PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Junior Andrade (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xander Tua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tua has chosen Haka 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!

Andrade
vs
Tua

190 cm
25
205 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

170 cm
24
205 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Junior Andrade!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Xander Tua!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Mauricio Rocha and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Andrade displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tua.
Tua connects with a crisp jab.
Tua looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A nice inside leg kick there by Andrade. That's going to slow Tua down.
Andrade uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tua.
Xander Tua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tua shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Andrade defends it nicely.
Andrade throws a head kick but Tua moves out of range.
Tua shoots in for a double leg but Andrade sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Junior Andrade has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xander Tua.
Tua shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Andrade but Andrade pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tua throws a hook but Andrade avoids it easily.
Andrade loads up on a big right hand but Tua slips the punch.
Tua closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Tua shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Andrade pinned against the cage. Andrade gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Andrade pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A punch combination from Tua misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Tua misses the target.
Tua fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Andrade throws a series of punches but Tua avoids them all with ease.

Andrade moves into the clinch.
Andrade stalls.

Andrade manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Tua must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Tua decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Andrade swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Andrade keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Tua fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Andrade avoids it really well and circles away.
Tua throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tua tries for a takedown but Andrade sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Andrade throws a nice looking combination but Tua bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tua closes this distance looking for a takedown but Andrade circles away.
Tua looks gassed!

Andrade gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Andrade manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Tua preventing the sweep.

Andrade pushes Tua off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Andrade instigates a clinch.
Tua has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Andrade is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Andrade lands an elbow inside that Tua shrugs off.
Andrade lands a nice knee to the body.

Andrade successfully pulls guard.
Andrade tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Andrade kicks Tua off and gets to his feet.

Tua gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Andrade to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Andrade controlling from the top position.
Tua tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tua keeping moving, preventing Andrade from controlling successfully.
Andrade controls from within his opponent's guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Andrade is pushing down on Tua's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tua is fighting to maintain full guard but Andrade has managed to sneak the leg through.
Andrade sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Tua is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Andrade's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Andrade's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior Andrade dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Andrade pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Junior Andrade is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tua shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Andrade cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Andrade throws out a powerful jab.

Andrade rushes Tua and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Andrade trying to land knees to the body.
Andrade gets underhooks to prevent Tua's takedown attempt.
Tua drops down looking for an ankle pick but Andrade pulls his leg out and moves away.
Junior Andrade has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xander Tua.
Andrade checks a leg kick.
Tua shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Andrade sprawls well. Andrade wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tua gets slowly back to his feet.
Tua fails with the takedown
and Andrade counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Tua thinking.
Andrade scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Tua fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Andrade avoids it really well and circles away.
Tua throws a hook to the side of Andrade's head but Andrade sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Andrade looks to land a left hand but Tua moved out of range nicely.
Andrade misses with a double jab.
Tua fails with the takedown.
Andrade misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Andrade moves into the clinch successfully.
Andrade leaning against his opponent.
Tua takes a knee to the side of the body.
Andrade stalling in the clinch.
Andrade comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Andrade pulls guard effortlessly.
Tua wants to stand but Andrade is controlling his posture from full guard.
Andrade will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Andrade 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Andrade is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tua is aware though and is defending well.
Andrade 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.
Tua pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Andrade is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tua stands and throws Andrade's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Andrade tries to buck Tua off but Tua is having none of it.

Tua stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Andrade leaves Tua with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Tua gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Andrade counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Andrade stuffs the takedown.
Tua works the jab nicely.
Andrade closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tua circles away.
Tua shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Andrade as he jumps to the side.
Tua misses with a double jab.
Tua takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Tua moves out of range as Andrade throws a body kick.
Tua changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Andrade stuffs the takedown.
Andrade leaves Tua with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nice defenses there by Andrade.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior Andrade dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Tua walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Andrade checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Andrade tries to clinch there but Tua circles away.
Andrade on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Tua misses with a takedown attempt - Andrade sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tua digs a good body shot into Andrade's ribs.
Tua tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Andrade was well out of range. Poor timing from Tua.
Andrade is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Andrade slaps away a takedown attempt from Tua, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A combination from Andrade does no damage.
Tua will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Andrade stuffs the takedown.
Junior Andrade has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xander Tua.
Andrade throws a head kick that misses.
Tua stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tua wants it to stay on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tua will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Andrade stuffs the takedown.
Tua misses with a takedown
and Tua takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tua throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Andrade's waist but Andrade gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tua off to one side.
Tua with a lazy takedown attempt
and Andrade counters with a big head kick but Tua shrugs it off.
Tua with a lazy takedown attempt

and Andrade counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Andrade pulls guard.
Andrade is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Andrade working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tua doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tua manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Andrade looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Xander Tua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Andrade tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Andrade looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Tua puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Andrade is trying to get back to full guard.

Andrade actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tua is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Tua really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Andrade. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Andrade is trying to get back to full guard.

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.
Junior Andrade is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tua shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Andrade but Andrade pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Andrade slips a straight right by Tua.
Tua scores with a punch to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tua tries for a takedown but Andrade circles away easily
and Andrade counters with a head kick. That will keep Tua thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Tua shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Andrade counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Andrade.

And that's the end of the fight!
Junior Andrade showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Andrade has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Junior Andrade!