PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Xi Dong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kuja Yoshihiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Dong
vs
Yoshihiro

181 cm
20
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Attliction

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Xi Dong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kuja Yoshihiro!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yukihiro Shimada and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dong darts in and clinches Yoshihiro up against the cage.
Dong connects with a knee to the head.
Dong misses with a knee to the head.
Dong tries to land a knee to the head but Yoshihiro blocks with his arms.
Dong tries to pull guard but Yoshihiro holds him up against the cage and eventually Dong drops back down to his feet.

Yoshihiro manages to break the clinch.
Dong fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Yoshihiro wants to clinch but Dong slips to the side

and Dong counters with a nice double leg into side control. Yoshihiro won't be happy with that.

Dong working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Yoshihiro is looking for a sweep.

Dong is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Yoshihiro has escaped the position, nice work there.
Dong throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Yoshihiro is looking for a sweep.
The ground and pound from Dong seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Dong throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dong is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Yoshihiro knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dong closes the distance looking to clinch

and Yoshihiro counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Yoshihiro can't find room to land a body shot as Dong controls the action.
Yoshihiro blocks an uppercut.
Dong trying to stall but Yoshihiro improves his position.
Yoshihiro prevents a takedown attempt there.
Dong tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Dong is breathing heavily.
Yoshihiro unloads a knee to the mid-section. Dong lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Yoshihiro jumps into guard, dragging Dong to the mat.
Dong preventing the sweep.
Yoshihiro trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Yoshihiro keeping full guard, as Dong tries to pass.

Yoshihiro escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dong gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Dong avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dong looking to sit in guard and control but Yoshihiro gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Dong striking off his back but it's not causing Yoshihiro any problems.
Dong thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Dong wants to sweep but no luck.
Dong doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Yoshihiro with a flurry of punches that miss.
Yoshihiro stays in close to Dong's body and controls the position.
Dong controls Yoshihiro momentarily but Yoshihiro frees himself.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Yoshihiro tries for a takedown but Dong circles away easily

and Dong counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Yoshihiro moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Yoshihiro working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dong landing with the ground and pound.
Dong is working Yoshihiro over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Dong postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Dong cracks Yoshihiro with a solid left hand.

Yoshihiro is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Dong preventing the sweep.
Dong throwing strikes from guard but Yoshihiro blocks nicely.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Yoshihiro tries for a takedown but Dong circles away easily

and Dong counters with a single leg into guard. Yoshihiro didn't expect that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yoshihiro lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Dong!
Yoshihiro is looking to stand but Yoshihiro has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Dong 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dong tries to reverse the position but Yoshihiro maintains control.
Dong is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Yoshihiro tries to control but Dong wriggling away.
Dong is desperately trying to improve his position but Yoshihiro has a good base and remains in mount.
Dong is working hard here to advance position.
Dong regains half guard.
Dong missing with punches from the bottom.

Dong looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yoshihiro trying to control the action but Dong is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xi Dong dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Yoshihiro tries to clinch there but Dong circles away.
A bone on bone clash there as Dong blocks the leg kick.

Dong clinches up with Yoshihiro and pushes him back against the cage.
Yoshihiro blocks the elbow strike.
Yoshihiro misses with some punches.

Yoshihiro successfully pulls guard.
Dong stands and throws Yoshihiro's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Dong in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Dong misses with the ground and pound.
Dong trying to control the position but Yoshihiro is working away.
Dong scoring with punches from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yoshihiro manages to work his way to half guard, despite Dong's best efforts.
Yoshihiro is trying to stand back up but Dong is controlling him
Dong trying to mount his opponent but Yoshihiro defends it.
Yoshihiro is breathing heavily.
Yoshihiro throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Dong.
Dong working over Yoshihiro with some ground and pound. Yoshihiro looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Yoshihiro trying to control from the bottom.
Dong tries to pass the half guard into mount. Yoshihiro knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Dong wants to control but Yoshihiro is keeping him busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Dong takes the fight into the clinch.
Dong using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Yoshihiro has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Yoshihiro manages to break the clinch.
Dong tries to clinch but Yoshihiro moves out of range.

