PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ham Xu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Horse Mania (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mania has chosen Energy 52 - Cafe Del Mar '98 as his entrance music. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Xu
vs
Mania

180 cm
25
215 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

191 cm
24
220 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Cobra Kai Nutrition (St. Pete's Best)

Katukauppa.com

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 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ham Xu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Horse Mania!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Aleksandr Martynov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Xu is looking to score with low kicks.
Mania tries to close the distance and clinch up but Xu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mania misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mania avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Xu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mania.
Xu misses with a leg kick.
Xu walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Xu lands a nice looking body shot.
Xu blocks a head kick by Mania.
Mania cracks Xu with a good jab.
Mania lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Mania lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Xu feints and as Mania raises his hands in defense, Xu changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Xu has gone for a leg lock! Mania slips out almost immediately though and dives into Xu's guard.
Mania wants to control from the top but Xu keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xu not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mania would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Mania wants to pass the guard but Xu is keeping the position.
Xu throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mania wants to stand but Xu has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Xu can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mania controls the pace.

That's two 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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A cross from Mania lands.
Xu staying out of range there.
Mania throws a leg kick but Xu sees it coming and moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Mania.
Mania scoring well with a low kick there.
Mania lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Mania misses with a leg kick.
No luck for Xu with that takedown attempt.
Mania throws a leg kick

and Xu counters with a nice right hand that sends Mania toppling to the canvas! Mania scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Xu finish him?!

Mania is rocked!

It looks like Horse Mania has been cut.
Xu throws a leg kick
and Mania makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Xu really felt that one!
Mania throws a body punch but Xu moves out of range.
Horse Mania is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A low kick from Xu misses
and Mania counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mania lands with a slapping head kick.
Mania has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Xu throws a low kick, looking for Mania's leg but Mania calmly moves out of range.
Mania ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mania showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Xu.
Mania digs a good body shot into Xu's ribs.
Xu has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Mania finds it's way round the side to connect with Xu's head.
Xu does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Xu misses with a shot to the body
and Mania counters with a two punch combo.
Xu just misses with a punch to the body.
Mania connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Horse Mania seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mania scores with a hook to the body. Xu takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Mania misses with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xu throws a lazy head kick
and Mania connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Xu showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mania.
Xu misses with a leg kick
and Mania cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mania feints and then cracks Xu's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Xu down.
Xu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mania throws a head kick but Xu moves out of range.
Mania throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Xu drops Mania with a beautiful combination! Mania stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Xu is looking for the KO!
Mania is still on wobbly legs! Can Xu finish him?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mania misses with a wild combination.
Mania seems to have recovered his senses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mania stuffs the takedown.
The crowd cheers as Mania lands an impressive looking overhand right. Xu doesn't seem phased though.
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 Ham Xu will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Horse Mania's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mania throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Mania pivots, looking for a leg kick but Xu is out of range and Mania settles back down.
Mania throws a jab but it's blocked by Xu.
Mania throws a leg kick
and Xu counters with a monster head kick that knocks Mania out cold! He topples like fallen a tree, crashing to the mat! Timbeeeeeerrr!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Ham Xu!