PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Toehold (ranked 2652 p4p, 3071 weight class) and Gianluca Alampi (ranked 255 p4p, 288 weight class). Alampi comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Symphony Of Destruction kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Toehold
vs
Alampi

172 cm
25
152
6 - 1 - 0

166 cm
19
145
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Hates pizza

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tommy Toehold!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Gianluca Alampi!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Toehold dives in and scores a takedown into Alampi's guard.
Toehold pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Alampi is keeping the position for now.
Toehold sitting in guard here, content to control.
Toehold forces his way into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Toehold prevents Alampi from improving his position.
Alampi has his hands clasped together around Toehold's back. He's all about the action.

Toehold is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Alampi doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Toehold.
We've been hearing that Toehold has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toehold is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Alampi is trying to control but can't.
Alampi is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Toehold is staying active.
Alampi looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Toehold perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Toehold seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Alampi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Alampi lands a lovely overhand right.
A jab from Alampi misses.

Toehold rushes Alampi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A short left from Toehold.

Toehold gets control of Alampi's arms and successfully pulls guard. Toehold will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Toehold is trying to control the position but Alampi postures up.
Alampi wants to control from the top but Toehold keeps moving.

Toehold looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Alampi pushing down on Toehold's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Toehold wants to improve his position but Alampi is controlling well.
Alampi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Toehold keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toehold wants to improve his position but Alampi is controlling well.

Toehold actively working from the bottom here.
Toehold is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Alampi jumps into side control!

Alampi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Toehold is not content to let Alampi control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Toehold tries to bench press Alampi off him but Alampi keeps the position.
Alampi has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Toehold!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alampi avoids the attempt from Toehold to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Alampi looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Toehold tries to hold on but Alampi postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Alampi jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Toehold takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Alampi with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Toehold manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Alampi on his heels. He'll look to pass Alampi's guard now, I'm sure.
Toehold trying to control the position from guard on top but Alampi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alampi keeping full guard, as Toehold tries to pass.
Alampi trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Toehold controlling from the top position.
Alampi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toehold looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Alampi is trying to keep Toehold in close.

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

Toehold fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Alampi, pushing him back against the cage.
Alampi lands a hook that snaps the head of Toehold backwards.
Alampi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Alampi lands a right hand that snaps the head of Toehold backwards.
Alampi lands a nice uppercut.
Toehold content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Alampi has had enough of the clinch but Toehold keeps him there for the moment.
Alampi works on Toehold's body with a couple of short punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Toehold.
Toehold swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Alampi.
Toehold wants a takedown.
Toehold jumps guard but Alampi stands there with Toehold around his waist. Toehold gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Toehold breaks from the clinch.
Toehold tries to clinch there but Alampi circles away.
A nice side step and Alampi releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Alampi cracks Toehold with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Toehold has taken the fight to the clinch.
Alampi tries to throw a body punch but Toehold avoids it by throwing Alampi back against the cage.
Toehold misses with a body punch.
Alampi softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Alampi makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Alampi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Alampi lands a body punch in the clinch.
Alampi throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alampi lands with a light punch inside.
A short uppercut from Alampi.
Alampi tries to break the clinch but Toehold is controlling the position.
Still in the clinch, Alampi scores with a nice short uppercut.
Alampi is looking to break free of the clinch but Toehold has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alampi digs a right hand underneath Toehold's ribcage. Toehold let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Alampi lands a hook to the side of the head.
Toehold is working for takedown but Alampi is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommy Toehold. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Toehold looking for a takedown.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Toehold.
Gianluca Alampi seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A shot in the inside from Alampi.
A shot in the inside from Alampi.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Toehold.

Toehold pulls guard successfully.
Alampi wants to pass the guard but Toehold is keeping the position.
Alampi stays in close to Toehold's body and controls the position.
Alampi trying to control the position from guard on top but Toehold is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alampi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Alampi wants to control from the top but Toehold keeps moving.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Alampi looking to sit in guard and control but Toehold gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Alampi controls Toehold momentarily but Toehold frees himself.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gianluca Alampi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Toehold rushes Alampi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Alampi breaks the clinch.
Toehold takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A jab from Alampi does it's job there.
Alampi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Alampi wants it to stay on the feet.
Toehold slips a jab from Alampi.
Toehold just misses with a punch to the body.

Toehold moves into the clinch successfully.
Toehold tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Alampi just stands there and leans against the cage.
Alampi throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A right hand to the body from Alampi.
Alampi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Toehold tries to score a body lock takedown but Alampi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommy Toehold. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alampi working aggressively here.

Toehold tightens his grip and picks Alampi up, before dumping him to the ground. Alampi manages to land in guard.
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!
Alampi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Alampi looking for a guillotine here but Toehold defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Alampi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Alampi controls Toehold momentarily but Toehold frees himself.

That's two 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.
Toehold trying to control but Alampi is working from the bottom.
Toehold showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Tommy Toehold overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Alampi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Toehold can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Alampi pulls Toehold in close to prevent any damage.
Alampi looking to control.
Toehold is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alampi is adopting a defensive guard.
Toehold sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Alampi trying to keep a closed guard but Toehold is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Alampi scores with the left hand. Toehold knows he should have avoided that one.
Alampi scores with a jab. Toehold acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Toehold manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Alampi on his heels. He'll look to pass Alampi's guard now, I'm sure.
Toehold wants to control from the top but Alampi keeps moving.
Toehold sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alampi is trying to keep Toehold in close.

Alampi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Toehold has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Toehold got a little sloppy there for a moment and Alampi has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Toehold has managed to get both his arms back between Alampi's legs - danger averted.

Toehold is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Toehold sitting in guard here, content to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Gianluca Alampi.
I think Alampi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gianluca Alampi!
Gianluca Alampi decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.