PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Xavyer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuki Zaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexander Xavyer has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Xavyer
vs
Zaki

185 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

173 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alexander Xavyer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yuki Zaki!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Kenichi Hosakawa and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zaki looks to land a right hand but Xavyer moved out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Xavyer is defended easily by Zaki.
Zaki keeps the fight on the outside.

Zaki moves into the clinch.
Zaki has Xavyer pushed against the cage.
Zaki lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Xavyer.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Zaki creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Xavyer wants to break the clinch but can't.
A nice right hand lands inside from Zaki.
Zaki can't break the clinch.
Zaki lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Zaki lands a nice shot to the body.
A short body shot lands from Zaki as the two fighters clinch.

Xavyer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zaki closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Xavyer being controlled against the cage.
Zaki gets through Xavyer's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Xavyer is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Xavyer is looking for a takedown.
Zaki has Xavyer pressed against the cage, preventing Xavyer from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Zaki is looking to break free of the clinch but Xavyer has double underhooks.
A nice right hand lands inside from Zaki.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Zaki.
Xavyer fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Xavyer. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Xavyer jumps into guard, dragging Zaki to the mat.
Zaki throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Xavyer works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zaki really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Xavyer. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaki postures up.
Xavyer will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Xavyer is breathing heavily.
Zaki looking to pass the guard.
Zaki wants to stand and escape but instead Xavyer has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Zaki is controlling Xavyer's posture.
Xavyer preventing the sweep.
Xavyer wants to control from the top but Zaki keeps moving.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zaki is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Zaki is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xavyer looking for a takedown.
Zaki makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Zaki pushes Xavyer back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Zaki lands with a right to the head.
Zaki lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Xavyer goes for a takedown attempt but Zaki pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Zaki feints a jab promting Xavyer to slip. Zaki then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Xavyer slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Zaki connects with a jab.

Zaki clinches up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaki stalling.
Xavyer has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Zaki lands a nice uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Zaki.
Zaki is stalling here.
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!
Xavyer jumps guard but Zaki turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Zaki stalling.
Zaki lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Zaki stalls.
A nice left hand lands by Zaki.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Xavyer tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Zaki working some nice short punches in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuki Zaki dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Xavyer throws a head kick that misses.
Xavyer has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Xavyer there as he acknowledges the shot.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Zaki lands a right hook to the body.
Zaki lands with a nice combination. Xavyer backs away looking to recover.

Zaki moves into range and clinches up with Xavyer.
Zaki is trying to break the clinch but Xavyer is controlling him.
Xavyer is trying to maintain a safe position but Zaki gets an underhook and turns Xavyer into the cage.
Zaki slows down the pace here.
Zaki scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Xavyer has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A short uppercut from Zaki.
Xavyer has Zaki pressed against the cage, preventing Zaki from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaki works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Zaki lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Zaki lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Xavyer backwards.

Xavyer has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Zaki uses from the top position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Xavyer has a closed guard, preventing Zaki from standing up.
Zaki must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Xavyer working a defensive guard here.
Xavyer avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Xavyer looking for a sweep. Not yet Xavyer, not yet.

Xavyer has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zaki can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaki throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Xavyer works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zaki tries to stand but Xavyer is controlling from the bottom.
Zaki is looking to work some ground and pound but Xavyer has wrist control.
Xavyer manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zaki manages to get himself to full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zaki can do anything to dispel that myth.
Zaki looking for a sweep. Not yet Zaki, not yet.
Zaki controlling Xavyer's posture.
Zaki looking for a sweep. Not yet Zaki, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xavyer being controlled here momentarily.
Zaki looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Xavyer puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Zaki scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Xavyer manages to mount him!
Xavyer throws some wild stikes that Zaki manages to avoid easily.
Xavyer avoids the attempt from Zaki to control.
Zaki tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zaki is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Xavyer with the ground and pound from mount.
Xavyer really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Xavyer wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Zaki is wriggling around trying to escape.

Xavyer looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Xavyer tries to control but Zaki wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuki Zaki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Zaki has Xavyer up against the cage in a clinch.
Zaki is leaning against Xavyer and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Yuki Zaki seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Zaki is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A shot in the inside from Zaki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaki lands a nice shot to the body.
A short uppercut from Zaki.
Xavyer takes a shot to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Zaki.
Xavyer tries to break the clinch but Zaki is controlling the position.
A short right from Zaki.

Xavyer manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Xavyer working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zaki.
Xavyer working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zaki.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Xavyer is trying to keep Zaki in close.
Zaki throws and elbow that misses. Xavyer uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zaki's guard. Nice move by Xavyer!
Zaki wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Xavyer is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Yuki Zaki has got the better of the ground game so far.
Xavyer trying to control but Zaki is working from the bottom.
Zaki has Xavyer pulled in close to control his posture.
Zaki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Xavyer thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Xavyer stopping the sweep attempt from Zaki.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xavyer throws a big right hand that misses.
Zaki wants to get back to his feet but Xavyer is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Xavyer trying to control but Zaki is working from the bottom.
Xavyer won't allow Zaki to sweep him here.
Zaki is looking to stand up but Xavyer isn't so interested in that idea.
Zaki has control of Xavyer's left arm, preventing Xavyer from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Xavyer is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zaki sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Zaki closes the distance and clinches.
Xavyer is trying to break the clinch but Zaki has him pressed against the cage.
Xavyer wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zaki lands with a right to the head.
Zaki lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Zaki stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Xavyer fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Zaki scores with a shot to the side of Xavyer's head.
Alexander Xavyer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Xavyer is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuki Zaki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zaki has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuki Zaki!