PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Abel Xavier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Jaa (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.

Xavier
vs
Jaa

180 cm
21
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Decent knees
Granite chin

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, Abel Xavier!
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, Tony Jaa!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Gwen Towbar and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jaa shoots for a takedown but Xavier saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Jaa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Xavier.

Jaa closes the distance and pushes Xavier back into the cage.
Jaa is pressed up against the cage. Xavier has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Jaa down to the mat. Jaa avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Jaa throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Jaa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Xavier manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Jaa fails with the takedown.
Xavier avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Jaa with a lazy takedown attempt

and Xavier holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Abel Xavier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Jaa.
Jaa is working for takedown but Xavier is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jaa scores with a shoulder strike.
Jaa is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Jaa manages to pull guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Jaa keeping moving, preventing Xavier from controlling successfully.
Xavier throws a big right hand that misses.
Xavier is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Xavier stopping the sweep attempt from Jaa.
Xavier is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xavier cracks Jaa with a solid left hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Xavier postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Xavier throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jaa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Xavier with a nice head shot there.
Xavier throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jaa has momentary wrist control but Xavier slips an elbow through the middle.

Jaa is looking for a triangle but Xavier pushes his legs off easily.
Xavier prevents Jaa from getting back to his feet.
Jaa keeping moving, preventing Xavier from controlling successfully.
Xavier controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xavier keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Jaa's head.
Xavier working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Xavier working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Jaa's head.
Xavier content to stall in guard here.
Xavier makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Jaa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Xavier content to stall in guard here.
Jaa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jaa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Xavier. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xavier sitting in guard here, content to control.
Xavier has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Xavier pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jaa is keeping the position for now.
Xavier throws a big right hand that misses.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Jaa can do anything to dispel that myth.
Xavier postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Xavier pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jaa is keeping the position for now.
Xavier postures up in Jaa's guard and throws a big left but Jaa blocks it.
Jaa has momentary wrist control but Xavier slips an elbow through the middle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jaa being controlled here, momentarily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jaa keeping moving, preventing Xavier from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abel Xavier dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jaa lands a slapping body shot.

Jaa gets a clinch.
Jaa is trying to drag Xavier to the mat but Xavier just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Jaa stalls.
Jaa receives a warning from the referee for stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jaa is trying to pull guard but Xavier turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Jaa has Xavier pressed against the cage.
Xavier tries for a takedown but Jaa manages to get underhooks.
Jaa controlling the action here for a moment.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Tony Jaa.
Xavier swats away the attempt to clinch by Jaa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jaa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jaa with a poor takedown

and Xavier counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Xavier.
Abel Xavier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Jaa.
Jaa is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Xavier to keep the fight standing.
Jaa stops a takedown attempt from Xavier.
Xavier is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Jaa pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Jaa is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Xavier gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaa tries for a takedown but Xavier manages to get underhooks.
Jaa tries for a takedown but Xavier manages to get underhooks.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Xavier is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Jaa jumps into guard, dragging Xavier to the mat.
Xavier keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Jaa's head.
Jaa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Xavier working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xavier wants to control from the top but Jaa keeps moving.
Xavier not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

We're going to have a standup here because Abel Xavier wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Jaa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Xavier swivels and escapes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Jaa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Xavier's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Jaa wants to slow Xavier down by chopping away at his legs.
Abel Xavier is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jaa misses with a takedown attempt - Xavier sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tony Jaa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jaa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jaa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jaa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Xavier swivels and escapes.
Jaa fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Abel Xavier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Jaa.
Jaa tries to close the distance and clinch but Xavier swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Jaa is defended easily by Xavier.
Jaa scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Xavier leaves Jaa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jaa scores with a three punch combo!
Jaa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jaa with a lazy takedown attempt

and Xavier counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jaa prevents the takedown attempt.
Jaa goes for a takedown attempt but Xavier pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Xavier keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jaa shoots in and drives through. Xavier sprawls well.
Xavier stuffs the takedown attempt from Jaa. Jaa gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xavier stuffs the takedown.
Horrible takedown by Jaa or perhaps it was just good defense by Xavier which made him look bad.
Jaa wants to clinch up but Xavier keeps it at a distance.
Jaa misses with a takedown

and Xavier counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Xavier.
Jaa is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Xavier to keep the fight standing.

Jaa breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jaa misses with a wild combination.
Jaa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Jaa dives in and grabs Xavier's left leg, looking for a takedown. Xavier pushes down on Jaa's head and hops out.
Jaa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jaa goes for a double leg but Xavier avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Xavier continues to drive forward.
Xavier goes for a takedown in the clinch but Jaa prevents it.
Xavier wants a takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Jaa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Jaa 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Jaa!