PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jing Ya Xu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Borat Obama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Borat Obama has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Jing Ya Xu's chin.

Ya Xu
vs
Obama

180 cm
19
218 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

195 cm
19
203 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jing Ya Xu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Borat Obama!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Aleksandr Martynov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ya Xu works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Ya Xu keeps the fight on the outside.
Ya Xu misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ya Xu comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Ya Xu misses with an uppercut. Obama saw that one coming.
Ya Xu's corner calls for a 1-2. Ya Xu obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Obama lets loose with a powerful body kick. Ya Xu will feel that in the morning.
Ya Xu is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ya Xu slips under a jab.
Ya Xu blocks a head kick by Obama.
Ya Xu moves out of range of the body kick from Obama.
Borat Obama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Obama looks for a takedown but Ya Xu sprawls well.
Ya Xu avoids the head kick by Obama.
Obama shoots in looking for a takedown. Ya Xu tries to sprawl out of it but Obama keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ya Xu manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Obama darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Obama wants to control but Ya Xu is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obama throwing shots but Ya Xu is blocking nicely.
Ya Xu might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ya Xu wants to get back to full guard.
Obama trying to control from half guard but Ya Xu is working away.
Obama throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Obama thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ya Xu's head.
Obama thows a huge punch but Ya Xu dodges it nicely.
Ya Xu is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Obama fails with the takedown.
Jing Ya Xu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Borat Obama.
Obama tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ya Xu swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Ya Xu looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ya Xu working the head and body with strikes.

Ya Xu escapes and gets back to his feet.
Ya Xu catches Obama with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Ya Xu shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Obama's guard.
Obama is looking to stand up but Ya Xu isn't so interested in that idea.
Ya Xu stands up over Obama, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Obama will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Obama working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ya Xu.
Obama throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Ya Xu working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Obama is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Obama looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ya Xu wants to stand but Obama has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ya Xu scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ya Xu postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Obama looking for a guillotine here but Ya Xu defends easily.
Ya Xu is working Obama over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ya Xu throwing strikes but missing.
Ya Xu is looking to work some ground and pound but Obama has wrist control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Obama wants to sweep here but Ya Xu controlling him for the moment.
Obama has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Obama is trying to control the position but Ya Xu postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Obama doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Ya Xu has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Obama is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Ya Xu looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Obama!
Obama wants to hold on but Ya Xu pushes him away.
Obama keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ya Xu breaks from Obama's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Ya Xu lands a big elbow.
Obama is in a horrible position here. Ya Xu smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Obama tries to reverse the position but Ya Xu maintains control.
Ya Xu lands with some strikes.
Obama is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jing Ya Xu dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A head kick misses from Obama.
Obama throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Obama tries a head kick but it misses.
Ya Xu has a takedown stuffed.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ya Xu.
Obama manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Ground and pound from Obama.
Ya Xu tries to get to full guard but Obama has control of the leg.
Obama wants to take a breather but Ya Xu is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Obama is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ya Xu on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ya Xu tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ya Xu is trying to get back to full guard.
Ya Xu throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Obama missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ya Xu slips a jab from Obama.
Obama with a poor takedown
and Ya Xu counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ya Xu lands with a straight right. Obama didn't see that one coming.
Obama tries for a takedown but Ya Xu circles away easily

and Ya Xu counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ya Xu slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Obama is looking for a sweep.
Ya Xu is putting a hurting on Obama here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ya Xu is looking to take a break and control but Obama is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ya Xu is really struggling to control Obama but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Obama is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Obama is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ya Xu scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ya Xu throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ya Xu drops an elbow to the side of Obama's head.
Ya Xu working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Obama is trying to stand.
Ya Xu missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Obama is trying to maintain the position but Ya Xu is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ya Xu moves into full mount! Obama won't be happy about that!
Ya Xu working Obama over with strikes here.
Obama flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Obama slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Obama is trying to control but can't.
Ya Xu is trying to control the action in half guard but Obama is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ya Xu connects with a nice short shot to Obama's temple.
Obama keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ya Xu is just content to waste time from the top position. Obama takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Obama is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

and Ya Xu counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Jing Ya Xu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Borat Obama.

Obama looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ya Xu passes into side control.
Ya Xu is working Obama over with some ground and pound from side control.
Obama wants to control but Ya Xu postures up.
Ya Xu cracks Obama with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Ya Xu scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Obama to see if he's OK.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ya Xu wants to lay and pray for a moment but Obama keeps working.
Ya Xu working the ground and pound from side control.
Ya Xu working the body and head with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jing Ya Xu dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Obama tries to clinch up
and Ya Xu counters with a nice uppercut.
Ya Xu fails with the takedown.
Obama will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Obama shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Obama showed some decent athleticism there.
Obama wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ya Xu keeps working.
Ya Xu is looking for a sweep. Obama is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obama winds up and cracks Ya Xu with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Obama missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ya Xu throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Obama manages to pass to side control.

Obama decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Obama misses with a takedown

and Ya Xu decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Obama's guard.
Ya Xu connects with a couple of short punches.
Obama is striking but Ya Xu is not phased and passes to half guard.
Ya Xu looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Obama with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Obama is trying to get back to full guard.
Obama on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ya Xu wants to control but Obama is keeping him busy.
Jing Ya Xu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ya Xu performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Obama wants to control but Ya Xu is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ya Xu tries to pass the half guard into mount. Obama knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Obama is staying active underneath Ya Xu, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Obama regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ya Xu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Obama works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Obama looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ya Xu is one step ahead there.

Obama is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ya Xu punishes Obama's body with a nice straight punch.
Obama wants to clinch

and Ya Xu counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Obama looking for a guillotine here but Ya Xu defends easily.
Ya Xu slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Borat Obama has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ya Xu's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ya Xu working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ya Xu slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Ya Xu seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Obama for as long as he can get away with.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jing Ya Xu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ya Xu, 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jing Ya Xu!