PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Chang Walsh (ranked 25393 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xin Xian (ranked 5640 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Walsh
vs
Xian

200 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

170 cm
25
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Chang Walsh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Xin Xian!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shigeki Sano and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Xian shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Walsh napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Walsh tries to buck Xian off but Xian is having none of it.
Walsh is trying to control Xian's posture but Xian avoids it.
Xian just content to control the position.
Walsh is looking for a sweep.
Xian wants to stand but Walsh has his arm trapped.
Walsh prevents Xian from moving into mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Walsh tries to buck Xian off but Xian is having none of it.
Xian really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Walsh. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Walsh wants to control but Xian postures up.
Walsh is not content to let Xian control the position.

Xian tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xian controlling from side mount.
Walsh tries to improve position but can't.
Walsh struggling a bit here.

Xian has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Xian takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Xian gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Walsh regains guard.
Xian postures up.
Xian trying to stand up but can't free himself from Walsh's guard.
Xian 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.
Xian in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Walsh lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Walsh stops Xian from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xian being controlled here, momentarily.
Xian is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Xian wants to control but Walsh passes easily into half guard.

Walsh stands up out of the half guard.

Walsh gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xian prevents Walsh from getting back to his feet.
Xian has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Walsh is proving hard to escape from.
Walsh looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Walsh has momentary wrist control but Xian slips an elbow through the middle.
Xian is looking to work some ground and pound but Walsh has wrist control.

Xian got a little sloppy there for a moment and Walsh has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Xian has managed to get both his arms back between Walsh's legs - danger averted.
Xian scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Xian slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Xian drops back looking for a leg! Walsh is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Walsh manages to kick Xian off! Xian jumps back into Walsh's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xin Xian dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Xian moves into the clinch successfully.

Xian successfully pulls guard.
Walsh takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
Xian can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Walsh controls the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xian looking for a sweep. Not yet Xian, not yet.

Xian is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walsh preventing the sweep.
Walsh controlling from the top position.
Xian wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Walsh controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Xian has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Xian darts in and clinches Walsh up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Walsh with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

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

Xian clinches up with Walsh and pushes him back against the cage.

Xian turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Xian manages to end up in side control.
Xian throws an elbow but Walsh slips to the side and avoids it well.
Walsh wants to control but Xian postures up.
Walsh is looking to regain half guard here but Xian keeps moving and retains side control.
Xian tries to move to full mount but Walsh actually manages to regain half guard.
Xian is keen to just control but Walsh is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Walsh is looking to escape.
Xian missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Walsh is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Xian's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Xian's back!
Walsh controlling the position well here. Xian rolled but Walsh kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Xian trying to control the hands but Walsh breaks the grip.
Walsh biding his time, looking for the opening.
Xian wants to control his opponent's hands but Walsh gets his hands free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walsh biding his time, looking for the opening.
Xian looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
I would not like to be Xian right now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Xin Xian will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Xian scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Xian performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Xian wants to free his trapped foot but Walsh is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Xian is looking to take a break and control but Walsh is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Walsh is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Walsh gets back to full guard.
Walsh really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Xian seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xian postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Xian seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Xian stops Walsh from standing up.

Xian is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Walsh is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Walsh has escaped and now he's on top!

Xian will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

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.
Xian not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Walsh preventing the sweep.
Xian wants to get back to his feet but Walsh is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Walsh controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Xian tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Xian controls Walsh momentarily but Walsh frees himself.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Xian takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Xian drives through with a takedown into Walsh's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Walsh wriggles free and stands up.

Xian gets the takedown into side control.
Walsh wants to control but Xian postures up.
Walsh is not content to let Xian control the position.
Walsh is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Xian asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Walsh tries to bench press Xian off him but Xian keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walsh is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Xian has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Walsh gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Walsh looks like he's trying to stand up.
Walsh slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Xian trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Walsh looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Xian puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Walsh is positioning himself well to prevent Xian advancing to mount.
Chang Walsh has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Xin Xian is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Xian is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Chang Walsh.
Well Xian has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Chang Walsh!