PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Professor Xe (ranked 679 p4p, 1014 weight class) and Touch Phillips (ranked 105 p4p, 153 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Xe
vs
Phillips

190 cm
33
265
23 - 7 - 0

221 cm
26
291
14 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains

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 23 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Professor Xe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Touch Phillips!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Donatello Bradman and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Xe. Phillips does a little dance to reset his feet.
A little jabbing left from Phillips on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Xe fails with the takedown
and Phillips counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Professor Xe has been cut.
Xe scores with a jab to the body.
Xe lands with a good body shot.
Phillips uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Xe.
Phillips bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Xe's head.
Horrible takedown attempt by Xe or perhaps it was just good defense by Phillips, which made it look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xe throws a series of punches but Phillips avoids them all with ease.
Phillips throws out a counter right but Xe avoids it with no problem.
Professor Xe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Xe throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
It seemed like Phillips was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Xe misses with a hook to the body
and Phillips counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xe misses with a wild body shot.
Xe looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Phillips flicks out a counter leg kick but Xe steps away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Professor Xe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A shot to the liver by Xe. Beautiful body shot.
Xe ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Xe has a takedown stuffed.
As Xe backs off Phillips throws a huge counter combo but Xe manages to avoid it all.
Phillips throws a hook but Xe avoids it easily.

Xe bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Phillips's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xe postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Phillips is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Xe wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Phillips, who protects the arm well.
Xe misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Xe scoring with punches from side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Xe in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Xe is trying to ground and pound but Phillips uses the momentary lack of control by Xe to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Phillips is defending against the submission attempts here by Xe.
Xe throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Phillips wants to control but Xe is keeping busy.
Phillips wants to get back to full guard.

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.
Xe wants to control but Phillips is keeping him busy.
Xe is looking to stall here but Phillips recovers full guard.
Phillips preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Xe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Phillips works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Xe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Phillips wants to sweep here but Xe controlling him for the moment.
Phillips is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Xe misses with a body shot.
Phillips jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Professor Xe dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Professor Xe's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Phillips on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Phillips is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Xe throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Phillips uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Xe.
Xe thuds a left hand into Phillips's body.
Xe darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Phillips looks to throw the jab but Xe is out of range.
Phillips takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Xe lands a jab to Phillips's midsection.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Xe scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Xe connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Phillips some visible discomfort.
Phillips looking for a sweep but Xe has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Professor Xe overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Xe putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Xe thows a huge punch but Phillips dodges it nicely.
Xe is thwarting Phillips's attempts to control the position.
Xe drops an elbow to the side of Phillips's head.
Xe thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Xe connects with a nice short shot to Phillips's temple.
Xe controlling the action here.
Phillips trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xe throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Phillips controlling the position well.
Phillips trying to control from the bottom.
Xe prevents Phillips from improving his position.
Xe thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Phillips's head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Xe lands a nice short elbow.
Xe missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Phillips wants to control but Xe is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Xe 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xe slips a nice elbow through Phillips's hands, connecting with Phillips's forehead.
Phillips gets full guard.
Xe trying to control the position from guard on top but Phillips is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Xe might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Phillips wants to sweep here but Xe controlling him for the moment.
Phillips preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Phillips is looking to sweep but instead, Xe has passed into half guard.
Phillips is looking to control Xe's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Phillips avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Xe.
Xe working Phillips over with strikes.
Xe trying to control from half guard but Phillips is working away.
Phillips wants to sweep but Xe has passed to side control!
Phillips can't do much from the bottom here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Xe content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Phillips can't do much from the bottom here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Professor Xe dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Professor Xe's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Xe digs a good body shot into Phillips's ribs.
Xe scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Xe swings away with a body shot that misses
and Phillips connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Phillips avoids a punch combination nicely.
Phillips looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Xe lands a nice looking body shot.
Xe is looking to wear down Phillips with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phillips uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Xe.
Phillips unleashes a big counter combination but Xe bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Xe misses with a few strikes there.
Xe works Phillips's body with a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips avoids the body shot from Xe.
Phillips throws out a counter right but Xe avoids it with no problem.
Xe is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Phillips can do to turn this around?
Xe throws a combination that misses
and Phillips counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Phillips dodges the punch combination from Xe.
Xe shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Phillips but Phillips pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Touch Phillips is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Xe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Phillips moves away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Phillips! But no joy.
Xe tries for a takedown but Phillips sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Professor Xe is winning the standup battle so far.
Xe scores with a hook to the body. Phillips takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Phillips steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Xe.
Touch Phillips has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xe shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Phillips sprawls well. Phillips wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Xe gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Professor Xe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Xe takes a swing at Phillips's ribcage but misses.
Xe misses the shot to the body.
Phillips swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Xe swings for the body but Phillips moves out of range.
Xe takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Phillips throws a lazy right hand but Xe sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Xe takes a swing at Phillips's ribcage but misses.
Phillips walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Xe swings for the body but Phillips moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xe fails with a takedown attempt.
Phillips looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Xe misses with a two punch combination.
Phillips looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Phillips connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Xe momentarily.

Professor Xe's cut is getting worse.
Xe just misses with a punch to the body.
Xe walks into a left hand.
Phillips looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Xe half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Phillips stuffs the takedown.
It seemed like Phillips was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Nice body kick from Phillips.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xe looks to score with a jab to the body but Phillips is just out of range.
Phillips swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Xe.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Xe scoring with punches and elbows.
Xe tries to advance to mount but Phillips instead regains half guard.
Phillips is staying active underneath Xe, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Xe is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Phillips is staying active underneath Xe, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Professor Xe showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Xe 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 Topper Green scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 30:27

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