PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Raith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vlad Alexiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vlad Alexiev has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Raith
vs
Alexiev

188 cm
20
175 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

180 cm
21
175 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Thomas Raith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vlad Alexiev!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Igor Prikhodko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raith fails to land the takedown.
A combination from Alexiev does no damage.
Alexiev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Raith was well out of range. Poor timing from Alexiev.
Raith will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Raith shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Raith showed some decent athleticism there.
Alexiev is looking to improve his position.
Alexiev is doing well to control the position and prevent Raith from advancing to side control.

Raith is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Raith is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Alexiev defends it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raith working the head and body with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexiev works his way to full guard. Good work.
Alexiev is looking to stand up but Raith isn't so interested in that idea.

Alexiev looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Alexiev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Raith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Raith is positioning himself well to prevent Alexiev advancing to mount.
Raith tries to roll over but Alexiev keeps him under control.

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.
Raith wants to control but Alexiev is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Alexiev wants to stand up but Raith has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Raith trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alexiev is trying to control. Raith wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Alexiev is taking a breather. Raith says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Alexiev doesn't manage to clinch there - Raith circles away.
Raith fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Raith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alexiev clinches with his opponent.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Alexiev prevents a takedown attempt there.
Raith can't get the takedown.
Alexiev tries to pull guard but Raith holds him up against the cage and eventually Alexiev drops back down to his feet.
Raith is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Alexiev pulls guard successfully.
Raith stops Alexiev from standing up.
Raith trying to control but Alexiev is working from the bottom.
Raith's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Alexiev 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raith stops Alexiev from standing up.
Raith trying to control but Alexiev is working from the bottom.
Raith looking to pass the guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Alexiev is on top in guard.
Alexiev trying to control but Raith is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vlad Alexiev dominated that 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.

Raith looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Alexiev is fending him off so far but Raith persists. Nope, Alexiev circles away and we're back to standing.

Alexiev has Raith up against the cage in a clinch.
Alexiev wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Raith has him pressed against the cage.
Alexiev gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Raith.
Alexiev wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Raith has him pressed against the cage.
Alexiev is looking to break free of the clinch but Raith has double underhooks.
Raith is working for takedown but Alexiev is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Raith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alexiev fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Raith stalling in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raith goes for a takedown in the clinch but Alexiev prevents it.
Raith tries to score a body lock takedown but Alexiev shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Alexiev pulls guard.

Alexiev had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Raith defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raith pushes down on Alexiev's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Raith is trying to control. Alexiev wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Alexiev is trying to get back to full guard.

Raith is looking for a kimura but Alexiev is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Raith to get the leverage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alexiev controlling the position for now.
Alexiev wants to control but Raith is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Raith seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Alexiev does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Raith sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Alexiev wants to control but Raith is keeping busy.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Alexiev tries to close the distance and clinch but Raith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A combination from Alexiev does no damage.
Alexiev tries to clinch but Raith is having none of it.
Alexiev rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Raith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Good shot there by Raith.
Raith shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Alexiev defends it nicely.
Alexiev moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Raith.
Alexiev doesn't manage to clinch there - Raith circles away.
Alexiev dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raith takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Vlad Alexiev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Alexiev scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Alexiev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Alexiev looks to land a right hand but Raith moved out of range.
Alexiev stuffs the takedown attempt from Raith. Raith gets slowly back to his feet.
Alexiev moves into range and connects with a jab.
Raith takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Alexiev lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Raith looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Vlad Alexiev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Raith closes this distance looking for a takedown but Alexiev circles away.
Alexiev connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Alexiev rushes Raith and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Alexiev ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Alexiev no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Alexiev working a defensive guard here.
Alexiev keeping moving, preventing Raith from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alexiev bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Raith's guard.
Alexiev wants to pass the guard but Raith is keeping the position.
Raith wants to get back to his feet but Alexiev is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Alexiev trying to control but Raith is working from the bottom.
Raith lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Alexiev!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vlad Alexiev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Raith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Alexiev fails to land with a series of punches.
Alexiev moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Alexiev connects with a right hand. Raith shakes it off.
Alexiev stuffs the takedown attempt from Raith. Raith gets slowly back to his feet.
Alexiev lands a jab.
Alexiev throws a right and a left that Raith avoids nicely.
Raith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Alexiev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Alexiev leaves Raith with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Raith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Raith avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Raith shoots in but Alexiev avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Alexiev throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alexiev has taken the fight to the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Alexiev is struggling to control the position.
Alexiev tries to break free but Raith pushes him back against the cage.

Alexiev has clasped his hands together around Raith's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Raith manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Alexiev is thwarting Raith's attempts to control the position.
Alexiev is trying to control. Raith wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Raith works his way to full guard. Good work.
Alexiev must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raith keeping moving, preventing Alexiev from controlling successfully.

Raith looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Alexiev trying to control but Raith is working from the bottom.

Raith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Alexiev tries to free his leg and advance position but Raith is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexiev wants to get up but he can't break Raith's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Raith is controlling Alexiev's posture.
Raith looking for a sweep. Not yet Raith, not yet.
Alexiev wants to control from the top but Raith keeps moving.
Raith lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Alexiev!
Raith looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Alexiev is looking to get to half guard.
Alexiev is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Raith looking to control but Alexiev is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Raith is really struggling to control Alexiev but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Raith controlling the position easily from mount.
Thomas Raith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Raith working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vlad Alexiev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Alexiev 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vlad Alexiev!