PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Shane Ross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier David (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ross comes to the cage accompanied by Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire. David has chosen Bring The Pain as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Ross
vs
David

180 cm
26
182 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

190 cm
22
180 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

[MMABR]Terror Trition[†CoE†]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Shane Ross!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Xavier David!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Alyssa Summers and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ross connects with a nice looking jab.
Shane Ross seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ross throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ross pulls out of a head kick attempt.

David gets a takedown into half guard.
Ross avoiding damage under a succession of punches from David.
Ross tries to roll over but David keeps him under control.
David throwing shots but Ross is blocking nicely.

David is working for a submission of some sort.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
David landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ross wants to improve his position but David is controlling well.

David wants to work for an arm triangle but Ross is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ross avoiding damage under a succession of punches from David.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of David's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take David's back!
David breaks Ross's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
David wants to control from the top but Ross keeps moving.

David drops back, looking for a kneebar! Ross looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Ross looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Ross!
Ross working the ground and pound.
David looking for a sweep but Ross has passed into full mount! Oh no!
David is desperately trying to improve his position but Ross has a good base and remains in mount.
Ross landing shots from mount.
Ross fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Ross controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ross punishing his opponent with strikes.
Ross working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Ross landing strikes from the mount and David is in trouble!
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!
Ross landing shots from mount.
BOOM! Ross connects with a massive shot to the dome!
A nice elbow there by Ross.
David tries to reverse the position but Ross maintains control.
Ross lands a big elbow.
Ross lands a nice shot to the head.
Ross can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as David is looking to escape.
David is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
David taking shots to the head.
David regains half guard.
Ross thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
David is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
David has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ross is working away from the top position though.
David wants to get back to full guard.
Ross trying to control from half guard but David is working away.
David makes his way to full guard. A much better position for David.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross trying to control the position from guard on top but David is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
David preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A telegraphed right hand from Ross misses the target.
David misses with a body shot.
Ross fails with an attempt to clinch.
David shoots in but no luck this time.
David swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
David throws a jab when Ross was well out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
David misses with a looping left.

Ross gets a clinch.
Ross scores with a hook to the body.
David prevents a body shot from Ross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Ross dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

David loads up on a big right hand but Ross slips the punch.
Ross just misses with a punch to the body.
Ross uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from David.
Ross misses with a low kick.
A shot to de liver by Ross. Beautiful body shot.
David throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
David fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

David shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ross is trying to defend but David finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Ross has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. David is working away from the top position though.

David is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Ross gets full guard.

David has gone for a leg lock! Ross slips out almost immediately though and dives into David's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
David preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

David has an active guard here but Ross has managed to pass into half guard.
David is breathing heavily.
Ross is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ross is stalling here. David is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Ross seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and David has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Ross tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ross wants to control but David postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ross tries to get back to half guard but can't.
David working away.
David taking a break here but Ross is having none of it and regains half guard.
Ross works his way to full guard. Good work.
David missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ross looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
David trying to control the position from guard on top but Ross is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
David postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
David with a flurry of punches that miss.
David throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
David content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
David throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
David throwing strikes but missing.
David thows a big elbow that misses.
Ross is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ross utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
David fails to land the takedown.
Ross throws a combination that misses

and David counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
David thows a huge punch but Ross dodges it nicely.
David wants to take a breather but Ross is having none of it.
David seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nice strikes from David there.
David throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from David.
David trying to move into half guard but instead Ross has managed to sweep!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now David is on top in guard.
Ross is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ross keeping moving, preventing David from controlling successfully.
David postures up and lands a big shot to Ross's brow.

David drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Ross manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now David has Ross in his guard.
David keeping moving, preventing Ross from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier David showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ross looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

David shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Ross manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
David loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ross looking for a sweep. Not yet Ross, not yet.
Ross is working hard here to advance position.
Ross keeping moving, preventing David from controlling successfully.
David loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ross utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shane Ross overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ross is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

David drives through with a takedown into guard.
David with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ross looking to hit a scissor sweep but David is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
David working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
David lands a couple of elbows.
David trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
David has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
David throwing strikes but missing.
Ross trying to keep a closed guard but David is proving a slippery customer.
Ross is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Ross winds up and cracks David with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ross trying to control from half guard but David is working away.
David tries to roll over but Ross keeps him under control.
David wants to control but Ross is keeping busy and won't allow it.
David regains full guard. Nicely done.
David 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.
David pulls Ross in close to prevent any damage.
David is trying to keep Ross in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ross won't allow David to sweep him here.

David had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ross defends it easily.
Ross content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ross slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ross landing strikes.
Ross wants to control but David is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
David gets back to half guard.
David is refusing to be controlled, as Ross sits in half guard.
Ross is looking to stall here but David recovers full guard.
David looking for a sweep. Not yet David, not yet.
Ross wants to control from the top but David keeps moving.
David utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier David really dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ross tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ross tries to clinch but David is having none of it.

David drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ross trying to control the position.
David wants to control from the top but Ross keeps moving.
Ross 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.

Ross working for a triangle but David defends it easily.
David pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ross is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
David postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Ross tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ross ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ross slips a jab from David.
Ross moves in looking to clinch but David pushes him off.
David is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ross.
Left hook, right uppercut from David.
Ross throws a series of punches but David avoids them all with ease.
David keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ross shoots for a double leg takedown but David sprawls well. He's pushed Ross's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
David fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ross manages to avoid it.
David throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
David throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
David misses with a body shot.
Ross throws a low kick but David avoids it.

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.
David connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Ross throws a shot from downtown. David moves away and avoids it.
David throws a nice looking combination but Ross bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ross shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and David counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ross won't be happy with that.
David cracks Ross with a big elbow.

David looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
David tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
David is chipping away with strikes.

David is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ross has escaped the position, nice work there.
David working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
David throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
David lands an elbow.
David in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
You can see the frustration on Ross's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

David shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. David showed some decent athleticism there.
Ross moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
David with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
David throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ross works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ross wants to sweep but no luck.
Ross avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ross is controlling David's posture.
David throwing strikes from guard but Ross blocks nicely.
David missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ross misses with the combination.
David scores with a punch to the head.
Ross misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from David.
David lands a right hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier David dominated that fourth round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

David slips a straight right by Ross.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ross. That's going to slow David down.
Ross ducks under a wild hook from David.
David moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Ross throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

David scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ross is looking to control David's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ross avoid being mounted?

David is working for a kimura but Ross is defending it quite comfortably.
David not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
David with the ground and pound but Ross uses the opportunity to regain guard.
David is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

Ross is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and David defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as David accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
David postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
David stopping the sweep attempt from Ross.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Ross decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
David controlling the position for now.
David works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ross missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
David not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

David looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ross stands up over David, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ross postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ross advances to half guard.
Ross throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ross sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. David defending well though.
David is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ross throwing shots but David is blocking nicely.
Ross content to control rather than advance.
Ross working David over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
David gets full guard.
Ross trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ross advances position into side control!
David is looking to regain half guard here but Ross keeps moving and retains side control.
Ross lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
David manages to get back to half guard.
David is looking for a sweep. Ross is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
David taking some punishment here, with Ross in his half guard.
David wants to control but Ross is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Shane Ross has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross is trying to control the action in half guard but David is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
David trying to hold on to Ross's head to control him but Ross postures up.
Ross is looking to take a break and control but David is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ross misses with a body shot.
Ross loads up on a big right hand but David slips the punch.
David throws a jab but it's blocked by Ross.
Xavier David is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ross misses with a straight right.

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 Shane Ross.
I think David 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 47:48
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 47:48
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xavier David!
Xavier David is the new welterweight champion!