PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Talos Paparian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xander Hogsback (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.

Paparian
vs
Hogsback

189 cm
24
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Talos Paparian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Xander Hogsback!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hogsback tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Paparian manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Paparian works the jab nicely.
Hogsback stuffs the takedown.
No luck for Hogsback with that takedown attempt.
Hogsback shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Paparian sprawls well. Paparian wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hogsback gets slowly back to his feet.
Paparian misses with a head kick.
Paparian tries to clinch but Hogsback is having none of it.
Talos Paparian seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Paparian stuffs the takedown attempt from Hogsback. Hogsback gets slowly back to his feet.
Talos Paparian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xander Hogsback.
No luck for Paparian with that takedown attempt.
Paparian is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hogsback sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paparian closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hogsback circles away.
Paparian stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Paparian wants it to stay on the feet.
Hogsback displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Paparian.
Paparian throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hogsback's waist but Hogsback gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Paparian off to one side.

Hogsback drives through and clinches with Paparian against the cage.
Paparian jumps guard but Hogsback turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Paparian jumps guard.
Hogsback wants to control from the top but Paparian keeps moving.
Paparian keeping full guard, as Hogsback tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hogsback trying to control the position from guard on top but Paparian is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hogsback stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Paparian swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Xander Hogsback was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Paparian goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Paparian tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hogsback swivels and escapes.

Hogsback has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hogsback drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Paparian looking for a takedown.
Paparian's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Hogsback has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Paparian after a bit of a struggle.
Paparian's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paparian blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Paparian lands a hook to the side of the head.

Paparian manages to break the clinch.
Paparian tries for a takedown but Hogsback sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hogsback tries to clinch up but Paparian circles away and keeps his distance.

Paparian has taken the fight to the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Paparian is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hogsback to keep the fight standing.
Paparian leaning against his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Talos Paparian dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hogsback fails with the takedown.

Hogsback closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Paparian's guard.
Paparian knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hogsback on the ground.
Paparian manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hogsback manages to get himself to full guard.

Hogsback is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Paparian defends well.
Paparian wants to stand but Hogsback is controlling his posture from full guard.
Hogsback utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paparian postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hogsback keeping moving, preventing Paparian from controlling successfully.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Paparian controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Hogsback is controlling Paparian's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Talos Paparian just wasn't active enough.
A lazy left from Paparian finds it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hogsback darts in and clinches Paparian up against the cage.
Paparian prevents Hogsback from breaking the clinch.
Hogsback wants to get back to striking at distance but Paparian won't allow it.
Paparian avoiding damage.

Paparian jumps guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Paparian looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hogsback is one step ahead there.
Paparian is trying to control the position but Hogsback postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paparian lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hogsback!
Hogsback is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hogsback is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Paparian trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hogsback is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Hogsback tries to reverse the position but Paparian maintains control.
Paparian controlling from the full mount.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Hogsback is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Talos Paparian will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Hogsback looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Paparian is fending him off so far but Hogsback persists. Nope, Paparian circles away and we're back to standing.
Hogsback tries to clinch there but Paparian circles away.
Hogsback defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Paparian.

Paparian fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hogsback, pushing him back against the cage.
Paparian is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hogsback to keep the fight standing.
Paparian pressing his opponent against the cage.
Paparian putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Hogsback in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Hogsback dodges an elbow strike from Paparian.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hogsback lands a takedown into guard.
Hogsback wants to control from the top but Paparian keeps moving.
Hogsback is pushing down on Paparian's leg trying to pass to half guard. Paparian is fighting to maintain full guard but Hogsback has managed to sneak the leg through.
Hogsback looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Paparian tries to kick Hogsback off in order to stand up. Hogsback Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Paparian is not content to let Hogsback control the position.

Hogsback has hold of Paparian's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Paparian tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Hogsback cranks the arm and Paparian screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Paparian, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Xander Hogsback!