PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Giorgi Lanchava (ranked 4613 p4p, 5317 weight class) and Joao Pedro Xavier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lanchava
vs
Xavier

191 cm
18
198
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
19
200
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Giorgi Lanchava!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joao Pedro Xavier!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Roger Salmon and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Xavier shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Lanchava manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Lanchava manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Xavier manages to get himself to full guard.

Xavier is looking for a triangle but Lanchava pushes his legs off easily.
Xavier keeping moving, preventing Lanchava from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Xavier striking off his back but it's not causing Lanchava any problems.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xavier wants to sweep but no luck.
Lanchava wants to control from the top but Xavier keeps moving.
Xavier trying to keep a closed guard but Lanchava is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lanchava is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Xavier is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Xavier keeping moving, preventing Lanchava from controlling successfully.
Xavier controls Lanchava momentarily but Lanchava frees himself.
Xavier is looking to stand up but Lanchava isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Xavier throws a sloppy head kick and Lanchava moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lanchava looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Xavier changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Left hook, right uppercut from Lanchava.
Xavier changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lanchava tries to avoid it but Xavier manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lanchava to the ground. Lanchava escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A punch lands to the side of Xavier 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Lanchava gets the takedown into side control.
Xavier has one of Lanchava's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Xavier pushes Lanchava away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Lanchava gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Lanchava works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lanchava is staying tight to Xavier's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Xavier takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Lanchava wants to stand but Xavier has his arm trapped.
Lanchava tries to score with some ground and pound. Xavier controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Xavier is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Lanchava tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Lanchava has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Xavier tries to buck Lanchava off but Lanchava is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Xavier is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Lanchava looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Lanchava trying to control the action but Xavier is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Xavier is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Lanchava's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lanchava fails to land the takedown.

Lanchava tries to sprawl but Xavier drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Lanchava wants to get back to his feet.
Xavier stalling.
Lanchava pushes Xavier off looking to stand but Xavier dives back in and keeps control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lanchava gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xavier wants to stand but Lanchava is controlling his posture from full guard.
Xavier trying to control the position from guard on top but Lanchava is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Xavier pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lanchava is keeping the position for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A head kick by Lanchava misses

and Xavier counters with a takedown into side control.
Xavier is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Lanchava's shoulder. That is not cool.
Lanchava regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lanchava is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Xavier controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lanchava regains full guard. Nicely done.
Xavier wants to control from the top but Lanchava keeps moving.
Lanchava is adopting a defensive guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Xavier shoots in and bounces Lanchava off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lanchava is pulling down on Xavier's head to control his posture.
Xavier trying to control but Lanchava is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Xavier trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Xavier wants to get up but he can't break Lanchava'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 round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Pedro Xavier showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Lanchava wants to clinch up but Xavier keeps it at a distance.
Xavier is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Xavier enables Lanchava to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Xavier manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Xavier tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lanchava looking to pass the guard.
Lanchava would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Xavier is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lanchava taking some punishment here, with Xavier in his half guard.
Lanchava scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Xavier manages to mount him!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lanchava is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Lanchava wants to control but Xavier is having none of it.
Xavier lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Lanchava hang on?
Lanchava sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Xavier really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lanchava. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Xavier is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lanchava is trying to maintain the position but Xavier is very close to passing his half guard.
Xavier is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Xavier landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Xavier looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Lanchava with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Joao Pedro Xavier has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lanchava trying to control from the bottom.
Xavier slows the pace down in half guard.
Lanchava has a hand on Xavier's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Xavier takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xavier is landing with some decent strikes but Lanchava is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Xavier tries to control but Lanchava wriggling away.
Lanchava is trying desperately to improve position.
Xavier tries to control but Lanchava wriggling away.
Xavier content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Xavier punishing his opponent with strikes.
Xavier trying to control but Lanchava is having none of it.
Lanchava tries to hold on but Xavier pushes him away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Xavier controlling from the full mount.
Lanchava wants to try and get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joao Pedro Xavier comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Xavier 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joao Pedro Xavier!