PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Yang Xinhai (ranked 875 p4p, 43 weight class) and Rico Dominguez (ranked 701 p4p, 30 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Xinhai
vs
Dominguez

175 cm
23
140 lbs
10 - 3 - 1

162 cm
26
145 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Yang Xinhai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rico Dominguez!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Russell Pearce and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dominguez connects with a nice looking jab.
Xinhai gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Dominguez.
Dominguez moves to clinch but Xinhai breaks away
and Xinhai connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Xinhai throws a big shot that misses.
Dominguez tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Xinhai defends well and Dominguez ends up having to push Xinhai into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Xinhai was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Dominguez doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Dominguez misses with a few strikes there.
Xinhai throws a big counter combination but Dominguez scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Dominguez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Xinhai throws a jab when Dominguez was well out of range.
Xinhai bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Xinhai was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Dominguez misses with a wild body shot.
Xinhai takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Dominguez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Xinhai.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dominguez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Xinhai throws out the jab.
Dominguez wants to counter with a clinch but Xinhai pushes him away.
Dominguez misses with a wild body shot.
Dominguez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Dominguez has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Xinhai ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Xinhai loads up on a big right hand but Dominguez slips the punch.
Xinhai lands with a nice body punch.
Dominguez's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Xinhai connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Dominguez scrambles back to his feet.
Dominguez throws a big shot that misses.
Dominguez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Xinhai enables Dominguez to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Xinhai manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Dominguez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Xinhai is keeping the position for now.
Dominguez throws a big right hand that misses.
Xinhai seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dominguez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dominguez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dominguez wants to control from the top but Xinhai keeps moving.
Dominguez throwing strikes but missing.
Xinhai wants to stand up but Dominguez is controlling him.
Dominguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Xinhai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Dominguez fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Xinhai looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A cross from Dominguez lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dominguez throws a nice looking combination but Xinhai bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Xinhai swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Dominguez wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Dominguez slips under a jab.
Dominguez rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Xinhai counters with a nice uppercut.

Dominguez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Xinhai, pushing him back against the cage.
Dominguez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dominguez has Xinhai pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Xinhai manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Dominguez lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dominguez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Dominguez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Xinhai has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Dominguez is on him like a limpet, forcing Xinhai back against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Still in the clinch, Xinhai scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xinhai has Dominguez pressed against the cage, preventing Dominguez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Xinhai blocks an elbow strike.
Dominguez has a couple of punches blocked by Xinhai.

Xinhai is fighting off a takedown attempt but Dominguez is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Xinhai to the mat. Xinhai regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Dominguez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dominguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Xinhai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dominguez prevents Xinhai from getting back to his feet.
Dominguez content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Dominguez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dominguez throws a big right hand that misses.
Dominguez throws a big right hand that misses.
Dominguez throws a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rico Dominguez will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Xinhai slips a jab and a cross from Dominguez.
Dominguez throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Xinhai stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Dominguez has a takedown stuffed.
It looked like Xinhai wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Xinhai throws a looping overhand right but Dominguez ducks down to avoid it.
Dominguez with a jab.
Rico Dominguez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dominguez swinging wildly here.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
A punch lands to the side of Xinhai 's head but he takes it in his stride.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xinhai throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Dominguez stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Dominguez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Xinhai swats him away and circles back towards the center.
It looked like Xinhai was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Xinhai takes a kick to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dominguez walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Xinhai swings for the body but Dominguez moves out of range.
Dominguez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Xinhai was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Xinhai swats away the attempt to clinch by Dominguez.
Xinhai seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Xinhai ducks right into an uppercut from Dominguez.
Dominguez misses the shot to the body.
Dominguez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Xinhai avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Xinhai blocks a head kick by Dominguez.
Xinhai scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Xinhai throws a right hand that misses
and Xinhai takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xinhai defending well as Dominguez loads up on a big left hand.
Xinhai throws a series of punches but Dominguez avoids them all with ease.
Dominguez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Xinhai circles away.
Xinhai is looking to counter punch.
Yang Xinhai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rico Dominguez.
A punch lands to the side of Xinhai 's head but he takes it in his stride.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Xinhai walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Dominguez has his takedown stuffed
and Xinhai counters with a right hand to the body.
Xinhai lands a nice hook to Dominguez's body. Dominguez takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Decent striking displayed by Xinhai there.
Dominguez throws a hook to the side of Xinhai's head but Xinhai sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Dominguez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Xinhai's waist but Xinhai gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dominguez off to one side.
Dominguez is looking to clinch.
Dominguez misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Dominguez 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Dominguez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Xinhai manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Dominguez misses with a hook. Xinhai ducked under it nicely.

Xinhai gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Dominguez to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Dominguez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Xinhai is keeping the position for now.
Dominguez throwing strikes but missing.
Dominguez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rico Dominguez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Xinhai utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dominguez passes into half guard.
Dominguez is pressing down on Xinhai's thigh, looking to free his foot. Xinhai is holding on for now.
Dominguez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Dominguez working over Xinhai with some ground and pound. Xinhai looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Dominguez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Dominguez trying to pass the guard but Xinhai defending well.
Dominguez slips a nice elbow through Xinhai's hands, connecting with Xinhai's forehead.
Xinhai has hold of Dominguez's hands but Dominguez slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Dominguez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sloppy strikes from Dominguez. Those never looked like landing.
Xinhai on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Dominguez slips under a jab.
Dominguez drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Xinhai defends it well.
Dominguez slips a jab from Xinhai.
Dominguez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Xinhai but Xinhai pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Xinhai takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Xinhai ducks right into an uppercut from Dominguez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sloppy strikes from Dominguez. Those never looked like landing.
Xinhai takes a swing at Dominguez's ribcage but misses.
Xinhai jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Xinhai takes one to the chin there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dominguez misses with a double jab.
Dominguez fails to land the takedown.
The fighters circling - Xinhai throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Dominguez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Xinhai throwing a counter right hand but Dominguez manages to avoid it.
Dominguez wants to clinch but Xinhai slips to the side
and Xinhai cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Xinhai throws out a loose jab but Dominguez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dominguez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Xinhai.
Xinhai swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Xinhai uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dominguez.
The fighters circling - Xinhai throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Dominguez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Xinhai avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xinhai waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dominguez.

Dominguez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Xinhai did well to prevent Dominguez getting side control.
Dominguez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Dominguez sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Dominguez is keen to just control but Xinhai is a slippery customer.
Dominguez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dominguez wants to take a breather but Xinhai is having none of it.
Dominguez working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Dominguez landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Dominguez looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Xinhai with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dominguez trying to control from half guard but Xinhai is working away.
Dominguez sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Dominguez trying to control the action but Xinhai is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Dominguez lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Dominguez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Xinhai defending well though.

Dominguez wants to work for an arm triangle but Xinhai is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Dominguez is trying to control the action in half guard but Xinhai is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Dominguez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Xinhai is trying to stand back up but Dominguez is controlling him

Dominguez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dominguez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rico Dominguez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Dominguez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rico Dominguez!
Rico Dominguez seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.