PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Xi Chang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shaun Reese (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Chang
vs
Reese

180 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite 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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Xi Chang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shaun Reese!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Reese clinches up against the cage.

Chang pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Chang misses the shot to the body.
Chang avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Reese is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Chang has taken the fight to the clinch.

Chang is trying to trip Reese. He has hold of a leg but Reese is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Chang persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chang chips away with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Reese not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Reese 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.
Reese really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Chang. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Chang 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.
Chang in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Chang is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reese is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Reese looks gassed!
Chang 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.

Chang stands up from Reese's guard - Chang perhaps looking for a knockout.
Reese closes the distance but Chang moves to the side

and Chang counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Reese is pressed up against the cage. Chang has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Reese down to the mat. Reese avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Chang shoots in for a takedown but Reese shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
An inside leg kick lands from Chang.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chang throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Reese's waist but Reese gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Chang off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xi Chang. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chang misses with a few strikes there.
Shaun Reese seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Chang closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Reese to the mat! Reese manages to get full guard.
Chang throwing strikes but missing.
Reese keeping moving, preventing Chang from controlling successfully.
Reese looking to hit a scissor sweep but Chang is one step ahead there.
Chang won't allow Reese to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chang chips away with some ground and pound.
Reese keeping moving, preventing Chang from controlling successfully.
Chang is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Chang gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Reese darts in trying to clinch

and Chang holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chang lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Chang tries to pull guard but Reese holds him up against the cage and eventually Chang drops back down to his feet.
Chang lands a nice shot to the body.
Chang stalling the fight.

Chang escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Chang gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Reese will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Chang up against the cage.
Chang tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Reese is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Chang pulls him back up using the underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A head kick misses from Chang.
Reese doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Chang counters with a shoot takedown. Reese fights it but they end up in guard.
Chang chips away with some ground and pound.
Chang is in close to Reese's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Chang looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Chang stands up from Reese's guard - Chang perhaps looking for a knockout.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Chang gets a takedown into half guard.
Chang has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Chang lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Chang takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chang lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Reese avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Chang.
Chang works his foot free and advances to mount.
Chang looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reese is looking to improve his position but Chang isn't that keen on the idea.
Chang with a couple of short strikes.
Chang with good strikes from the mount here!
Chang wants to control the action but instead Reese gets a body lock and reverses into Chang's guard! Nice work!
Reese stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Chang swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Chang is controlling Reese's posture.
Chang is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Chang is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Chang postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Reese to stand up.

Chang scores a takedown into full mount!
Reese really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xi Chang dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Chang throws a leg kick but Reese moved away.

Chang forces Reese back against the cage and clinches.

Chang breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Chang looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Chang drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Chang sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Reese is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Chang lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Reese down.
Reese on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reese sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Reese is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Chang postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Reese to stand up.
Chang circles away from the clinch attempt

and Chang counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Chang.
Chang lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Reese backwards.

Chang manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Reese trying to stand up but can't free himself from Chang's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chang is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Reese tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Chang pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Reese wants to clinch
and Chang counters with a big head kick but Reese shrugs it off.
Chang scores with a jab.
Reese with a lazy takedown attempt

and Chang moves into the clinch.
Chang lands an elbow inside.

Chang breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reese looks to clinch

and Chang counters with a shoot takedown. Reese fights it but they end up in guard.
Chang is stalling in the full guard.

Chang stands up and waves to Reese to follow him.
Reese tries for a takedown but Chang circles away easily

and Chang counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Reese!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Chang lands with some strikes.
Reese is working to get back to half guard.
Chang trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Chang controlling from the full mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Reese blocking the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xi Chang showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Chang has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xi Chang!