PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brayden Hunter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vlad Alexiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hunter
vs
Alexiev

183 cm
19
183 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

180 cm
22
175 lbs
4 - 10 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very strong

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Brayden Hunter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vlad Alexiev!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Igor Prikhodko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hunter looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Alexiev lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hunter!
Hunter knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Alexiev on the ground.
Alexiev throwing strikes here but Hunter is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Alexiev scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Hunter?
Alexiev content just to control the position here.
Hunter tries to hold on but Alexiev postures up.
Alexiev tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Alexiev is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Hunter to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Hunter shrugs it off.
Alexiev controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter working to try and regain half guard.
Hunter tries to hold on but Alexiev pushes him away.
Hunter is looking to improve his position but Alexiev isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two 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.
Alexiev thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Hunter is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Hunter tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hunter wants to hold on but Alexiev pushes him away.
Alexiev tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Hunter wants to control but Alexiev is having none of it.
Hunter is squirming around, avoiding Alexiev's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexiev lands a big shot there that rocks Hunter but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Alexiev can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hunter is looking to escape.
Alexiev sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Alexiev looking to finish with strikes here!
Alexiev postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Hunter looks a forlorn figure.
Hunter tries to hold on but Alexiev postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Alexiev is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Hunter has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Hunter tries to hold on but Alexiev postures up.
Alexiev controlling the pace for now.
Alexiev trying to control but Hunter is having none of it.
Alexiev manages to capitalize on a mistake by Hunter to take his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vlad Alexiev 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.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hunter blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hunter is looking to control Alexiev's arms but Alexiev gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hunter has his back to the cage.
Alexiev stops a takedown attempt from Hunter.
Alexiev tries for a takedown but Hunter manages to get underhooks.
Alexiev is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hunter gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Alexiev prevents the takedown attempt.
Hunter has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Alexiev is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brayden Hunter. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hunter pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hunter fails with the takedown.
Alexiev bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Hunter's head backwards.
Hunter keeps the fight on the outside.
Hunter throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Alexiev doesn't manage to clinch there - Hunter circles away.
Alexiev looks to land a combination but Hunter avoids it well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alexiev swinging wildly here.
Hunter takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexiev throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Hunter closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hunter tries a knee to the head but Alexiev blocks it.

Alexiev has Hunter pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Alexiev pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Hunter tumbling to the mat - Alexiev dives into Hunter's guard.
Alexiev pushes down on Hunter's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Alexiev is looking for a kimura but Hunter is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Alexiev to get the leverage.
Hunter is trying to get back to full guard.

Alexiev seems to be working for a kimura but Hunter defends the submission attempt.
Hunter is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alexiev stands up and beckons Hunter to join him on the feet.
Hunter shoots in but Alexiev avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Vlad Alexiev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hunter looks for a takedown but Alexiev sprawls well.
Alexiev scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Alexiev is looking to clinch but Hunter is avoiding it.
Alexiev fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Alexiev throws a combination. Hunter tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Alexiev lands with an overhand left.
Hunter misses with a shot to the body
and Alexiev counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Alexiev goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexiev tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Hunter counters with a straight right hand.
Alexiev tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hunter manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Alexiev drives through and clinches with Hunter against the cage.
Hunter tries to pull guard but Alexiev won't allow it.

Alexiev jumps guard.
Hunter stopping the sweep attempt from Alexiev.
Alexiev is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hunter wants to stand but Alexiev has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Alexiev pulls Hunter in to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunter wants to pass the guard but Alexiev is keeping the position.
Hunter looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Brayden Hunter wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Alexiev cracks a nice hook into Hunter's ribs.
Alexiev throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alexiev stuffs the takedown attempt from Hunter. Hunter gets slowly back to his feet.
Alexiev lands a body shot.
Alexiev lands a two punch combo.
Alexiev avoids the head kick by Hunter.
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! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Alexiev lands a jab to Hunter's midsection.

Alexiev clinches with his opponent.
Good body shot from Alexiev.
Hunter wants a takedown but no success here.
Hunter managing to block the knees to the body from Alexiev.

Alexiev manages to break the clinch.
Alexiev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Alexiev throws a series of punches but Hunter avoids them all with ease.

Hunter tries to keep at a distance but Alexiev has taken the fight into the clinch.

Alexiev gets control of Hunter's arms and successfully pulls guard. Alexiev will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Alexiev wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Alexiev kicks Hunter off and gets to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hunter tries to clinch up but Alexiev circles away and keeps his distance.
Hunter fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexiev cracks Hunter with a good jab.

Alexiev has closed the distance and engaged Hunter in a clinch.
Alexiev wants a takedown but no success here.
Alexiev is looking to break free of the clinch but Hunter has double underhooks.
Alexiev drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hunter gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hunter has Alexiev pressed against the cage, preventing Alexiev from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hunter prevents a takedown attempt there.
Brayden Hunter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vlad Alexiev.

Hunter gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Alexiev regains guard.

Alexiev uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Alexiev avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunter misses with a body shot.
Alexiev misses with the combination.
Hunter lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hunter.
Hunter walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Alexiev checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Hunter throws a sloppy head kick and Alexiev moves out of range easily.
Alexiev is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Hunter rather than just go for the knockout.
Sloppy strikes from Alexiev. Those never looked like landing.
Alexiev stuffs the takedown attempt from Hunter. Hunter gets slowly back to his feet.
Alexiev wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Alexiev tries to clinch up but Hunter circles away and keeps his distance.
Hunter throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Alexiev moves into range and clinches up with Hunter.
Alexiev tries to pull guard but Hunter won't allow it.
Alexiev taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Alexiev tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Hunter's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Alexiev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hunter looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Alexiev keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A combination from Alexiev does no damage.
Alexiev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hunter throws a sloppy head kick and Alexiev moves out of range easily.
Alexiev fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hunter looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Alexiev listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Alexiev lands a jab.
Hunter shoots in but Alexiev avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hunter keeps the fight on the outside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Hunter has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hunter tries for a takedown. No joy.
Alexiev wants to break the clinch but can't.

Alexiev jumps guard.
Hunter has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Alexiev pulls Hunter in to control the position.
Alexiev is trying to control the position but Hunter postures up.
Alexiev keeping moving, preventing Hunter from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hunter tries to free his leg and advance position but Alexiev is retaining full guard.
Hunter throws a strike but Alexiev rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Brayden Hunter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vlad Alexiev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Hunter looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vlad Alexiev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Alexiev has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30

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