PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Felix Basilan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xantos Aremis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aremis has chosen Infected Mushroom - Merlin as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Basilan
vs
Aremis

182 cm
37
175 lbs
43 - 19 - 2

178 cm
32
178 lbs
19 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
KO power

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Namunamu Clothing

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 43 - 19 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Felix Basilan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Xantos Aremis!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Alec Ball and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good leg kick by Aremis there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Basilan misses with a left hand
and Aremis counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Aremis uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Basilan.

Basilan rushes Aremis and presses him up against the cage.
Aremis's coach down at Bruize Brothers was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Aremis's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Aremis fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Basilan lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Aremis lands a left hand that snaps the head of Basilan backwards.

It looks like Felix Basilan has been cut.
Aremis lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Aremis pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Aremis waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Basilan.
Basilan has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Nice uppercut lands for Aremis. That snapped Basilan's head back.
Aremis cracks Basilan with a good jab.
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!
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Aremis - that will leave a mark!
Aremis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Aremis stuns Basilan with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Basilan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Basilan stuns Aremis with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Basilan waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Aremis.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basilan checks a low kick from Aremis.
A solid leg kick lands there for Aremis.
Aremis scores with the left hand. Basilan knows he should have avoided that one.
Xantos Aremis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aremis tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Basilan was well out of range. Poor timing from Aremis.
Basilan throwing a counter right hand but Aremis manages to avoid it.
A jab from Aremis misses.
A jab from Aremis misses.
Felix Basilan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A decent looking cross lands there for Aremis.
Aremis connects with a right hand. Basilan shakes it off.
Aremis darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Basilan throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Aremis takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Aremis with a jab.
Aremis closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aremis tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Basilan.
Aremis ducks right into an uppercut from Basilan.
Aremis keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Aremis goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aremis gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Aremis goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Basilan lands an uppercut.
Aremis goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Aremis blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Aremis misses with a hook from the clinch.
Aremis tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Aremis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Aremis fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Aremis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Basilan lands with a nice body punch.
Aremis throws a shot from downtown. Basilan moves away and avoids it.

Aremis drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
An elbow from Aremis crashes against the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Basilan is looking to reverse the position.
Aremis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Basilan keeps working.

Aremis tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Aremis has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Basilan is trying to control Aremis's posture but Aremis avoids it.
Aremis in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Aremis taking a break here but Basilan is having none of it and regains half guard.
Aremis not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Basilan controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Basilan is looking for a sweep. Aremis is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Aremis sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Aremis throws a strike but Basilan avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Aremis postures up in Basilan's guard and throws a big left but Basilan blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xantos Aremis dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Felix Basilan's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Aremis scores with a leg kick.
Basilan scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Aremis doesn't seem bothered though.
Aremis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Aremis slips a jab from Basilan.
A jab lands there for Aremis.
Basilan throws a body punch but Aremis moves out of range.
Aremis misses with a left hand
and Basilan counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Basilan fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Aremis looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Basilan scores with a hook.
Aremis lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Good exchange - Aremis coming out on top.
Basilan staying out of range there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Basilan walks into a straight right hand from Aremis.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Aremis 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 Basilan has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Basilan and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Aremis misses with a hook.
Aremis throws a lazy head kick
and Basilan counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Basilan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Aremis scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Basilan has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Aremis.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aremis misses with a hook
and Basilan makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Aremis really felt that one!
Aremis lands a head shot.
Aremis misses with a body punch
and Basilan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Aremis punishes Basilan's body with a nice straight punch.
Aremis lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Basilan throws the left hand but Aremis avoids the punch easily.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Basilan.
Aremis lands a body shot.
Basilan looks to land a right hand but Aremis moved out of range.
Jab from Aremis.
Basilan misses with a straight right.
Aremis throws a sloppy body shot
enabling Basilan to counter with a crisp jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aremis fails in his attempt to clinch.
Basilan steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Aremis. That one must have hurt.
Aremis checks a leg kick nicely.
Basilan throws a jab when Aremis was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Basilan.
A punch combination from Basilan misses.
Aremis misses with an uppercut
and Basilan counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Basilan gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Aremis scoring with some ground and pound.
Aremis controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Aremis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Basilan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Basilan looking to control.
Aremis wants to control from the top but Basilan keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aremis loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Basilan is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Aremis is trying to get back to full guard.

Aremis looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Basilan is looking to take a break and control but Aremis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Basilan takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Aremis has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Basilan is working away from the top position though.
Aremis wants to improve his position but Basilan is controlling well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Xantos Aremis will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Felix Basilan's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Aremis changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Aremis fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Basilan misses with a looping right.
Aremis shoots in for a takedown but Basilan shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Aremis ducks under a wild hook from Basilan.
Aremis shoots in but no luck this time.
Aremis scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Aremis gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Basilan holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Felix Basilan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xantos Aremis.
Aremis swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Aremis lands with a light punch inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Basilan throws a head punch that misses.
Aremis makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Basilan lands with a left to the head.
Aremis blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Basilan lands an elbow that stopped Aremis in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Xantos Aremis has been cut.
Come on Basilan - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basilan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Aremis blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Aremis.
Basilan scores with a nice hook to the head.
Aremis is working Basilan over against the cage.
Basilan misses with a short punch on the inside.
Aremis tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Basilan is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Aremis breaks the clinch.
Aremis misses with a hook.
Aremis misses with a hook.
Aremis looks to score with a jab to the body but Basilan is just out of range.
As Aremis looks to move away, Basilan throws a big counter combo bu Aremis just gets out of the way.
Aremis fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Basilan on the side of the head.
Aremis throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Basilan.
Aremis works Basilan's body with a nice hook.
Felix Basilan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Basilan stuffs the takedown.
Basilan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Aremis.
Aremis digs a good hook to Basilan's body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Aremis with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Basilan lands a nice hook to Aremis's body. Aremis takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Aremis swings for the body but Basilan moves out of range.
Xantos Aremis seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Basilan scores with a punch to the head.
Aremis misses with an uppercut. Basilan saw that one coming.
Aremis lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Basilan at a distance.

Aremis shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Basilan works his way to full guard. Good work.
Aremis postures up and lands a big shot to Basilan's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aremis content to stall in guard here.
Aremis working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Aremis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Basilan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Aremis throwing strikes but missing.
Aremis with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Aremis lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Aremis postures up.
Aremis works over Basilan with some ground and pound from guard.
Aremis is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Basilan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Aremis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Basilan will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Basilan chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Aremis can pounce on him.
Basilan swings for the body but Aremis moves out of range.
Basilan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Aremis manages to avoid it.
Basilan moves out of range as Aremis strikes.
Xantos Aremis is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Good standup being displayed there by Aremis as he connects with a hook.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xantos Aremis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Aremis 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xantos Aremis!
After the fight, Xantos Aremis was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.