PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rob Mugabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ham Xu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mugabe comes into the arena with The Zimbabwean National Anthem blaring out of the sound system. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Mugabe
vs
Xu

195 cm
21
210 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

180 cm
25
215 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Cobra Kai Nutrition (NEW 158 OUT)

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 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rob Mugabe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ham Xu!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Sergei Dronov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mugabe throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Mugabe misses the jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Mugabe misses the target.
Mugabe waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Xu.
A punch combination from Mugabe misses.
Xu walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mugabe. Xu does a little dance to reset his feet.
The fighters circling - Xu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Xu lands with a nice body punch.
Mugabe scores with a jab to the body.
Mugabe swings for the body but Xu moves out of range.
Mugabe has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Xu.
Xu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mugabe.
Xu slips under a jab from Mugabe.
Xu keeps Mugabe at a distance using the push kick.
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!
Xu misses the shot to the body.
Xu jabs at Mugabe's body.
Mugabe looks to score with a jab to the body but Xu is just out of range.
A slapping body kick lands there for Xu.
Mugabe is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot by Xu.
Xu moves out of range of the strikes.
Xu lands with a shot to the body.

Xu shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Xu showed some decent athleticism there.
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!
Xu content to control rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Xu missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Xu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Xu has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xu is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Xu trying to mount his opponent but Mugabe defends it.
Mugabe blocking the ground and pound attempt from Xu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xu stalling away here and it's allowed Mugabe to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Mugabe wants to sweep but no luck.
Xu wants to control from the top but Mugabe keeps moving.
Xu might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Mugabe kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Jab by Mugabe.
Xu displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mugabe throws out the jab.
Xu jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Mugabe tries to bum rush Xu with a series of wild strikes but Xu uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mugabe bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Xu's head backwards.
Mugabe uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Mugabe throws the left hand but Xu avoids the punch easily.
Mugabe throws a sloppy body shot
and Xu makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Xu slips a jab from Mugabe.
Mugabe throws a hook but Xu blocks it.
Xu throws a sloppy head kick and Mugabe moves out of range easily.
Mugabe takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Xu changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Mugabe misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Xu swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Mugabe counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A big right from Mugabe misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Xu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Xu falls off balance throwing a combination
and Mugabe counters with a nice uppercut.
Xu takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ham Xu dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Xu misses with a body shot.
Mugabe lands with a nice body punch.
Some wild striking there from Mugabe.
Xu throws an overhand right that lands on Mugabe's shoulder, as Mugabe tries to avoid the shot.
Mugabe throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Xu takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Mugabe lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Rob Mugabe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Nice takedown defense from Mugabe. No joy for Xu on that attempt.
Xu ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mugabe throws a big shot that misses.
Mugabe is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Xu throws a hook but Mugabe avoids it easily.
Xu throws a looping overhand right but Mugabe ducks down to avoid it.
Mugabe lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Xu backs up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mugabe takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Xu throws a hook but Mugabe avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mugabe throws a hook but Xu blocks it.
Ham Xu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mugabe lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Xu circles away quickly and effectively.
Xu bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Mugabe misses with a shot to the body
and Xu counters with a good low kick that Mugabe was not able to check.
Mugabe on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Xu. Xu obviously looking to wear him down.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mugabe lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Mugabe avoids the head kick by Xu.
Mugabe dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rob Mugabe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Xu misses with a straight right.
Mugabe is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Xu.
Mugabe slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Xu moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Mugabe misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mugabe stalks Xu and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Xu's face. Xu staggers backwards, shaken.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mugabe throws a series of punches but Xu avoids them all with ease.
Xu misses with a head kick.
Xu lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Mugabe at a distance.
Xu just misses with a punch to the body.
Xu misses with a head kick.
Mugabe misses with a combination
enabling Xu to counter with a crisp jab.
Xu scores with a spinning back kick!
Mugabe swings away with a body shot that misses
and Xu counters with a nice body shot.
Mugabe on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Xu fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mugabe sprawls well initially but Xu persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Xu passes the guard and advances to mount!

Xu working for a guillotine from mount but Mugabe is in no mood to give up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xu throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Xu putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Xu trying to control but Mugabe is having none of it.
Mugabe is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Xu jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Mugabe is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Mugabe and Xu has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Mugabe tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Xu cracks Mugabe with a big right hand but Mugabe just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mugabe wants to control but Xu postures up.
Mugabe managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Xu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ham Xu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Mugabe throws a shot from downtown. Xu moves away and avoids it.
Xu steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mugabe.
Xu throws a head kick that Mugabe semi-blocks.
Mugabe takes a kick to the side of the head.
Xu dodges the punch combination from Mugabe.
Xu thows a body shot but no joy.
Xu misses with a head kick.
Mugabe throws a left and a right that both miss
and Xu counters with a big head kick but Mugabe shrugs it off.
Mugabe misses with a few strikes there.
Nice shot lands for Mugabe.
Xu throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mugabe.
Mugabe throws a hook but Xu blocks it.
Xu misses with a body kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Mugabe as he connects with a hook.
Mugabe misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Xu or perhaps it was just good defense by Mugabe which made him look bad.
Mugabe throws a series of punches but Xu moves out of range.
Mugabe thows a left - swing and a miss!
Xu is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Mugabe rather than just go for the knockout.
Xu avoids the body shot from Mugabe.
Xu falls off balance throwing a combination
and Mugabe counters with a two punch combo.
Mugabe misses with a straight left.
Mugabe misses with a shot to the body
and Xu counters with a two punch combo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mugabe throws a jab when Xu was well out of range.
Mugabe misses with a double jab.
Mugabe throws a jab when Xu was well out of range.
Mugabe lands a slapping body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Xu scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Mugabe doesn't seem bothered though.
Xu dives in and grabs Mugabe's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mugabe pushes down on Xu's head and hops out.
Xu throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mugabe sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mugabe fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Xu throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mugabe lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Mugabe.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mugabe blocks a head kick by Xu.
Mugabe's corner calls for a 1-2. Mugabe obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A punch lands to the side of Mugabe 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Xu staying out of range there.
Xu throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Mugabe works over Xu's head and body with a nice combination.
A telegraphed right hand from Mugabe misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mugabe misses with an uppercut.
Xu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ham Xu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mugabe misses with a double jab
and Xu counters with a stiff right hand.
Mugabe looks to land a left hand but Xu moved out of range nicely.
A good leg kick by Xu.
Xu shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mugabe defends it nicely.
Rob Mugabe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ham Xu.
Mugabe throws a series of punches but Xu moves out of range.
Xu throws a nice outside leg kick.
Mugabe tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Xu throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Xu closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Mugabe did well to prevent Xu getting side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mugabe trying to control here.
Xu is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Mugabe is concentrating on defense, preventing Xu from advancing position.
Xu content to control rather than advance.
Mugabe is staying active underneath Xu, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ham Xu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Xu has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ham Xu!