PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ezekiel Xzavier (ranked 4069 p4p, 151 weight class) and Raycon Figg (ranked 4279 p4p, 162 weight class). Xzavier comes to the cage accompanied by Drowning in the dark by- STATIC-X. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Xzavier
vs
Figg

204 cm
26
300 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

200 cm
21
289 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ezekiel Xzavier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Raycon Figg!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Francis DeMontford and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Xzavier looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Figg pushes Xzavier off and gets back to his feet.

Figg moves into range and clinches up with Xzavier.
Xzavier working aggressively here.
Xzavier can't get the takedown.
Figg misses with a punch to the body.
Xzavier is pressed up against the cage. Figg has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Xzavier down to the mat. Xzavier avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Xzavier rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Figg moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Xzavier gets a double leg takedown into Figg's guard.

Figg pushes Xzavier off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Figg gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Figg breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice defenses there by Xzavier.

Figg tries to sprawl but Xzavier drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Figg regains full guard. Nicely done.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Figg can do anything to dispel that myth.
Xzavier stopping the sweep attempt from Figg.
Xzavier content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xzavier with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Xzavier pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Figg is keeping the position for now.
Figg looking to hit a scissor sweep but Xzavier is one step ahead there.
Xzavier is stalling in the full guard.
Figg has momentary wrist control but Xzavier slips an elbow through the middle.
Xzavier has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Xzavier throws a strike but Figg rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Xzavier looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Figg trying to control but Xzavier is working from the bottom.
Figg works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Figg wants to take a breather but Xzavier is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Figg is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Figg working over Xzavier with some ground and pound. Xzavier looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Figg wants to take a breather but Xzavier is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Xzavier is looking to control Figg's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Xzavier avoid being mounted?
Figg works his foot free and advances to mount.
Xzavier is desperately trying to improve his position but Figg has a good base and remains in mount.
Figg looking to control but Xzavier is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Figg controlling from the full mount.

Figg is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Xzavier to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Xzavier shrugs it off.
Xzavier is wriggling around trying to escape.
Figg sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xzavier tries to lock up and control but Figg gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Figg is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Xzavier can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
My spies in Touch Of Death Combat Academy inform me that Figg has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Xzavier is trying desperately to improve position.
Xzavier is squirming around, avoiding Figg's attempts to control the action.
Figg working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Figg has hold of Xzavier's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Xzavier manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Xzavier knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Figg on the ground.

Figg looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Xzavier can't escape the position.
Figg wants to control the pace but Xzavier is squirming around nicely.
Figg avoids the attempt from Xzavier to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xzavier is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Figg is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Figg working the ground and pound effectively.

Xzavier defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Figg.
Figg avoids the attempt from Xzavier to control.

Figg looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Xzavier really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Figg avoids the attempt from Xzavier to control.
Xzavier is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raycon Figg dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Figg rushes Xzavier and presses him up against the cage.
Figg lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Figg lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

It looks like Ezekiel Xzavier has been cut.
Xzavier has had enough of the clinch but Figg keeps him there for the moment.
Figg goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Figg lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Figg gets underhooks to prevent Xzavier's takedown attempt.
A body shot lands from Figg.
Figg lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Figg has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Xzavier uses from the top position.

Figg is looking to cinch up a triangle. Xzavier throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Figg's body to avoid the submission. Figg has instead reached around Xzavier's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Figg arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Raycon Figg!
Raycon Figg decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.