PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Xander Cage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Rover (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cage comes to the cage accompanied by Feuer Frei!. Rover has chosen Oh.. Canada- Classified as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cage
vs
Rover

188 cm
19
244 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

193 cm
19
260 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

:: Happy Pills ::

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Xander Cage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Josh Rover!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Robert Douchet and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cage moves into the clinch.
Rover tries for a takedown but Cage manages to get underhooks.

Cage pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rover misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cage thows a body shot but no joy.
Cage walks into a stiff left hand from Rover.
Rover throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rover throws a jab but it's blocked by Cage.
Rover misses with a wild combination.
Cage misses with a wild combination.
Cage misses with the combination.
Cage lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Cage shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rover but Rover pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A slow jab from Cage misses its intended target.
Cage is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rover cracks Cage with an open hand slap.
Rover misses with a combination
and Cage counters with a left to the body.
Rover keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cage fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rover avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xander Cage. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Josh Rover is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rover misses with a head kick.
Rover misses with a jab, cross combination.
A swing and a miss from Cage.
Cage tries to bum rush Rover with a series of wild strikes but Rover uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rover uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cage.
A head kick misses from Rover.
Cage throws a nice looking combination but Rover bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Cage rushes Rover and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rover is working for takedown but Cage is calmly controlling the position for now.
Cage tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Rover is trying to trip Cage. He has hold of a leg but Cage is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Rover persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Cage looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rover is one step ahead there.
Rover stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cage swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cage looking for a sweep. Not yet Cage, not yet.
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.
Rover thows a big elbow that misses.
Cage trying to control the position here.
Cage utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rover won't allow Cage to sweep him here.
Rover thows a big elbow that misses.
Rover has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A combination from Rover does no damage.
Cage fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cage misses with a few strikes there.
Cage is looking to clinch.
Josh Rover seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rover tries to keep at a distance but Cage has taken the fight into the clinch.

Rover works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Cage preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cage avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rover trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cage pulls Rover in close to his closed guard and prevents Rover from doing any damage or advancing position.
Cage tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rover wants to pass the guard but Cage is keeping the position.
Rover stopping the sweep attempt from Cage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cage lands a body shot.
Rover throws a combination that misses
and Cage counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Cage lands a right hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rover swinging wildly here.
Cage connects with the punch.
Cage moves in looking to clinch but Rover pushes him off.
Rover throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Cage counters with a left to the body.
Rover looks gassed!
Rover throws a head kick but Cage moves out of range.
Nice defenses there by Cage.
A jab from Rover misses.
Rover misses with the combination.
Rover takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Cage thuds a left hand into Rover's body.
Rover showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cage.
Rover throws a left and a right that both miss

and Cage counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cage trying to control but Rover is working from the bottom.
Cage wants to get up but he can't break Rover's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Cage trying to control the position from guard on top but Rover is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xander Cage dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cage with a jab.
Danga de danga de dang - Cage scores with a four punch combination!

Cage throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rover was covering up waiting for the punch and Cage finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Cage passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Cage decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Rover throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cage.
Rover throws a combination that misses
and Cage counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Rover thinking.
Cage misses with a series of wild punches.
Rover throws a head kick but Cage moves out of range.
Cage tries to bum rush Rover with a series of wild strikes but Rover uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rover pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A jab from Cage finds it's way through Rover's defenses.
Cage lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rover circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rover looks to land a combination but Cage avoids it well.
Cage tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rover swivels and escapes.
Rover fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Cage on the side of the head.
Cage takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cage misses with a body shot.
Rover throws a right hand that Cage ducks under and follows up with a left that Cage also avoids with ease.
Cage on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Xander Cage is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rover throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Cage slips a jab from Rover.
Cage dodges the punch combination from Rover.
Cage will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cage throws a nice looking combination but Rover bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cage avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Rover throws a combination that misses

and Cage counters by moving into the clinch.

Cage manages to break the clinch.
Rover fails to land with a series of punches.
A punch combination from Rover misses.
A head kick by Rover misses

and Cage counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rover breaks from the clinch.
Cage lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Cage takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Xander Cage is winning the standup battle so far.
The fighters circle momentarily. Cage darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Cage blocks a head kick by Rover.
Cage is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Rover.
Cage throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rover swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Cage counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rover's guard now.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rover keeping moving, preventing Cage from controlling successfully.
Cage stands up over Rover, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cage has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cage's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rover looking for a sweep. Not yet Rover, not yet.

Rover is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cage defends well.
Cage sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rover's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cage is nestled in close to Rover, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Cage passes to full mount!
Rover tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cage landing strikes from the mount and Rover is in trouble!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cage is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rover can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Rover keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Cage is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Rover has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Cage landing strikes, looking to finish!
Rover is squirming around, avoiding Cage's attempts to control the action.
Cage is really struggling to control Rover but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cage is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rover can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Rover is wriggling around trying to escape.
Cage can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rover is looking to escape.
Cage controlling the pace for now.
Rover is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rover is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rover takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xander Cage dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Cage takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Rover throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cage.
Rover pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cage looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rover lands a right hook to the body.
Rover tries a head kick but it misses.

Cage closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rover did well to prevent Cage getting side control.
Cage wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rover keeps working.
Xander Cage overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Cage decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Cage throws a nice looking combination but Rover bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rover throws a combination that misses
and Cage connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A jab from Rover misses.
Cage shoots in but Rover avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rover falls off balance throwing a combination
and Cage counters with a nice uppercut.
Rover throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Cage's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rover uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cage throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rover.
Rover swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rover tries to land a front kick but Cage steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Cage uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rover.
A left and a right from Rover both land. Nice combination.
Rover throws a head kick but Cage moves out of range.
Rover throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cage.
Rover swinging wildly here.
Rover looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Rover throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Rover misses with a double jab.

Cage shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rover's guard.

Cage avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rover being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cage stands up over Rover, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cage 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.

Rover looking for a guillotine here but Cage defends easily.
Rover being controlled here, momentarily.
Cage with a nice head shot there.
Cage wants to pass the guard but Rover is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rover looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cage is one step ahead there.
Cage 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.
Xander Cage is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cage wants to control from the top but Rover keeps moving.
Cage wanted to stand there but Rover had control of the position.
Josh Rover has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Rover looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Rover is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cage defends well.

Cage avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cage not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Cage has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rover is proving hard to escape from.
Cage is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Cage has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Xander Cage.
Well Cage 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xander Cage!