PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Akira Murakami (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Choo Xiao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Murakami
vs
Xiao

170 cm
23
142 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

173 cm
20
140 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akira Murakami!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Choo Xiao!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shirou Masuda and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murakami shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Xiao but Xiao pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Xiao goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Murakami misses with a takedown attempt - Xiao sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Murakami shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Xiao manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Murakami wants to control from the top but Xiao keeps moving.
Xiao wants to stand and escape but Murakami is having none of it.
Xiao keeping moving, preventing Murakami from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murakami postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Xiao is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Murakami, into his guard.
Xiao looking to pass the guard.
Xiao wants to stand but Murakami is controlling his posture from full guard.
Xiao wants to stand and escape but instead Murakami has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Murakami controlling from the top position.

Murakami postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Xiao is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Murakami, into his guard.
Murakami keeping moving, preventing Xiao from controlling successfully.
Murakami is looking to sweep but instead, Xiao has passed into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murakami actively working from the bottom here.
Xiao seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Murakami wants to control but Xiao is keeping busy.

Xiao is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Murakami is just riding it out for now. Xiao eventually gives up the hold.

Murakami is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Xiao pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Murakami looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Xiao lands with a nice body punch.
Murakami fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akira Murakami. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Murakami shoots in and bounces Xiao off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Murakami stops Xiao from standing up.
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 Akira Murakami will probably get the nod.
That's time! Murakami's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Murakami shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Xiao sprawls well. Xiao wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Murakami gets slowly back to his feet.
Murakami slips a jab from Xiao.
Akira Murakami is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Xiao defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Murakami.
Murakami fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Xiao avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akira Murakami. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Xiao lands a body shot.
Murakami shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Xiao but Xiao pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Xiao misses with a series of wild punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murakami throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Xiao's waist but Xiao gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Murakami off to one side.

Xiao forces Murakami back against the cage and clinches.
Xiao throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Murakami blocks it with crossed arms.
Xiao unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Xiao looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Xiao just misses with a elbow thrown towards Murakami's brow.
Xiao lands an elbow just above Murakami 's eye.
Xiao tries a knee to the head but Murakami blocks it.
Xiao landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Murakami tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Xiao smiles and moves away.

Xiao has managed to clinch.
Xiao using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Murakami blocks an elbow strike.

Murakami drags the fight down to the ground.

Xiao got a little sloppy there for a moment and Murakami has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Xiao has managed to get both his arms back between Murakami's legs - danger averted.

Xiao stands up from Murakami's guard - Xiao perhaps looking for a knockout.
Murakami fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xiao tries to bum rush Murakami with a series of wild strikes but Murakami uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Murakami fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Danga de danga de dang - Xiao scores with a four punch combination!
Some wild striking there from Xiao.
A left and a right from Xiao both land. Nice combination.

Xiao closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Xiao comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Murakami blocks an elbow strike from Xiao.
Murakami changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Xiao fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Murakami shoots for a double leg takedown but Xiao sprawls well. He's pushed Murakami's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Xiao gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Xiao misses with a knee strike.
Xiao looking to throw knees to the head but Murakami is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murakami tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Xiao just stands there and leans against the cage.
Murakami wants a takedown.

Murakami has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Xiao uses from the top position.
Xiao pushes down on Murakami's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Xiao stands up out of the half guard.
Xiao fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Murakami looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Xiao defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Murakami.

Xiao forces Murakami back against the cage and clinches.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Xiao obliges.
Xiao lands an elbow inside.
Xiao gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Akira Murakami has been cut.
Xiao tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Murakami takes a knee right on the jaw!
Xiao creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Murakami's defenses.
Murakami takes an elbow to the forehead.
Xiao misses with a knee to the head.
Murakami jumps guard but Xiao stands there with Murakami around his waist. Murakami gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Murakami blocks the elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Xiao.
Murakami has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Xiao avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Xiao creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Murakami's defenses.
Murakami takes a knee right on the jaw!
Xiao throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Murakami blocks it with crossed arms.
Murakami jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Xiao walks away with a smile on his face. Murakami gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Xiao misses with a two punch combination.
Murakami dives in and grabs Xiao's left leg, looking for a takedown. Xiao pushes down on Murakami's head and hops out.

Xiao moves into range and clinches up with Murakami.
Xiao comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Xiao lands an elbow that stopped Murakami in his tracks for a moment.

Murakami gets control of Xiao's arms and successfully pulls guard. Murakami will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Xiao not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Murakami is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Choo Xiao showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Akira Murakami's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Xiao connects with the punch.

Murakami looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Xiao!

Murakami swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Xiao is now in Murakami's guard. A big mistake from Murakami there, giving up the dominant position!
Murakami keeping moving, preventing Xiao from controlling successfully.

Murakami looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Xiao passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murakami is trying to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Murakami tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Xiao has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Murakami tries to lock up and control but Xiao gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Murakami really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Murakami tries to control the position but Xiao now has his back.
Murakami turns into Xiao and is now in his guard.
Murakami wants to pass the guard but Xiao is keeping the position.

Xiao has his feet on Murakami's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Xiao forces Murakami back against the cage and clinches.
Xiao pushes off an throws an elbow but Murakami leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Murakami avoids a wild elbow strike from Xiao.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murakami goes for a takedown attempt but Xiao pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Murakami changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Xiao tries to avoid it but Murakami manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Xiao to the ground. Xiao escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Murakami shoots in for a takedown but Xiao shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akira Murakami. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murakami walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Murakami misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Choo Xiao is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Xiao misses with a body kick.

Xiao gets a clinch.
Xiao landing knees to the head.
Murakami jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Xiao walks away with a smile on his face. Murakami gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Xiao moves into range and connects with a jab.
Xiao misses with a series of wild punches.
Xiao catches Murakami with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murakami is trying hard to land a takedown here. Xiao sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Murakami.
Murakami misses with a takedown attempt - Xiao sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Xiao darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Murakami showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Xiao.
Xiao will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Murakami looks for a takedown but Xiao sprawls well.
Murakami showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Xiao.

Xiao closes the distance and clinches.
Murakami tries to pull guard but Xiao won't allow it.
Xiao with a knee to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Choo Xiao comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Xiao 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Choo Xiao!