PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hector Linhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yang Xinhai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Linhares comes to the cage accompanied by Los Sicarios, Sokol, Koras - A veces. Xinhai has chosen Loco as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Linhares
vs
Xinhai

176 cm
25
145 lbs
14 - 4 - 1

169 cm
27
143 lbs
17 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 14 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Hector Linhares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yang Xinhai!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, William Peck and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Xinhai looks to score with a jab to the body but Linhares is just out of range.
Linhares tries to work over Xinhai's front leg with a kick but Xinhai checks it.
Linhares thows a left - swing and a miss!
Linhares tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Xinhai was well out of range. Poor timing from Linhares.
Xinhai looks to land a left hand but Linhares moved out of range nicely.
Linhares doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Linhares scores with a crisp jab that stopped Xinhai in his tracks.
Linhares lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Xinhai throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Xinhai throws a right and a left that Linhares avoids nicely.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Xinhai enables Linhares to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Xinhai manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Xinhai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Linhares.
Linhares trying to control but Xinhai is working from the bottom.
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!
Xinhai keeping full guard, as Linhares tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xinhai pulls Linhares in close to prevent any damage.
Xinhai keeping moving, preventing Linhares from controlling successfully.
Linhares tries to free his leg and advance position but Xinhai is retaining full guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
We've been hearing that Linhares has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Linhares controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Xinhai steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Linhares.
Xinhai takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Xinhai throws a leg kick
and Linhares counters with an inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xinhai throws a sloppy head kick and Linhares moves out of range easily.
Linhares lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Xinhai fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Linhares has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Linhares walks into a stiff left hand from Xinhai.
Xinhai fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Linhares avoids it really well and circles away.
Linhares jabs at Xinhai's body.

Xinhai closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Linhares did well to prevent Xinhai getting side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Xinhai sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Linhares defending well though.
Linhares tries to get to full guard but Xinhai has control of the leg.
Linhares trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Xinhai seems content to control.
Xinhai missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Linhares moves into full guard.
Linhares has his hands on Xinhai's head, controlling the position.
Linhares looking for a sweep. Not yet Linhares, not yet.
Xinhai in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Linhares managing to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Xinhai misses with a looping right.
Xinhai digs a good body shot into Linhares's ribs.
Xinhai walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Linhares thows a left - swing and a miss!
Linhares uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Xinhai.
Linhares connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Xinhai connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Linhares shoots in but Xinhai avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Linhares blocks the body kick.
Linhares is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Linhares throws a front kick aimed at Xinhai's knee but Xinhai avoids it well.
Linhares ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Xinhai moves away.
Linhares misses with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Hector Linhares will probably get the nod.
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.

Some bone on bone action there as Xinhai checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Linhares throws a leg kick but Xinhai moved away.
Xinhai misses with a body kick.
Linhares keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Xinhai fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Linhares looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
No joy there for Xinhai, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Linhares misses with a body kick.
A lazy left from Xinhai finds it's target.
Xinhai fails to land the takedown.
Xinhai takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Linhares lands with a nice body punch.
Xinhai fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nice uppercut there from Linhares.
Linhares misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xinhai takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
A left and a right from Linhares both land. Nice combination.
Xinhai throws a sloppy head kick

and Linhares counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Xinhai regains full guard. Nicely done.
Xinhai wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Linhares is now in half guard.
Hector Linhares overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Xinhai tries to get to full guard but Linhares has control of the leg.
Xinhai is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Linhares jumps into side control!
Linhares looking to control but instead Xinhai has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Linhares not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Linhares in particular looking to stall.
Xinhai tries to roll over but Linhares keeps him under control.
Linhares throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Linhares slows the pace down in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Xinhai is pressing down on Linhares's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linhares controlling from the top position.
Xinhai keeping moving, preventing Linhares from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Xinhai being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Linhares throws a body kick that misses.

Xinhai closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Xinhai lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Linhares backwards.
Xinhai swings wildly with an uppercut but Linhares uses good head movement to avoid it.
Xinhai doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Linhares tries for a takedown but Xinhai manages to get underhooks.
A short uppercut from Linhares.
Xinhai tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Xinhai drops down looking for an ankle pick but Linhares pulls his leg out and moves away.
Hector Linhares has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yang Xinhai.
Linhares is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Xinhai.

Xinhai looking to score a takedown here. Linhares is defending well but Xinhai drives through and ends up in Linhares's guard.
Xinhai with a flurry of punches that miss.
Xinhai keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Linhares's head.
Xinhai trying to control the position from guard on top but Linhares is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hector Linhares dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Xinhai takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Linhares uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Xinhai.
Linhares closes this distance looking for a takedown but Xinhai circles away.
Linhares feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Xinhais jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Xinhai keeps Linhares at a distance using the push kick.
Linhares misses with an uppercut. Xinhai saw that one coming.
Xinhai throws a jab but it's blocked by Linhares.
Linhares throws a good cross that connects.

Linhares decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Xinhai controlling the position for now.
Linhares prevents Xinhai from improving his position.
Xinhai moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linhares sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Xinhai keeping moving, preventing Linhares from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Linhares blocks a head kick by Xinhai.
Xinhai lands a front kick.
Xinhai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Linhares avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Linhares scores with a jab.
Linhares just misses with a punch to the body.
Linhares lands with a straight right. Xinhai didn't see that one coming.
Xinhai throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linhares lands a leg kick that knocks Xinhai off balance momentarily.
Xinhai misses with a few strikes there.
Linhares jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Linhares swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Xinhai.
Yang Xinhai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Linhares lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Linhares lands a nice leg kick that just misses Xinhai's sensitive parts.
Hector Linhares is winning the standup battle so far.
Linhares scores with a jab.
Xinhai moves out of range of the strikes.
A head kick misses from Xinhai.
Linhares connects with a crisp jab.
Linhares jabs Xinhai right on the nose. Xinhai blinks but takes it well.

Xinhai is rocked!
Xinhai throws the left hand but Linhares avoids the punch easily.
Xinhai is still on wobbly legs! Can Linhares finish him?
Linhares connects with a crisp jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Linhares throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Xinhai on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Xinhai gets caught by a brutal right hook which buckles his knees! Xinhai tries to backpedal with his spaghettilegs but Linhares is headhunting and goes for the kill. A jab and a right hook connect and Xinhai buckles badly as his eyes roll back. The referee steps in and saves Xinhai!! Xinhai is complaining but he was clearly out on his feet. Linhares throws his mouthpiece into the crowd. Mmmm spit-tastic.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Hector Linhares!
A relieved looking Hector Linhares thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.