chai is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Makani.

Makani closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Makani wants to pass the guard but Chai is defending well.
Makani wants to take a breather but Chai is having none of it.
Makani throws a strike but Chai avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Makani might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Makani is in close to Chai's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Chai tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Makani postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Makani stands up over Chai, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makani throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Makani postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Makani postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Makani postures up in Chai's guard and throws a big left but Chai blocks it.
Chai preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Makani sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Chai has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Makani wants to pass the guard but Chai is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Makani with a nice head shot there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Makani accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Chai can do anything to dispel that myth.
Makani throws a big elbow that misses.
Makani trying to control but Chai is working from the bottom.
Makani 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.
Makani is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Makani looking to pass the guard.
Makani postures up in Chai's guard and throws a big left but Chai blocks it.
Chai is trying to keep Makani in close.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makani shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Chai but Chai pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Chai gets caught flat footed, as Makani shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Makani throws a big elbow that misses.
Makani missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Chai keeping moving, preventing Makani from controlling successfully.
Makani is in close to Chai's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Makani won't allow Chai to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Makani.
Makani throwing strikes from guard but Chai blocks nicely.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Makani stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Chai swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Chai keeping moving, preventing Makani from controlling successfully.
Makani working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Makani postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Makani throws a big right hand that misses.
Makani trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kaimana Makani dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Makani shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Makani closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Chai did well to prevent Makani getting side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chai regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Makani.
Makani trying to control the position from guard on top but Chai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Chai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Makani.
Makani loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Makani postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makani throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Makani trying to control the position from guard on top but Chai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Makani stands and throws Chai's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Chai 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makani trying to control the position but Chai is working away.
Makani tries to score with some ground and pound. Chai controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Sloppy strikes there by Makani.
Makani looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Chai is avoiding damage well.
Makani looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Chai is avoiding damage well.
Makani misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Makani scores with a couple of short elbows.
Makani is looking to take a break and control but Chai is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makani landing a few strikes.
Chai tries to improve position but can't.
Chai takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Makani cracks Chai with a big elbow.
Makani trying to control the action but Chai is working from the bottom.
Makani throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makani misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Makani.
Makani in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Makani is trying to get an arm triangle but Chai is defending well.
Makani throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Makani grinds an elbow into Chai's temple.
Chai is looking for a sweep.
Makani throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makani postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Makani wants to control but Chai is keeping him busy.
The ground and pound from Makani seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Makani connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Chai some visible discomfort.
Makani misses with the ground and pound.
Makani lands a nice forearm strike.
Makani is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Chai can do to turn this around?
Makani working the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Makani working the ground and pound.
Chai is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Chai avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Makani.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kaimana Makani dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Good shot there by Chai.

It looks like Kaimana Makani has been cut.
Chai getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Makani looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Chai is fending him off so far but Makani persists. Nope, Chai circles away and we're back to standing.
Makani gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Chai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Makani slips a jab from Chai.

Makani gets a double leg takedown into Chai's guard.
Makani throws a big elbow that misses.
Makani throws a strike but Chai rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Chai is working Makani over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Makani strikes from his own guard.
Makani seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Makani wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Chai really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Makani. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
This has been an exciting period of action!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Makani is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chai keeping moving, preventing Makani from controlling successfully.
Chai preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Chai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Makani.
Makani postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Chai controls Makani momentarily but Makani frees himself.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Makani accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Chai avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Makani throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Makani lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Makani with a nice head shot there.
Makani loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Chai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Makani.
Makani connects with a couple of short punches.
Makani is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Makani in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Makani throws a big elbow that misses.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Chai can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Makani controls the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Makani feints and as Chai raises his hands in defense, Makani changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Makani is working Chai over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Makani accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Chai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Makani.
Makani working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Makani distracts Chai with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Makani pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Chai is keeping the position for now.
Makani distracts Chai with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Makani loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chai keeping moving, preventing Makani from controlling successfully.
Shahriyar Chai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Makani is really struggling to control Chai but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Makani is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Makani working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Makani trying to control but Chai is working from the bottom.
Makani connects with a couple of short punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Makani postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kaimana Makani showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Makani, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight for Kaimana Makani!
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight for Kaimana Makani!
Judge William Peck scores the fight for Kaimana Makani!

Kaimana Makani wins by unanimous decision!
After winning the bout, Kaimana Makani thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.