PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Reino Perussuoli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Xavier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Perussuoli
vs
Xavier

150 cm
25
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
207 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Reino Perussuoli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, James Xavier!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shigeki Sano and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Perussuoli drives through with a takedown into Xavier's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Xavier has Perussuoli pulled in close to control his posture.
Xavier has a closed guard, preventing Perussuoli from standing up.
Xavier has control of Perussuoli's left arm, preventing Perussuoli from doing any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Xavier can do anything to dispel that myth.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Xavier looking to hit a scissor sweep but Perussuoli is one step ahead there.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Perussuoli misses with a head kick.
Xavier displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Perussuoli throws out the jab.

Xavier gets tackled into the cage by Perussuoli. Perussuoli maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Perussuoli drags the fight down to the ground.
Xavier must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Xavier stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Perussuoli swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Xavier postures up and lands a big shot to Perussuoli's brow.

Perussuoli has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Xavier can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Xavier's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Xavier stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Perussuoli swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Xavier stays in close to Perussuoli's body and controls the position.
Xavier throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Xavier stands and throws Perussuoli's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Xavier creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee asks Xavier politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Xavier prefers to stall for the moment though.
Perussuoli throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Xavier trying to control the position but Perussuoli is working away.
Xavier connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Perussuoli some visible discomfort.
Perussuoli is not content to let Xavier control the position.
Perussuoli gets back to half guard.
Xavier is trying to control the action in half guard but Perussuoli is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Xavier works his way into full mount!
Xavier content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xavier lands a big elbow.
Xavier working Perussuoli over with strikes here.
Perussuoli is in all sorts of trouble here.
Xavier is landing with some decent strikes but Perussuoli is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The referee warns Perussuoli that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Xavier lands a heavy elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Xavier lands a heavy elbow.
Xavier is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Perussuoli can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Xavier putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Xavier lands a big shot there that rocks Perussuoli but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Perussuoli is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xavier landing strikes from the mount and Perussuoli is in trouble!
Xavier looking to control and managing it successfully.
Perussuoli's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Xavier connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Perussuoli might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Xavier landing shots from mount.
Xavier unloading with bombs!

Perussuoli is rocked!
Xavier lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Oh Perussuoli is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Xavier lands a big shot to the head and Perussuoli winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). James Xavier!