PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Elton Jan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Didi Xabi (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.

Jan
vs
Xabi

185 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
19
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight 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, Elton Jan!
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, Didi Xabi!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Robert Twigg and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jan fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Xabi sprawls well initially but Jan persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Xabi is defending against the submission attempts here by Jan.
Jan wants to control but Xabi is keeping him busy.

Jan is trying to work for a kimura but Xabi is defending well.
Xabi tries to get to full guard but Jan has control of the leg.

Jan is working for a submission of some sort.
Jan controlling the pace.
Xabi tries to roll over but Jan keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Xabi with a lazy takedown attempt

and Jan counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Xabi's guard now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Xabi has his foot on Jan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Jan works his way back into a safe position though.

Xabi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Jan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Jan manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Jan thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Jan trying to control but Xabi is working from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Jan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Xabi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Xabi keeping moving, preventing Jan from controlling successfully.

Xabi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Xabi manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jan gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Xabi is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Xabi looks gassed!
Jan is looking to improve his position.
Xabi trying to pass the guard but Jan defending well.
Jan regains full guard. Nicely done.
Jan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Xabi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Xabi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Jan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xabi pushes down on Jan's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Xabi trying to mount his opponent but Jan defends it.

Xabi is working for a kimura but Jan is defending it quite comfortably.

Jan looking for submissions off his back.
Jan is looking to control Xabi's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Jan avoid being mounted?
Jan manages to get to full guard.
Jan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Xabi manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Xabi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Jan passes into half guard.

Xabi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Jan moves nicely into side control.

Jan is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Xabi has escaped the position, nice work there.
Jan is chipping away with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elton Jan dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Xabi fails with the takedown

and Jan counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Jan throws a big right hand that misses.
Jan slips nicely into half guard.
Xabi is trying to get back to full guard.
Jan is thwarting Xabi's attempts to control the position.
Xabi regains full guard. Nicely done.
Jan wants to control from the top but Xabi keeps moving.
Xabi is breathing heavily.
Jan pushing down on Xabi's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jan is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Xabi defends it well.
Xabi is trying to control but Jan passes into side control!
Xabi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Jan tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Jan has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Xabi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Jan is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Xabi has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Xabi gets back to half guard.
Jan thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Xabi makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Xabi.
Xabi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jan manages to get himself to full guard.
Xabi tries to free his leg and advance position but Jan is retaining full guard.
Jan is trying to keep Xabi in close.

Jan is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xabi tries to free his leg and advance position but Jan is retaining full guard.
Xabi postures up.

Jan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Xabi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Jan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Xabi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Xabi misses with a takedown attempt

and Jan counters with a single leg into guard. Xabi didn't expect that.

Xabi is looking for a triangle but Jan pushes his legs off easily.
Xabi keeping moving, preventing Jan from controlling successfully.

Xabi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Jan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Xabi looking for a guillotine here but Jan defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jan wants to control from the top but Xabi keeps moving.
Xabi is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Jan gets to his feet. Xabi looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Jan drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Xabi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elton Jan dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Xabi has his takedown stuffed

and Jan counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Jan has Xabi pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Jan pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Xabi tumbling to the mat - Jan dives into Xabi's guard.

Xabi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Jan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Jan sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Xabi's guard.
Jan trying to pass the guard but Xabi defending well.

Jan is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Xabi is just riding it out for now. Jan eventually gives up the hold.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Xabi is looking for a sweep. Jan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jan is tying to control. Xabi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Xabi regains full guard. Nicely done.

Xabi looking for a guillotine here but Jan defends easily.
Jan advances position into side control!
Xabi tries to buck Jan off but Jan is having none of it.

Jan is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Xabi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Jan is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Xabi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Elton Jan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xabi manages to get back to half guard.
Xabi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Xabi is staying active underneath Jan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Xabi wants to get back to full guard but Jan has passed into side control.
Jan working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Jan tries to control but Xabi wriggling away.

Jan looking to secure an arm triangle but Xabi defends it well.
Xabi is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jan scoring with strikes but Xabi is staying in there.
Xabi tries to improve his position but instead Jan has taken his back!
Xabi is trying to break free.

Jan is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Xabi defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Xabi breaks Jan's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Jan striking off his back but it's not causing Xabi any problems.
Didi Xabi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Xabi forces his way into half guard.

Jan has one foot on Xabi's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jan drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Xabi sneaks back into half guard.
Jan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Xabi keeps working.
Xabi moves into full guard.
Elton Jan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Xabi is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Jan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Xabi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Xabi keeping moving, preventing Jan from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Xabi is on top in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Elton Jan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Jan has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elton Jan!