PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chase Utley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bittor Xavier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Xavier has chosen Jane's Addiction- Mountain Song as his entrance music. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Utley
vs
Xavier

186 cm
34
185 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

180 cm
37
184 lbs
26 - 21 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Bad Man Clothing

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 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chase Utley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bittor Xavier!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Franklyn Lucas and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Utley with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Xavier gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Utley throws a shot from downtown. Xavier moves away and avoids it.
Xavier loads up on a big right hand but Utley slips the punch.
Utley misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Xavier.
Utley throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Xavier changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Utley tries to avoid it but Xavier manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Utley to the ground. Utley escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Utley as Xavier shoots in.
Xavier blocks a head kick by Utley.
Xavier misses with a telegraphed body shot
letting Utley counter with a right hand.
Xavier tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Xavier moves into the clinch.
Utley is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Utley has a couple of punches blocked by Xavier.
Utley scores with a shot to the side of Xavier's head.
Utley prevents a body shot from Xavier.
Utley misses with some punches.
Xavier is trying to pull guard but Utley turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Chase Utley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bittor Xavier.
Utley gets through Xavier's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Utley gets through Xavier's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Utley lands a right hand.
A short body shot lands from Utley as the two fighters clinch.
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!
Utley doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Utley tries a knee to the head but Xavier blocks it.
Xavier's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Xavier fails to pull guard.
Utley tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Utley throws a head punch that misses.
Utley working aggressively here.
Utley lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Xavier.
Xavier has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Xavier manages to pull guard.

Xavier is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Utley is aware though and is defending well.
Utley slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Xavier looking for a guillotine here but Utley defends easily.
Xavier trying to control the position.
Utley is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Xavier is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Utley has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Utley controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Xavier wants to sweep but no luck.
Xavier is still trying to improve position.
Utley seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Chase Utley.
Xavier lands with a nice body punch.

Xavier bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Xavier.
You can see the frustration on Utley's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xavier lands a decent elbow from side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Utley wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Utley prevents Xavier from moving into mount.
Utley is looking for a sweep.
Xavier working away.

Utley throws Xavier to one side and escapes!
Utley cracks a nice hook into Xavier's ribs.
Xavier fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A leg kick checked by Utley.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Utley fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Xavier manages to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chase Utley dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Xavier takes a swing at Utley's ribcage but misses.
Xavier shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Utley as he avoids it easily.
We've been told by Utley's head coaches at Philly Dawgz MMA - PIT Inc that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
No joy there for Xavier, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Xavier misses with a hook
and Utley counters with a slapping leg kick.
Xavier takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Utley looks to land a body kick but Xavier moved away.
Xavier misses with a low kick.
Utley fails to land with a series of punches.
Xavier is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Utley looks to land a combination but Xavier avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Utley.
Utley connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Xavier drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Xavier ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Xavier swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Utley misses with a left hand

and Xavier counters with a single leg into guard. Utley didn't expect that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Xavier looking to pass the guard.
Xavier with a nice head shot there.
Utley not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Xavier is fighting to break Utley's control of his arms but Utley is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Chase Utley has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Xavier tries to clinch but Utley moves out of range.
Utley doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Utley keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A slow jab from Xavier misses its intended target.
Utley's corner calls for a 1-2. Utley obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Chase Utley is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Xavier moves out of range as Utley strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xavier ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Xavier slips under a jab.
Utley lands with a nice body punch.
Utley keeps the fight on the outside.
Xavier swings widly with a right hand
and Utley counters with a body kick.
Xavier cracks Utley with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Xavier shoots in but no luck this time.
Chase Utley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bittor Xavier.
Utley scores with a spinning back kick!
Xavier is breathing heavily.
Utley scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Utley attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xavier checks a leg kick nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Xavier. Utley does a little dance to reset his feet.
Xavier walks forward, straight into a front kick from Utley.
Utley misses the shot to the body.
Xavier misses with a wild body shot.
Xavier swings away with a body shot that misses
letting Utley counter with a right hand.
Utley misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Utley swings for the body but Xavier moves out of range.
Xavier moves into range and connects with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chase Utley dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A kick lands to the mid section there for Utley.
Utley bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Utley misses with a left hand

and Xavier counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Utley is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Xavier gets full guard.
Utley would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Xavier has his foot on Utley's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Utley works his way back into a safe position though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Xavier has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Utley has passed into side control.
Bittor Xavier has got the better of the ground game so far.
Xavier is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Utley has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Xavier shoots in looking for a takedown. Utley tries to sprawl out of it but Xavier keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Utley manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Xavier takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Xavier sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Xavier throws a leg kick
and Utley counters with a right hand to the body.
Xavier takes a swing at Utley's ribcage but misses.
Xavier keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xavier uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Utley.
Xavier has a takedown stuffed.
Utley displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Xavier.
Bittor Xavier has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chase Utley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bittor Xavier.
Xavier takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Utley tries a head kick but it misses.
Xavier swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Utley connects with a leg kick. Xavier looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Xavier is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Utley rather than just go for the knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Xavier checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Utley lands a nice hook to Xavier's body. Xavier takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Xavier wants to land a leg kick but Utley is out of range.
Utley throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Xavier missing with a left hand there. Utley was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Xavier fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Utley.
Xavier throws a series of strikes that have Utley backpedaling.

It looks like Chase Utley has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Xavier takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Utley misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Utley feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Xavier's calf.
Xavier avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Xavier uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Utley.
Xavier throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Utley misses the shot to the body.
Utley scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Utley connects with a jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Xavier scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Xavier misses with an uppercut
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Chase Utley.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Utley, 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chase Utley!
Chase Utley really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that TFP Graphics - Pit Inc logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.