PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Xadas Cristo (ranked 4480 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryder Pearce (ranked 4878 p4p, 385 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cristo
vs
Pearce

180 cm
21
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
22
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Xadas Cristo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ryder Pearce!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Winston Howard and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pearce has a takedown stuffed.
Pearce pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cristo throws a nice head kick!
Pearce throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cristo stuffs the takedown.

Cristo moves into the clinch successfully.
Pearce pressing his opponent against the cage.
Pearce jumps guard but Cristo turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Xadas Cristo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryder Pearce.
Pearce is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cristo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cristo is trying to break free.

Cristo breaks from the clinch.
Cristo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Pearce is fending him off so far but Cristo persists. Nope, Pearce circles away and we're back to standing.

Cristo gets caught flat footed, as Pearce shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Pearce seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Pearce scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pearce trying to control the position from guard on top but Cristo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cristo manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Cristo drags the fight down to the ground.
Pearce is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Pearce stops Cristo from standing up.
Cristo is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Pearce dives into side control.

Pearce is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cristo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cristo tries to escape but Pearce is in control.
Pearce wants to control but Cristo is keeping him busy.
Pearce taking a breather here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cristo is trying to buck Pearce off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cristo dodges the ground and pound from Pearce.
Cristo could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Cristo is trying to get back to his feet.

Pearce swings around for an armbar but Cristo sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Pearce's guard.

Pearce is looking for a triangle but Cristo pushes his legs off easily.
Cristo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Pearce escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cristo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Cristo postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pearce wants to sweep but no luck.
Cristo has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Pearce is proving hard to escape from.
Cristo stays in close to Pearce's body and controls the position.
Pearce pulls Cristo in close to prevent any damage.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

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

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Cristo tries to clinch but Pearce moves out of range.
A head kick from Cristo lands but Pearce takes it in his stride.
Pearce looks to score with a jab to the body but Cristo is just out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pearce tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cristo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
It looked like Cristo was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Cristo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Pearce looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Cristo manages to escape and get back to his feet!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xadas Cristo dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Xadas Cristo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cristo lands a nice looking kick to the body. Pearce takes a step back to recover.
Cristo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pearce can do to turn this around?

Pearce takes the fight into the clinch.
Pearce drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cristo gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Cristo is looking to break free of the clinch but Pearce has double underhooks.
Cristo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cristo jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Pearce walks away with a smile on his face. Cristo gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Cristo throws a front kick that sends Pearce stumbling back into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pearce takes a kick to the side of the head.
Pearce fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Cristo is out of range.
Pearce throws a head kick that misses.
Cristo tries a head kick but it misses.
Cristo throws a nice head kick!
Cristo lands a head kick. Pearce smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cristo throws a head kick that half lands.
Cristo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pearce sprawls well. Pearce wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cristo gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Pearce scores with a takedown into Cristo's guard.
Pearce passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Pearce thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Pearce decides to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cristo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xadas Cristo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Pearce closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cristo did well to prevent Pearce getting side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Pearce is trying to work for a kimura but Cristo is defending well.
Pearce moves nicely into side control.
Pearce controls the position from side control.
Cristo is not content to let Pearce control the position.
Cristo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cristo prevents Pearce from improving position.

Pearce has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Pearce closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cristo to the mat! Cristo manages to get full guard.

Cristo has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Pearce has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Cristo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pearce has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cristo can't break the clinch.
Cristo tries to pull guard but Pearce won't allow it.

Pearce breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pearce has his takedown stuffed
and Cristo counters with a left and a right that stings Pearce.
Xadas Cristo is winning the standup battle so far.

Pearce shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Cristo is trying to defend but Pearce finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pearce controlling the action here.
Pearce looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
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 Xadas Cristo will probably get the nod.
That's time! Cristo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A lazy body kick from Cristo
and Pearce counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Xadas Cristo has been cut.
Cristo scores with a spinning back kick!
Pearce misses with a low kick.

Pearce scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Pearce looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pearce is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Pearce takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Pearce trying to control the action but Cristo is working from the bottom.
Pearce lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's two 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.
Pearce wants to control but Cristo is keeping him busy.
Pearce is taking a breather. Cristo says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Cristo fails to land with a series of punches.
And Pearce tries to counter it with a takedown but Cristo pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Cristo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cristo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pearce tries to clinch but Cristo is having none of it.
Pearce attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Cristo throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Pearce fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cristo avoids it really well and circles away.
Pearce closes the distance and clinches up with Cristo, looking for a takedown. Pearce pushes Cristo against the cage but Cristo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pearce shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Cristo napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pearce trying to control the position but Cristo is working away.
Cristo is trying to buck Pearce off.
Pearce is staying tight to Cristo's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Cristo is trying to get back to half guard.
Cristo tries to escape but Pearce is in control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pearce connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Cristo some visible discomfort.
Pearce wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cristo keeps working.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pearce controls the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ryder Pearce.
I think Cristo 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 Chris Dean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xadas Cristo!