PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Liangchan Xiaodong (ranked 4363 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khon Saroth (ranked 5248 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Xiaodong
vs
Saroth

178 cm
25
158 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

172 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Liangchan Xiaodong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Khon Saroth!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Chad Campbell and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Xiaodong misses with the combination.
Saroth fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Xiaodong avoids it really well and circles away.
An attempted straight right counter from Xiaodong misses the target.
Xiaodong shoots in for a double leg but Saroth sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Saroth lands a nice shot to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Xiaodong as Saroth shoots in.
Xiaodong shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Saroth sprawls well. Saroth wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Xiaodong gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Xiaodong has managed to clinch.
Xiaodong fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Liangchan Xiaodong. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xiaodong blocking some punches.
Saroth is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Xiaodong.

Xiaodong drags the fight down to the ground.
Saroth with a flurry of punches that miss.
Saroth wants to control from the top but Xiaodong keeps moving.
Xiaodong throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Xiaodong looking to hit a scissor sweep but Saroth is one step ahead there.
Xiaodong has a closed guard, preventing Saroth from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xiaodong pulls Saroth in to control the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Saroth preventing the sweep.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Saroth shoots for a takedown but Xiaodong saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Xiaodong lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Saroth tries for a takedown but Xiaodong sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Saroth throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Xiaodong.

Xiaodong darts in and clinches Saroth up against the cage.
Xiaodong goes for a takedown attempt but Saroth pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Xiaodong takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xiaodong throws a head kick that Saroth semi-blocks.
Xiaodong throws the kick towards the body but Saroth avoids it.
Xiaodong fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Saroth avoids it really well and circles away.
Xiaodong tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Saroth defends well and Xiaodong ends up having to push Saroth into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Xiaodong has a takedown stuffed.
Xiaodong is breathing heavily.
Saroth misses with a takedown attempt

and Xiaodong counters by moving into the clinch.

Xiaodong manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Xiaodong keeping moving, preventing Saroth from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saroth would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Xiaodong lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Saroth is trying to control the position but Xiaodong postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Xiaodong advances to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liangchan Xiaodong dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Saroth throws a quick inside leg kick.
Saroth shoots in for a double leg but Xiaodong sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Saroth misses with a takedown attempt
and Xiaodong counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Xiaodong misses with an uppercut. Saroth saw that one coming.

Xiaodong has managed to clinch.
Saroth misses with a short punch on the inside.

Xiaodong manages to pull guard.
Xiaodong is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Saroth is trying to stand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saroth is looking for a sweep. Xiaodong is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Saroth has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Xiaodong is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xiaodong sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Saroth defending well though.
Saroth really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Xiaodong. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Xiaodong throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Xiaodong is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Saroth is trying to control but can't.
Xiaodong slows the pace down in half guard.

Saroth looking for a kimura from the bottom but Xiaodong passes into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Xiaodong in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Xiaodong tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Saroth tries to buck Xiaodong off but Xiaodong is having none of it.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saroth gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Xiaodong in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Saroth is looking to get to half guard.
Saroth tries to hold on but Xiaodong postures up.
Xiaodong takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Saroth bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xiaodong managing to control the position.
Xiaodong's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Xiaodong looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liangchan Xiaodong dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Xiaodong misses with a wild combination.
Saroth shoots in for a takedown but Xiaodong shows good takedown defense.
Xiaodong throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Saroth's waist but Saroth gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Xiaodong off to one side.
Saroth misses with a jab, cross combination.
As Saroth looks to move away, Xiaodong throws a big counter combo but Saroth just gets out of the way.
Saroth shoots in for a double leg but Xiaodong sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Xiaodong pushes Saroth up against the cage in a clinch.

Xiaodong manages to pull guard.
Xiaodong looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Saroth got a little sloppy there for a moment and Xiaodong has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Saroth has managed to get both his arms back between Xiaodong's legs - danger averted.

Xiaodong working for a triangle but Saroth defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Xiaodong escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Saroth gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Saroth is pushing down on Xiaodong's leg trying to pass to half guard. Xiaodong is fighting to maintain full guard but Saroth has managed to sneak the leg through.
Xiaodong is looking to get back to full guard here but Saroth has managed to pass to side control instead.
Xiaodong tries to bench press Saroth off him but Saroth keeps the position.

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.
Xiaodong regains half guard.
Xiaodong is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Saroth sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Xiaodong defending well though.
Xiaodong trying to hold on to Saroth's head to control him but Saroth postures up.
Saroth is trying to control. Xiaodong wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Saroth is looking for a kimura here.
Xiaodong is not content to let Saroth control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Xiaodong has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Saroth is on him like a limpet, forcing Xiaodong back against the cage.

Xiaodong breaks from the clinch.
Saroth wants to clinch.

Xiaodong has Saroth up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xiaodong is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Saroth is defending well.

Xiaodong breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Saroth dives in and grabs Xiaodong's left leg, looking for a takedown. Xiaodong pushes down on Saroth's head and hops out.
Liangchan Xiaodong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Khon Saroth.
Saroth throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Xiaodong's waist but Xiaodong gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Saroth off to one side.
Saroth takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Xiaodong gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Saroth lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Xiaodong jumps guard but Saroth stands there with Xiaodong around his waist. Xiaodong gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Xiaodong successfully pulls guard.
Khon Saroth has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Liangchan Xiaodong is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Xiaodong looking for a sweep. Not yet Xiaodong, not yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Liangchan Xiaodong showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Xiaodong has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Liangchan Xiaodong!