PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between The Fighter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xander Cage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Fighter
vs
Cage

200 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
219 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, The Fighter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Xander Cage!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Donatello Bradman and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fighter feints and as Cage raises his hands in defense, Fighter changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cage working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fighter.
Fighter wants to control from the top but Cage keeps moving.
Fighter won't allow Cage to get back to his feet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fighter accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cage preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Fighter working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cage can do anything to dispel that myth.
Cage utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Fighter is standing up over Cage. Cage looks to escape but Fighter dives into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Fighter.
Cage really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Fighter. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fighter creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Cage wants to get back to his feet.
Fighter working the body and head with strikes.
Cage is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Fighter is controlling him well.
Fighter wants to control but Cage is keeping him busy.
Fighter postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fighter throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Fighter postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Fighter throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Fighter misses with the ground and pound.
Fighter looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Cage is avoiding damage well.
Fighter trying to control the position but Cage is working away.
Fighter throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fighter is looking to take a break and control but Cage is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cage is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Fighter scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Cage to see if he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fighter scores with punches from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The ground and pound from Fighter seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Cage managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Fighter.
Fighter lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Cage down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Fighter are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Fighter wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cage keeps working.
Fighter working the ground and pound.
Fighter throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Fighter working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Fighter connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Cage some visible discomfort.
Fighter in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fighter tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

The Fighter dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cage thows a leg kick but Fighter checks it

and Fighter counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Fighter drops an elbow to the side of Cage's head.
Cage blocking the ground and pound attempt from Fighter.
Fighter missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Fighter missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Fighter throwing shots but Cage is blocking nicely.
Fighter moves nicely into side control.
Fighter in side control lands a decent elbow.
Cage taking a bit of punishment here - Fighter scoring with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Cage bucks up and tries to throw Fighter off but instead Fighter has got his back!
Fighter missing with strikes.
Cage trying to get back to his feet but Fighter is in full control for now.
Fighter thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Fighter thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.

That's two 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.
Fighter wants to control but Cage is keeping busy.
Fighter lands with a hammerfist to the side of Cage's head.
Fighter throwing sloppy strikes.
Fighter scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Cage is looking for a way out.
I would not like to be Cage right now.
Fighter is landing with strikes. Cage can't take much more of this.
Fighter lands strikes to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fighter somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Cage is trying to get back to his feet but Fighter has full control of the position and if anything, Cage has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Cage is breathing heavily.
Fighter struggling to land strikes to the head as Cage covers up.
Cage covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Cage is covering up but some of the strikes from Fighter are getting through and doing damage.
Fighter throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Fighter lands punches and elbows.
Fighter lands a shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fighter throwing damaging strikes from the back! Cage could be in trouble here!
The Fighter overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fighter throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Fighter will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Fighter scores with punches from the back.

It looks like Xander Cage has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fighter throwing damaging strikes from the back! Cage could be in trouble here!
Fighter connects with a big shot to the side of Cage's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fighter misses with punches from the back.
Cage covering up well and avoiding damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

The Fighter dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Xander Cage's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Cage scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Cage swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Fighter bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cage is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Fighter working the body and head with strikes.
Cage wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Fighter has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Fighter just content to control the position.
Cage takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fighter working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fighter creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Cage sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Fighter in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Cage is trying to buck Fighter off.
Cage avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Fighter.
Fighter slows the pace down.
The Fighter is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two 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.
Cage is trying to buck Fighter off.
Fighter fails to land a wild elbow strike.
The strikes coming from Fighter are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Fighter wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cage keeps working.
Fighter throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fighter has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Cage!
Fighter controlling the position easily from mount.
Fighter punching from mount but Cage doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Fighter postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Cage looks a forlorn figure.
Fighter landing strikes, looking to finish!
Fighter landing strikes from the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fighter looking to control and managing it successfully.
Cage takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Fighter controlling from the full mount.
Fighter thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
The Fighter showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Fighter, 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:25
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:25
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... The Fighter!