PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Francisco Xavier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Gouveia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gouveia has chosen Leave Before The Lights Come On as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Xavier
vs
Gouveia

166 cm
22
141 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
21
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers standup

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Francisco Xavier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rodrigo Gouveia!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Thiago Cunha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gouveia tries to clinch there but Xavier circles away.
Gouveia tries to clinch but Xavier moves out of range.
Gouveia doesn't manage to clinch there - Xavier circles away.
Xavier keeps the fight on the outside.
Gouveia tries to clinch but Xavier is having none of it.
Gouveia throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Xavier stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Xavier circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gouveia moves in looking to clinch but Xavier pushes him off.
Xavier closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gouveia circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gouveia tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Xavier paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gouveia misses with a few strikes there.
Xavier avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gouveia looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xavier circles away from the clinch attempt.
Xavier swats away the attempt to clinch by Gouveia.
Gouveia fails with an attempt to clinch.
Xavier swats away the attempt to clinch by Gouveia.
Gouveia tries to clinch but Xavier moves out of range.
Xavier shoots in for a takedown but Gouveia shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Xavier drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xavier stays in close to Gouveia's body and controls the position.
Xavier prevents Gouveia from getting back to his feet.
Xavier is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gouveia wants to stand up but Xavier is controlling him.
Gouveia is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Xavier dives into side control.
Gouveia is looking to get back to his feet here but Xavier is keeping cool and he's managed to take Gouveia's back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Xavier biding his time, looking for the opening.
Gouveia is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Xavier off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Francisco Xavier just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Gouveia scores with a leg kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Some wild striking there from Gouveia.
Gouveia throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francisco Xavier dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gouveia tries to clinch up.
Gouveia throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Xavier.
Gouveia misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gouveia looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gouveia swinging wildly here.
Rodrigo Gouveia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gouveia fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gouveia throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gouveia wants to clinch up but Xavier keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gouveia throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gouveia looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gouveia wants to clinch.
Gouveia fails in his attempt to clinch.
Xavier keeps the fight on the outside.
Gouveia throws a head kick that Xavier semi-blocks.
Gouveia is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Xavier swats away the attempt to clinch by Gouveia.
An inside leg kick lands from Gouveia.
Gouveia tries to close the distance and clinch but Xavier swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gouveia throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gouveia is breathing heavily.
Gouveia tries to clinch but Xavier moves out of range.
Rodrigo Gouveia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gouveia misses with a wild combination.
Xavier shoots in but no luck this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gouveia tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gouveia throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gouveia tries to clinch up.
Gouveia tries to close the distance and clinch up but Xavier swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gouveia moves in looking to clinch but Xavier pushes him off.
Gouveia tries to clinch there but Xavier circles away.
A telegraphed right hand from Gouveia misses the target.
A big right from Gouveia misses.
Gouveia tries to clinch but Xavier is having none of it.

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.
Gouveia finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Xavier avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gouveia tries to clinch there but Xavier circles away.
Gouveia looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Xavier is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Gouveia's half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Xavier not doing much here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
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 Francisco Xavier will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gouveia fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gouveia fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nice body punch from Gouveia.
Gouveia wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Gouveia tries to clinch there but Xavier circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gouveia is looking to clinch.
Gouveia throws a right and a left that Xavier avoids nicely.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gouveia is trying to stand.
Gouveia takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Xavier is controlling 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Francisco Xavier just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Xavier shoots for a double leg takedown but Gouveia sprawls well. He's pushed Xavier's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gouveia tries to clinch but Xavier moves out of range.
Gouveia throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gouveia is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Xavier avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gouveia lands a high kick!
Xavier avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gouveia tries to clinch but Xavier moves out of range.
Gouveia tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Xavier paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gouveia fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Xavier avoids a punch combination nicely.

Gouveia gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Xavier to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Rodrigo Gouveia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Francisco Xavier is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gouveia is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
Francisco Xavier showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Xavier, 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27

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