PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between James Xu (ranked 2087 p4p, 1805 weight class) and Hrvoje Vinkovic (ranked 210 p4p, 187 weight class). Xu comes to the cage accompanied by Tommy Richman - MILLION DOLLAR BABY. The key to victory for James Xu has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Xu
vs
Vinkovic

179 cm
20
165
3 - 0 - 0

177 cm
20
170
4 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Squirrel Sportswear 🐿️
BANZAI 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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Xu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hrvoje Vinkovic!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Hirohito Nitta and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vinkovic takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Vinkovic takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Vinkovic has managed to clinch.
Vinkovic scores with a nice hook to the head.
Xu goes for a takedown in the clinch but Vinkovic prevents it.
Vinkovic softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Xu jumps guard.

Xu working for a triangle but Vinkovic defends it easily.

Xu has his foot on Vinkovic's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vinkovic works his way back into a safe position though.
Vinkovic passes into half guard.
Vinkovic wants to lay and pray for a moment but Xu keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Xu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Xu looking for submissions off his back.
Xu tries to roll over but Vinkovic keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xu is not content to let Vinkovic control the position.
Vinkovic looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Xu is trying to get back to full guard.

Xu looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Xu looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Xu taking some punishment here, with Vinkovic in his half guard.
Xu is staying active underneath Vinkovic, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Vinkovic keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Xu wants to improve his position but Vinkovic is controlling well.
Vinkovic moves nicely into side control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Vinkovic connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Xu some visible discomfort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vinkovic trying to control the position but Xu is working away.
Xu is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Vinkovic wants to lay and pray for a moment but Xu keeps working.
Vinkovic is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Xu's shoulder. That is not cool.

Vinkovic is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Xu has escaped the position, nice work there.

Vinkovic working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Vinkovic trying to control the action but Xu is working from the bottom.
Xu sneaks back into half guard.

Xu looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Xu actively working from the bottom here.
Xu gets full guard.
Vinkovic trying to control but Xu is working from the bottom.
Xu keeping full guard, as Vinkovic tries to pass.
Vinkovic wants to control from the top but Xu keeps moving.
Vinkovic is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Vinkovic must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Xu can't keep his opponent in guard - Vinkovic advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Vinkovic is controlling the pace.
Vinkovic is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vinkovic tries to pass to full mount but Xu defends it.

Xu actively working from the bottom here.

Xu looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Vinkovic looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Xu with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Vinkovic is nestled in close to Xu, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Xu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Vinkovic wants to take a breather but Xu is having none of it.
Vinkovic might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Xu haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Xu is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vinkovic pulls his head out easily.
Vinkovic seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Vinkovic working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Vinkovic lands with a punch from half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hrvoje Vinkovic dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Vinkovic fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Vinkovic slips under a jab from Xu.
Vinkovic scores with a body shot.
Xu looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Xu avoids the body shot from Vinkovic.
Xu throws a lazy right hand but Vinkovic sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vinkovic with a hook.
Vinkovic clobbers Xu with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Xu is rocked!
Xu leaves his chin hanging out and Vinkovic seizes the opportunity with an uppercut! Xu crumbles to the floor in a heap! The referee steps in and tends to the downed fighter! What a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Hrvoje Vinkovic!
Hrvoje Vinkovic seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.