PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Athan Stamatis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bittor Xavier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Stamatis might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Lose Yourself. Xavier is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Jane's Addiction- Mountain Song. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Stamatis
vs
Xavier

176 cm
30
184 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

180 cm
33
179 lbs
17 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

$50

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 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Athan Stamatis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bittor Xavier!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, William Peck and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stamatis throws an overhand right that lands on Xavier's shoulder, as Xavier tries to avoid the shot.
Xavier pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Stamatis back to the cage. Xavier follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Stamatis with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Stamatis throws a leg kick but Xavier sees it coming and moves out of range.
Xavier misses with a wild body shot.
Stamatis scores with a head kick. Xavier tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Xavier tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stamatis swivels and escapes.
Xavier looks to score with a jab to the body but Stamatis is just out of range.
Stamatis jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Stamatis misses with a leg kick

and Xavier counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Stamatis's guard now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Stamatis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Xavier pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stamatis is keeping the position for now.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Stamatis holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xavier wants to control from the top but Stamatis keeps moving.
Xavier passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Stamatis can't do much from the bottom here.
Xavier has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Xavier is trying to get an arm triangle but Stamatis is defending well.

Xavier thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stamatis struggling a bit here.

Xavier tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
You can see the frustration on Stamatis's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Xavier wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stamatis keeps working.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Stamatis can't do much from the bottom here.
Xavier works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xavier is chipping away with strikes.

Xavier tries for a kimura but Stamatis is defending well.

Xavier looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Stamatis is trying to control Xavier's posture but Xavier avoids it.
Stamatis gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Xavier wants to work for an arm triangle but Stamatis is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Xavier missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Xavier wants to pass to mount but Stamatis is defending the position.
Stamatis trying to hold on to Xavier's head to control him but Xavier postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Xavier seems to be looking for submissions.

Stamatis pushes Xavier off and gets back to his feet.
Xavier lands with an overhand left.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stamatis thows a body kick. Xavier tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Crunch! Stamatis slams his shin into Xavier's torso.
Nice defenses there by Stamatis.
Stamatis misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Xavier.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Xavier will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Xavier takes a swing at Stamatis's ribcage but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bittor Xavier will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Stamatis swings for the body but Xavier moves out of range.
Xavier throws a good cross that connects.
An inside leg kick from Stamatis misses.
Stamatis swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Xavier.
A chopping leg kick lands by Stamatis.
Stamatis cracks Xavier with a right hand to the side of the head.
Xavier lands a body shot.
Stamatis throws a shot from downtown. Xavier moves away and avoids it.
Stamatis looks to throw the jab but Xavier is out of range.

Stamatis clinches with his opponent.
Stamatis is working Xavier over against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xavier blocks an uppercut.
Stamatis stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Stamatis misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Xavier.
Stamatis misses with a body punch.
Xavier blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Stamatis can't find room to land a body shot as Xavier controls the action.
Stamatis working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Stamatis misses with a punch on the inside.
Stamatis presses Xavier against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stamatis lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A short right from Stamatis on the inside.
Stamatis tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Xavier tries to pull guard but Stamatis won't allow it.
Stamatis is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Xavier is keeping busy.
Stamatis swings wildly with an uppercut but Xavier uses good head movement to avoid it.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stamatis lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Xavier backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Stamatis fails to land.
Stamatis fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Stamatis scores with a shoulder strike.
Stamatis lands a right hand.
Stamatis taking a breather.
Xavier tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Stamatis smiles and moves away.
Xavier fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stamatis manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stamatis misses with a low kick as Xavier jumps back.
Xavier misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stamatis.
An inside leg kick from Xavier misses.
Stamatis displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Xavier.
Athan Stamatis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bittor Xavier.
Stamatis misses with a body shot
and Xavier counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Xavier takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Xavier throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Xavier throws a body punch but Stamatis moves out of range.

Xavier shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Xavier is working for a submission of some sort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Athan Stamatis dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Stamatis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Xavier looks to score with a jab to the body but Stamatis is just out of range.

Stamatis darts in and clinches Xavier up against the cage.
Stamatis misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Stamatis misses with some punches.
Xavier is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Stamatis is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stamatis works on Xavier's body with a couple of short punches.
Xavier fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Still in the clinch, Stamatis scores with a nice short uppercut.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Stamatis takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Xavier misses with a punch to the body.
Stamatis presses Xavier against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Athan Stamatis has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A frustrated look appears on Xavier's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Stamatis fails to land.
Xavier prevents a body shot from Stamatis.
Xavier fails to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stamatis tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Xavier's elbow.
Stamatis throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Xaviers head.
Xavier is trying to pull guard but Stamatis turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Athan Stamatis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bittor Xavier.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Xavier blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Stamatis lands a left hand that snaps the head of Xavier backwards.
Stamatis misses with the head strike.
A short right from Stamatis.
Stamatis has a couple of punches blocked by Xavier.
Xavier tries to circle away but Stamatis has him pinned against the cage.
Stamatis misses with the head strike.
Stamatis misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stamatis throws a head punch that misses.
Stamatis lands a right hand that snaps the head of Xavier backwards.
Stamatis fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Stamatis misses with a hook from the clinch.
Xavier jumps guard but Stamatis stands there with Xavier around his waist. Xavier gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stamatis leaning against his opponent.
Xavier is looking to control Stamatis's arms but Stamatis gets an underhook and turns him. Now Xavier has his back to the cage.
Xavier tries to pull guard but Stamatis holds him up against the cage and eventually Xavier drops back down to his feet.
Xavier looking to stall.
Stamatis misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stamatis lands a body punch.
Stamatis throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Xaviers head.
Xavier tries to pull guard but Stamatis forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Stamatis blocks a body shot from Xavier.
Stamatis throws a punch but it's blocked by Xavier.
Stamatis lands a nice uppercut.
Xavier blocking some punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stamatis blocks a body shot from Xavier.
A short body shot lands from Stamatis as the two fighters clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Athan Stamatis showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Stamatis has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Athan Stamatis!
Athan Stamatis was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.