PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Shunsuke Chonan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gage Bedard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Chonan
vs
Bedard

179 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
177 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shunsuke Chonan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gage Bedard!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice inside leg kick there by Chonan. That's going to slow Bedard down.
Chonan lands with a nice body punch.
Chonan stuffs the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Chonan.
Bedard with a lazy takedown attempt
and Chonan makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Bedard on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Chonan. Chonan obviously looking to wear him down.
Chonan throws a leg kick which misses Bedard's front leg but catches the back leg as Bedard tries to avoid it.
Bedard tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Chonan counters with a shoot takedown. Bedard fights it but they end up in guard.
Bedard thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Bedard looking for a sweep. Not yet Bedard, not yet.
Chonan wants to get up but he can't break Bedard's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Chonan trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Chonan has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Chonan trying to control but Bedard is working from the bottom.
Chonan is really struggling to control Bedard but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Bedard trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bedard can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bedard shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Chonan counters with a body kick.
Shunsuke Chonan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gage Bedard.
Bedard shoots and misses

and Chonan counters with a takedown into side control.
Bedard struggling a bit here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Chonan has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Bedard looks gassed!
Bedard on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Chonan. Chonan obviously looking to wear him down.
Chonan lands a nice leg kick that just misses Bedard's sensitive parts.
Nice takedown defense from Bedard. No joy for Chonan on that attempt.
A slapping leg kick lands for Chonan.
Chonan throws a nice inside leg kick.
Bedard chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Chonan can pounce on him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chonan lands with a thumping leg kick.
Chonan digs a good hook to Bedard's body.
Bedard tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Bedard tries to keep at a distance but Chonan has taken the fight into the clinch.
Chonan is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Bedard gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Chonan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Chonan.
Chonan is looking to slow Bedard down with leg kicks.
Gage Bedard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bedard misses with a takedown attempt
and Chonan counters with a thumping low kick.
Chonan works Bedard's body with a nice hook.
Chonan scores with a leg kick.

Chonan drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Chonan is looking to take a break and control but Bedard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bedard tries to improve position but can't.
Bedard misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Bedard has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Chonan decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Bedard takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Chonan bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Chonan tries to stand but Bedard is controlling his head.
Bedard is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
It looks like Chonan is going to stand back up.
Bedard is not content to let Chonan control the position.
Chonan tries to stand but can't do so whilst Bedard controls his leg.
Bedard slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chonan wanted to stand there but Bedard had control of the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bedard is on top in guard.
Chonan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bedard slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Chonan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bedard is controlling him.
Chonan wants to sweep but no luck.
Bedard is in close to Chonan's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Chonan is trying to keep Bedard in close.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bedard tries to free his leg and advance position but Chonan is retaining full guard.
Chonan knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bedard on the ground.
Bedard working some strikes from top position.
Bedard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Chonan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shunsuke Chonan dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Chonan rushes Bedard and presses him up against the cage.
Bedard stalling in the clinch but Chonan improves position.

Bedard wants the takedown. Chonan is fighting it off but Bedard persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Chonan's guard against the cage.
Chonan is looking to stand up but Bedard isn't so interested in that idea.
Bedard postures up and lands a big shot to Chonan's brow.
Bedard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bedard postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Bedard won't allow Chonan to get back to his feet.
Bedard postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Bedard is stalling in the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bedard prevents Chonan from getting back to his feet.
Bedard lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Chonan wants to get back to his feet but Bedard is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Chonan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Chonan wants to stand and escape but Bedard is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bedard trying to control the position from guard on top but Chonan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Chonan lands with a nice body kick.
Bedard falls off balance throwing a combination
and Chonan counters with a nice leg kick.
Chonan closes the distance and clinches up with Bedard, looking for a takedown. Chonan pushes Bedard against the cage but Bedard circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gage Bedard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A nice leg kick lands there from Chonan.
Bedard takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Bedard shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Chonan counters with a leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Chonan.
Bedard tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chonan feints and then cracks Bedard's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Bedard down.
Chonan lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Chonan moves into range and clinches up with Bedard.
Chonan stops a takedown attempt from Bedard.
Bedard's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Chonan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bedard has him pressed against the cage.
Bedard is working for takedown but Chonan is calmly controlling the position for now.
Shunsuke Chonan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gage Bedard.
Chonan wants to break the clinch but can't.

