PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jean Mathieu Xavier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrey Kocherga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Xavier comes to the cage accompanied by Entwine - Surrender. Jean Mathieu Xavier has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mathieu Xavier
vs
Kocherga

193 cm
25
184 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
183 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Jean Mathieu Xavier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Andrey Kocherga!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Steven Brown and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kocherga pushes Xavier up against the cage in a clinch.
Xavier avoids a wild elbow strike from Kocherga.
Kocherga throws an elbow but it misses.
Kocherga missing with knees to the body.
Kocherga using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Xavier has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kocherga tries a knee to the head but Xavier blocks it.
Kocherga misses with a knee to the head.
Kocherga swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Xavier dodges an elbow strike from Kocherga.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Xavier is trying to break free.
Kocherga misses with some punches.
Kocherga with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kocherga tries a knee to the head but Xavier blocks it.
Xavier blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xavier throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kochergas head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Xavier is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kocherga pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Kocherga with an attempt at a knee that misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kocherga throws an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kocherga tries to land a knee to the head but Xavier blocks with his arms.
Xavier dodges an elbow strike from Kocherga.
Kocherga creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kocherga misses with an elbow strike.
Xavier is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kocherga obliges.
Kocherga looking to throw knees to the head but Xavier is blocking nicely.
Kocherga misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Xavier.
Kocherga looks gassed!
Kocherga misses with an elbow over the top.
Kocherga lands an elbow just above Xavier 's eye.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kocherga as Xavier tries to tie him up.
Kocherga with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Xavier avoids a wild elbow strike from Kocherga.
A nice right hand lands inside from Xavier.
Xavier dodges an elbow strike from Kocherga.
Kocherga tries a knee to the head but Xavier blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kocherga is trying to break the clinch but Xavier is controlling him.
Kocherga works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Kocherga using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Xavier has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Xavier pushes Kocherga back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Xavier with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Xavier tries to stall but Kocherga uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Xavier scores with a shoulder strike.
Kocherga throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Xavier blocks it with crossed arms.
Xavier misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kocherga tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Xavier scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kocherga throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kocherga prevents Xavier from breaking the clinch.
Kocherga managing to block the knees to the body from Xavier.
Xavier is trying to push Kocherga away but Kocherga has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kocherga keeps control of Xavier as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Xavier lands with a light punch inside.
Xavier trying to control the position but instead, Kocherga has worked for underhooks and has pushed Xavier into the cage.
Kocherga trying to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kocherga is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Xavier is keeping busy.
Xavier lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kocherga backwards.
Xavier looking to stall.
Xavier makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kocherga throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Xavier is trying to stall.
Kocherga comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kocherga pushes off an throws an elbow but Xavier leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Kocherga with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kocherga avoids the elbow strike from Xavier, against the cage.
Xavier is trying to break the clinch but Kocherga has him pressed against the cage.
Xavier managing to block the knees to the body from Kocherga.
Xavier makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Xavier wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Good body shot from Xavier.

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.
Kocherga tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Xavier avoids it.
Xavier misses with the head strike.
Kocherga prevents Xavier from breaking the clinch.
Xavier trying to stall but Kocherga improves his position.
Xavier takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kocherga using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Xavier has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Xavier working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Xavier misses with a punch on the inside.
Xavier cracks Kocherga with a nice body shot.
Xavier is trying to maintain a safe position but Kocherga gets an underhook and turns Xavier into the cage.
Xavier blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short uppercut from Xavier.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Xavier wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Xavier is trying to break the clinch but Kocherga has him pressed against the cage.
Kocherga throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Xavier blocks it with crossed arms.
Xavier scores with a shot to the side of Kocherga's head.
Xavier lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Kocherga dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Xavier moves in looking to clinch but Kocherga pushes him off.
Andrey Kocherga is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Xavier tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kocherga fails with an attempt to clinch.
Xavier closes the distance looking to clinch

