PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Suren Nazarethyan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kang Xi Jia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Nazarethyan
vs
Xi Jia

155 cm
38
150 lbs
43 - 22 - 1

170 cm
31
153 lbs
23 - 11 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 43 - 22 - 1, fighting out of London, Suren Nazarethyan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kang Xi Jia!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Xi Jia lands with a good body shot.
Xi Jia attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Xi Jia misses the shot to the body.
Xi Jia throws a body shot but no joy.
Xi Jia looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Nazarethyan feinted with a counter takedown.
Xi Jia misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nazarethyan.
Nazarethyan keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Nazarethyan walks into a straight right hand from Xi Jia.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Xi Jia gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Xi Jia throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Nazarethyans head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nazarethyan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xi Jia doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nazarethyan blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Xi Jia lands a nice shot to the body.
Xi Jia missing with knees to the body.
Xi Jia struggles to land a body shot inside as Nazarethyan controls his hands.
Xi Jia misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nazarethyan.
Xi Jia lands a right hand.
Xi Jia tries to pull guard but Nazarethyan won't allow it.
Xi Jia misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Xi Jia throws a punch but it's blocked by Nazarethyan.
Xi Jia throws a punch but it's blocked by Nazarethyan.
Xi Jia gets underhooks to prevent Nazarethyan's takedown attempt.
Xi Jia stops a takedown attempt from Nazarethyan.
Xi Jia has a couple of punches blocked by Nazarethyan.
Xi Jia misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xi Jia throws a punch but it's blocked by Nazarethyan.
Nazarethyan blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Xi Jia misses with a short punch on the inside.
Xi Jia lands with a right to the head.
Xi Jia throws a head punch that misses.
Xi Jia gets underhooks to prevent Nazarethyan's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Suren Nazarethyan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Xi Jia working aggressively here.
With the fighters up against the cage, Xi Jia throws an elbow but misses.
Xi Jia lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Nazarethyan backwards.
Nazarethyan is trying to drag Xi Jia to the mat but Xi Jia just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nazarethyan has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Xi Jia after a bit of a struggle.
Xi Jia throws a head punch that misses.
Xi Jia throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nazarethyan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nazarethyan drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Xi Jia gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Nazarethyan is looking for a takedown.
Xi Jia fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Xi Jia ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Xi Jia no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Nazarethyan has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Xi Jia is proving hard to escape from.

Xi Jia is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nazarethyan defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Xi Jia looking for subs off his back but Nazarethyan has passed one foot through into half guard.
Xi Jia is trying to control but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Xi Jia looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Nazarethyan pushes past his half guard into mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kang Xi Jia dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Xi Jia fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Nazarethyan is out of range.
A jab from Xi Jia misses.
Nazarethyan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Xi Jia throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Nazarethyan counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Xi Jia wants to sweep here but Nazarethyan controlling him for the moment.

Xi Jia throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xi Jia bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nazarethyan's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xi Jia pushing down on Nazarethyan's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Xi Jia wants to pass to mount but Nazarethyan is defending the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nazarethyan is not content to let Xi Jia control the position.
Nazarethyan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Xi Jia sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Xi Jia tries to pass the half guard into mount. Nazarethyan knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Xi Jia is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nazarethyan sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Xi Jia is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nazarethyan sees it coming and defends easily.
Xi Jia tries to pass to full mount but Nazarethyan defends it.
Xi Jia seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nazarethyan does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Xi Jia trying to advance position but Nazarethyan counters by regaining guard.
Nazarethyan keeping full guard, as Xi Jia tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xi Jia wants to control from the top but Nazarethyan keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Xi Jia throws an off balance right hand

and Nazarethyan counters with a shoot takedown. Xi Jia fights it but they end up in guard.
Nazarethyan wanted to stand there but Xi Jia had control of the position.

Xi Jia has his foot on Nazarethyan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nazarethyan works his way back into a safe position though.
Xi Jia seems keen to control Nazarethyan's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xi Jia has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Nazarethyan has passed into side control.
Xi Jia tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nazarethyan tries to stand but Xi Jia is controlling his head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Xi Jia is looking for a sweep.
Xi Jia is trying to control Nazarethyan's posture but Nazarethyan avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Suren Nazarethyan dominated that second round.
That's time! Nazarethyan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nazarethyan takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Jab, jab by Xi Jia - just one landing.
Xi Jia throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Xi Jia throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nazarethyan half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Xi Jia throws a hook but Nazarethyan avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xi Jia throws a body punch but Nazarethyan moves out of range.
Xi Jia misses with an uppercut.
Xi Jia is looking to land body kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xi Jia lands a nice looking body kick.
Xi Jia has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Xi Jia does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A low kick from Xi Jia is predictable there

and Nazarethyan counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nazarethyan.

Nazarethyan got a little sloppy there for a moment and Xi Jia has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nazarethyan has managed to get both his arms back between Xi Jia's legs - danger averted.
Xi Jia trying to control the position here.
Xi Jia has a closed guard, preventing Nazarethyan from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xi Jia pulls Nazarethyan in to control the position.
Suren Nazarethyan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nazarethyan would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nazarethyan takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xi Jia fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Nazarethyan on the side of the head.
Nazarethyan slips under a jab from Xi Jia.
Nazarethyan avoids the body shot from Xi Jia.
Xi Jia misses with an uppercut.
Nazarethyan drops down looking for a counter takedown but Xi Jia sprawls and moves away.
Nazarethyan moves out of range of the strikes.
Nazarethyan uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Xi Jia.
Nazarethyan appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Xi Jia throws a shot from downtown. Nazarethyan moves away and avoids it.
Nazarethyan on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xi Jia throws a leg kick

and Nazarethyan counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Xi Jia looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Xi Jia keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Nazarethyan wants to stand but Xi Jia has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kang Xi Jia comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Xi Jia 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kang Xi Jia!
During a confident post fight interview, Kang Xi Jia thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.