PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Chenglong Xie (ranked 5580 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Embree (ranked 4129 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Xie
vs
Embree

177 cm
25
156 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

180 cm
25
155 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
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 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Chenglong Xie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Matthew Embree!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Daniel Franklin and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Embree keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Xie misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Embree looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Embree fails with a takedown attempt.
Xie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chenglong Xie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Embree shoots in but Xie avoids the takedown attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck for Xie with that takedown attempt.
Embree is trying hard to land a takedown here. Xie sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Embree fails with a takedown attempt.
Xie is looking to counter the offense by Embree and move into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Embree rushes Xie and presses him up against the cage.
Xie just leaning against Embree, taking a breather.
Embree jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Xie walks away with a smile on his face. Embree gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Embree misses with a combination
and Xie counters with a left and a right that stings Embree.
Embree closes the distance looking to clinch
and Xie counters with a left and a right that stings Embree.
Embree is trying hard to land a takedown here. Xie sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Xie clinches up against the cage.
Xie prevents the takedown attempt.
Embree is trying to break the clinch but Xie is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Embree is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Xie pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Xie manages to pull guard.

Xie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Embree doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Embree manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Xie tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Xie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Embree doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Embree manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Xie keeping moving, preventing Embree from controlling successfully.
Xie is pulling down on Embree's head. It's preventing any offense from Embree, at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Embree throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Xie striking off his back but it's not causing Embree any problems.
Embree must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Embree tries to free his leg and advance position but Xie is retaining full guard.
Embree connects with a couple of short punches.
Xie is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Embree wants to get up but he can't break Xie's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Embree shoots in for a takedown but Xie shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Xie throws a looping overhand right but Embree ducks down to avoid it.
Xie tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Embree closes this distance looking for a takedown but Xie circles away.
Xie misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Embree counters with a body kick.

Xie tries to sprawl but Embree drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Xie is looking for a sweep. Embree is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Embree prevents Xie from standing back up.
Embree thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chenglong Xie 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.

Embree tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Xie defends well and Embree ends up having to push Xie into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Embree blocks a head kick by Xie.
Embree tries to close the distance and clinch up but Xie swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Xie has taken the fight to the clinch.
Xie changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Embree fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Xie avoids a kick to the body.
Chenglong Xie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Embree moves into the clinch.
Embree is trying to maintain a safe position but Xie gets an underhook and turns Embree into the cage.

Embree manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Xie scoring with some ground and pound.
Embree has a closed guard, preventing Xie from standing up.
Embree wants to control the position but Xie says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Embree is refusing to be controlled, as Xie sits in half guard.
Xie is thwarting Embree's attempts to control the position.
Xie seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Embree really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Xie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Embree is looking to control Xie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Embree avoid being mounted?
Embree has his hands clasped together around Xie's back. He's all about the action.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Embree throws a right hand that Xie ducks under and follows up with a left that Xie also avoids with ease.

Xie clinches with his opponent.
Xie is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Embree can do to turn this around?
Xie prevents the takedown attempt.
Xie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Embree smiles and moves away.

Embree closes the distance and clinches.
Embree is trying to drag Xie to the mat but Xie just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Chenglong Xie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew Embree.
Embree tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Xie just stands there and leans against the cage.

Embree's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Embree is defended easily by Xie.
Xie shoots in but no luck this time.
Embree tries to counter with a clinch but Xie shakes him off and moves away.
Embree shoots in for a double leg but Xie sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Embree throws a leg kick

and Xie counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Embree has Xie pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Xie manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Embree breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Embree dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Embree gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Xie counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Embree is breathing heavily.

Xie has taken the fight to the clinch.

Embree breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Xie doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Embree counters with a three punch combo that has Xie backing up. Xie nods at Embree to acknowledge the strikes.
Xie leaves Embree with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Xie closes the distance and clinches up with Embree, looking for a takedown. Xie pushes Embree against the cage but Embree circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Embree misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Xie slips a jab and a cross from Embree.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Embree tries to clinch
and Xie counters with a good, hard body kick but Embree shrugs it off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Xie looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Chenglong Xie will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Embree gets tackled into the cage by Xie. Xie maintains the clinch.
Xie drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Embree gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Xie has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Embree after a bit of a struggle.

Xie breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Xie shoots in for a double leg but Embree sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chenglong Xie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Embree dives in and grabs Xie's left leg, looking for a takedown. Xie pushes down on Embree's head and hops out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Embree moves into the clinch.
Embree tries to pull guard but Xie forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Embree is trying to pull guard but Xie has him pressed against the cage.

Xie breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xie slaps away a takedown attempt from Embree, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Embree moves into range and clinches up with Xie.
Xie looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Chenglong Xie has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Xie tries to pull guard but Embree holds him up against the cage and eventually Xie drops back down to his feet.

Xie's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Embree fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Xie avoids it really well and circles away.
Xie attempts a counter takedown but Embree avoids it well and moves away.
Chenglong Xie is winning the standup battle so far.
Xie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xie scores with a hook to the body. Embree takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Xie leaves Embree with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Embree fails with a takedown attempt.
Embree takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Embree tries a low kick but Xie avoids it.
Xie wants to clinch but Embree slips to the side

and Embree counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Embree.
Embree with a flurry of punches that miss.

Xie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Embree can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xie is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Embree is controlling him.
Embree looking to sit in guard and control but Xie gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Xie advances to half guard.

Xie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Embree doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Xie.
Xie is trying to control the action in half guard but Embree is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Chenglong Xie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Embree is looking for a sweep. Xie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Xie wants to pass to mount but Embree is defending the position.
Embree is looking to get back to full guard here but Xie has managed to pass to side control instead.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Xie tries to stand but Embree is controlling his head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chenglong Xie showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Xie has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chenglong Xie!