PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight kickboxing rules bout between yi xi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Umberto Grena (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.

xi
vs
Grena

180 cm
18
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
169 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Basic striking
KO power

Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight 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, yi xi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Umberto Grena!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Donald Grub and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
xi thuds his right hand into Grena's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts xi, as that shot connected.

It looks like Umberto Grena has been cut.
Grena keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Grena on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by xi. xi obviously looking to wear him down.
yi xi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
xi connects with a good right hand that stumbles Grena. Grena circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
xi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A cross from xi lands.
xi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
xi fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Grena checks it well.
Grena takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
xi scores with a decent looking hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
xi fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Grena has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Grena avoids the head kick by xi.
xi just misses with a punch to the body.
Despite the aggression on Grena's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
xi scores with a jab to the jaw.
Grena tries to land a body kick
and xi counters with an inside leg kick.
Grena fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and xi has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Grena on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by xi. xi obviously looking to wear him down.
Sloppy strikes from xi. Those never looked like landing.
xi lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Grena closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
xi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
xi lands a hook that snaps the head of Grena backwards.
A right handed body shot lands from Grena.
xi working aggressively here.
A frustrated look appears on Grena's face as he tries to break the clinch.
xi avoids the elbow strike from Grena, against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Grena looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Grena wants to get back to striking at distance but xi won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Grena breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Grena on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by xi. xi obviously looking to wear him down.
xi just misses with a punch to the body.
Decent striking displayed by xi there.

xi has taken the fight to the clinch.
xi misses with a punch on the inside.
xi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
xi misses with a punch to the body.

Grena escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Grena closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch on the inside from xi fails to land.
Grena wants to break the clinch but can't.
xi avoiding damage as Grena throws knees to the body.
xi scores with a nice hook to the head.
Grena wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
xi misses with a hook to the ribs.
xi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
xi throws a head punch that misses.
xi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Grena blocks an uppercut.
Grena fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
xi keeps control of Grena as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Grena has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Grena is trying to push xi away but xi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Grena.
Grena can't break the clinch.
A short right from xi on the inside.

Grena's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Grena clinches.
xi lands a left hand.
Grena blocks a punch to the side of the head.
xi misses with a punch on the inside.
xi is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Grena has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Grena breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice straight punches there by xi. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of xi.
xi avoids the head kick by Grena.
Grena throws a leg kick that misses.
A nice leg kick lands there from xi.
This has been an exciting period of action!

xi gets tackled into the cage by Grena. Grena maintains the clinch.
xi can't find room to land a body shot as Grena controls the action.
xi scores with a nice hook to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Grena.
Grena slows down the pace here.
Grena wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Grena manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

yi xi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Umberto Grena's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Grena clinches up against the cage.
Grena leaning against his opponent.
xi lands a body punch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
xi misses with a hook to the ribs.
xi lands a hook to the side of the head.
xi is leaning against Grena and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
xi lands with a left to the head.
xi lands a body punch.
yi xi has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Grena blocks a body shot from xi.
xi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
xi lands a right hand.
xi landing knees to the body.
Grena is breathing heavily.
xi makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
xi lands a shoulder strike.
A shot in the inside from xi.
xi digs a right hand into Grena's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Grena's gas tank.

That's one minute gone in the round.
xi lands a nice uppercut.
xi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Grena backwards.
xi lands a right hand that snaps the head of Grena backwards.
xi stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
xi lands a left hand that snaps the head of Grena backwards.
xi lands a left hand.
xi lands a body shot in the clinch.
xi lands a body shot in the clinch.
xi works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
xi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Grenas head.
xi lands a hook to the side of the head.
xi works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
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!
A quick uppercut on the inside from xi.
Grena tries to break free but xi pushes him back against the cage.
xi landing knees to the body.
xi lands with a light punch inside.
xi lands a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from xi.
A hook to the body from xi.
Grena takes a knee to the side of the body.
xi is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
xi cracks Grena with a nice body shot.
A right handed body shot lands from xi.
A short right from xi on the inside.
xi digs a right hand into Grena's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Grena's gas tank.
Still in the clinch, xi scores with a nice short uppercut.
xi scores with a nice hook to the head.
xi lands a right hand that snaps the head of Grena backwards.
A nice left hand lands by xi.
A short uppercut from xi.
xi scores with a shoulder strike.
xi misses with the head strike.
xi misses with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
xi lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Grena is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Grena manages to break the clinch.
yi xi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Grena takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Grena takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Grena tries to clinch up but xi circles away and keeps his distance.
xi lands a body shot.
Good exchange - xi coming out on top.
xi cracks Grena with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Grena throws a sloppy head kick and xi moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
That kick from xi tenderised Grena's leg. Grena is trying to keep his angry face on.
xi keeps the fight on the outside.
xi is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
xi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Grena.
A head kick misses from Grena.
Grena checks a leg kick.

Grena moves into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grena is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Grena pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
xi is looking to clinch.
xi lands a lovely overhand right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

yi xi dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Umberto Grena's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Grena has closed the distance and engaged xi in a clinch.
xi has Grena pressed against the cage, preventing Grena from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Grena blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A frustrated look appears on Grena's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for xi.
A quick uppercut on the inside from xi.
xi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Grena backwards.
xi scores with a hook to the body.
Grena's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
xi lands an uppercut.
xi lands with a right to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
xi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by xi.
Grena's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
This has been an exciting period of action!
xi lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Grena.
Grena takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A short uppercut from xi.
xi lands a hook that snaps the head of Grena backwards.
Grena's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's one minute gone in the round.
xi digs a right hand into Grena's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Grena's gas tank.
xi lands with a left to the head.
A right handed body shot lands from xi.
A nice right hand lands inside from xi.
xi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
xi lands a shoulder strike.
xi lands a body shot.
xi scores with an uppercut up the middle.
xi working some nice short punches in the clinch.
xi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Grena backwards.
A short body shot lands from xi as the two fighters clinch.
xi pushes Grena back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
xi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Grena backwards.
xi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Grena backwards.
A shot in the inside from xi.
xi lands a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
xi makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Nice body punch from xi.
xi lands a left hand that snaps the head of Grena backwards.
xi lands with a short shot to the head.
Grena tries to break the clinch but xi is controlling the position.
Grena tries to circle away but xi has him pinned against the cage.
xi prevents Grena from breaking the clinch.
xi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
xi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Grena wants to break free but xi has control.
A short right hand to the side of the head by xi.
Grena has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
xi scores with a shoulder strike.
Grena misses with a punch to the body.
Grena looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
xi scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
xi works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
xi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Grena's elbow.
xi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
xi works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Grena is trying to break free.
xi keeps control of Grena as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
xi prevents Grena from breaking the clinch.
xi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
xi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Good body shot from xi.

Grena breaks the clinch.
xi cracks Grena with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
xi connects with a body shot.
xi scores with a body shot.
Umberto Grena is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
xi wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Grena misses with an uppercut
and xi counters with a straight right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grena takes a swing at xi's ribcage but misses.
xi swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Grena walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nice cross by xi.
Umberto Grena has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Grena looks to score with a jab to the body but xi is just out of range.
Grena checks the leg kick.
Grena blocks a low kick nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Grena rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but xi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
xi buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
yi xi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well xi 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:25
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:25
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... yi xi!