PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jingzhong Xin (ranked 3584 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raymond Shabalala (ranked 6198 p4p, 0 weight class). Xin has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. This should be fireworks!

Xin
vs
Shabalala

174 cm
25
157 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
158 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jingzhong Xin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Raymond Shabalala!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Alyssa Summers and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shabalala shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Xin sprawls well. Xin wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Shabalala gets slowly back to his feet.

Xin gets the takedown into side control.
Xin sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Shabalala is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Shabalala is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Xin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shabalala defending well though.
Xin is breathing heavily.
Xin thows a huge punch but Shabalala dodges it nicely.

Shabalala actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Xin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Shabalala keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shabalala is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Xin pulls his head out easily.
Xin is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Shabalala is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Xin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Xin's back!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shabalala is working the ground and pound. Can Xin escape?
Shabalala lands with a hammerfist to the side of Xin's head.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Shabalala. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shabalala loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Xin hold on?
Shabalala scores with strikes from the back.
Shabalala throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Xin!
Xin is in bad spot here.
Xin is working hard here to advance position.
Shabalala has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Shabalala lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Shabalala scores with punches to the body.
Xin tries to break free.
Xin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Shabalala on the ground.
Shabalala is landing with strikes. Xin can't take much more of this.
Xin covers up after that shot from Shabalala.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Shabalala is cranking Xin's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for Xin! He's tightened the choke and Xin is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Raymond Shabalala!