PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Xanadu Newton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erik Gustafsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gustafsson has chosen The Prodigy - Omen as his entrance music. Erik Gustafsson told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Newton
vs
Gustafsson

180 cm
26
185 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

181 cm
26
180 lbs
9 - 4 - 3

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)
Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Xanadu Newton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 3, fighting out of Amsterdam, Erik Gustafsson!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Paulsen Ambrosius and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A clash of legs there as Newton blocks the low kick.
Gustafsson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Newton cracks Gustafsson with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Erik Gustafsson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gustafsson throws a hook but Newton avoids it easily.
Newton looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gustafsson throws the left hand but Newton avoids the punch easily.
Newton slips under a jab from Gustafsson.
Newton seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Newton scores with a nice strike.
Gustafsson swings for the body but Newton moves out of range.
Gustafsson throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Gustafsson needs to keep his hands up - Newton had a free shot at his head there.
Newton connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Good work by Newton as he checks the leg kick.
Gustafsson throws a leg kick that is checked
and Newton counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Newton throws a leg kick but Gustafsson moved away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gustafsson missing with a left hand there. Newton was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Newton throws a front kick aimed at Gustafsson's knee but Gustafsson avoids it well.
Newton throws a leg kick but Gustafsson sees it coming and moves out of range.
A big left from Newton misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gustafsson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Gustafsson slips under a jab from Newton.
Newton on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Erik Gustafsson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Newton is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gustafsson.
Newton lands a head shot.
Newton throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Gustafsson checks a low kick from Newton.
Newton checks a leg kick.
Newton fails to land with a series of punches.
Gustafsson lands with a cross.
Gustafsson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gustafsson wants it to stay on the feet.
Gustafsson looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Newton closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Gustafsson tries to work over Newton's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gustafsson is struggling to control the position.
Newton lands with a right to the head.
Gustafsson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Gustafsson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Newton pulls guard successfully.

Newton looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gustafsson passes into half guard.
Gustafsson sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Newton looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Still in half guard, Gustafsson seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Newton!
Newton is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Newton tries to hold on but Gustafsson pushes him away.
Newton tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson controlling the position easily from mount.
Newton manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Newton is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gustafsson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gustafsson's back!

Newton seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Gustafsson's chin but Gustafsson turns very nicely into Newton's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Gustafsson.
Gustafsson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Newton has managed to clinch.

Newton pulls guard effortlessly.

Gustafsson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Newton can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gustafsson controls the pace.
Xanadu Newton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Newton has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gustafsson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Newton had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gustafsson defends it easily.
Newton seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Gustafsson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Newton looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Gustafsson has picked Newton up and slammed him! Newton can't keep hold of the triangle and Gustafsson manages to pass to side control!
Newton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gustafsson can do to turn this around?
Newton tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gustafsson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gustafsson trying to control the action but Newton is working from the bottom.
Newton is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Newton prevents Gustafsson from moving into mount.
A lull in the action here.
Gustafsson trying to control the action but Newton is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newton connects with a looping right hand.
Gustafsson lands a really nice looking cross but Newton seems unphased.
Gustafsson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Newton.
Newton misses with a straight right.
Newton throws a hook but Gustafsson blocks it.
Gustafsson follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
An inside leg kick from Newton misses.
Gustafsson looks to score with a jab to the body but Newton is just out of range.
Newton keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Newton looks to throw the jab but Gustafsson is out of range.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Gustafsson in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Gustafsson scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Newton misses with a kick to the body.
Newton moves away from the strike by Gustafsson.
Gustafsson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Newton throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gustafsson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gustafsson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Newton momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newton jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Newton throws a combination that misses
and Gustafsson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gustafsson takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Gustafsson turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Newton fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Gustafsson on the side of the head.
Gustafsson listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Gustafsson pivots, looking for a leg kick but Newton is out of range and Gustafsson settles back down.
A leg kick checked by Gustafsson.
A big right from Gustafsson misses.
Gustafsson tries to land a front kick but Newton steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Gustafsson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Xanadu Newton is winning the standup battle so far.
Newton takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Newton slips a jab from Gustafsson.
A counter left hand to the body from Newton misses its target.
Newton does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Newton displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gustafsson throws out the jab.
Gustafsson avoids the body shot from Newton.

Newton rushes Gustafsson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Newton is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gustafsson is keeping busy.
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 Xanadu Newton will probably get the nod.
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.

Gustafsson with a jab.
Gustafsson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Newton.
Gustafsson lets loose with a powerful body kick. Newton will feel that in the morning.
Gustafsson scores with a jab to the head.
Newton thows a leg kick but Gustafsson checks it
and Gustafsson counters with a slapping leg kick.
Gustafsson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gustafsson lands with a hook. Newton tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Gustafsson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Newton lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Newton takes one on the button.
Gustafsson misses with a combination
and Newton counters with an outside leg kick.
Gustafsson has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Gustafsson throws a body kick that misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gustafsson blocks a jab.
Gustafsson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Gustafsson lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Newton connects with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Newton. Gustafsson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gustafsson throws a body shot but no joy.
Gustafsson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gustafsson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Newton keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Gustafsson with a hook.
Gustafsson walks into a straight right hand from Newton.
Gustafsson moves into range and connects with a jab.
Newton takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Gustafsson throws a low kick but Newton avoids it.
Newton scores with a decent looking hook.
Gustafsson throws a nice outside leg kick.
Gustafsson throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Gustafsson throws a looping overhand right but Newton ducks down to avoid it.
Gustafsson lands a leg kick that knocks Newton off balance momentarily.
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!
Gustafsson lands a nice shot to the body.
Newton ducks right into an uppercut from Gustafsson.
Erik Gustafsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson scores with a jab to the head.
Newton shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gustafsson as he avoids it easily.
Gustafsson lands with an overhand left.
Newton looks to score with a jab to the body but Gustafsson is just out of range.
A swing and a miss from Newton.
Newton throws a lazy uppercut
and Newton takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Newton keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gustafsson.
A good leg kick by Gustafsson.
An inside leg kick lands from Newton.
Gustafsson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nice takedown defense from Gustafsson. No joy for Newton on that attempt.
Newton jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gustafsson checks a low kick from Newton.
Newton backing away here, and Gustafsson unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Newton walks into a left hand.
Gustafsson pivots, looking for a leg kick but Newton is out of range and Gustafsson settles back down.
Newton blocks a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newton takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Gustafsson gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Gustafsson swings for the body but Newton moves out of range.
Gustafsson slips under a jab from Newton.
Gustafsson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gustafsson throws a jab when Newton was well out of range.
Gustafsson throws a jab but it's blocked by Newton.
Gustafsson ducks under a wild hook from Newton.
Xanadu Newton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Donk. Gustafsson catches Newton right on the button with a cross.
Good exchange - Newton coming out on top.
Gustafsson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Newton misses with a straight right.
Gustafsson moves into range and connects with a jab.

It looks like Xanadu Newton has been cut.
Gustafsson misses with a low kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Newton avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gustafsson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Newton fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gustafsson manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Newton is looking to clinch.
Newton doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Newton waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gustafsson.
Gustafsson fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Newton.

Newton moves into range and clinches up with Gustafsson.
Newton is trying to maintain a safe position but Gustafsson gets an underhook and turns Newton into the cage.
Newton misses with the head strike.
Newton blocks a body shot from Gustafsson.
Gustafsson tries to work over Newton's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Newton is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Newton misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Newton looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gustafsson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Newton backwards.
Newton lands a shoulder strike.
A left hand lands to the body for Gustafsson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erik Gustafsson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Newton 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xanadu Newton!