Dong gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Dong has Yoshihiro pressed against the cage.
Dong misses with a punch to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Dong fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Dong misses with a knee to the head.
Dong throws a knee to the head but misses.
Dong managing to block the knees to the body from Yoshihiro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dong wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Yoshihiro avoids the elbow strike from Dong, against the cage.
Yoshihiro is trying to maintain a safe position but Dong gets an underhook and turns Yoshihiro into the cage.
Yoshihiro tries to break the clinch but Dong is controlling the position.
Dong misses with a knee to the head.
Dong with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Dong lands a hook to the side of the head.
Dong misses with a knee strike.
Dong throws an elbow that misses.
Dong using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Yoshihiro has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Dong decides to pull guard.
Dong doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Dong looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yoshihiro is one step ahead there.

Dong throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Dong throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Dong trying to keep a closed guard but Yoshihiro is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dong lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Yoshihiro!
Dong misses with a head shot.
Yoshihiro tries to lock up and control but Dong gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Dong unloads with some shots from mount but Yoshihiro bucks and avoids them well.
Yoshihiro tries to reverse the position but Dong maintains control.
Yoshihiro blocking the ground and pound.
Yoshihiro is wriggling around trying to escape.
Yoshihiro is bucking up trying to escape but Dong cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Yoshihiro is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Yoshihiro tries to hold on but Dong pushes him away.
Dong punching from mount but Yoshihiro doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Yoshihiro is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Dong scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Yoshihiro?
Yoshihiro wants to hold on but Dong pushes him away.
Yoshihiro is looking to get to half guard.
Yoshihiro wants to get back to his feet.
Yoshihiro is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Dong working Yoshihiro over with strikes here.

Dong wants to finish this one by submission but Yoshihiro is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Dong.

Dong swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Yoshihiro is now in Dong's guard. A big mistake from Dong there, giving up the dominant position!

Dong escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Yoshihiro gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Dong throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xi Dong dominated that second round.
That's time! Dong's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Dong shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Dong showed some decent athleticism there.
Yoshihiro is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Dong scores with a couple of nice shots.
Dong thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Yoshihiro's head.
Dong not doing much here.
Dong missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Dong throwing shots but Yoshihiro is blocking nicely.
Dong is keen to just control but Yoshihiro is a slippery customer.
Dong thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Dong is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Yoshihiro tries to get to full guard but Dong has control of the leg.
Xi Dong overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Yoshihiro with a lazy takedown attempt

and Dong moves into the clinch.
Dong throws a knee to the head but misses.
Yoshihiro wants to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Yoshihiro.
Dong tries to break the clinch but Yoshihiro is controlling the position.

Yoshihiro escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Yoshihiro misses with a takedown attempt

and Dong counters with a nice double leg into side control. Yoshihiro won't be happy with that.
The strikes coming from Dong are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
You can see the frustration on Yoshihiro's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Yoshihiro manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Yoshihiro trying to mount his opponent but Dong defends it.

Dong looking for submissions off his back.
Yoshihiro is trying to control the action in half guard but Dong is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Dong punching from the bottom.
Dong gets full guard.

Dong working for a triangle but Yoshihiro defends it easily.
Dong manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Yoshihiro manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dong drops back, looking for a kneebar! Yoshihiro looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Yoshihiro looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Yoshihiro!
Yoshihiro tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Dong is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Yoshihiro's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Dong is pressing down on Yoshihiro's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yoshihiro preventing the sweep.
Yoshihiro is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Yoshihiro trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Yoshihiro passes Dong's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Yoshihiro works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshihiro punching from mount but Dong doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Dong avoids a series of strikes thrown by Yoshihiro.
Dong wants to hold on but Yoshihiro pushes him away.
Dong is squirming around, avoiding Yoshihiro's attempts to control the action.
Yoshihiro sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Yoshihiro throwing strikes here but Dong is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Dong is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Dong is in all sorts of trouble here.

Yoshihiro wants to finish this one by submission but Dong is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Yoshihiro.
Dong is looking to improve his position but Yoshihiro isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Dong throwing hammer fists to the chest of Yoshihiro. What's that going to do exactly?
Dong is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Yoshihiro stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Yoshihiro avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Yoshihiro throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Dong looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Dong throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yoshihiro works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Yoshihiro is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dong tries to free his leg and advance position but Yoshihiro is retaining full guard.
Yoshihiro looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xi Dong showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dong, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xi Dong!