PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bruno Xavier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saul Watras (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Xavier
vs
Watras

195 cm
21
260 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
265 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bruno Xavier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Saul Watras!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Seu Braga and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watras on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Xavier misses with a two punch combination.
Xavier throws a right hand that Watras ducks under and follows up with a left that Watras also avoids with ease.
Xavier throws a head kick that misses.
Watras tries to clinch up but Xavier circles away and keeps his distance.
Watras tries to clinch but Xavier is having none of it.
A jab from Watras misses.
Watras uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Xavier.
Xavier throws a nice looking combination but Watras bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Xavier throws a combination that misses
and Watras counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Xavier ducks under a wild hook from Watras.
Xavier misses with a straight left.
Watras lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Xavier throws a combination that misses

and Watras counters by clinching up.

Xavier gets control of Watras's arms and successfully pulls guard. Xavier will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Xavier wants to stand up but Watras is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watras wants to control from the top but Xavier keeps moving.

Xavier is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Xavier breaks from the clinch.
Xavier throws a sloppy head kick and Watras moves out of range easily.
Xavier swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Watras swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Xavier throws a head kick that Watras semi-blocks.

It looks like Saul Watras has been cut.

Xavier gets tackled into the cage by Watras. Watras maintains the clinch.
Watras fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Xavier breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Xavier takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Xavier uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Watras.
Bruno Xavier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watras misses with a hook. Xavier ducked under it nicely.
Sloppy strikes from Xavier. Those never looked like landing.
Watras moves out of range as Xavier strikes.
Xavier throws a lazy uppercut
and Watras counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Watras blocks a head kick by Xavier.
Xavier takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Xavier ducks under a wild hook from Watras.
Xavier drops his hands momentarily and Watras takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Xavier throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Watras counter with a right hand.
Xavier swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Xavier misses with a jab, cross combination.
Xavier pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Xavier shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Xavier slips under a jab.
Watras is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Xavier had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Xavier takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watras throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Xavier throws a lazy uppercut
and Watras counters with a right hand to the body.
Xavier is breathing heavily.
Watras tries to clinch but Xavier is having none of it.
Xavier scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Xavier throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Xavier moves away from the strike by Watras.
Xavier's jab looks to have found its range, popping Watras under the eye.
Watras getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
A telegraphed right hand from Watras misses the target.
Xavier swings widly with a right hand
letting Watras counter with a right hand.
Watras throws a good cross that connects.
Xavier swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Watras scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Watras misses with a body shot.
Xavier throws out a loose jab but Watras uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xavier throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Watras jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Xavier throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Watras takes the fight into the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Watras.
Watras working aggressively here.
Xavier tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Watras pushes Xavier back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Xavier is trying to force a seperation but Watras has the dominant position.
Watras can't find room to land a body shot as Xavier controls the action.
Watras tries to work over Xavier's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Watras tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Watras wants to stall.
Xavier wants a takedown.
Xavier wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Watras has him pressed against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Watras tries to work over Xavier's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Xavier can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bruno Xavier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Xavier fails to pull guard.
Xavier tries for a takedown. No joy.
Watras tries to work over Xavier's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Xavier tries to break the clinch but Watras is controlling the position.
Watras is leaning against Xavier and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saul Watras dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Saul Watras's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Watras misses with a looping right.
Xavier misses with a wild body shot.
Xavier swings away with a body shot that misses
and Xavier takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Xavier circles away from the clinch attempt.
Watras tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Xavier paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Watras throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Xavier sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Xavier misses with a head kick.
Xavier slips under a jab from Watras.
Some wild striking there from Xavier.
Bruno Xavier is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jab, jab by Watras - just one landing.
Xavier keeps the fight on the outside.
A telegraphed right hand from Watras misses the target.
Watras scores with a shot to the body.
Watras misses with a hook
and Xavier counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xavier pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Xavier swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Watras counters by moving into the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Watras keeps control of Xavier as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Xavier drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Watras gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Watras misses with a hook from the clinch.

