PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anatoly Bazanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Bazanov
vs
White

170 cm
27
205 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

190 cm
23
199 lbs
7 - 0 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anatoly Bazanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Xavier White!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

White pushes Bazanov up against the cage in a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on White - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

White pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
White displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bazanov.
Bazanov tries for a takedown but White sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bazanov dives in and grabs White's left leg, looking for a takedown. White pushes down on Bazanov's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anatoly Bazanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bazanov dives in for a single leg takedown but White sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Bazanov shoots for a takedown but White saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
White tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
White misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
White connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Bazanov's hands.
White tries to clinch but Bazanov moves away

and Bazanov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
White is trying to control the position from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bazanov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bazanov throws a strike but White rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bazanov wants to sweep here but White controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bazanov is pulling down on White's head. It's preventing any offense from White, at least for the moment.
Bazanov wants to improve his position but instead White has moved into half guard.
Bazanov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
White is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Bazanov wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
White wants to get back to his feet.

White is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bazanov sees it coming and defends easily.
Bazanov's coaches at V Elite Gym have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
White prevents Bazanov from improving his position.
White tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Bazanov.
Bazanov is trying to control but can't.
Bazanov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
White tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bazanov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Bazanov trying to control but White postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bazanov.
White is looking to clinch.
Bazanov dives in and grabs White's left leg, looking for a takedown. White pushes down on Bazanov's head and hops out.

White closes the distance and clinches.
White manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Bazanov tries for a takedown but White manages to get underhooks.
Bazanov tries for a takedown. No joy.
White is defending well against a takedown attempt.
White blocks an elbow strike.

White escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

White takes the fight into the clinch.

White escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
White tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bazanov appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
White tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Bazanov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White is controlling Bazanov's posture.
White is trying to keep Bazanov in close.
Bazanov is working White over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bazanov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
White avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now White is on top in guard.

White has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bazanov is proving hard to escape from.
Bazanov 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.
Bazanov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier White dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

White pushes Bazanov up against the cage in a clinch.
White with a knee to the head.
Bazanov is looking to take this one to the mat.

Bazanov gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, White regains guard.
Bazanov chips away with some ground and pound.
White pulls Bazanov in close to prevent any damage.
Bazanov advances position into side control!
Bazanov scores with punches from side control.
White is trying to buck Bazanov off.
Bazanov working the ground and pound but White is defending the strikes.
The ground and pound from Bazanov seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White is looking to regain half guard here but Bazanov keeps moving and retains side control.
White is trying to control Bazanov's posture but Bazanov avoids it.
White is pushing Bazanov's head away, looking to escape. Bazanov manages to hold on to the position though.
White tries to buck Bazanov off but Bazanov is having none of it.
Bazanov with the ground and pound but White regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
White wants to control but Bazanov is keeping busy.
Bazanov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bazanov throws a strike but White avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

White is looking for a triangle but Bazanov pushes his legs off easily.
Bazanov won't allow White to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
White is trying to control the position but Bazanov postures up.
Bazanov stops White from standing up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Bazanov shoots in looking for a takedown but White manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bazanov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
White tries to clinch but Bazanov moves out of range.
White has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Bazanov is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Bazanov darts in looking for a takedown but White gets double underhooks and turns Bazanov into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anatoly Bazanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
White tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bazanov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bazanov fails with a takedown attempt.

White has managed to clinch.
White throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bazanov blocks it with crossed arms.
Bazanov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. White smiles and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bazanov circles away from the clinch attempt.
White lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

White clinches.
Bazanov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but White gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A shot in the inside from White.
White scores with a shoulder strike.
Bazanov working hard to break the clinch.
Bazanov is trying to drag White to the mat but White just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
White lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Bazanov or not.
White gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Bazanov.
White gets through Bazanov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White displaying some good clinch control by pressing Bazanov up against the cage.
Bazanov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Bazanov tries to pull guard but White holds him up against the cage and eventually Bazanov drops back down to his feet.
White gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Bazanov.

White escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bazanov swats away the attempt to clinch by White.

White fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bazanov, pushing him back against the cage.
Bazanov goes for a takedown attempt but White pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
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!
Bazanov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A punch combination from White misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier White showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

White moves into range and clinches up with Bazanov.
Bazanov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but White pulls him back up using the underhooks.

White breaks from the clinch.
Bazanov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bazanov appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Anatoly Bazanov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

White instigates a clinch.

White breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

White gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bazanov tries for a takedown. No joy.
Good body shot from White.
White is pressed up against the cage. Bazanov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag White down to the mat. White avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anatoly Bazanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
White using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Bazanov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
White works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
White lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short right from White.
Xavier White seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
White taking a breather.
White lands with a short punch from the clinch.
White has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

White breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bazanov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

White has closed the distance and engaged Bazanov in a clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from White.
White lands with a left to the head.
White throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bazanov blocks it with crossed arms.
White gets through Bazanov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

White breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

White gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

White escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
White closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
White just misses with a punch to the body.
White is looking to clinch but Bazanov is avoiding it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bazanov.
Anatoly Bazanov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

White moves into the clinch.
Bazanov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but White is defending well.

White breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Bazanov gets tackled into the cage by White. White maintains the clinch.
White content to slow the pace in the clinch.

White breaks the clinch.
White stuffs the takedown attempt from Bazanov. Bazanov gets slowly back to his feet.
White tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bazanov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bazanov fails with a takedown attempt.
White looks to land a body kick but Bazanov moved away.
Bazanov fails with the takedown
and Bazanov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
White displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bazanov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

White takes the fight into the clinch.
Bazanov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
White displaying some good clinch control by pressing Bazanov up against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Bazanov drops down looking for an ankle pick but White pulls his leg out and moves away.
Bazanov dives in and grabs White's left leg, looking for a takedown. White pushes down on Bazanov's head and hops out.
White is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Bazanov with a body shot.
White throws a right hand that Bazanov ducks under and follows up with a left that Bazanov also avoids with ease.
Bazanov shoots in looking for a takedown. White tries to sprawl out of it but Bazanov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. White manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

White moves into the clinch.
Xavier White is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A quick uppercut on the inside from White.

White breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bazanov closes the distance and clinches up with White, looking for a takedown. Bazanov pushes White against the cage but White circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bazanov shoots in for a double leg but White sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

White clinches with his opponent.
Bazanov has White pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. White manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A short left from White.
White blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xavier White comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got White winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 26:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 26:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xavier White!