PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Randall Flagg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xanadu Newton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Flagg
vs
Newton

185 cm
22
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
185 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Randall Flagg!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Xanadu Newton!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Wesley Smith and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Newton chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Newton lands with a slapping head kick.
Flagg tries to clinch there but Newton circles away.
Flagg tries to clinch up but Newton circles away and keeps his distance.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Newton has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
No joy there for Newton, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Newton tries to clinch but Flagg moves out of range.
Flagg throws a body punch but Newton moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Newton looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Newton looks to land a body kick but Flagg moved away.
Newton takes one to the side of the head.
A nice leg kick lands there from Newton.
Newton dodges the punch combination from Flagg.
Nice uppercut lands for Newton. That snapped Flagg's head back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Good leg kick by Newton there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flagg wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Newton lets loose with a powerful body kick. Flagg will feel that in the morning.
Flagg tries to close the distance and clinch up but Newton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Newton finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Flagg throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Flagg fails in his attempt to clinch.
Flagg misses with a hook.
Newton looks to land a combination but Flagg avoids it well.
Flagg lands a jab to Newton's midsection.
Flagg uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Newton has time to react.

Flagg clinches up with Newton and pushes him back against the cage.
Newton tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Flagg's elbow.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Newton as Flagg tries to tie him up.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Newton.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Flagg is trying to maintain a safe position but Newton gets an underhook and turns Flagg into the cage.
Newton tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Flagg's elbow.
Flagg throws a punch but it's blocked by Newton.
Flagg swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Flagg.
Newton stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Newton blocks an uppercut.
Newton working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Flagg wants to stall.

Newton breaks the clinch.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Newton.
Flagg misses with a combination
and Newton counters with a solid body kick.
Newton finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A combination from Newton does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flagg keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Newton.
Newton feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Flagg's calf.
Newton takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Newton throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A big right from Flagg misses.
Flagg darts in trying to clinch
enabling Newton to counter with a crisp jab.
Flagg closes the distance but Newton moves to the side
letting Newton counter with a right hand.
Newton takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Flagg lands a jab to Newton's midsection.
Flagg throws a right and a left that Newton avoids nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Newton lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Newton misses with a low kick as Flagg jumps back.
The fight stays on the outside here - Flagg looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Flagg walks forward, straight into a front kick from Newton.
Newton feints and then cracks Flagg's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Flagg down.
Flagg misses with a lunging right hand
and Newton counters with a nice body shot.
Flagg closes the distance but Newton moves to the side

and Newton holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Newton struggles to land a body shot inside as Flagg controls his hands.
Newton lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Flagg or not.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Newton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Flagg misses with a lunging right hand
and Newton counters with a nice leg kick.
Flagg throws an off balance right hand
and Newton counters with a thumping low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xanadu Newton dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Newton has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Newton there as he acknowledges the shot.
Flagg throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Newton counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Flagg fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Newton clinches with his opponent.
Newton blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Flagg has a couple of punches blocked by Newton.
Newton misses with a punch on the inside.
Newton lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Flagg backwards.
Newton lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Flagg backwards.
Flagg is trying to force a seperation but Newton has the dominant position.
Newton lands a right hand that snaps the head of Flagg backwards.
Newton misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Flagg wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Newton tries to work over Flagg's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Flagg misses with the head strike.
Newton misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Flagg fails to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flagg tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short right from Newton.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Newton.
Newton misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Flagg blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Newton keeps control of Flagg as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Flagg has a couple of punches blocked by Newton.
Newton tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Newton cracks Flagg with a nice body shot.

Newton manages to break the clinch.
Flagg lands a right hook to the body.
Flagg throws a left and a right that both miss
and Newton counters with a low kick, right behind Flagg 's knee.

Newton fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Flagg, pushing him back against the cage.
Flagg fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Flagg lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Newton misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newton lands a shot to the body.
Newton misses with a short punch on the inside.
Newton misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Newton blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Newton lands a body shot in the clinch.
Newton lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Flagg or not.
Newton tries to work over Flagg's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Flagg trying to stall but Newton improves his position.
Flagg's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Flagg lands a shoulder strike.
Flagg pressing his opponent against the cage.
Newton misses with a punch to the body.
Newton gets through Flagg's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flagg misses with a punch to the body.
Flagg can't find room to land a body shot as Newton controls the action.
A short uppercut from Newton.
Flagg is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Newton lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Newton.
Newton leaning against his opponent.
Flagg stalling in the clinch but Newton improves position.
Flagg blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Newton creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Xanadu Newton seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Newton lands a right hand.
Flagg lands a nice shot to the body.
Flagg misses with some punches.

Newton turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Newton manages to end up in side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Flagg tries to improve position but can't.

Newton is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Flagg is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Newton tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
A lull in the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xanadu Newton showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Newton lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Flagg fails in his attempt to clinch.
Newton uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Flagg.
Newton takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Flagg misses the jab.
Flagg cracks Newton with a good jab.
Newton on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Newton takes one to the chin there.
Xanadu Newton seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Newton throws a body kick that misses.
Flagg looks to land a left hand but Newton moved out of range nicely.
Newton tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Newton misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newton takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Flagg misses with a wild body shot.
Flagg tries to clinch up but Newton circles away and keeps his distance.

Newton gets tackled into the cage by Flagg. Flagg maintains the clinch.
Flagg wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Flagg wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Flagg fails to land.
A short uppercut from Newton.
Newton scores with a shoulder strike.
Flagg blocks an uppercut.
Newton blocking some punches.
A nice left hand lands by Flagg.
Flagg throws a head punch that misses.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Newton.
Newton struggles to land a body shot inside as Flagg controls his hands.
Good body shot from Newton.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newton lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Newton breaks the clinch.
Newton misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Randall Flagg seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Flagg looks to land a left hand but Newton moved out of range nicely.
Newton motions for Flagg to come forward. Newton throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
No joy there for Flagg, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Newton looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Flagg misses the jab.
Flagg is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Newton chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Flagg scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Newton doesn't seem bothered though.
Newton takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Flagg throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Newton tries to work over Flagg's front leg with a kick but Flagg checks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Flagg.
Flagg scores with a nice right hand.
Flagg stalks Newton and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Newton's face. Newton staggers backwards, shaken.

