PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alessandro Moretti (ranked 5531 p4p, 5293 weight class) and Xigua Tou (ranked 475 p4p, 468 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Moretti
vs
Tou

175 cm
25
165
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
23
162
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Big heart

Good takedowns
Basic striking
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alessandro Moretti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Xigua Tou!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Moretti throws a leg kick which misses Tou's front leg but catches the back leg as Tou tries to avoid it.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Tou has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Moretti throws a body punch but Tou moves out of range.
Tou shoots in looking for a takedown but Moretti manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Tou's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
No joy there for Moretti, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Moretti tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Moretti lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Xigua Tou has been cut.
Moretti lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Moretti definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Moretti stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Moretti wants it to stay on the feet.
Sloppy strikes from Moretti. Those never looked like landing.
Tou doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Moretti counters with a single leg into guard. Tou didn't expect that.
Alessandro Moretti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xigua Tou.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Moretti looking to pass the guard.
Tou manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Moretti manages to get himself to full guard.

Moretti on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Moretti tries to get out of the position.
Moretti is looking to sweep but instead, Tou has passed into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moretti is not content to let Tou control the position.

Tou is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Moretti blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tou.
Moretti won't allow Tou to pass to mount.
Tou not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Moretti is trying to get back to full guard.
Tou thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tou lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Tou throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Moretti is staying active underneath Tou, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Tou is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Tou not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Tou is looking for a kimura but Moretti is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Tou to get the leverage.
Moretti avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tou.
Tou tries to pass to full mount but Moretti defends it.
Moretti knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tou on the ground.
Moretti keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tou wants to control but Moretti is keeping him busy.
Tou keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Moretti fails to land with a series of punches.

Moretti changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Tou looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Tou regains half guard.
Tou is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Moretti's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Moretti's back!
Tou has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tou is hanging on to Moretti's back as he tries to escape.
Tou lands shots from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moretti covering up well and avoiding damage.
Moretti is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Tou tries to get the hooks in deep but Moretti pushed the leg off.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Tou is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Moretti is defending well though. Tou let's go of the attempt for now.
Tou is looking to control Moretti but Moretti is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Tou lands an elbow to the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Alessandro Moretti will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Xigua Tou's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Moretti throws a sloppy head kick and Tou moves out of range easily.
Moretti just misses with a punch to the body.
Moretti tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tou was well out of range. Poor timing from Moretti.
Horrible takedown attempt by Tou or perhaps it was just good defense by Moretti, which made it look bad.
Moretti takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Tou throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Moretti was covering up waiting for the punch and Tou finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Moretti 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moretti wants to stand and escape but Tou is having none of it.
Tou trying to control the position from guard on top but Moretti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tou advances position into side control!
Tou in the domination position with Moretti hanging on.
Tou throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Moretti tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tou tries to score with some ground and pound. Moretti controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Tou landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Tou throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Moretti is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Tou throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Moretti is looking to regain half guard here but Tou keeps moving and retains side control.

Tou is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Moretti is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Tou wants to control but Moretti is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tou misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Moretti is trying to get back to half guard.
Tou throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Tou cracks Moretti with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Tou lands an elbow.
Tou working the head with strikes.

Tou tries for a kimura but Moretti is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Moretti tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tou gets to mount! Moretti was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Tou landing strikes, looking to finish!
Tou looking to control but Moretti is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Tou landing strikes from the mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tou lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Moretti is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Xigua Tou showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Xigua Tou's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Jab, jab by Moretti - just one landing.
Moretti throws a hook but Tou blocks it.
Moretti displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tou.
Tou keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Moretti dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tou. That did some damage!
Nice takedown defense from Moretti. No joy for Tou on that attempt.
Moretti misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A chopping leg kick lands by Moretti.
Moretti misses the shot to the body.
Tou is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tou fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Moretti to the ground. Tou is now in Moretti's guard.
Tou chips away with some ground and pound.
Tou stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Moretti swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tou passes Moretti's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tou is trying to control the action in half guard but Moretti is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Moretti is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Tou scores with a couple of nice shots.
Moretti trying to control from the bottom.
Tou scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Tou wants to free his trapped foot but Moretti is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Tou moves nicely into side control.
Moretti takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moretti is trying to improve his position.
Tou wants to lay and pray for a moment but Moretti keeps working.
Moretti on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Moretti tries to buck Tou off but Tou is having none of it.
Tou scores with punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tou advances nicely into full mount.
Moretti in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Moretti wants to hold on but Tou pushes him away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Moretti holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Tou tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Tou has hold of Moretti's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Moretti manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Tou has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tou looking to finish Moretti with some ground and pound. This is bad for Moretti!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tou wants to control the pace but Moretti is squirming around nicely.
Moretti is trying to escape the mount.

Tou is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Moretti is surviving well by controlling Tou's body position as best he can.
Moretti is looking to improve his position but Tou isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tou is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Moretti can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
A nice elbow there by Tou.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xigua Tou comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tou has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xigua Tou!