PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Zander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Enzo Rinaldi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zander
vs
Rinaldi

176 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 Montreal, Xavier Zander!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Enzo Rinaldi!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Ian Loll and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rinaldi with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Zander to score with a decent uppercut.
Zander leaves Rinaldi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rinaldi moves forwards but Zander connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rinaldi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zander sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Zander fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Rinaldi avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Zander scores with a jab to the body.

Zander closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rinaldi drops down looking for an ankle pick but Zander pulls his leg out and moves away.
Xavier Zander has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Enzo Rinaldi.
Zander lands with a straight right. Rinaldi didn't see that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rinaldi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Zander is trying to break the clinch but Rinaldi is controlling him.
Rinaldi has Zander pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Zander manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Zander blocks the elbow strike.
Rinaldi misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Rinaldi manages to pull guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Zander trying to control but Rinaldi is working from the bottom.
Rinaldi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zander pushes down on Rinaldi's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Rinaldi is trying to stand up here but Zander is controlling him well.
Zander trying to control the pace.

Rinaldi makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zander misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rinaldi.
Zander fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rinaldi shoots in but Zander avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Zander misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rinaldi.

Zander has taken the fight to the clinch.
Zander can't break the clinch.

Rinaldi breaks from the clinch.
Enzo Rinaldi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zander keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A big left from Rinaldi misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zander gets caught napping as Rinaldi dives in and scores a takedown. Zander manages to retain guard.
Rinaldi wants to control from the top but Zander keeps moving.
Zander is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Enzo Rinaldi was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Rinaldi slips a jab and a cross from Zander.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Xavier Zander will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rinaldi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zander circles away quickly and effectively.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rinaldi.
Rinaldi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Zander shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zander stuffs the takedown attempt from Rinaldi. Rinaldi gets slowly back to his feet.
Enzo Rinaldi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rinaldi clinches.
Zander wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rinaldi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zander's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zander prevents a takedown attempt there.
Xavier Zander has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Enzo Rinaldi.

Rinaldi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zander has a takedown stuffed.
Rinaldi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Rinaldi rushes Zander and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rinaldi taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rinaldi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zander throws a lazy right hand but Rinaldi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zander shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zander lands a body shot.

Rinaldi gets tackled into the cage by Zander. Zander maintains the clinch.

Rinaldi has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Zander uses from the top position.
Rinaldi wants to stand but Zander is controlling the position.

Rinaldi has his feet on Zander's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zander will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rinaldi throws a series of punches but Zander moves out of range.
Rinaldi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zander sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Rinaldi shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rinaldi is breathing heavily.
Zander trying to get back to full guard but Rinaldi takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zander sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rinaldi is taking a breather. Zander says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Enzo Rinaldi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Zander swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Rinaldi.
Zander wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Rinaldi moves into the clinch.
Rinaldi goes for a takedown in the clinch but Zander prevents it.
Zander prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rinaldi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Xavier Zander has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Enzo Rinaldi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rinaldi is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Zander to keep the fight standing.
Zander tries to break the clinch but Rinaldi is controlling the position.
Rinaldi is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Zander pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Rinaldi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rinaldi throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Zander has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Zander slips a jab and a cross from Rinaldi.
Rinaldi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zander lands a nice shot to the body.
Rinaldi walks into a jab.

Rinaldi tries to keep at a distance but Zander has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zander manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Zander is adopting a defensive guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Rinaldi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Xavier Zander has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Rinaldi misses with a takedown attempt - Zander sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zander clinches up with Rinaldi and pushes him back against the cage.
Rinaldi is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Zander pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rinaldi is looking for a takedown.
Zander has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rinaldi wants a takedown.
Rinaldi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Zander tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rinaldi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Rinaldi clinches.
Zander has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Zander manages to pull guard.
Zander looking to control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Rinaldi is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Xavier Zander has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rinaldi is defended easily by Zander.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rinaldi gets cracked there but stands up to it.

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 Xavier Zander.
I think Zander 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Enzo Rinaldi!