PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Vince Run (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Chen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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?

Run
vs
Chen

160 cm
20
130 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

168 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Vince Run!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Stephen Chen!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Winston Alpacca and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Run shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Chen's guard.
Chen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Run definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Chen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Chen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Run defends it easily.
Run's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Run avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Run stops Chen from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chen keeping moving, preventing Run from controlling successfully.
Chen has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Run has passed into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Run has control of an arm but Chen manages to advance to Run's back!
Chen is riding his opponent, not letting Run buck him off.

Chen tightening his grip on Run, looking for the choke.
Chen not allowing Run to control his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Run is trying to break free.
Chen is trying to stick to Run's back but Run is turning into Chen. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Chen's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Run.
Chen keeping moving, preventing Run from controlling successfully.
Run is really struggling to control Chen but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Run passes Chen's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Chen is not content to let Run control the position.
Run prevents Chen from standing back up.
Run keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Run not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Chen works his way to full guard. Good work.
Run trying to control the position from guard on top but Chen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Chen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Run fails with the takedown.

Run darts in and clinches Chen up against the cage.
Chen tries for a takedown. No joy.
Run goes for a takedown attempt but Chen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Chen scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Run shoots in for a double leg but Chen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
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 Vince Run will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Run decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Chen kicks Run off and gets back to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Run looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Chen closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Run leaves Chen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Run slaps away a takedown attempt from Chen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Chen throws a leg kick
and Run counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Run shoots in looking for a takedown. Chen tries to sprawl out of it but Run keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Chen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Danga de danga de dang - Run scores with a four punch combination!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Chen gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Chen manages to break the clinch.
Run throws a head kick that misses.
Run throws a nice outside leg kick.
Chen goes for a double leg but Run avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Run continues to drive forward.
Vince Run has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stephen Chen.
Run is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Chen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Chen fails to pull guard.

Chen breaks from the clinch.
Chen shoots in looking for a takedown. Run tries to sprawl out of it but Chen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Run manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Run.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Run goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Chen rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Run's guard! Nice work there by Chen!
Run looking to hit a scissor sweep but Chen is one step ahead there.
Vince Run overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
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!
Run controls Chen momentarily but Chen frees himself.
Chen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Chen trying to control the position from guard on top but Run is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Run is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Run trying to keep a closed guard but Chen is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Chen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Chen slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Chen preventing the sweep.
Run trying to keep a closed guard but Chen is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Chen throwing strikes from guard but Run blocks nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Vince Run will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Chen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Run.

Chen drives through and clinches with Run against the cage.
Chen has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Run after a bit of a struggle.
Run misses with a knee to the head.
Run tries to circle away but Chen has him pinned against the cage.
Chen tries to pull guard but Run won't allow it.
Chen wants to get back to striking at distance but Run won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chen is looking to take this one to the mat.
Vince Run has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stephen Chen.
Run has Chen pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Run tries to pull guard but Chen forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Chen is looking to take this one to the mat.
Chen holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Run working hard to break the clinch.

Chen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Run misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Run keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Chen tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Run defends well and Chen ends up having to push Run into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Chen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Run pulls guard successfully.
Chen content to stall in guard here.
Run wants to sweep but no luck.
Run is adopting a defensive guard.
Run keeping moving, preventing Chen from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Run has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Chen off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Chen moves into range and clinches up with Run.
Chen misses with a punch on the inside.
Chen prevents Run from breaking the clinch.
Chen can't find room to land a body shot as Run controls the action.
Chen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Run misses with a knee strike.

Run pulls guard effortlessly.
Run not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Run swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Run looking to control.
Chen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Chen wants to stand but Run has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Chen stopping the sweep attempt from Run.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Run throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Run is trying to control the position but Chen postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vince Run showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Run, 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vince Run!