PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Siki Zverina (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Xavier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Xavier is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Zverina
vs
Xavier

189 cm
25
208 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
18
203 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Siki Zverina!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Xavier!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, William Gold and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zverina tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Xavier paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zverina shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Xavier defends it nicely.
Xavier fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Siki Zverina seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Zverina clinches with his opponent.
Zverina has had enough of the clinch but Xavier keeps him there for the moment.
Zverina tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Zverina can't get the takedown.

Zverina jumps into guard, dragging Xavier to the mat.
Xavier throwing strikes from guard but Zverina blocks nicely.
Xavier trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zverina working a defensive guard here.
Xavier throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zverina works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Xavier won't allow Zverina to get back to his feet.

Siki Zverina has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Zverina throws a push kick but Xavier slaps the foot to one side.
Zverina misses with a jab, cross combination.
Xavier leaves Zverina with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Siki Zverina. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zverina fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Xavier shoots in but no luck this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xavier shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zverina sprawls well. Zverina wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Xavier gets slowly back to his feet.
Zverina tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Xavier paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Xavier fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Xavier drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Zverina can't do much from the bottom here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Xavier lands some shots froms side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xavier lands a nice forearm strike.
Xavier scores with a couple of short elbows.
Xavier working the ground and pound but Zverina is defending the strikes.
Zverina gets back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zverina gets back to full guard.
Zverina wants to get back to his feet but Xavier passes into half guard.
Xavier stalling away here and it's allowed Zverina to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Zverina looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Zverina throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xavier lands a couple of digs.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Xavier trying to control but Zverina is working from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zverina is adopting a defensive guard.
Zverina keeping moving, preventing Xavier from controlling successfully.
Zverina is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Xavier is controlling him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Zverina is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Xavier is aware though and is defending well.
Xavier throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Michael Xavier will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Xavier stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Xavier wants it to stay on the feet.
Xavier blocks a head kick by Zverina.
Xavier fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Zverina slaps away a takedown attempt from Xavier, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Zverina misses with a head kick.
Zverina is looking to clinch.
Xavier has a takedown stuffed.
Siki Zverina has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Xavier.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zverina is defended easily by Xavier.
Zverina shoots in looking for a takedown. Xavier tries to sprawl out of it but Zverina keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Xavier manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zverina leaves Xavier with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Zverina forces Xavier back against the cage and clinches.
Xavier is pressed up against the cage. Zverina has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Xavier down to the mat. Xavier avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Zverina wants to clinch.
Xavier dodges the punch combination from Zverina.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xavier tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zverina sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Xavier somewhat.
Xavier stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Xavier wants it to stay on the feet.
Xavier shoots for a double leg takedown but Zverina sprawls well. He's pushed Xavier's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Xavier is breathing heavily.
Nice takedown defense from Zverina. No joy for Xavier on that attempt.
Zverina fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zverina shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Xavier as he avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zverina shoots in looking for a takedown but Xavier manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zverina's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zverina 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 keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zverina's efforts to push away.

Xavier ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Xavier no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Xavier is looking to stand back up but Zverina counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Xavier.
Xavier is looking to control Zverina's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Xavier avoid being mounted?
Xavier is refusing to be controlled, as Zverina sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xavier wants to control but Zverina is keeping busy.

Zverina gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Zverina fails with a takedown attempt.
Xavier is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zverina sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Siki Zverina dominated that second round.
That's time! Zverina's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Zverina throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zverina fails to land the takedown.
Zverina slaps away a takedown attempt from Xavier, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Siki Zverina is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zverina tries for a takedown but Xavier sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Zverina fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Siki Zverina. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Xavier closes the distance and clinches up with Zverina, looking for a takedown. Xavier pushes Zverina against the cage but Zverina circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Zverina closes the distance looking to clinch

and Xavier counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zverina pressing his opponent against the cage.
Xavier prevents the takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zverina is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Xavier escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Xavier shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Zverina as he jumps to the side.
Zverina shoots in looking for a takedown but Xavier manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zverina's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zverina closes the distance and clinches up with Xavier, looking for a takedown. Zverina pushes Xavier against the cage but Xavier circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Xavier looking to score a takedown here. Zverina is defending well but Xavier drives through and ends up in Zverina's guard.
Xavier throwing strikes but missing.
Zverina has momentary wrist control but Xavier slips an elbow through the middle.
Xavier looking to sit in guard and control but Zverina gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Zverina trying to control but Xavier is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zverina looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Zverina stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xavier closes the distance and clinches up with Zverina, looking for a takedown. Xavier pushes Zverina against the cage but Zverina circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Zverina is looking to clinch but Xavier is avoiding it.
Zverina tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Xavier counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Michael Xavier has got the better of the ground game so far.
Xavier trying to control but Zverina is working from the bottom.

Zverina pushes Xavier off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zverina fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Xavier avoids it really well and circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Xavier dives in and grabs Zverina's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zverina pushes down on Xavier's head and hops out.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Michael Xavier.
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 Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!