PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ham Xu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rob Elsworth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Elsworth is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Iron Maiden - Killers . Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Xu
vs
Elsworth

180 cm
29
215 lbs
16 - 5 - 1

190 cm
25
209 lbs
15 - 11 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Powerful

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 16 - 5 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ham Xu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rob Elsworth!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Valeri Chadov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Elsworth lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Elsworth is looking to clinch but Xu is avoiding it.
Elsworth just misses with a punch to the body.
Elsworth takes a swing at Xu's ribcage but misses.
Xu throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Elsworth's waist but Elsworth gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Xu off to one side.
Rob Elsworth seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Elsworth throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Elsworth getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Xu ducks under a wild hook from Elsworth.

Xu throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Elsworth was covering up waiting for the punch and Xu finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Elsworth working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Xu.
Xu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Xu accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Xu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Xu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Elsworth swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xu looking to sit in guard and control but Elsworth gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Elsworth preventing the sweep.
Xu bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Elsworth's guard.
Xu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Elsworth looking for a sweep. Not yet Elsworth, not yet.
Elsworth wants to get back to his feet but Xu is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Xu throwing strikes from guard but Elsworth blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Xu distracts Elsworth with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Xu loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Xu is looking to work some ground and pound but Elsworth has wrist control.
Elsworth utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Xu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Xu working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Elsworth keeping moving, preventing Xu from controlling successfully.
Xu throws a strike but Elsworth rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xu not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Xu looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Xu is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Elsworth defends well.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Xu is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Elsworth defends well.
Elsworth really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Xu. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Elsworth stopping the sweep attempt from Xu.

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.
Xu wants to stand up but Elsworth is controlling him.

Xu is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Elsworth avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Elsworth ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Xu moves away.
Xu dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Elsworth. That did some damage!
Jab by Xu.
Xu jabs Elsworth right on the nose. Elsworth blinks but takes it well.
Elsworth lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Elsworth pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A clash of legs there as Elsworth blocks the low kick.
Elsworth looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Xu with a nice cross.
Xu throws out a powerful jab.
Elsworth is looking to score with low kicks.
Elsworth throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Xu tries to keep at a distance but Elsworth has taken the fight into the clinch.
Elsworth scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Xu lands with a light punch inside.
Elsworth works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Elsworth is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Xu is defending well for now.
Elsworth comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Elsworth lands with a left to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Elsworth is pressed up against the cage. Xu has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Elsworth down to the mat. Elsworth avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Xu shoots in and drives through. Elsworth sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elsworth is looking to score with low kicks.
Xu misses with a lunging right hand
and Elsworth counters with a body kick that stops Xu in his tracks momentarily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Elsworth misses with a body kick.
Xu swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A solid body kick from Elsworth.
Good leg kick by Xu there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Xu avoids the head kick by Elsworth.
Elsworth pushes Xu away with a front kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Elsworth. Xu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Xu throws a shot from downtown. Elsworth moves away and avoids it.
Elsworth just misses with a punch to the body.
Elsworth moves into range and connects with a jab.
Xu steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Elsworth. That one must have hurt.
Elsworth scores with a leg kick.
Xu on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Xu takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Elsworth changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Elsworth scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Elsworth connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Xu momentarily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Elsworth is looking to land body kicks.
Rob Elsworth is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Elsworth darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Elsworth lands a nice looking body kick.
Xu will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Elsworth lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Xu sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Elsworth scoring well with a low kick there.
Elsworth fakes the leg kick and cracks Xu in the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Elsworth.
Elsworth throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Elsworth lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Elsworth tries to clinch up but Xu circles away and keeps his distance.
Elsworth scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Elsworth lands a leg kick that knocks Xu off balance momentarily.
A swing and a miss from Xu.
Elsworth tries to clinch up.
Elsworth throws a nice inside leg kick.
Elsworth throws a wild body kick that Xu sees coming a mile off.

Xu bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Elsworth is trying to get back to half guard.
Xu throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Xu looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Elsworth is looking for a sweep.
Elsworth manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Elsworth controlling the position for now.
Xu takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Xu sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Elsworth defending well though.
Xu not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Xu sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Elsworth defending well though.
Xu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Elsworth's head.
Xu wants to free his trapped foot but Elsworth is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Elsworth regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Xu.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Xu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Elsworth works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Elsworth showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nice body punch from Elsworth.
Xu throws a series of punches but Elsworth avoids them all with ease.
Elsworth throws a head kick but Xu moves out of range.
Xu scores with a sloppy right hand. Elsworth should have avoided that one.
Elsworth scores with a sloppy right hand. Xu should have avoided that one.
Xu tries for a takedown but Elsworth sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Elsworth misses with a body kick.
Elsworth avoids the head kick by Xu.
A cross from Elsworth lands.
Elsworth takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Elsworth gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Xu is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Xu throwing strikes but missing.
Xu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xu wants to control from the top but Elsworth keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Elsworth looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Xu trying to control the position from guard on top but Elsworth is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Elsworth is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Xu working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Xu throws a big right hand that misses.

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.
Xu working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Xu thows a big elbow that misses.
Elsworth working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Xu.
Elsworth keeping full guard, as Xu tries to pass.
Xu throws a big right hand that misses.
Xu thows a big elbow that misses.
Xu content to stall in guard here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Xu accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xu working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Xu accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Xu throws a big right hand that misses.
Xu throwing strikes from guard but Elsworth blocks nicely.
Xu thows a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Xu is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Xu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Elsworth keeping moving, preventing Xu from controlling successfully.
Xu lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Xu trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Xu is looking to work some ground and pound but Elsworth has wrist control.
Xu throwing strikes from guard but Elsworth blocks nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ham Xu showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Xu has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ham Xu!