Xavier manages to break the clinch.
No joy there for Xavier, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Xavier tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Xavier ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Watras lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Watras throws out a loose jab but Xavier uses good head movement to avoid it.
Xavier moves away from the strike by Watras.
Watras connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Decent striking displayed by Watras there.
Watras keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Xavier.
Watras scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xavier throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Xavier throws a right hand that misses
and Watras counters with a straight right hand.
Watras scores with a jab. Xavier acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Xavier avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Watras missing with a left hand there. Xavier was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A head kick misses from Xavier.
Xavier blocks a jab.
Watras works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Watras lands a really nice looking cross but Xavier seems unphased.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Xavier rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Watras counters by moving into the clinch.
Watras misses with a hook to the ribs.
Watras tries to stall but Xavier uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Watras lands a body shot.
Watras scores with a nice hook to the head.
Watras is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Xavier looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Watras.
Watras tries to throw a body punch but Xavier avoids it by throwing Watras back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Xavier breaks the clinch.
Watras throws a hook but Xavier blocks it.
Nice body punch from Watras.
Xavier misses with a straight right.
Watras wants to clinch.
Watras lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Saul Watras seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice body punch from Xavier.
Xavier avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Watras has Xavier up against the cage in a clinch.
Xavier blocks a body shot from Watras.

Xavier escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Xavier lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Watras circles away quickly and effectively.
Good standup being displayed there by Watras as he connects with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watras lands a head shot.
Watras might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Xavier throws a poor cross that misses
letting Watras counter with a right hand.
Watras misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Xavier to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Xavier throws a sloppy body shot
and Xavier takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Watras moves into range and clinches up with Xavier.
Watras wants to stall.
Watras has Xavier pressed against the cage, preventing Xavier from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Watras tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Xavier's elbow.
Xavier looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Watras has Xavier pressed against the cage, preventing Xavier from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Xavier wants a takedown but no success here.
Xavier is trying to break free.

Xavier has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Watras uses from the top position.
Watras won't allow Xavier to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saul Watras showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Saul Watras's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Watras throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Xavier sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Watras bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Xavier's head backwards.
Watras is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Xavier.
Xavier works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Xavier throws a combination that misses
enabling Watras to counter with a crisp jab.
Watras misses with a hook.
Xavier throws a jab but it's blocked by Watras.
Watras misses with a left hand
and Xavier counters with a right hand to the body.
Xavier throws a hook but Watras avoids it easily.
Watras misses with a hook to the body
and Xavier counters with a straight right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Xavier will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Watras loads up on a big right hand but Xavier slips the punch.
Xavier steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Watras.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watras staying out of range there.
Watras throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Xavier on the side of the head.
Xavier throws a predictable looking body shot
and Watras counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Watras blocks a head kick by Xavier.
Xavier throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Watras counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Xavier misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Watras counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Watras misses with a left hand
and Xavier counters with a one-two to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Xavier falls off balance throwing a combination
and Watras connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Xavier slips a straight right by Watras.
A head kick misses from Xavier.
Xavier keeps the fight on the outside.
Decent striking displayed by Watras there.
Watras moves out of range as Xavier strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xavier takes one to the chin there.
Jab by Watras.
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!
Xavier misses with a shot to the body

and Watras holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Xavier wants to break the clinch but can't.
Watras struggles to land a body shot inside as Xavier controls his hands.
Watras scores with a nice hook to the head.

Xavier pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Xavier rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Watras cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Watras is looking to clinch but Xavier is avoiding it.
Xavier throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Watras counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Xavier misses with a double jab
and Watras counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Watras ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Xavier takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Watras takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Watras with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watras misses the jab.
Xavier displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Watras throws out the jab.
Xavier lands a jab to the nose.

Watras clinches up with Xavier and pushes him back against the cage.

Xavier has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Watras is trying to keep an underhook but Xavier manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Watras trying to control from the bottom.
Watras is refusing to be controlled, as Xavier sits in half guard.
Watras wants to get back to his feet.
Watras keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watras is concentrating on defense, preventing Xavier from advancing position.
Xavier wants to pass the guard but Watras is defending well.
Xavier frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Bruno Xavier has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Xavier thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Xavier misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Saul Watras is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Xavier looking to secure an arm triangle but Watras defends it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Bruno Xavier.
I think Watras has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Saul Watras!