PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Khaled Al Khuzeem (ranked 6023 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jia Cai Xiaoyang (ranked 3504 p4p, 0 weight class). Khaled Al Khuzeem has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Al Khuzeem
vs
Cai Xiaoyang

178 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
158 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Khaled Al Khuzeem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jia Cai Xiaoyang!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Peter Branson and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Al Khuzeem closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Al Khuzeem has Xiaoyang pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Al Khuzeem pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Xiaoyang tumbling to the mat - Al Khuzeem dives into Xiaoyang's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Al Khuzeem throwing strikes from guard but Xiaoyang blocks nicely.
Xiaoyang bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Al Khuzeem's guard.

Al Khuzeem knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Xiaoyang on the ground.
Al Khuzeem wants to stand and escape but Xiaoyang is having none of it.
Xiaoyang wants to pass the guard but Al Khuzeem is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Khuzeem tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Al Khuzeem on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Al Khuzeem tries to get out of the position.
Xiaoyang wants to control from the top but Al Khuzeem keeps moving.

Al Khuzeem is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xiaoyang pushes down on Al Khuzeem's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Xiaoyang throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Al Khuzeem wants to get back to full guard.
Xiaoyang thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Xiaoyang is trying to work for a kimura but Al Khuzeem is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Khuzeem has a hand on Xiaoyang's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Xiaoyang takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

Xiaoyang with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Xiaoyang trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Al Khuzeem is desperately trying to improve his position but Xiaoyang has a good base and remains in mount.
Al Khuzeem wants to control but Xiaoyang is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Khuzeem tries to reverse the position but Xiaoyang maintains control.
Al Khuzeem is squirming around, avoiding Xiaoyang's attempts to control the action.
Xiaoyang avoids the attempt from Al Khuzeem to control.
Al Khuzeem trying desperately to get to his feet.
Xiaoyang wants to control the pace but Al Khuzeem is squirming around nicely.
Al Khuzeem is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Xiaoyang with shots to the head and body - Al Khuzeem looks very uncomfortable down there.
Al Khuzeem tries to reverse the position but Xiaoyang maintains control.
Xiaoyang wants to control the pace but Al Khuzeem is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Al Khuzeem avoids a series of strikes thrown by Xiaoyang.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jia Cai Xiaoyang dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Al Khuzeem avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Al Khuzeem scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Xiaoyang bucks up and tries to throw Al Khuzeem off but instead Al Khuzeem has got his back!
Jia Cai Xiaoyang has got the better of the ground game so far.
Xiaoyang is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Xiaoyang defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.
Xiaoyang trying to control but Al Khuzeem is working from the bottom.

Xiaoyang avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Khuzeem is trying to keep Xiaoyang in close.

Al Khuzeem had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Xiaoyang defends it easily.
Xiaoyang has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Al Khuzeem is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Xiaoyang throws a big elbow that misses.
Xiaoyang slips nicely into half guard.

That's two 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.
Xiaoyang stops Al Khuzeem from getting back to his feet.
Al Khuzeem wants to improve his position but Xiaoyang is controlling well.

Al Khuzeem looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Xiaoyang wants to pass the guard but Al Khuzeem is defending well.
Al Khuzeem is trying to stand back up but Xiaoyang is controlling him
Al Khuzeem tries to get to full guard but Xiaoyang has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Khuzeem moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Xiaoyang wants to stand but Al Khuzeem has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Xiaoyang wants to control from the top but Al Khuzeem keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Xiaoyang doesn't manage to clinch there - Al Khuzeem circles away.
Al Khuzeem appears to be looking for a big counter.
Nice takedown defense from Al Khuzeem. No joy for Xiaoyang on that attempt.

Al Khuzeem clinches up with Xiaoyang and pushes him back against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

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.
Xiaoyang tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Al Khuzeem tries to land knees in the clinch but Xiaoyang avoids the damage to the body.
Xiaoyang fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Khaled Al Khuzeem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jia Cai Xiaoyang.
Al Khuzeem wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Xiaoyang has him pressed against the cage.
Xiaoyang jumps guard but Al Khuzeem stands there with Xiaoyang around his waist. Xiaoyang gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Al Khuzeem pulls guard.
Xiaoyang trying to control the position from guard on top but Al Khuzeem is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Al Khuzeem is striking but Xiaoyang is not phased and passes to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Al Khuzeem wants to get back to full guard.
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 Khaled Al Khuzeem will probably get the nod.
That's time! Al Khuzeem's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Al Khuzeem stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Al Khuzeem wants it to stay on the feet.
Xiaoyang fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Xiaoyang looks for a takedown but Al Khuzeem sprawls well.
Khaled Al Khuzeem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jia Cai Xiaoyang.
Xiaoyang blocks a head kick by Al Khuzeem.
Al Khuzeem misses with a straight left.
Al Khuzeem throws a push kick but Xiaoyang slaps the foot to one side.

Al Khuzeem shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Xiaoyang's guard.
Xiaoyang keeping moving, preventing Al Khuzeem from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Khuzeem is looking to pass into half guard but Xiaoyang pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Xiaoyang is in guard.

Al Khuzeem throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Khuzeem is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Al Khuzeem had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Xiaoyang defends it easily.

Al Khuzeem working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Xiaoyang doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Xiaoyang manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Al Khuzeem has an active guard here but Xiaoyang has managed to pass into half guard.
Al Khuzeem is looking to control Xiaoyang's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Al Khuzeem avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Xiaoyang wants to lay and pray for a moment but Al Khuzeem keeps working.
Al Khuzeem wants to get back to full guard but Xiaoyang has mounted him!
Xiaoyang can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Al Khuzeem is looking to escape.
Al Khuzeem is looking to improve his position but Xiaoyang isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Al Khuzeem tries to improve his position but Xiaoyang has taken his back! Xiaoyang has a choke - it's sunk in pretty tight... Will Al Khuzeem tap? No... maybe... yes! He's tapped! Xiaoyang pushes Al Khuzeem away and gets up to celebrate with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Jia Cai Xiaoyang!