PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Manoel Alonso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fou Rthihovsky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fou Rthihovsky told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Alonso
vs
Rthihovsky

164 cm
27
145 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

165 cm
23
135 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Manoel Alonso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Fou Rthihovsky!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Summer Carpenter and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alonso drops his hands momentarily and Rthihovsky takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Rthihovsky moves into the clinch.
Alonso tries to pull guard but Rthihovsky holds him up against the cage and eventually Alonso drops back down to his feet.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Alonso has clasped his hands together around Rthihovsky's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Rthihovsky is trying to control Alonso's posture but Alonso avoids it.
Rthihovsky is looking to reverse the position.
Alonso working the head with strikes.
Rthihovsky wants to control but Alonso postures up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alonso throws an elbow but Rthihovsky slips to the side and avoids it well.

Alonso goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Rthihovsky has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Alonso but great work by Rthihovsky.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rthihovsky is looking to take a break and control but Alonso is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Alonso tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Rthihovsky presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Rthihovsky thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Alonso is trying to escape the mount.
Rthihovsky looking to control but Alonso is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Alonso tries to hold on but Rthihovsky pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alonso is squirming around, avoiding Rthihovsky's attempts to control the action.
Alonso tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rthihovsky looking to control but Alonso is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rthihovsky sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rthihovsky trying to control but Alonso is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alonso tries to reverse the position but Rthihovsky maintains control.
Rthihovsky wants to control the pace but Alonso is squirming around nicely.
Alonso really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rthihovsky takes Alonso's back.

Rthihovsky working for the choke.
Alonso is really stuck here.
Rthihovsky keeps control of the position easily here as Alonso tries to buck him off.
Alonso has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rthihovsky trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Rthihovsky gets his hands free as Alonso looks to control.
A lull in the action here.
Alonso tries to break free.
Alonso is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rthihovsky avoiding Alonso 's attempts to control his hands.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Will Rthihovsky go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fou Rthihovsky dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rthihovsky scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Alonso doesn't seem bothered though.
Rthihovsky dodges the punch combination from Alonso.
Rthihovsky misses with the combination.
Rthihovsky jabs at Alonso's body.
Alonso closes the distance but Rthihovsky moves to the side
and Rthihovsky makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Alonso fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rthihovsky avoids it really well and circles away.
Alonso fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alonso swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rthihovsky counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Alonso thinking.
Alonso tries for a takedown but Rthihovsky circles away easily
and Alonso takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rthihovsky.
Rthihovsky lands a nice hook to Alonso's body. Alonso takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Rthihovsky lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Rthihovsky throws a low kick but Alonso moves out of range easily.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rthihovsky.
Alonso looks for a takedown but Rthihovsky sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manoel Alonso. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rthihovsky scores with a sloppy right hand. Alonso should have avoided that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alonso tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Rthihovsky clinches.
Rthihovsky tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Alonso's elbow.
Rthihovsky lands a right hand.
Alonso can't get the takedown.
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!
Rthihovsky stalling in the clinch but Alonso improves position.
Alonso takes a shot to the head.

Rthihovsky breaks the clinch.
Alonso throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rthihovsky.
Rthihovsky bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Alonso's head backwards.
Rthihovsky lands a jab to Alonso's midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rthihovsky avoids a kick to the body.
Alonso moves to clinch but Rthihovsky breaks away
enabling Rthihovsky to counter with a crisp jab.
Rthihovsky scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Rthihovsky connects with a body shot that sends Alonso's belly button to the back.
Manoel Alonso is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alonso throws the kick towards the body but Rthihovsky avoids it.
Alonso takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Alonso tries to clinch but Rthihovsky moves away
and Rthihovsky counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
No luck for Alonso with that takedown attempt.
Rthihovsky lands with a good body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rthihovsky throws a shot to the body.
Alonso darts in trying to clinch
and Rthihovsky counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rthihovsky sizes up Alonso with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Alonso is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rthihovsky catches Alonso with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Oh Alonso is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rthihovsky lunges at Alonso with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Alonso's hand.
Rthihovsky throws a left jab followed by a right to the body, Oh Alonso colapses and takes a barrage of punches from Rthihovsky as he moves to mount! the ref stops the fight and Alonso is left battered and dazed whilst Rthihovsky and his camp cheer!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Fou Rthihovsky!