PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zachariah Jabari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Newborn X (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jabari comes to the cage accompanied by All Stars. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Jabari
vs
X

179 cm
22
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Zachariah Jabari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Newborn X!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

X instigates a clinch.
X goes for a takedown attempt but Jabari pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Jabari tries to clinch but fails miserably

and X counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Jabari is trying to stand back up but X is controlling him
X passes to side control.
X wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jabari keeps working.
X misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Jabari tries to escape but X is in control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
X is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Jabari's shoulder. That is not cool.
X works to advance to full mount. Jabari defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
X trying to control but Jabari is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jabari wants to try and get back to his feet.

X is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Jabari has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Jabari!

X looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Jabari preventing the sweep.

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.
X is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
X looks gassed!
X trying to control from Jabari's half guard. Jabari has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
X tries to free his leg and advance position but Jabari is retaining full guard.
Jabari wants to stand but X is controlling the position.
X must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
X stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jabari swivels though and keeps the full guard.
X trying to control but Jabari is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jabari keeping full guard, as X tries to pass.
Jabari wants to stand up but X is controlling him.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Jabari lands a jab.
X shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Jabari defends it nicely.
Jabari lands a left and a right that sends X crashing to the canvas! Jabari dives into mount looking to finish!

X is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jabari trying to control but X is having none of it.
X is still in real trouble! Can Jabari finish him?

Jabari is standing up, even though he is in mount.

Jabari has managed to clinch.
X seems to have recovered his senses.
X fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Zachariah Jabari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Newborn X.
Jabari drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
X fails to pull guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Zachariah Jabari will probably get the nod.
That's time! Jabari's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Jabari shoots and misses

and X counters by clinching up.
Jabari drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

X breaks the clinch.
Jabari displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from X.
X doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Jabari counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from X.
Zachariah Jabari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Newborn X.
X is breathing heavily.
Jabari fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jabari shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. X is trying to defend but Jabari finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Jabari wants to stand but X has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
X trying to hold on to Jabari's head to control him but Jabari postures up.

Jabari gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jabari fails with the takedown

and X counters by moving into the clinch.
X tries to pull guard but Jabari holds him up against the cage and eventually X drops back down to his feet.
X is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Jabari pulls him back up using the underhooks.
X is pressed up against the cage. Jabari has hold of a leg and is looking to drag X down to the mat. X avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Jabari doesn't succeed with the takedown

and X counters with a nice double leg into side control. Jabari won't be happy with that.
Jabari prevents X from improving position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
X is looking to take a break and control but Jabari is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jabari parries the strikes from X easily there. X is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Jabari to escape.
Jabari is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
X content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Jabari wants to get back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Jabari throws a series of strikes that have X backpedaling.
Jabari shoots and misses

and X counters by clinching up.
Jabari wants a takedown but no success here.

X's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
X tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jabari wants to clinch

and X counters with a nice double leg into side control. Jabari won't be happy with that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Newborn X showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Jabari tries to clinch up

and X counters by moving into the clinch.

X pulls guard successfully.
X controlling Jabari's posture.

X is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
X takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jabari has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of X is proving hard to escape from.

X throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jabari wants to stand but X is controlling his posture from full guard.
Jabari preventing the sweep.
Jabari would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Jabari shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as X sprawls well. X wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Jabari gets slowly back to his feet.
Jabari throws a right and a left that X avoids nicely.
Jabari tries to close the distance and clinch but X swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
X doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Jabari counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
No joy there for Jabari, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Jabari fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jabari swinging wilding here.
Jabari fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Jabari closes the distance and clinches.
Jabari wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zachariah Jabari. That's going to take a lot out of him.

X ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. X no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jabari won't allow X to sweep him here.

That's four 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.

Jabari gets to his feet - X follows without any prompting.
X takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
X gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Jabari counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Jabari.
X gets underhooks to prevent Jabari's takedown attempt.
X tries to pull guard but Jabari won't allow it.
X gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Jabari.

X's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
X leaves Jabari with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Newborn X.
I think X has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Newborn X!