Chonan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Chonan feints and then cracks Bedard's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Bedard down.
Chonan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Chonan forces Bedard back against the cage and clinches.
Chonan wants to break the clinch but can't.

Chonan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bedard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Chonan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Chonan showed some decent athleticism there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bedard wants to control but Chonan is keeping busy.
Bedard landing rabbit punches to the side of Chonan's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.
Bedard tries to roll over but Chonan keeps him under control.
Bedard moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Chonan tries to stand but Bedard is controlling from the bottom.
Shunsuke Chonan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bedard bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Chonan's guard.
Bedard keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Chonan's head.
Bedard lands a couple of digs.
Chonan looking for a sweep. Not yet Chonan, not yet.
Bedard stands and throws Chonan's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The referee asks Bedard politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Bedard prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chonan takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Chonan tries to improve position but can't.

Bedard is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Chonan knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Bedard is putting a hurting on Chonan here, landing some big shots from side control.
Chonan tries to escape but Bedard is in control.
Bedard is chipping away with strikes.
Chonan is trying to get back to his feet.
Bedard working away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Chonan cracks the inside of Bedard's front leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gage Bedard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Chonan instigates a clinch.
Bedard tries for a takedown but Chonan manages to get underhooks.
Chonan has Bedard pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bedard manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Chonan breaks the clinch.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Chonan, right into the meat.
Bedard stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Chonan.

Chonan darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Bedard is looking to improve his position.
Chonan tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Bedard.
Bedard gets full guard.
Bedard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Chonan trying to control the position from guard on top but Bedard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Chonan stopping the sweep attempt from Bedard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chonan trying to control but Bedard is working from the bottom.
Chonan stopping the sweep attempt from Bedard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Good leg kick by Chonan there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Bedard fails with the takedown

and Chonan counters with a shoot takedown. Bedard fights it but they end up in guard.
Bedard looking for a sweep. Not yet Bedard, not yet.
Bedard throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Chonan wants to stand but Bedard is controlling his posture from full guard.
Chonan trying to control the position from guard on top but Bedard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bedard is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bedard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Chonan keeping moving, preventing Bedard from controlling successfully.
Chonan wants to get back to his feet but Bedard is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bedard slips nicely into half guard.
Chonan trying to control from the bottom.
Bedard wants to control but Chonan is keeping him busy.
Bedard might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Chonan kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A solid leg kick lands there for Chonan.
Chonan scores with a nice body kick.

Chonan has managed to clinch.
Chonan tries to break the clinch but Bedard is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chonan is trying to break free.

Bedard manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Chonan wants to control from the top but Bedard keeps moving.
Bedard scores with a nice shot.
Chonan won't allow Bedard to sweep him here.
Chonan trying to control the position from guard on top but Bedard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Chonan is looking to stand up but Bedard won't let him.

Chonan gets to his feet - Bedard follows without any prompting.
Bedard tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Bedard tries for a takedown but Chonan circles away easily
and Chonan counters with a solid body kick.
Shunsuke Chonan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gage Bedard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Chonan rushes Bedard and presses him up against the cage.
Chonan is looking to break free of the clinch but Bedard has double underhooks.

Bedard breaks from the clinch.
Bedard doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Chonan counters with a good low kick that Bedard was not able to check.
Chonan throws a body punch but Bedard moves out of range.
Bedard shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Chonan counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
A chopping leg kick lands by Chonan.
Bedard shoots and misses
and Chonan counters with a low kick, right behind Bedard 's knee.
A nice inside leg kick there by Chonan. That's going to slow Bedard down.

Chonan feints and as Bedard raises his hands in defense, Chonan changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Chonan trying to control the position from guard on top but Bedard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Chonan wants to get up but he can't break Bedard's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shunsuke Chonan showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Chonan 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shunsuke Chonan!