PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Berry Gonzales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xau Xunga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gonzales
vs
Xunga

199 cm
24
162 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

160 cm
20
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Berry Gonzales!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Xau Xunga!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Daniel Blasius and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Xunga misses with an attempted mid kick.
Gonzales stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gonzales wants it to stay on the feet.

Xunga closes the distance and clinches.
Xunga leaning against his opponent.

Gonzales jumps into guard, dragging Xunga to the mat.
Gonzales will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Xunga trying to control but Gonzales is working from the bottom.
Xunga trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Gonzales looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Xunga passes into side control.
Xunga wants to control but Gonzales is keeping him busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gonzales is trying to control Xunga's posture but Xunga avoids it.
Gonzales tries to bench press Xunga off him but Xunga keeps the position.
Gonzales is pushing Xunga's head away, looking to escape. Xunga manages to hold on to the position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzales is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Xunga working away.
Xunga wants to control but Gonzales is keeping him busy.
Xunga should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Xunga wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gonzales, who protects the arm well.
Gonzales can't do much from the bottom here.
Gonzales is looking to regain half guard here but Xunga keeps moving and retains side control.
Gonzales manages to work his way to half guard, despite Xunga's best efforts.
Gonzales is looking to improve his position.
Gonzales is working hard here to advance position.

That's two 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.
Xunga content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Gonzales slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Xunga sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gonzales's guard.

Xunga is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gonzales makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gonzales.
Xunga wants to control from the top but Gonzales keeps moving.

Gonzales looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Xunga wants to stand but Gonzales is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xunga loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gonzales is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Xunga is controlling him.
Xunga pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gonzales is keeping the position for now.
Gonzales has Xunga pulled in close to control his posture.

Gonzales looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Xunga pushing down on Gonzales's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Gonzales wants to get back to full guard.
Xunga wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gonzales keeps working.
Xunga wants to free his trapped foot but Gonzales is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gonzales works his way to full guard. Good work.

Gonzales is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Xunga defends well.
Xunga working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Xunga trying to control the position from guard on top but Gonzales is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gonzales has his foot on Xunga's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Xunga works his way back into a safe position though.
Gonzales utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Xunga stands up from Gonzales's guard - Xunga perhaps looking for a knockout.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gonzales moves away from the strike by Xunga.
Gonzales throws out a loose jab but Xunga uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nice takedown defense from Xunga. No joy for Gonzales on that attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xau Xunga dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Xunga gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gonzales tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Xunga smiles and moves away.
Xunga dives in and grabs Gonzales's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gonzales pushes down on Xunga's head and hops out.
Sloppy strikes from Xunga. Those never looked like landing.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gonzales is defended easily by Xunga.
Xunga drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Gonzales defends it well.

Xunga gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Gonzales to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Xunga has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gonzales wanted to stand there but Xunga had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzales prevents Xunga from getting back to his feet.
Xunga throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Gonzales won't allow Xunga to sweep him here.
Xunga is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Xunga is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Xau Xunga has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Xunga looking for a sweep. Not yet Xunga, not yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Xunga changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gonzales looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gonzales is looking to regain half guard here but Xunga keeps moving and retains side control.
Xunga fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Gonzales is looking to reverse the position.
Xunga just content to control the position.
Gonzales can't do much from the bottom here.
Xunga advances to mount.
Gonzales is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Xunga looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gonzales tries to hold on but Xunga postures up.
Gonzales is wriggling around trying to escape.
Xunga content just to control the position here.
Poor strikes thrown by Xunga there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Xunga looking to finish with strikes here!
Gonzales is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xunga content just to control the position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gonzales blocking the ground and pound.
Xunga thowing shots but they're missing.
Xunga looking to control but Gonzales is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Gonzales bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Xunga is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xau Xunga showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Xunga shoots in but Gonzales avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gonzales wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Xunga pushes Gonzales away with a front kick.
Xunga lands a jab to Gonzales's midsection.
Xunga shoots and misses
and Gonzales counters with a nice uppercut.
Gonzales tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Xunga defends well and Gonzales ends up having to push Xunga into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Xunga thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Gonzales if he has to take too many more of those.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Xunga is defended easily by Gonzales.
Berry Gonzales has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xau Xunga.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzales tries to score a power double leg takedown but Xunga sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gonzales somewhat.
Xau Xunga seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Xunga leaves Gonzales with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Xunga stuffs the takedown attempt from Gonzales. Gonzales gets slowly back to his feet.
A combination from Gonzales does no damage.
Xunga throws a series of punches but Gonzales moves out of range.
Xunga shoots in looking for a takedown. Gonzales tries to sprawl out of it but Xunga keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gonzales manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Xunga is defended easily by Gonzales.
Gonzales swats away the attempt to clinch by Xunga.
Gonzales lands with a slapping head kick.
Xunga misses with a jab to the body
and Gonzales cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Xunga dives in for a single leg takedown but Gonzales sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Berry Gonzales is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzales stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gonzales wants it to stay on the feet.
Gonzales really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Gonzales shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Xunga sprawls well. Xunga wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gonzales gets slowly back to his feet.
Gonzales scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Gonzales shoots in and drives through. Xunga sprawls well.
Xunga tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gonzales manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gonzales throws out a loose jab but Xunga uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonzales misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Xunga fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gonzales avoids it really well and circles away.

Xunga has managed to clinch.

Xunga's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Xunga will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gonzales lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Berry Gonzales has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Xau Xunga is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Xunga closes the distance and clinches up with Gonzales, looking for a takedown. Xunga pushes Gonzales against the cage but Gonzales circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
As Xunga looks to move away, Gonzales throws a big counter combo but Xunga just gets out of the way.

And that's the end of the fight!
Berry Gonzales showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Xunga has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xau Xunga!