PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bittor Xavier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dawid Rafal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Xavier kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Jane's Addiction- Mountain Song. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Xavier
vs
Rafal

180 cm
37
186 lbs
24 - 19 - 0

187 cm
26
177 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 24 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bittor Xavier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dawid Rafal!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Gregory Folan and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Xavier takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Xavier misses with a jab to the body
and Rafal connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Rafal. Xavier shrugs it off though.
Xavier looks for a takedown but Rafal sprawls well.
Rafal looks for the body kick but Xavier saw that one coming.
Xavier attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Rafal throws a half hearted mid kick.
Rafal swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A lazy left from Rafal finds it's target.
Rafal moves in looking to clinch but Xavier pushes him off.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Xavier ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rafal ducks under a wild hook from Xavier.
Rafal tries a low kick but Xavier avoids it.
Rafal tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafal looks to throw the jab but Xavier is out of range.
Xavier just misses with a punch to the body.
Rafal throws a body kick that misses.
Xavier swats away the attempt to clinch by Rafal.
Rafal lands with a straight right. Xavier didn't see that one coming.
Xavier shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rafal defends it nicely.
Rafal lands a front kick.
Xavier stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Rafal slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Xavier is working for takedown but Rafal is calmly controlling the position for now.
I was talking to Xavier's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bittor Xavier. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafal lands an elbow just above Xavier 's eye.
This has been an exciting period of action!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rafal.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rafal.
Rafal looking to throw knees to the head but Xavier is blocking nicely.
Rafal swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rafal lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rafal blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Xavier.
Rafal lands an elbow just above Xavier 's eye.
Rafal lands with a right to the head.

Xavier manages to pull guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Xavier working for a triangle but Rafal defends it easily.
Xavier keeping moving, preventing Rafal from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xavier 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.
Rafal has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Xavier is proving hard to escape from.
Rafal throws a big elbow that misses.
Rafal makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rafal works over Xavier with some ground and pound from guard.
Rafal has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Xavier is proving hard to escape from.

Rafal throws a sloppy strike and Xavier has hooked up an armbar on the loose arm! He's turned and extended fully! Rafal is forced to tap! Great BJJ from Xavier!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Bittor Xavier!
During a confident post fight interview, Bittor Xavier thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.