PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between JT Spirit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Choo Xiao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Spirit comes to the cage accompanied by Kotiteollisuus - Pohjanmaan Kautta. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Spirit
vs
Xiao

164 cm
20
132 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

173 cm
20
140 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Hellbent, Inc.

MMA's Best Nutrition The PIT INC

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, JT Spirit!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Choo Xiao!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Ren Mimura and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spirit fails with the takedown.
Spirit swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Xiao.
Spirit takes a swing at Xiao's ribcage but misses.
Spirit stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Xiao throws a right hand that Spirit ducks under and follows up with a left that Spirit also avoids with ease.
Spirit avoids a punch combination nicely.
Xiao swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spirit is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Xiao.
Spirit changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Xiao tries to avoid it but Spirit manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Xiao to the ground. Xiao escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Xiao tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Spirit paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Spirit throws a predictable looking body shot
and Xiao counters with a one-two to the body.
Choo Xiao is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Xiao misses with the combination.
Spirit lands with a shot to the body.
Spirit with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spirit lands a nice shot to the body.
Spirit misses with a body shot.
Spirit is looking to wear down Xiao with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Spirit looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Spirit throws a predictable looking body shot
and Xiao counters with a nice uppercut.
Spirit ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
JT Spirit seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Xiao swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Spirit counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Spirit looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xiao is trying to stand.
Spirit thows a huge punch but Xiao dodges it nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spirit missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Spirit wants to free his trapped foot but Xiao is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Spirit throwing shots but Xiao is blocking nicely.
Xiao wants to get back to his feet.
Spirit throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Spirit rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Xiao moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Xiao doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Xiao takes one to the chin there.
Spirit fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Spirit throws a right and a left that Xiao avoids nicely.
Spirit missing with a left hand there. Xiao was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A head kick misses from Xiao.
Spirit keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JT Spirit dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Xiao throws a leg kick but Spirit sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Spirit lands a jab.
Spirit with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Spirit moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Spirit circles away from the clinch attempt.
Xiao misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spirit changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Xiao tries to avoid it but Spirit manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Xiao to the ground. Xiao escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Spirit lands a nice looking body shot.
Spirit misses with a body shot.
Spirit misses with a looping left.
Spirit lands a nice hook to Xiao's body. Xiao takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Xiao swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Spirit connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Spirit lands with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Spirit. That snapped Xiao's head back.
Spirit lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Xiao circles away quickly and effectively.
Xiao throws a left and a right that both miss
and Spirit counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Spirit misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Xiao.
Spirit swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Xiao counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Spirit misses with a combination

and Xiao counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xiao landing knees to the head.

It looks like JT Spirit has been cut.
Spirit stalling in the clinch but Xiao improves position.
Spirit dodges an elbow strike from Xiao.
Xiao pushes off an throws an elbow but Spirit leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Spirit blocks the elbow strike.
Spirit blocks an elbow strike from Xiao.
Xiao throws an elbow that misses.
Xiao throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Spirit wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Xiao has him pressed against the cage.
Spirit is trying to break the clinch but Xiao has him pressed against the cage.
Spirit avoids a wild elbow strike from Xiao.
Spirit lands a nice shot to the body.
Spirit blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Xiao crunches a lovely knee into Spirit's ribcage.
Spirit avoids a wild elbow strike from Xiao.
Xiao missing with knees to the body.
Xiao trying to land knees to the body.
Xiao gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Xiao with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Xiao is fighting off a takedown attempt but Spirit is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Xiao to the mat. Xiao regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Xiao can't keep his opponent in guard - Spirit advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Spirit lands with a punch from half guard.
Xiao wants to get back to full guard.
Spirit misses with a head shot. Xiao uses the momentum to regain guard.
Spirit pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Xiao is keeping the position for now.
Xiao avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JT Spirit dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on JT Spirit's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Spirit scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Spirit misses with a body shot.
Spirit moves out of range as Xiao throws a body kick.
Choo Xiao is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Spirit throws a looping overhand right but Xiao ducks down to avoid it.
Xiao misses with a double jab

and Spirit counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Spirit missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Xiao really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Spirit. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Spirit postures up in Xiao's guard and throws a big left but Xiao blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spirit trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Spirit has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Spirit tries to free his leg and advance position but Xiao is retaining full guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Xiao looking for a guillotine here but Spirit defends easily.
Spirit with a flurry of punches that miss.

