PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Drake Basket Case (ranked 1548 p4p, 179 weight class) and Joao Vitor Xavier (ranked 2573 p4p, 273 weight class). Basket Case comes to the cage accompanied by Crazy. Drake Basket Case could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Joao Vitor Xavier's chin.

Basket Case
vs
Vitor Xavier

180 cm
24
169 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

178 cm
28
162 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Power Matrix Nutrition

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Drake Basket Case !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joao Vitor Xavier!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Sam Margolis and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Basket Case fails with the takedown
and Xavier counters with a left to the body.
Basket Case scores with a jab to the head.
Xavier tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Basket Case was well out of range. Poor timing from Xavier.
Xavier throws a hook to the side of Basket Case 's head but Basket Case sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Drake Basket Case seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Basket Case misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Basket Case staying out of range there.
Basket Case misses with a body punch
and Basket Case takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Basket Case shoots for a double leg takedown but Xavier sprawls well. He's pushed Basket Case 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
It seemed like Xavier was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Drake Basket Case . That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Basket Case doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Xavier counter with a right hand.
Basket Case tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Xavier was well out of range. Poor timing from Basket Case .
Basket Case 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.
Basket Case scores with the left hand. Xavier knows he should have avoided that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basket Case is looking to slow Xavier down with leg kicks.
Basket Case ducks under a wild hook from Xavier.
Basket Case feinted with a counter takedown.
Basket Case throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Basket Case looking to score a takedown here. Xavier is defending well but Basket Case drives through and ends up in Xavier's guard.
Basket Case slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Basket Case working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Xavier throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Basket Case is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Basket Case passes into half guard.
Xavier slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Basket Case passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Basket Case scoring with punches and elbows.
Basket Case remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Xavier stops Basket Case from passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Basket Case wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Xavier, who protects the arm well.
You can see the frustration on Xavier's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Basket Case trying to control the position but Xavier is working away.

Basket Case wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Xavier, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Basket Case working away.

Basket Case tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Basket Case trying to control the position but Xavier is working away.
Basket Case tries to move into full mount but can't pass Xavier's legs.
Xavier gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Drake Basket Case dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Basket Case closes this distance looking for a takedown but Xavier circles away.
Basket Case looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Basket Case shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Basket Case slips under a jab from Xavier.

Basket Case dives in and scores a takedown into Xavier's guard.

Basket Case is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Basket Case controlling from the top position.
Drake Basket Case overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Basket Case drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Basket Case jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Xavier trying to keep a closed guard but Basket Case is proving a slippery customer.
Basket Case sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Xavier's guard.

Basket Case looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xavier wants to get back to his feet.
Basket Case prevents Xavier from improving his position.
Xavier pushes Basket Case off looking to stand but Basket Case dives back in and keeps control.

Basket Case is trying to work for a kimura but Xavier is defending well.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Basket Case lands a nice short elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xavier wants to improve his position but Basket Case is controlling well.

Basket Case is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Xavier is just riding it out for now. Basket Case eventually gives up the hold.
Xavier has a hand on Basket Case 's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Basket Case takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Basket Case takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Xavier defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Basket Case .
Xavier can't escape the position.

Basket Case is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! Xavier is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Drake Basket Case !
After the fight, Drake Basket Case 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.