PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Efraim Diveroli (ranked 4435 p4p, 4377 weight class) and Xiu Xenon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Diveroli
vs
Xenon

187 cm
18
206
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
205
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

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 London, Efraim Diveroli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Xiu Xenon!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Ackerman and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Xenon.
Xenon has control of an arm but Diveroli manages to advance to Xenon's back!
Diveroli throws a series of strikes and Xenon wriggles onto his back, so he's now mounted. He's in real trouble here.
Diveroli knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Xenon on the ground.
Xenon bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Xenon trying to control the position from guard on top but Diveroli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Xenon missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Diveroli wants to stand up but Xenon is controlling him.
Diveroli controls Xenon momentarily but Xenon frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Xenon decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Diveroli shoots in but Xenon avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Xenon throws a counter combo.

Diveroli is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Xenon's half guard.
Xenon gets back to full guard.
Xenon is trying to control the position but Diveroli postures up.
Diveroli trying to control the position from guard on top but Xenon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Xenon had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Diveroli defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diveroli cracks Xenon with a solid left hand.
Xenon bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Diveroli's guard.

Xenon not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Xenon missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Diveroli is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Xenon postures up in Diveroli's guard and throws a big left but Diveroli blocks it.
Xenon is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Diveroli looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Xenon passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diveroli wants to control but Xenon is keeping busy.

Xenon is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Diveroli trying to control but Xenon postures up.
Xenon prevents Diveroli from improving his position.

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.

Xenon stands up and beckons Diveroli to join him on the feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Xenon.
Diveroli is not content to let Xenon control the position.
Xenon gets to mount! Diveroli was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Xenon manages to capitalize on a mistake by Diveroli to take his back!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Xiu Xenon dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Diveroli with a poor takedown

and Xenon counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Xenon.

Diveroli pulls guard.
Xenon passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Diveroli is trying to improve his position.
Xenon throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Xenon has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Xenon closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Diveroli pushes Xenon off but Xenon dives into side control.
Diveroli tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Xenon presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xenon throws some wild stikes that Diveroli manages to avoid easily.
Xenon trying to control but Diveroli is having none of it.
Xenon throwing strikes here but Diveroli is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Xenon looking to control and managing it successfully.
Xenon can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Diveroli is looking to escape.
Xenon misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diveroli working to try and regain half guard.
Diveroli avoids a series of strikes thrown by Xenon.
Diveroli is trying to reverse the position but instead Xenon has taken his back - oops!
Xenon missing with strikes.
Xenon keeps control of the position as Diveroli tries to break free.
Xenon controls the action.

Xenon looking for the RNC.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diveroli wants to escape the position.
Diveroli trying to control but not successfully.
Xenon has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Diveroli looking very determined here, making life difficult for Xenon.
Xenon keeps control of the position easily here as Diveroli tries to buck him off.
Xenon trying to control.

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.
Diveroli wants to escape the position.
Diveroli trying to control the position but Xenon manages to sink in the hooks.
Xenon wants to control but Diveroli is keeping busy.

Xenon is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Diveroli defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Diveroli is in bad spot here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Xiu Xenon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Xenon closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Diveroli changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Xenon tries to avoid it but Diveroli manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Xenon to the ground. Xenon escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Diveroli with a poor takedown
and Xenon counters with a two punch combo.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Diveroli.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Efraim Diveroli. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Xenon gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Xenon uses the cage to get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Diveroli gets the takedown into side control.

Xenon explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Diveroli looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Xenon!

Xenon sneaks out the side door and pushes Diveroli away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diveroli is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Xenon's half guard.

Xenon manages to escape and get back to his feet!

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

Diveroli manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Xenon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Diveroli shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Xenon manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Xenon gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Diveroli stalling in the clinch.

Xenon has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Diveroli clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Diveroli trying to control the hands but Xenon won't let him.

Xenon is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Diveroli defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Xenon gets his hands free as Diveroli looks to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xenon is trying to stick to Diveroli's back but Diveroli is turning into Xenon. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Xenon's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Diveroli.
Diveroli landing with the ground and pound.
Xenon tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Diveroli working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Xiu Xenon has got the better of the ground game so far.
Diveroli makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Xenon wants to sweep here but Diveroli controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diveroli makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Xenon is rocked!
Diveroli loads up on a big left hand. Xenon felt that one! He's just covering up now, not defending himself intelligently - Diveroli looks towards the ref and unloads with 3 more big shots and the ref has no choice but to stop the fight! Xenon can't hide his disappointment, as Diveroli celebrates the victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Efraim Diveroli!