PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joey Denato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Alexander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Denato
vs
Alexander

182 cm
25
170 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

172 cm
18
168 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid 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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joey Denato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marcus Alexander!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Sergei Dronov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Denato closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Denato lands in his opponent's guard.

Denato is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Alexander is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Alexander has escaped and now he's on top!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alexander scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Alexander trying to control but Denato is working from the bottom.

Alexander got a little sloppy there for a moment and Denato has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Alexander has managed to get both his arms back between Denato's legs - danger averted.
Denato keeping moving, preventing Alexander from controlling successfully.

Denato had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Alexander defends it easily.
Denato preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Alexander trying to control but Denato is working from the bottom.

Denato is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Alexander is aware though and is defending well.
Alexander trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Denato looking for a guillotine here but Alexander defends easily.
Alexander sitting in guard here, content to control.
Alexander trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Denato looking for subs off his back but Alexander has passed one foot through into half guard.
Denato is breathing heavily.
Alexander looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Denato looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Denato is staying active underneath Alexander, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Alexander lands with a punch from half guard.
Alexander tries to stand and escape but Denato is controlling the position.
Alexander trying to control from half guard but Denato is working away.
Alexander winds up and cracks Denato with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Denato is not content to let Alexander control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Marcus Alexander.

Alexander shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Alexander tries to control but Denato wriggling away.
Alexander with a couple of short strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexander lands a nice shot to the head.
Denato tries to reverse the position but Alexander maintains control.
Denato is in a horrible position here. Alexander smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Alexander is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Denato can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Denato is wriggling around trying to escape.
Alexander unloading with bombs!
Denato is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Alexander controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Denato is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Alexander trying to control but Denato is having none of it.
Denato regains half guard.

Denato looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Denato looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Alexander pushes past his half guard into mount!
Alexander trying to control but Denato is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Marcus Alexander will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Alexander gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Denato to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Alexander is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Denato is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Alexander is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Alexander has escaped and now he's on top!

Denato is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Alexander is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alexander trying to control the position from guard on top but Denato is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Marcus Alexander.
Alexander shoots and misses

and Denato counters with a single leg into guard. Alexander didn't expect that.

Denato postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Alexander is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Denato, into his guard.
Alexander is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Alexander must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Denato is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Alexander defends well.

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

Denato is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a tringle but Alexander frees his head nicely. Oh but Denato has switched to an armbar! Alexander is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Joey Denato!