PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Chen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lord Seraphim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lord Seraphim will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Chen
vs
Seraphim

168 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Stephen Chen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lord Seraphim!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Daniel Franklin and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chen avoids a kick to the body.
Seraphim looks for the body kick but Chen saw that one coming.
Chen walks into a left hand.
Seraphim lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Seraphim wants to clinch.
Lord Seraphim seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Chen scores with a head kick. Seraphim tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
That kick from Seraphim tenderised Chen's leg. Chen is trying to keep his angry face on.
A good leg kick by Seraphim.
Chen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Chen is defended easily by Seraphim.
Chen shoots in for a double leg but Seraphim sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Seraphim throws a head kick that misses.
Seraphim throws a head kick but Chen moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Seraphim tries to land a body kick
and Chen counters with a head kick. That will keep Seraphim thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
A jab lands there for Seraphim.
Seraphim throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Horrible takedown attempt by Chen or perhaps it was just good defense by Seraphim, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephen Chen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Seraphim gets caught napping as Chen dives in and scores a takedown. Seraphim manages to retain guard.

Seraphim working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Chen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Chen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Chen wants to stand but Seraphim has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Chen throws a big right hand that misses.
Chen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Seraphim on the ground.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Chen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Seraphim wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Chen is now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chen trying to mount his opponent but Seraphim defends it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Chen in particular looking to stall.
Chen is keen to just control but Seraphim is a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Seraphim is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Chen jumps into side control!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Seraphim struggling a bit here.
Seraphim is trying to get back to half guard.
Chen is looking to take a break and control but Seraphim is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Seraphim is looking to regain half guard here but Chen keeps moving and retains side control.
Seraphim is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Seraphim wants to control but Chen postures up.
Seraphim tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Chen wants to control but Seraphim is keeping him busy.
Seraphim is trying to control Chen's posture but Chen avoids it.
Seraphim is looking for a sweep.
Seraphim is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Chen's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Seraphim tries to get to full guard but Chen has control of the leg.
Chen tries to pass the half guard into mount. Seraphim knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Seraphim wants to control but Chen passes into side.
Seraphim avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Chen.
Seraphim is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Chen stands up and we're back to a striking position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Stephen Chen will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Chen fails with a takedown attempt.
Seraphim connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A left and a right from Seraphim both land. Nice combination.
A head kick misses from Chen.
Seraphim is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Seraphim.
Seraphim lands with an uppercut that bounces Chen off the cage and back into range.
Chen throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Seraphim tries to clinch up but Chen circles away and keeps his distance.

Chen clinches.
Seraphim misses with a hook to the ribs.
Seraphim struggles to land a body shot inside as Chen controls his hands.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Seraphim misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Seraphim letting Chen take a breather here.
Seraphim is pressed up against the cage. Chen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Seraphim down to the mat. Seraphim avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Seraphim misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Seraphim misses with a body kick.
Seraphim cracks a nice hook into Chen's ribs.
Seraphim swats away the attempt to clinch by Chen.
Seraphim dips to his left and cracks Chen with an uppercut!
Chen has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephen Chen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chen misses with a straight left.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A slapping leg kick lands for Chen.
Chen throws a sloppy head kick and Seraphim moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Seraphim swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Seraphim throws a sloppy head kick and Chen moves out of range easily.
Chen misses with a takedown attempt - Seraphim sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Seraphim lands a nice leg kick that just misses Chen's sensitive parts.
Chen shoots in for a double leg but Seraphim sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Chen avoids the head kick by Seraphim.
Seraphim swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
That kick from Seraphim tenderised Chen's leg. Chen is trying to keep his angry face on.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Chen darts in looking for a takedown but Seraphim gets double underhooks and turns Chen into the cage.
Seraphim is trying to force a seperation but Chen has the dominant position.
Seraphim working hard to break the clinch.
Seraphim tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Chen avoids it.
Seraphim throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chen avoiding damage as Seraphim throws knees to the body.
Seraphim throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Chen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Chen digs a right hand into Seraphim's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Seraphim's gas tank.
A right hand to the body from Seraphim.
A short body shot lands from Seraphim as the two fighters clinch.
Seraphim tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Chen's elbow.
Seraphim misses with a short punch on the inside.
Chen looking to throw knees to the head but Seraphim is blocking nicely.
Seraphim tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Chen's elbow.
Chen has a couple of punches blocked by Seraphim.
Seraphim putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Chen in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Chen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A head kick from Seraphim lands but Chen takes it in his stride.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Seraphim scoring well with a low kick there.
Lord Seraphim is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Seraphim misses with a series of wild punches.

Chen closes the distance and clinches.
Chen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Chen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice shot by Seraphim.
Seraphim connects with a body shot that sends Chen's belly button to the back.
Chen is looking to clinch but Seraphim is avoiding it.
Chen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Seraphim sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Seraphim cracks Chen with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Seraphim throws a shot to the body.
Chen throws a sloppy head kick and Seraphim moves out of range easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lord Seraphim showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Chen tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Seraphim connects with an inside leg kick.
Seraphim pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Chen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Seraphim chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Seraphim throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
A cross from Seraphim lands.
Chen throws a head kick but Seraphim moves out of range.
Chen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Seraphim swivels and escapes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chen takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Seraphim bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Chen's head.
Seraphim tries to clinch there but Chen circles away.
Chen misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chen goes for a double leg but Seraphim avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Seraphim continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephen Chen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Seraphim is trying to break free.
Seraphim scores with a shoulder strike.
Seraphim throws an elbow that misses.
Seraphim tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Seraphim tries to throw a body punch but Chen avoids it by throwing Seraphim back against the cage.
Chen jumps guard but Seraphim turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Seraphim tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Seraphim is trying to stall.
Seraphim is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Chen is defending well for now.
Chen tries to pull guard but Seraphim won't allow it.
Chen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Seraphim.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Seraphim.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Seraphim obliges.
Seraphim tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Chen is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Chen jumps guard but Seraphim turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Chen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Seraphim is trying to force a seperation but Chen has the dominant position.
Seraphim lands a shot to the body.
Seraphim throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Seraphim has had enough of the clinch but Chen keeps him there for the moment.
Seraphim connects with a nasty looking knee right to Chen's face.
Chen is trying to break the clinch but Seraphim has him pressed against the cage.
Seraphim stalling in the clinch but Chen improves position.

Chen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stephen Chen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Seraphim throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lord Seraphim seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Seraphim lands a nice shot that snaps Chen's head back.
Seraphim wants to clinch up but Chen keeps it at a distance.
Chen takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Seraphim is looking to slow Chen down with leg kicks.
Seraphim tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Chen moves into the clinch successfully.
Chen works on Seraphim's body with a couple of short punches.
Chen keeps control of Seraphim as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Chen stalling.
Chen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Seraphim fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Seraphim throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Seraphim thumps Chen with a low kick.
Seraphim throws a half hearted mid kick.
Chen tries to clinch up.
Chen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Seraphim keeps Chen at a distance using the push kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A punch lands to the side of Chen 's head but he takes it in his stride.
That kick from Seraphim tenderised Chen's leg. Chen is trying to keep his angry face on.
Chen shoots in but no luck this time.
Seraphim connects with an inside leg kick.
Seraphim throws a right and a left that both miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lord Seraphim comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Seraphim has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lord Seraphim!
Lord Seraphim took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.