Xiao has his feet on Spirit's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Xiao misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Xiao is looking to clinch.
Spirit tests Xiao's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Spirit throws a body punch but Xiao moves out of range.

Spirit shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Spirit punishing his opponent with strikes.
Spirit with a couple of short strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Spirit connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Spirit with a couple of short strikes.
Spirit landing punches.
Spirit looking to land elbow strikes but Xiao uses the position to regain half guard.
Spirit throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Spirit throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Spirit winds up and cracks Xiao with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Xiao is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Spirit scores with a couple of nice shots.
Spirit working over Xiao with some ground and pound. Xiao looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spirit is pressing down on Xiao's thigh, looking to free his foot. Xiao is holding on for now.
Xiao is looking to control Spirit's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Xiao avoid being mounted?
Spirit wants to pass the guard but Xiao is defending well.
Xiao is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Spirit wants to pass the guard but Xiao is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JT Spirit clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on JT Spirit's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Spirit scores with a body shot.
Xiao throws a left and a right that both miss
and Spirit counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Spirit scores with a decent looking hook.
Spirit thuds his right hand into Xiao's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Spirit throws a series of strikes that have Xiao backpedaling.
Xiao walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spirit misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Spirit misses with a shot to the body
and Xiao counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Spirit fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Xiao manages to avoid it.
Spirit throws a body punch but Xiao moves out of range.
Spirit throws a sloppy body shot
and Spirit takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Xiao wants to clinch.
Spirit swings for the body but Xiao moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Xiao has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Spirit finds it's way round the side to connect with Xiao's head.
Xiao is looking to score with low kicks.
Spirit misses with a body shot.
Spirit cracks a nice hook into Xiao's ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spirit thows a body shot but no joy.
Spirit misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Xiao.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Spirit.
Spirit throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Good standup being displayed there by Spirit as he connects with a hook.
Spirit misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Xiao.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Xiao takes the fight into the clinch.
Xiao lands an elbow just above Spirit 's eye.
Xiao throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Xiao misses with an elbow over the top.
Spirit wants to get back to striking at distance but Xiao won't allow it.
Spirit is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Xiao misses with an elbow over the top.
Spirit blocks an elbow strike from Xiao.

Spirit manages to pull guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Spirit is on top in guard.
Spirit lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Spirit working some strikes from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JT Spirit had his way with Choo Xiao in that round.
The cut man is working on JT Spirit's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Spirit lands a jab to the head.
Xiao throws a head kick but Spirit moves out of range.
Spirit keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Spirit misses with a series of wild punches.
A jab from Spirit does it's job there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spirit lands a nice hook to Xiao's body. Xiao takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spirit misses with a takedown attempt
and Xiao makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Spirit really felt that one!
Spirit swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Spirit connects with a looping right hand.
The fighters circle momentarily. Spirit darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Xiao tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Spirit counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Xiao is looking to clinch but Spirit is avoiding it.
Xiao takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Choo Xiao has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xiao tries to clinch up but Spirit circles away and keeps his distance.
Spirit fails with a takedown attempt.
Spirit is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Xiao can do to turn this around?
Spirit swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Spirit swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Spirit misses its intended target.
Spirit takes a swing at Xiao's ribcage but misses.
JT Spirit is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Xiao keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Spirit.
Xiao moves away from the strike by Spirit.
Spirit throws a body punch but Xiao moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Spirit.
Xiao throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Spirit counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Horrible takedown by Spirit or perhaps it was just good defense by Xiao which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for JT Spirit. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Spirit looks to land a combination but Xiao avoids it well.
Xiao jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Spirit thuds a left hand into Xiao's body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nice uppercut lands for Spirit. That snapped Xiao's head back.

And that's the end of the fight!
JT Spirit showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Spirit, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 50:45
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 50:45
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... JT Spirit!
JT Spirit retains his bantamweight title!