PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Styles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luke Upton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Upton has chosen DL Incognito - Proof 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.

Styles
vs
Upton

185 cm
23
175 lbs
10 - 4 - 1

182 cm
32
181 lbs
16 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 1, fighting out of New York, Xavier Styles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Luke Upton!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Bruno Lombardi and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Styles throws a front kick aimed at Upton's knee but Upton avoids it well.
Upton connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Upton will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Upton throws a right and a left that both miss.
Luke Upton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Upton throws a sloppy head kick
and Styles counters with an inside leg kick.
Upton looks to land a left hand but Styles moved out of range nicely.
Upton throws a series of punches but Styles avoids them all with ease.
Styles misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Styles throws a series of punches but Upton avoids them all with ease.
Styles looks to score with a jab to the body but Upton is just out of range.

Styles gets caught napping as Upton dives in and scores a takedown. Styles manages to retain guard.
Upton lands a couple of digs.

Styles escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Upton gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Upton trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Styles wants to sweep but no luck.
Upton loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Upton lands a couple of digs.
Upton throwing strikes but missing.
Upton looking to pass the guard.
Upton preventing the sweep.
Upton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Styles working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Upton.
Upton throws a big elbow that misses.
Upton scoring with punches to the head and body.
Upton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Styles pulls Upton in close to prevent any damage.
Styles trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Styles looking to hit a scissor sweep but Upton is one step ahead there.
Upton throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Styles works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Styles looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Styles keeping full guard, as Upton tries to pass.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Upton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Styles is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Styles manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Upton manages to get himself to full guard.

Upton working for a triangle but Styles defends it easily.
Upton is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Styles tries to get to full guard but Upton has control of the leg.

Styles looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Upton looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Upton is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Upton is looking for a kimura but Styles is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Upton to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Upton looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Styles works his way to full guard. Good work.
Styles trying to keep a closed guard but Upton is proving a slippery customer.
Upton with a nice head shot there.
Upton preventing the sweep.
Upton throws a big right hand that misses.
Styles bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Upton's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Styles lands a couple of digs.
Styles advances position into side control!
Upton tries to improve position but can't.
Upton regains half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Upton trying to get back to full guard but Styles takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Styles landing strikes from the mount and Upton is in trouble!
Styles with a couple of short strikes.
Upton is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Luke Upton will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Styles moves away from the strike by Upton.
Upton takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Styles takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Upton missing with a left hand there. Styles was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Upton looks for a takedown but Styles sprawls well.
Danga de danga de dang - Upton scores with a four punch combination!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Upton is defended easily by Styles.
Styles fails with a takedown attempt.
Upton scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Upton moves into the clinch.
Upton lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Styles lands a shot to the body.

Styles manages to pull guard.
Luke Upton has got the better of the ground game so far.
Styles manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Styles looking to finish Upton with some ground and pound. This is bad for Upton!
Upton tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Styles lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Styles unloading with bombs!

Styles is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Upton to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Upton shrugs it off.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Styles is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Upton can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Upton really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Upton is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Styles wants to control the pace but Upton is squirming around nicely.
Upton sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Upton regains full guard. Nicely done.
Upton is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Styles looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Upton thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Styles's head.

Upton is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Styles regains full guard. Nicely done.
Upton is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Upton loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Upton loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Styles can't keep his opponent in guard - Upton advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Styles trying to control here.

Styles looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Styles is trying to get back to full guard.
Upton missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Styles gets back to full guard.
Upton must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Styles looking for a sweep. Not yet Styles, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Styles working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Upton.
Upton lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Upton is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Upton stopping the sweep attempt from Styles.
Upton advances to half guard.
Styles tries to roll over but Upton keeps him under control.
Styles is looking to control Upton's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Styles avoid being mounted?
Styles is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Upton is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Styles is looking for a sweep. Upton is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nice strikes from Upton there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Luke Upton will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Styles scores a takedown into full mount!
Upton is working to get back to half guard.
Styles breaks from Upton's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Upton throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Styles putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Upton tries to reverse the position but Styles maintains control.
Styles landing shots from mount.
Upton is looking to get to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Styles is landing with some decent strikes but Upton is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Upton regains half guard.
Styles lands with a punch from half guard.
Upton blocking the ground and pound attempt from Styles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Upton is looking to improve his position.

Styles is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Upton looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Styles missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Upton gets back to full guard.
Styles is in close to Upton's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Styles trying to control but Upton is working from the bottom.
Styles loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Styles 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.
Upton keeping moving, preventing Styles from controlling successfully.
Upton wants to improve his position but instead Styles has moved into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Upton manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Upton is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Upton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Styles scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Upton looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Styles is working Upton over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Upton is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Styles distracts Upton with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Styles wants to control from the top but Upton keeps moving.
Styles lands a couple of digs.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Upton working for a triangle but Styles defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Upton is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Styles postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Styles working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Upton's head.
Upton utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Upton has momentary wrist control but Styles slips an elbow through the middle.
Styles stands up over Upton, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Upton is rocked!
Styles working some strikes from top position.
Upton is still in real trouble! Can Styles finish him?
Styles postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Upton bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Styles's guard.
Upton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Styles swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Styles lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Upton!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A big strike lands for Styles! That's really hurt Upton and he's turned his back - Styles keeps firing away and the ref dives in to stop the fight! Styles jumps to his feet to celebrate the victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Xavier Styles!
A relieved looking Xavier Styles thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.