PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Maxi Alvarez (ranked 5973 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saffron Xanthous (ranked 6245 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Alvarez might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to (Hedegaard Remix). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Alvarez
vs
Xanthous

176 cm
25
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Maxi Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Saffron Xanthous!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Dirk Anderson and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Alvarez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Xanthous regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Alvarez.
Alvarez trying to control but Xanthous is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alvarez is looking to advance position but Xanthous has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xanthous tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Alvarez is looking to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez wants to control but Xanthous is having none of it.
Alvarez is wriggling around trying to escape.
Alvarez on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Alvarez tries to get out of the position.
Xanthous takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Alvarez is desperately trying to improve his position but Xanthous has a good base and remains in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Xanthous controlling from the full mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alvarez sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Alvarez moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Xanthous wants to pass the guard but Alvarez is keeping the position.
Alvarez wants to sweep but no luck.
Xanthous is stalling in the full guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Alvarez tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Xanthous has closed the distance and engaged Alvarez in a clinch.

Alvarez wants the takedown. Xanthous is fighting it off but Alvarez persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Xanthous's guard against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Alvarez won't allow Xanthous to sweep him here.
Alvarez trying to control but Xanthous is working from the bottom.
Xanthous looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Alvarez makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Saffron Xanthous will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Alvarez darts in looking for a takedown but Xanthous gets double underhooks and turns Alvarez into the cage.
Maxi Alvarez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Alvarez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Alvarez is trying to control the action in half guard but Xanthous is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Alvarez wants to pass to mount but Xanthous is defending the position.
Alvarez is keen to just control but Xanthous is a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Alvarez wants to control but Xanthous is keeping him busy.

Alvarez stands up out of the half guard.
Saffron Xanthous is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xanthous scores with a nice right hand.
Nice takedown defense from Xanthous. No joy for Alvarez on that attempt.
Alvarez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maxi Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Xanthous has closed the distance and engaged Alvarez in a clinch.
Alvarez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Xanthous to keep the fight standing.
Xanthous misses with a punch on the inside.
Alvarez goes for a takedown attempt but Xanthous pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Xanthous misses with a body shot
and Alvarez counters with a two punch combo.

Xanthous moves into the clinch.
Xanthous fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Xanthous swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Xanthous scores with a nice short uppercut.
Alvarez wants a takedown.
Xanthous digs a right hand into Alvarez's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Alvarez's gas tank.
Xanthous scores with an uppercut up the middle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Still in the clinch, Xanthous scores with a nice short uppercut.
Alvarez wants to take the fight to the mat but Xanthous manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Xanthous stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Xanthous has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Xanthous working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Xanthous lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Alvarez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Alvarez tries to work over Xanthous's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Alvarez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Xanthous is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Xanthous gets underhooks to prevent Alvarez's takedown attempt.
A nice right hand lands inside from Xanthous.
A short right from Xanthous.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez wants to break the clinch but can't.
A nice left hand lands by Xanthous.
Xanthous stops a takedown attempt from Alvarez.
Xanthous lands with a light punch inside.
Xanthous lands a left hand that snaps the head of Alvarez backwards.
Alvarez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Xanthous fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Xanthous lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Xanthous throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Alvarez on the side of the head.

Alvarez gets tackled into the cage by Xanthous. Xanthous maintains the clinch.
Alvarez is trying to break the clinch but Xanthous is controlling him.
A nice left hand lands by Xanthous.
Xanthous doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xanthous scores with a shot to the side of Alvarez's head.
Alvarez blocking some punches.
Xanthous misses with a hook from the clinch.
Alvarez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Xanthous pulls him back up using the underhooks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Still in the clinch, Xanthous scores with a nice short uppercut.
Xanthous scores with a hook to the body.
Nice body punch from Xanthous.
Alvarez is trying to pull guard but Xanthous has him pressed against the cage.
Xanthous lands with a right to the head.
Alvarez misses with a short punch on the inside.
Saffron Xanthous seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Xanthous is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Alvarez blocks a body shot from Xanthous.
A shot in the inside from Xanthous.
Xanthous working some nice short punches in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saffron Xanthous showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Alvarez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Alvarez takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Xanthous comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Alvarez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Xanthous defends it nicely.
Xanthous cracks Alvarez with a right hand to the side of the head.
Alvarez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Alvarez on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Saffron Xanthous seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Xanthous moves into the clinch.
Xanthous lands with a left to the head.
Alvarez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Alvarez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A shot in the inside from Xanthous.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xanthous lands a right hand.
Alvarez working hard to break the clinch.
Xanthous lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Xanthous has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Xanthous misses with a hook to the ribs.
Alvarez is looking to break free of the clinch but Xanthous has double underhooks.
Xanthous makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Alvarez has Xanthous pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Xanthous manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Xanthous lands a body punch.
Xanthous scores with a shoulder strike.
Xanthous lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Xanthous tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Alvarez's elbow.

Xanthous escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Xanthous misses with a wild body shot.
Xanthous cracks Alvarez with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Xanthous clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xanthous lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Alvarez backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alvarez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Xanthous fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maxi Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Xanthous clinches up against the cage.
Xanthous keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Alvarez's efforts to push away.
Xanthous lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Xanthous stops a takedown attempt from Alvarez.
Xanthous lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Alvarez misses with a hook to the ribs.
Xanthous prevents the takedown attempt.
Alvarez blocking some punches.
Xanthous gets underhooks to prevent Alvarez's takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Xanthous.
Xanthous misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nice body punch from Xanthous - that landed with a thud.
Xanthous working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Xanthous prevents Alvarez from breaking the clinch.
Xanthous lands with a light punch inside.
Alvarez's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Saffron Xanthous is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A frustrated look appears on Alvarez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Alvarez is trying to break free.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Alvarez.
Xanthous keeps control of Alvarez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xanthous prevents the takedown attempt.
Alvarez misses with a punch on the inside.
Xanthous keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Alvarez's efforts to push away.
Xanthous digs a right hand underneath Alvarez's ribcage. Alvarez let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Maxi Alvarez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alvarez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Xanthous scores with a shoulder strike.
Xanthous blocks a body shot from Alvarez.
Xanthous blocks a punch to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Saffron Xanthous comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Xanthous 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 26:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 26:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 26:30

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