Newton moves into the clinch.
Flagg misses with a punch on the inside.

Newton breaks the clinch.
Flagg lands a really nice looking cross but Newton seems unphased.
Newton throws a head kick but Flagg moves out of range.
Newton rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Flagg moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Flagg throws a poor cross that misses

and Newton holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Newton.
Flagg takes a shot to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Newton lands a left hand that snaps the head of Flagg backwards.
Newton tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flagg leaning against his opponent.
Newton is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Newton lands a nice shot to the body.
Flagg misses with some punches.

Newton pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Newton is looking to chop away at Flagg's legs.
Flagg looks to clinch
and Newton makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Newton feints and then cracks Flagg's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Flagg down.
Newton walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Newton moves out of range of the strikes.
Flagg swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Flagg jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Flagg lands with a good body shot.
Flagg smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Randall Flagg did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Flagg keeps the fight on the outside.
Flagg changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Flagg misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Flagg misses with an uppercut
and Newton counters with an inside leg kick.
Flagg tries to clinch but Newton moves out of range.
Newton throws a wild body kick that Flagg sees coming a mile off.
Flagg misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Flagg swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Flagg looks to land a right hand but Newton moved out of range.
Flagg swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Newton walks into a straight right hand from Flagg.
That kick from Newton tenderised Flagg's leg. Flagg is trying to keep his angry face on.
Flagg cracks Newton with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newton connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Flagg chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Newton can pounce on him.
Flagg lands a body shot.
Flagg takes a swing at Newton's ribcage but misses.
Newton throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Newton lands a head kick!
Flagg misses with a lunging right hand
and Newton counters with a head kick.
Newton misses with a low kick as Flagg jumps back.
Newton lands an overhand right.
Newton does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Newton tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Flagg fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Newton on the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Newton fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Flagg checks it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newton avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Flagg lands with a straight right. Newton didn't see that one coming.
Flagg throws a jab but it's blocked by Newton.
Flagg moves into range and connects with a jab.
Newton lands a nice leg kick that just misses Flagg's sensitive parts.
Newton connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Flagg's hands.
The fighters circling - Flagg throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Flagg checks a leg kick.
Newton scoring well with a low kick there.

Newton moves into the clinch.
Flagg is looking to break free of the clinch but Newton has double underhooks.
Newton tries to work over Flagg's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flagg wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Newton.
Flagg is trying to break the clinch but Newton is controlling him.
A left hand lands to the body for Newton.
Flagg has a couple of punches blocked by Newton.
Newton digs a right hand underneath Flagg's ribcage. Flagg let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Flagg misses with a punch on the inside.
Newton is working Flagg over against the cage.

Newton has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Flagg uses from the top position.

Newton looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Newton 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.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Flagg avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Newton is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flagg tries to stand but Newton is controlling from the bottom.

Flagg got a little sloppy there for a moment and Newton has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Flagg has managed to get both his arms back between Newton's legs - danger averted.
Flagg stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Newton swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Newton keeping moving, preventing Flagg from controlling successfully.
Newton working a defensive guard here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Newton has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Flagg has passed into side control.
Flagg is looking to take a break and control but Newton is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xanadu Newton dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A jab from Newton misses.
Flagg wants to clinch.
Newton misses with an attempted mid kick.
Newton is looking to clinch but Flagg is avoiding it.
Newton turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Newton darts in and clinches Flagg up against the cage.
Newton makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Flagg tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Newton's elbow.
Flagg prevents a body shot from Newton.
Newton tries a body shot but Flagg blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flagg looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Newton blocking some punches.
Flagg misses with a hook to the ribs.
Flagg prevents a body shot from Newton.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Newton misses with a body punch.

Flagg breaks the clinch.
Newton throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Flagg is looking to clinch but Newton is avoiding it.
Flagg takes a swing at Newton's ribcage but misses.
Newton misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Flagg tries to close the distance and clinch but Newton swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Newton has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Flagg swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Newton.
Randall Flagg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flagg moves in looking to clinch but Newton pushes him off.
Flagg takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Flagg throws a hook but Newton blocks it.
Newton scores with a spinning back kick!
Newton throws a head kick but Flagg moves out of range.
Flagg feints a jab promting Newton to slip. Flagg then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Newton slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Flagg pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nice uppercut lands for Newton. That snapped Flagg's head back.
Flagg throws a shot from downtown. Newton moves away and avoids it.
Newton is looking to land body kicks.
Newton circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newton pivots, looking for a leg kick but Flagg is out of range and Newton settles back down.
Newton scores with a leg kick.
Flagg throws a good cross that connects.
Nice uppercut there from Flagg.
Donk. Flagg catches Newton right on the button with a cross.
Xanadu Newton is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Newton defending well as Flagg loads up on a big left hand.
Newton pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Newton keeps the fight on the outside.
Newton dodges the punch combination from Flagg.
Flagg throws a combination that misses
letting Newton counter with a right hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Newton looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Flagg connects with a looping right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newton tries a head kick but it misses.
Flagg tries to clinch but Newton moves away

and Newton counters with a shoot takedown. Flagg fights it but they end up in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Newton looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Let's hope that Newton has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Xanadu Newton.
I think Newton 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 46:49
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 46:49
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xanadu Newton! Xanadu Newton retains his middleweight title!