PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Project Xyz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vasily Gubarev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gubarev has chosen Mutant Ninja as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Xyz
vs
Gubarev

195 cm
23
225 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
23
205 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 St Petersburg, Project Xyz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Vasily Gubarev!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Patrick Alders and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Xyz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gubarev tries to clinch up.
Gubarev tries to clinch there but Xyz circles away.
Gubarev closes the distance looking to clinch

and Xyz counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gubarev is trying is best to control the position here.
Xyz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gubarev is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Xyz wants to pass to mount but Gubarev is defending the position.
Gubarev is concentrating on defense, preventing Xyz from advancing position.
Xyz thows a huge punch but Gubarev dodges it nicely.
Gubarev wants to improve his position but Xyz is controlling well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gubarev wants to control but Xyz is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Gubarev is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gubarev is trying to control but can't.
Xyz takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Xyz is looking to take a break and control but Gubarev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gubarev tries to roll over but Xyz keeps him under control.
Gubarev trying to control here.
Xyz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gubarev wants to control but Xyz is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Xyz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gubarev trying to control but Xyz postures up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Vasily Gubarev wasn't active enough on the ground.
Xyz circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xyz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Xyz shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Xyz was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The strikes coming from Xyz are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Xyz working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Gubarev can't do much from the bottom here.
Xyz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Xyz lands a nice forearm strike.
Xyz tries to score with some ground and pound. Gubarev controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Xyz tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Gubarev is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Xyz off and has taken his back!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Oooh a big shot gets through from Gubarev. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Gubarev misses with punches from the back.
Gubarev throwing sloppy strikes.
Gubarev throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Xyz has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Gubarev.
Xyz wants to control his opponent's hands but Gubarev gets his hands free.
Gubarev doesn't have the hooks in and Xyz manages to turn into his guard.
Xyz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gubarev is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Xyz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Xyz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gubarev swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Xyz landing some decent shots from guard.
Gubarev looking to control.
Xyz controlling from the top position.
We've been hearing that Xyz has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Xyz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gubarev controlling Xyz's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Vasily Gubarev.
Xyz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gubarev as he avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gubarev takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Gubarev throws a leg kick but Xyz moved away.
Gubarev closes the distance but Xyz moves to the side
and Xyz counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Gubarev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Xyz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gubarev tries to clinch up but Xyz circles away and keeps his distance.
Gubarev wants to clinch.
Gubarev is looking to clinch but Xyz is avoiding it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Xyz lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Xyz moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Gubarev fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gubarev tries to clinch there but Xyz circles away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Xyz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gubarev wants to clinch but Xyz slips to the side
and Xyz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gubarev takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Vasily Gubarev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gubarev takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Xyz takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Project Xyz dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Gubarev wants to clinch.
Xyz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Gubarev.
Gubarev darts in trying to clinch
enabling Xyz to counter with a crisp jab.
Xyz uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Xyz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gubarev moves away.
Xyz swats away the attempt to clinch by Gubarev.
Gubarev doesn't manage to clinch there - Xyz circles away.
Gubarev tries to close the distance and clinch but Xyz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Xyz swats away the attempt to clinch by Gubarev.
Vasily Gubarev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gubarev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Xyz is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Gubarev is looking to clinch but Xyz is avoiding it.
Gubarev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Xyz swats away the attempt to clinch by Gubarev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xyz shoots in looking for a takedown. Gubarev tries to sprawl out of it but Xyz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gubarev manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A jab from Xyz misses.
Gubarev is looking to clinch but Xyz is avoiding it.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Gubarev lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Xyz has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Xyz and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Gubarev lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Gubarev looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gubarev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Xyz fails with the takedown.
Gubarev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gubarev defending well as Xyz loads up on a big left hand.
Xyz getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Gubarev uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Xyz.
Xyz checks a leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Gubarev.
Xyz is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xyz chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gubarev can pounce on him.
Gubarev uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Xyz.
Xyz circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gubarev wants to clinch

and Xyz counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Xyz is thwarting Gubarev's attempts to control the position.
Xyz takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Xyz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gubarev is looking to improve his position.
Xyz is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Gubarev tries to roll over but Xyz keeps him under control.
Xyz lands with a punch from half guard.
Project Xyz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gubarev trying to hold on to Xyz's head to control him but Xyz postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gubarev wants to get back to full guard.
Gubarev is not content to let Xyz control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Gubarev trying to control here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gubarev manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gubarev wants to sweep but no luck.
Gubarev is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gubarev has momentary wrist control but Xyz slips an elbow through the middle.
Xyz works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Xyz working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Gubarev trying to get back to full guard but Xyz takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gubarev tries to hold on but Xyz postures up.
Xyz looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Gubarev is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Xyz cracks Gubarev with a big head shot that has him covering up instantly! He's rolled onto his side and the referee has seen enough - this one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Project Xyz!