PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Maximo Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Angel Xavier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Drago
vs
Xavier

185 cm
19
196 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

182 cm
23
190 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Maximo Drago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Angel Xavier!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, David Schapiro and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Xavier throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Drago was covering up waiting for the punch and Xavier finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Xavier in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Drago is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Xavier moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Xavier wants to sweep here but Drago controlling him for the moment.
Xavier trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Xavier has an active guard here but Drago has managed to pass into half guard.
Drago looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xavier tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Drago has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Xavier is in all sorts of trouble here.
Drago controlling the pace for now.
Drago prevents Xavier from getting the reversal.

That's two 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.
Drago controlling from the full mount.
Xavier slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Drago is looking to take a break and control but Xavier is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Xavier wants to improve his position but Drago is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Maximo Drago.
Drago is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Maximo Drago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Drago misses with a straight left.
Xavier misses with a straight left.
Drago slips a jab from Xavier.
Drago throws out a leg kick but Xavier moves out of range and Drago only half commits.
Drago tried to score with a low kick but Xavier checks it.
Drago swinging wildly here.
Drago lands with a cross.
Xavier misses with an uppercut. Drago saw that one coming.
Drago fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Xavier manages to avoid it.
Drago misses with a low kick as Xavier jumps back.
Drago misses the shot to the body.
Xavier shoots in and drives through. Drago sprawls well.
Drago throws a series of punches but Xavier moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drago just misses with a punch to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Xavier misses the target.

Xavier looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Xavier is looking to advance position but Drago won't allow it.
Xavier stops Drago from getting back to his feet.
Drago knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Xavier on the ground.
Xavier prevents Drago from improving his position.
Xavier tries to pass to full mount but Drago defends it.
Drago blocking the ground and pound attempt from Xavier.
Xavier is trying to control the action in half guard but Drago is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Xavier tries to pass the half guard into mount. Drago knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Drago avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Xavier.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maximo Drago dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Xavier scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Drago wants to control but Xavier postures up.
Xavier creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Drago sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Drago is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Xavier asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Xavier tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Xavier wants to lay and pray for a moment but Drago keeps working.
Drago is trying to control Xavier's posture but Xavier avoids it.

Xavier is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Drago knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drago throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Drago throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Xavier sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Xavier looks to land a left hand but Drago moved out of range nicely.
Drago throws out a loose jab but Xavier uses good head movement to avoid it.
Drago avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Drago fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Drago looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Drago throws a hook but Xavier blocks it.
A big right from Xavier misses.
Drago takes a swing at Xavier's ribcage but misses.
Drago misses with an uppercut. Xavier saw that one coming.
Drago throws a big shot that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drago fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Xavier looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Drago cracks Xavier with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Drago missing with a left hand there. Xavier was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Drago fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Xavier looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Xavier scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Drago connects with a jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Xavier misses with a hook.
Drago misses with a few strikes there.
Drago looks to land a right hand but Xavier moved out of range.
Drago misses with an uppercut. Xavier saw that one coming.
The fighters circle momentarily. Drago darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Drago swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Xavier ducks under a wild hook from Drago.
A decent looking cross lands there for Drago.
Drago goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Maximo Drago is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Xavier darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xavier throwing shots but Drago is blocking nicely.
Drago is refusing to be controlled, as Xavier sits in half guard.
Drago is trying is best to control the position here.
Xavier winds up and cracks Drago with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Xavier blocks the strikes from Drago.
Xavier tries to pass the half guard into mount. Drago knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Xavier not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Xavier works his way into full mount!
Xavier wants to control the pace but Drago is squirming around 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.
Drago is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Drago wants to control but Xavier is having none of it.
Drago is in all sorts of trouble here.
Drago is trying to reverse the position but instead Xavier has taken his back - oops!
Xavier throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
A lull in the action here.
Drago is trying to stand back up.

Xavier is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Xavier is cranking Drago's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for Drago! He's tightened the choke and Drago is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Angel Xavier!