PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Eoin Chai (ranked 1920 p4p, 1981 weight class) and Mark Rapheal (ranked 257 p4p, 265 weight class). 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?

Chai
vs
Rapheal

183 cm
20
170
4 - 2 - 0

180 cm
21
175
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Eoin Chai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mark Rapheal!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Yves DeLean and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rapheal throws a jab when Chai was well out of range.
Chai swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Chai ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rapheal scores with a hook to the body. Chai takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
We've been told by Chai's head coaches at Master Chai's Dojo that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
A looping hook to the body misses from Chai. Rapheal does a little dance to reset his feet.
A jab from Rapheal does it's job there.

It looks like Eoin Chai has been cut.
Rapheal stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Chai.
Chai closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Chai throws a series of punches but Rapheal moves out of range.
Rapheal fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Chai manages to avoid it.
Rapheal bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Chai's head backwards.
Chai throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Chai takes a shot to the body in his stride.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Chai throws a sloppy body shot
and Rapheal counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chai with a nice calf kick.
Chai misses with a leg kick
and Rapheal counters with a nice uppercut.
Rapheal throws a shot from downtown. Chai moves away and avoids it.
Eoin Chai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rapheal takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Chai throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Chai lands a jab.
Chai lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Rapheal throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Chai stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
The fighters circling - Chai throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rapheal lands with a right hand.
Rapheal tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Chai was well out of range. Poor timing from Rapheal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A low kick lands for Chai.
Rapheal uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Chai.
Rapheal slips a jab and a cross from Chai.
Rapheal throws out a counter right but Chai avoids it with no problem.
Nice defenses there by Chai.
Chai on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Eoin Chai's cut is getting worse.
Chai throws a series of punches but Rapheal avoids them all with ease.
Rapheal punishes Chai's body with a nice straight punch.
Rapheal misses with an uppercut. Chai saw that one coming.
Chai throws a poor cross that misses
and Rapheal counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Chai misses with a body punch
and Rapheal counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Chai thows a leg kick but Rapheal checks it
and Rapheal counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Eoin Chai's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Rapheal throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Chai tried to counter with a leg kick but Rapheal avoided it.
Rapheal is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Chai had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rapheal has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Chai.
Rapheal bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jab from Rapheal.
Chai scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A good leg kick by Chai.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rapheal. Chai does a little dance to reset his feet.
Chai misses with a shot to the body
and Rapheal counters with a straight right hand.
A good leg kick by Chai.
Chai throws a head kick that misses
and Rapheal counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Jeez, Eoin Chai's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Chai throws a combination that misses
enabling Rapheal to counter with a crisp jab.

Chai is rocked!
Chai lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rapheal's sensitive parts.
Rapheal has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Chai missing with a left hand there. Rapheal was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rapheal swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nice uppercut there from Chai.
Chai buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Chai.
Chai swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Rapheal to counter with a crisp jab.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Eoin Chai's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:35 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Mark Rapheal!
After winning the bout, Mark Rapheal thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.