PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bittor Xavier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antti Rannanjarvi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Xavier comes to the cage accompanied by Jane's Addiction- Mountain Song. Rannanjarvi has chosen Stonehenge by Spinal Tap as his entrance music. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Xavier
vs
Rannanjarvi

180 cm
30
167 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

195 cm
29
169 lbs
25 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)

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 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bittor Xavier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Antti Rannanjarvi!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Gregory Folan and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rannanjarvi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rannanjarvi's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Xavier connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Rannanjarvi scrambles back to his feet.
Nice shot by Rannanjarvi.
Rannanjarvi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rannanjarvi throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Xavier misses the shot to the body.
Rannanjarvi throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Xavier's head.
Rannanjarvi dips to his left and cracks Xavier with an uppercut!
Xavier takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Xavier swings for the body but Rannanjarvi moves out of range.

Xavier feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rannanjarvi holds on and takes a little breather.
Rannanjarvi can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Xavier controls the pace.
Xavier preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xavier trying to control the position from guard on top but Rannanjarvi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rannanjarvi is controlling Xavier's posture.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rannanjarvi lands a nice shot to the body.
Rannanjarvi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Xavier.
Xavier lands a nice hook to Rannanjarvi's body. Rannanjarvi takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
The fighters circle momentarily. Xavier darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Rannanjarvi throws a leg kick
and Xavier connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rannanjarvi scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Xavier shoots in and gets a takedown into Rannanjarvi's guard.
Xavier preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xavier trying to control the position from guard on top but Rannanjarvi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Xavier postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Xavier works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Xavier is looking to take a break and control but Rannanjarvi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rannanjarvi trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Xavier manages to pass to mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rannanjarvi wants to control but Xavier is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xavier is trying to control here but Rannanjarvi has managed to regain half guard.
Xavier is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Xavier prevents Rannanjarvi from improving his position.
Rannanjarvi is staying active underneath Xavier, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Xavier is looking to advance position but Rannanjarvi won't allow it.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rannanjarvi is defending against the submission attempts here by Xavier.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xavier tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rannanjarvi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Xavier seems to be looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Xavier tries to pass to full mount but Rannanjarvi defends it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Xavier is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rannanjarvi sees it coming and defends easily.
Xavier is looking to advance position but Rannanjarvi won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bittor Xavier dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Xavier takes a swing at Rannanjarvi's ribcage but misses.
Rannanjarvi misses with a low kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Xavier. Rannanjarvi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Xavier throws a chopping leg kick but Rannanjarvi manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Rannanjarvi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Rannanjarvi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rannanjarvi throws a low kick but Xavier moves out of range easily.
Rannanjarvi chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Jab by Rannanjarvi.
Xavier shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rannanjarvi pinned against the cage. Rannanjarvi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rannanjarvi cracks Xavier with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Xavier uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rannanjarvi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xavier takes a swing at Rannanjarvi's ribcage but misses.
Antti Rannanjarvi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Xavier tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rannanjarvi swivels and escapes.
Xavier sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Xavier takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Rannanjarvi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Xavier is looking to wear down Rannanjarvi with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Rannanjarvi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rannanjarvi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Xavier throws a leg kick but Rannanjarvi checks it.
Rannanjarvi throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Xavier misses with a body shot
and Rannanjarvi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rannanjarvi lands with a shot to the body.
Xavier swings for the body but Rannanjarvi moves out of range.
Xavier misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rannanjarvi.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rannanjarvi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Xavier uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rannanjarvi.
Xavier tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rannanjarvi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Xavier somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bittor Xavier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Xavier throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rannanjarvi throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Xavier.
Rannanjarvi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Xavier.
A looping hook to the body misses from Xavier. Rannanjarvi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rannanjarvi connects with a single shot there.
Rannanjarvi tries a head kick but it misses.
Rannanjarvi tries to work over Xavier's front leg with a kick but Xavier checks it.
Xavier attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Xavier throws a lazy uppercut
and Rannanjarvi counters with a right hand to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xavier looks to score with a jab to the body but Rannanjarvi is just out of range.
Rannanjarvi feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Xavier's calf.
Rannanjarvi connects with a leg kick. Xavier looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Jab, jab by Xavier - just one landing.
Rannanjarvi takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Rannanjarvi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Xavier sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rannanjarvi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Xavier throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rannanjarvi.

Xavier looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rannanjarvi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Xavier is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xavier trying to control from Rannanjarvi's half guard. Rannanjarvi has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Rannanjarvi looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Xavier slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rannanjarvi tries to improve position but can't.
Xavier wants to control but Rannanjarvi is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antti Rannanjarvi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rannanjarvi staying out of range there.
Xavier moves out of range as Rannanjarvi throws a body kick.
Xavier throws a combination. Rannanjarvi tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Xavier misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Rannanjarvi counters with a nice body shot.
Rannanjarvi is looking to chop away at Xavier's legs.
Xavier looks to score with a jab to the body but Rannanjarvi is just out of range.
Xavier moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Rannanjarvi tries to land a front kick but Xavier steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rannanjarvi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rannanjarvi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Xavier.
Xavier scores with the left hand. Rannanjarvi knows he should have avoided that one.
Xavier pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rannanjarvi walks into a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xavier keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rannanjarvi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Xavier.
Xavier takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Rannanjarvi throws a leg kick

and Xavier counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Xavier stops Rannanjarvi from getting back to his feet.

Xavier is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Rannanjarvi to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Rannanjarvi wants to sweep here but Xavier controlling him for the moment.
Xavier looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rannanjarvi keeping moving, preventing Xavier from controlling successfully.
Rannanjarvi can't keep his opponent in guard - Xavier advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
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!
Xavier thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Xavier throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Xavier is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rannanjarvi defends it well.
Rannanjarvi gets full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rannanjarvi looking for a sweep. Not yet Rannanjarvi, not yet.
Rannanjarvi keeping moving, preventing Xavier from controlling successfully.
Rannanjarvi keeping full guard, as Xavier tries to pass.
Xavier loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rannanjarvi is looking to sweep but instead, Xavier has passed into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Xavier is working for a submission of some sort.

Xavier seems to be looking for submissions.
Rannanjarvi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Xavier seems to be working for a kimura but Rannanjarvi defends the submission attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bittor Xavier showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Xavier has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bittor Xavier!
Bittor Xavier took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps for their support in the buildup to the fight.