PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rich Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier Fury (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Xavier Fury has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Junior
vs
Fury

175 cm
21
159 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

180 cm
18
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rich Junior!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Xavier Fury!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fury throws a body punch but Junior moves out of range.

Junior bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Fury is looking to regain half guard here but Junior keeps moving and retains side control.
Junior trying to control the position but Fury is working away.

Junior is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Fury is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Junior misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Junior throws an elbow but Fury slips to the side and avoids it well.
Fury tries to buck Junior off but Junior is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junior is looking to take a break and control but Fury is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Junior working away.
Fury might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Junior haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Fury tries to buck Junior off but Junior is having none of it.

Junior is trying to get an arm triangle but Fury is defending well.
Junior trying to control the action but Fury is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two 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.
Junior tries to score a power double leg takedown but Fury sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Junior somewhat.
Junior changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Fury tries to avoid it but Junior manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Fury to the ground. Fury escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Junior gets a takedown into half guard.
Fury tries to get to full guard but Junior has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Junior wants to work for an arm triangle but Fury is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Junior trying to mount his opponent but Fury defends it.
Junior is keen to just control but Fury is a slippery customer.
Junior is pressing down on Fury's thigh, looking to free his foot. Fury is holding on for now.
Junior passes to full mount!

That's four 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.
Junior throws some wild stikes that Fury manages to avoid easily.
Junior scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Fury?
Junior looking to ground and pound but Fury is blocking nicely.
Fury is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Fury working to try and regain half guard.
Junior scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Fury?

It looks like Xavier Fury has been cut.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Junior looking to control but Fury is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rich Junior dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Xavier Fury's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Junior misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nice sprawl there from Fury as Junior shoots in.
Fury keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rich Junior. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fury throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Junior sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Fury throws a looping overhand right but Junior ducks down to avoid it.
Fury misses with an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Junior misses with a low kick.
Fury checks a low kick from Junior.
Junior fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Fury misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fury gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Junior to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Junior postures up.
Junior throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Fury pulls Junior in close to prevent any damage.
Junior slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Junior throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Junior throwing strikes from guard but Fury blocks nicely.
Junior wants to control from the top but Fury keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Junior is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fury can do to turn this around?
Fury throws the left hand but Junior avoids the punch easily.
Nice shot by Fury.
Junior scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Junior closes the distance and clinches up with Fury, looking for a takedown. Junior pushes Fury against the cage but Fury circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Junior.
Fury throws a hook but Junior avoids it easily.
Junior closes the distance and clinches up with Fury, looking for a takedown. Junior pushes Fury against the cage but Fury circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Junior tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fury swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Fury slips under a jab from Junior.
Junior shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Fury pinned against the cage. Fury gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Junior uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Fury.
Fury throws a hook to the side of Junior's head but Junior sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Fury thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fury scores with a jab to the head.
Junior shoots in for a takedown but Fury shows good takedown defense.
Junior throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Junior misses the shot to the body.
Junior tries for a takedown but Fury sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Junior shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Fury might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Fury keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Junior ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rich Junior seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fury lands a two punch combo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fury uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Junior has time to react.
Junior throws a body punch but Fury moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Fury showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Xavier Fury's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Fury throws a lazy right hand but Junior sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Junior throws out a loose jab but Fury uses good head movement to avoid it.
Junior slips under a jab.
Junior misses with a takedown attempt - Fury sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Junior shoots in for a double leg but Fury sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Junior staying out of range there.
Fury loads up on a big right hand but Junior slips the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Junior looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rich Junior. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fury misses with an uppercut. Junior saw that one coming.
Xavier Fury seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fury lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Fury throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Junior.
Junior closes the distance and clinches up with Fury, looking for a takedown. Junior pushes Fury against the cage but Fury circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fury connects with a right hand. Junior shakes it off.
Jab from Fury.
Fury looks to land a right hand but Junior moved out of range.
Junior misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Fury jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Junior rushes Fury and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Junior as Fury tries to tie him up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior is trying to break the clinch but Fury has him pressed against the cage.
Fury is trying to maintain a safe position but Junior gets an underhook and turns Fury into the cage.

Junior breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fury throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Junior goes for a double leg but Fury avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Fury continues to drive forward.
Fury trying to control the position but instead, Junior has worked for underhooks and has pushed Fury into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Junior pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fury misses with an uppercut
and Junior counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Fury thinking.
Junior tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Fury manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Junior dives in and grabs Fury's left leg, looking for a takedown. Fury pushes down on Junior's head and hops out.
Fury connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Junior's hands.
Junior takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fury shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Junior napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Junior wants to get back to his feet but Fury drags him back down.

Fury is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Junior knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Fury scores with punches from side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fury is working Junior over with some ground and pound from side control.
Junior regains half guard, as Fury was trying to land strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Junior keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xavier Fury comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Fury 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xavier Fury!
During a confident post fight interview, Xavier Fury thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.