PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alessio Bulli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keith Filipino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Filipino is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Last Resort. Alessio Bulli had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 147.2lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Alessio Bulli could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Keith Filipino's chin.

Bulli
vs
Filipino

178 cm
18
156 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
18
154 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alessio Bulli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Keith Filipino!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Taro Takaoka and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Filipino tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bulli sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Filipino somewhat.
Filipino shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bulli but Bulli pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bulli jabs at Filipino's body.
Horrible takedown by Filipino or perhaps it was just good defense by Bulli which made him look bad.
Alessio Bulli has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keith Filipino.
Filipino looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bulli is fending him off so far but Filipino persists. Nope, Bulli circles away and we're back to standing.
Filipino is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bulli sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Filipino misses with the head strike.
Bulli's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Filipino changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bulli fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Bulli decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bulli is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Filipino doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Bulli.
Bulli working the head and body with strikes.
Filipino has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bulli is working away from the top position though.
Bulli lands with a punch from half guard.
Filipino trying to control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Filipino looks gassed!
Filipino wants to improve his position but Bulli is controlling well.
Bulli looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Filipino with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bulli is keen to just control but Filipino is a slippery customer.
Filipino is looking for a sweep. Bulli is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bulli is trying to control. Filipino wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

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

and Bulli counters by clinching up.
Bulli is pushing Filipino up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Bulli dodges an elbow strike from Filipino.

Bulli jumps into guard, dragging Filipino to the mat.

Filipino has gone for a leg lock! Bulli slips out almost immediately though and dives into Filipino's guard.
Bulli working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bulli is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Bulli chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bulli landing with the ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Filipino wants to sweep here but Bulli controlling him for the moment.
Bulli content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Bulli stands up from Filipino's guard - Bulli perhaps looking for a knockout.

Bulli shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Filipino manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Bulli is working Filipino over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bulli distracts Filipino with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bulli preventing the sweep.
Bulli works over Filipino with some ground and pound from guard.
Filipino is trying to keep Bulli in close.
Filipino has momentary wrist control but Bulli slips an elbow through the middle.
Bulli trying to control the position from guard on top but Filipino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Filipino is looking for a triangle but Bulli pushes his legs off easily.
Bulli trying to control the position from guard on top but Filipino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Filipino manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Bulli defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Filipino.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alessio Bulli 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.

Bulli shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Filipino is working to get back to half guard.
Filipino sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Bulli wants to work for an arm triangle but Filipino is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Filipino is doing well to control the position and prevent Bulli from advancing to side control.
Filipino moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Filipino looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bulli is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filipino is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Bulli is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Filipino wants to sweep here but Bulli controlling him for the moment.
Bulli postures up.
Bulli postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Filipino had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bulli defends it easily.
Bulli trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bulli accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Filipino wants to sweep here but Bulli controlling him for the moment.

Filipino looking for a guillotine here but Bulli defends easily.
Bulli works over Filipino with some ground and pound from guard.
Filipino manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Bulli tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filipino wants to control the pace but Bulli is squirming around nicely.

Filipino is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Bulli has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Bulli!

Filipino is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Filipino is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bulli postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bulli lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Filipino escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bulli gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bulli lands a couple of digs.

Filipino is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Filipino is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Bulli cracks Filipino with a solid left hand.
Bulli wants to control from the top but Filipino keeps moving.

Filipino working for a triangle but Bulli defends it easily.
Filipino utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Filipino 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! This is the final round!

Filipino swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Bulli counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Filipino is looking to escape.

Filipino has one foot on Bulli's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Bulli, as that shot connected.
Filipino has his takedown stuffed

and Bulli counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Bulli looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Bulli looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Filipino looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bulli wants to control but Filipino is keeping him busy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Filipino keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Filipino makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Filipino.
Filipino is trying to control the position but Bulli postures up.
Filipino tries to strike from the bottom.
Bulli postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Bulli avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Filipino is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bulli controls Filipino momentarily but Filipino frees himself.
Bulli avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bulli on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bulli tries to get out of the position.

Filipino postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Bulli is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Filipino, into his guard.
Filipino working a defensive guard here.
Alessio Bulli overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bulli connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Filipino has his foot on Bulli's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bulli works his way back into a safe position though.
Filipino wants to stand but Bulli is controlling the position.

Filipino working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bulli doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bulli manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Filipino 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.
Bulli stands up over Filipino, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Filipino wants to sweep but no luck.
Filipino is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Filipino thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bulli has his hands clasped together around Filipino's back. He's all about the action.
Bulli tries to get to full guard but Filipino has control of the leg.

Filipino is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bulli doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Filipino.

Filipino is working for a kimura but Bulli is defending it quite comfortably.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alessio Bulli showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bulli has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alessio Bulli!