PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Xtian Forward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Papip Antioquia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Forward
vs
Antioquia

175 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Xtian Forward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Papip Antioquia!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Stewart Dunkirk and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Forward.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Antioquia is trying to control Forward's posture but Forward avoids it.
Antioquia tries to bench press Forward off him but Forward keeps the position.
Forward grinds an elbow into Antioquia's temple.
Forward trying to control the position but Antioquia is working away.
Antioquia is trying to get back to his feet.
Antioquia is looking for a sweep.
Forward trying to control the action but Antioquia is working from the bottom.

Forward stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Antioquia misses

and Forward counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Forward.
Forward slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Antioquia is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Forward is looking to stand up but Antioquia won't let him.
Forward wants to control from the top but Antioquia keeps moving.
Forward pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Antioquia is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Forward trying to control the position from guard on top but Antioquia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Xtian Forward just wasn't active enough.

Antioquia feints and as Forward raises his hands in defense, Antioquia changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Antioquia wants to stand but Forward has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Antioquia looks gassed!

Forward is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Antioquia defends well.
Antioquia trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Antioquia trying to control the position from guard on top but Forward is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Forward throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Forward keeping moving, preventing Antioquia from controlling successfully.
Forward trying to control the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Papip Antioquia was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Antioquia clinches with his opponent.
Forward stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Antioquia manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Forward throwing strikes from guard but Antioquia blocks nicely.
Antioquia looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Forward puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Forward wants to stand up but Antioquia is controlling the position.
Forward is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Antioquia is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Antioquia wants to control but Forward is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xtian Forward dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Forward gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Antioquia tries to stand but Forward is controlling from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Forward looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Forward is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Antioquia trying to control but Forward postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Forward wants to control but Antioquia is keeping him busy.
Forward wants to pass the guard but Antioquia is defending well.
Antioquia wants to get back to his feet.
Forward controlling the action here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Antioquia gets back to full guard.
Antioquia pulls Forward in close to prevent any damage.

That's two 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.
Antioquia keeping moving, preventing Forward from controlling successfully.

We're going to have a standup here because Xtian Forward wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Forward swats away the attempt to clinch by Antioquia.
Forward avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Antioquia jabs at Forward's body.
Antioquia tries for a takedown but Forward circles away easily

and Forward moves into the clinch.
Antioquia looking to slow down the pace here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Antioquia drops down looking for an ankle pick but Forward pulls his leg out and moves away.
Antioquia with a lazy takedown attempt

so Forward counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Xtian Forward has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Papip Antioquia.
Forward postures up.
Forward working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Antioquia trying to keep a closed guard but Forward is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Papip Antioquia hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Forward has managed to clinch.
Antioquia stalling against the cage.
A hook to the body from Antioquia.
Antioquia avoids the elbow strike from Forward, against the cage.
Antioquia tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Forward breaks from the clinch.
Forward is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Antioquia tries to clinch there but Forward circles away.

Antioquia shoots in and bounces Forward off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Forward is controlling Antioquia's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xtian Forward dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Antioquia gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Forward counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Forward.
Xtian Forward overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Forward is stalling in the full guard.
Antioquia wants to stand but Forward is controlling the position.
Forward sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Antioquia looking to hit a scissor sweep but Forward is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Xtian Forward wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Forward drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Forward throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Antioquia works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Antioquia not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Antioquia doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Forward stopping the sweep attempt from Antioquia.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Forward not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Papip Antioquia has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Antioquia has Forward up against the cage in a clinch.
Antioquia tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Forward just stands there and leans against the cage.
Antioquia tries for a takedown but Forward manages to get underhooks.
Xtian Forward has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Papip Antioquia.
Forward tries to circle away but Antioquia has him pinned against the cage.

Antioquia has clasped his hands together around Forward's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Forward on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Forward is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Antioquia decides to stand back up.
Antioquia with a lazy takedown attempt

and Forward decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Antioquia's guard.
Antioquia working a defensive guard here.
Forward trying to control but Antioquia is working from the bottom.

Antioquia is looking for a triangle here but Forward uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Antioquia bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Forward scores with a takedown into Antioquia's guard.
Forward stands and throws Antioquia's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Forward goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Antioquia has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Forward but great work by Antioquia.

Antioquia decides to take the fight back to the feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Forward feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Papip Antioquia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Xtian Forward is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Antioquia has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Forward can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xtian Forward showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Forward, 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xtian Forward!