and Kocherga holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Xavier blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kocherga throws a knee to the head but misses.
Xavier lands with a short punch from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kocherga trying to land knees to the body.
Xavier swings wildly with an uppercut but Kocherga uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kocherga tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kocherga is breathing heavily.
Kocherga lands with a right to the head.
Kocherga throws a knee to the head but misses.
Xavier lands a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kocherga misses with an elbow over the top.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kocherga throws an elbow but misses.
Xavier avoids the elbow strike from Kocherga, against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kocherga as Xavier tries to tie him up.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kocherga looking to throw knees to the head but Xavier is blocking nicely.
Xavier is trying to maintain a safe position but Kocherga gets an underhook and turns Xavier into the cage.
Kocherga looking to throw knees to the head but Xavier is blocking nicely.
Xavier lands a right hand.
Xavier blocks the elbow strike.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kocherga prevents Xavier from breaking the clinch.
Xavier has a couple of punches blocked by Kocherga.
Kocherga throws an elbow that misses.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Kocherga in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Xavier looking to slow down the pace here.
Kocherga throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Xavier blocks it with crossed arms.
Xavier is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Xavier looking to stall.
Kocherga pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Maybe Xavier would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
Xavier blocks an uppercut.
Xavier is trying to push Kocherga away but Kocherga has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kocherga's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kocherga is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Xavier is defending well for now.
Kocherga is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Xavier is defending well for now.
Xavier lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kocherga.
Xavier is looking to control Kocherga's arms but Kocherga gets an underhook and turns him. Now Xavier has his back to the cage.
Xavier has Kocherga pushed against the cage.
Kocherga has Xavier pressed against the cage, preventing Xavier from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Xavier is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kocherga is keeping busy.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Jean Mathieu Xavier.
Xavier scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xavier fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kocherga tries to clinch up.
Kocherga tries to clinch up but Xavier circles away and keeps his distance.
Xavier lands with a hook. Kocherga tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Kocherga fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kocherga drops his hands momentarily and Xavier takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kocherga tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Xavier counters with a left to the body.
Xavier lands with a straight right. Kocherga didn't see that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kocherga avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Xavier looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Xavier is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kocherga tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kocherga takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kocherga fails in his attempt to clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Xavier circles away from the clinch attempt
and Xavier counters with a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jean Mathieu Xavier dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Kocherga tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Xavier's jab looks to have found its range, popping Kocherga under the eye.
Kocherga fails with an attempt to clinch.
Xavier scores with a nice right hand.
Kocherga is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kocherga tries to clinch but Xavier moves out of range.
Kocherga circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xavier circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kocherga fails with an attempt to clinch.
Xavier's corner calls for a 1-2. Xavier obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Xavier circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kocherga takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kocherga swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Xavier counters with a left to the body.
Xavier avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Xavier wants to clinch.
Kocherga is looking to clinch.
Xavier scores with a body shot.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Xavier, as that shot connected.
Kocherga takes a jab right on the kisser.
Kocherga fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kocherga fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xavier throws a leg kick but Kocherga sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Xavier avoids the head kick by Kocherga.
Kocherga throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Xavier counter with a right hand.
Xavier tries to clinch but Kocherga is having none of it.
Kocherga closes the distance looking to clinch
and Xavier counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Xavier tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kocherga paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Xavier avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Xavier stalks Kocherga and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Kocherga's face. Kocherga staggers backwards, shaken.
Xavier's jab looks to have found its range, popping Kocherga under the eye.
Xavier pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Kocherga back to the cage. Xavier follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Kocherga is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kocherga takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Xavier cracks Kocherga with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Xavier scores with a nice strike.
Xavier throws out a leg kick but Kocherga moves out of range and Xavier only half commits.
Kocherga throws a left and a right that both miss
and Xavier counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kocherga moves out of range of the leg kick from Xavier.
Xavier will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kocherga moves in looking to clinch but Xavier pushes him off.
Kocherga looks to clinch
and Xavier counters with a left to the body.
Kocherga wants to clinch but Xavier slips to the side
and Xavier cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xavier tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kocherga manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kocherga blocks a leg kick.
Xavier with a nice cross.
Kocherga wants to clinch up but Xavier keeps it at a distance.
Xavier scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kocherga in his tracks.
Xavier lands the left hand.
Xavier tries to close the distance and clinch but Kocherga swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kocherga tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Xavier paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Xavier is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kocherga misses with a combination

and Xavier moves into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jean Mathieu Xavier showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Xavier 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jean Mathieu Xavier!