PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Xin Xiao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Guilherme Pascoal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Xiao
vs
Pascoal

170 cm
19
162 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
19
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Xin Xiao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Guilherme Pascoal!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pascoal throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Xiao sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Pascoal misses with a series of wild punches.
Xiao swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Donk. Pascoal catches Xiao right on the button with a cross.
Xiao throws out a loose jab but Pascoal uses good head movement to avoid it.
Xiao slips a jab and a cross from Pascoal.
Xiao misses the jab.
Guilherme Pascoal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circling - Xiao throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Pascoal moves into the clinch successfully.
Xiao tries to break free but Pascoal pushes him back against the cage.
Pascoal holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Xiao pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Pascoal clinches up with Xiao and pushes him back against the cage.

Pascoal breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Xiao swinging wildly here.
Pascoal avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Pascoal misses with a double jab
and Xiao counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Xiao drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pascoal swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Xiao scores with a one two! Pascoal had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Xiao misses the target.
Xiao missing with a left hand there. Pascoal was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Pascoal unleashes a big counter combination but Xiao bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Xiao throws a hook but Pascoal avoids it easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Pascoal fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Xiao, pushing him back against the cage.
Xiao blocks an uppercut.

Pascoal escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pascoal falls off balance throwing a combination
and Pascoal takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Xiao throws a looping overhand right but Pascoal ducks down to avoid it.
And Pascoal tries to counter it with a takedown but Xiao pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pascoal has closed the distance and engaged Xiao in a clinch.
Pascoal keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Xiao's efforts to push away.
Xiao blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short left from Pascoal.
Pascoal has Xiao pressed against the cage, preventing Xiao from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Pascoal escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Xiao misses with a hook. Pascoal ducked under it nicely.
Pascoal with the counter takedown but Xiao avoids it easily.
Xiao is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Pascoal's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Pascoal throws a combination that misses
letting Xiao counter with a right hand.

Pascoal clinches up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pascoal lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Pascoal effectively controlling the action here.
Pascoal swings wildly with an uppercut but Xiao uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pascoal working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Pascoal escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Xiao scores with a jab to the jaw.
Xiao has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Xin Xiao has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Xiao looks to land a left hand but Pascoal moved out of range nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Guilherme Pascoal dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Xin Xiao's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Xiao cracks Pascoal with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Pascoal clinches.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Xiao is trying to force a seperation but Pascoal has the dominant position.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pascoal's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Pascoal scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pascoal lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Pascoal stalling against the cage.

Pascoal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pascoal jabs Xiao right on the nose. Xiao blinks but takes it well.

Pascoal rushes Xiao and presses him up against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Pascoal swings wildly with an uppercut but Xiao uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pascoal keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Xiao's efforts to push away.
Pascoal stalling.
Pascoal misses with some punches.

Pascoal manages to break the clinch.
Xiao looks to land a right hand but Pascoal moved out of range.
Xiao moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Pascoal moves into range and clinches up with Xiao.

Pascoal breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xiao works Pascoal's body with a nice hook.
Pascoal misses with a two punch combination.
Xiao swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A big right from Xiao misses.
Xiao throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Xiao takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Pascoal forces Xiao back against the cage and clinches.
Pascoal stalling the fight.

Pascoal pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Xiao looks to land a right hand but Pascoal moved out of range.
Pascoal lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Xiao circles away quickly and effectively.
Xiao is looking for a counter combo.

Pascoal clinches up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pascoal leaning against his opponent.
Pascoal has Xiao pressed against the cage.
Xiao has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Pascoal's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Xiao bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Pascoal in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Pascoal throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Xiao counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
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!
Pascoal throws a combination that misses
and Xiao counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Pascoal gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Xiao is looking to break free of the clinch but Pascoal has double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Guilherme Pascoal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Xin Xiao's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Xiao scores with a jab to the body.
Pascoal rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Xiao moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Xiao misses the target.
Pascoal throws out a loose jab but Xiao uses good head movement to avoid it.

Pascoal moves into the clinch.
Xiao wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pascoal stalling against the cage.
Xiao tries to break the clinch but Pascoal is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pascoal breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Xiao misses with an uppercut. Pascoal saw that one coming.
Pascoal is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Pascoal bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pascoal throws a lazy uppercut
and Xiao counters with a nice uppercut.

Pascoal instigates a clinch.
Guilherme Pascoal seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Pascoal escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pascoal pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Xiao back to the cage. Pascoal follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Pascoal closes the distance and clinches.
Xiao is looking to break free of the clinch but Pascoal has double underhooks.
Pascoal has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Pascoal leaning against his opponent.

Pascoal manages to break the clinch.
Pascoal ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Pascoal forces Xiao back against the cage and clinches.
Xin Xiao has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pascoal tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Pascoal has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Xiao can't break the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Xiao fails to land.
Pascoal lands with a right to the head.
Xiao wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Pascoal.
Pascoal lands a hook that snaps the head of Xiao backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head punch on the inside from Xiao fails to land.
A short left from Pascoal.
Xiao looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pascoal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pascoal walks into a left hand.
Xiao throws out a loose jab but Pascoal uses good head movement to avoid it.

Pascoal rushes Xiao and presses him up against the cage.
Xiao looking to slow down the pace here.
Pascoal misses with a short punch on the inside.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Pascoal tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Xiao fails to land.

Pascoal pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pascoal swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Xiao counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Pascoal clinches up with Xiao and pushes him back against the cage.
Xiao working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Pascoal slowing the pace effectively.
A short right from Pascoal on the inside.
Xiao tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Xiao tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pascoal lands with a left to the head.
Xiao blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Pascoal lands a body punch.
Guilherme Pascoal is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Xiao working aggressively here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Guilherme Pascoal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pascoal winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for Guilherme Pascoal!
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Guilherme Pascoal!
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight for Guilherme Pascoal!

Guilherme Pascoal wins by unanimous decision!