PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daisaku Ikeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Xavier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ikeda has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Ikeda
vs
Xavier

185 cm
25
215 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
20
207 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Self confident

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Daisaku Ikeda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, James Xavier!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Hirohito Nitta and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Xavier doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ikeda counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Xavier keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ikeda swings for the body but Xavier moves out of range.
Xavier with a poor takedown
and Ikeda cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A combination from Ikeda does no damage.
Ikeda misses the shot to the body.
Xavier shoots and misses
and Ikeda counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Daisaku Ikeda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Xavier.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ikeda throws a nice looking combination but Xavier bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ikeda is breathing heavily.
Xavier misses with a takedown attempt
and Ikeda counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Xavier gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ikeda counters with a nice uppercut.
Xavier shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ikeda counters with a three punch combo that has Xavier backing up. Xavier nods at Ikeda to acknowledge the strikes.
Xavier with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ikeda counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Xavier misses with a takedown
and Ikeda counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xavier doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ikeda counters with a nice uppercut.
Xavier avoids a punch combination nicely.
Xavier misses with a takedown
and Ikeda counters with a one-two to the body.
Xavier shoots in for a double leg but Ikeda sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xavier keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ikeda throws a series of punches but Xavier avoids them all with ease.
Xavier shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ikeda as he jumps to the side.
Xavier has a takedown stuffed.
Ikeda is looking to wear down Xavier with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Xavier tries for a takedown but Ikeda circles away easily
and Ikeda counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ikeda throws a jab when Xavier was well out of range.

Ikeda gets caught napping as Xavier dives in and scores a takedown. Ikeda manages to retain guard.
Xavier slips nicely into half guard.
Xavier is looking to take a break and control but Ikeda is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Xavier seems content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daisaku Ikeda dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Xavier misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Xavier with a poor takedown
and Ikeda counters with a left to the body.
Xavier takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Ikeda throws out a loose jab but Xavier uses good head movement to avoid it.
Xavier throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ikeda's waist but Ikeda gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Xavier off to one side.
Daisaku Ikeda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Xavier.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Xavier shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Xavier postures up in Ikeda's guard and throws a big left but Ikeda blocks it.
Xavier working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ikeda on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ikeda tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xavier in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Xavier is stalling in the full guard.
Xavier loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Xavier throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Xavier stands and throws Ikeda's legs to the side, diving into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Xavier landing a few strikes.
You can see the frustration on Ikeda's face as Xavier controls the position.
Xavier has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ikeda takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Xavier wants to control but Ikeda is keeping him busy.
Ikeda avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Xavier.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xavier wants to control but Ikeda is keeping him busy.
Xavier just content to control the position.
Xavier tries to score with some ground and pound. Ikeda controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The ground and pound from Xavier seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Xavier looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Ikeda is avoiding damage well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ikeda trying to remain calm as Xavier controls from the top position.
Let's hope that Xavier has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Xavier in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The referee asks Xavier politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Xavier prefers to stall for the moment though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Xavier showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Xavier closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ikeda's guard.
Xavier stands and throws Ikeda's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Xavier cracks Ikeda with a big right hand but Ikeda just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Xavier wants to control but Ikeda is keeping him busy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Xavier cracks Ikeda with a big elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xavier looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Ikeda is avoiding damage well.
Xavier working the ground and pound.
Ikeda is working to avoid the ground and pound but Xavier connects with a decent elbow.
Xavier working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
An elbow from Xavier crashes against the mat.
Xavier landing a few strikes.
Xavier landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Xavier in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xavier scores with a couple of short elbows.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Xavier in side control, throwing shots but Ikeda defends.
Xavier looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Ikeda is avoiding damage well.
Xavier is looking to take a break and control but Ikeda is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ikeda knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Xavier on the ground.
Xavier landing a few strikes.
Xavier working the ground and pound but Ikeda is defending the strikes.
Xavier working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xavier working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
An elbow from Xavier crashes against the mat.
Xavier misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Xavier wants to control but Ikeda is keeping him busy.
Xavier working the ground and pound from side control.
Xavier is looking to take a break and control but Ikeda is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xavier lands a few punches from side control.
An elbow from Xavier crashes against the mat.
Xavier in side control, throwing shots but Ikeda defends.
Xavier in side control, just content to control the action for now.
James Xavier has got the better of the ground game so far.
Xavier working the head and body with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Xavier comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Xavier 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:29

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