PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Andrae Alston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuri Gagarin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gagarin has chosen What else as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Alston
vs
Gagarin

182 cm
19
163 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
23
154 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Andrae Alston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Yuri Gagarin!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Alexandre Firmino and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gagarin wants to clinch but Alston slips to the side

and Alston counters with a shoot takedown. Gagarin fights it but they end up in guard.
Gagarin keeping moving, preventing Alston from controlling successfully.
Alston with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gagarin keeping full guard, as Alston tries to pass.
Alston slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Andrae Alston wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Gagarin tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Alston counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Alston escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gagarin wants to clinch

and Alston counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gagarin won't be happy with that.

Alston swings around for an armbar but Gagarin sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Alston's guard.
Alston has a closed guard, preventing Gagarin from standing up.

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

Alston is working an open guard so Gagarin takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gagarin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Alston paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Alston closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gagarin did well to prevent Alston getting side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alston is looking to pass Gagarin's guard but actually Gagarin recovers to full guard.
Alston won't allow Gagarin to sweep him here.
Gagarin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Alston has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Alston looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alston thows a big elbow that misses.
Gagarin working a defensive guard here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Andrae Alston just wasn't active enough.

Alston darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Gagarin tries to kick Alston off but Alston keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alston is taking a breather. Gagarin 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.
Alston trying to pass the guard but Gagarin defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Alston is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrae Alston dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gagarin wants to clinch but Alston slips to the side

and Alston decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gagarin's guard.
Alston trying to control the position from guard on top but Gagarin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alston trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Gagarin manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Andrae Alston overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Alston trying to control the position.
Gagarin would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Alston tries to strike from the bottom.

Alston had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gagarin defends it easily.
Alston tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gagarin wants to stand but Alston is controlling his posture from full guard.
Gagarin preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alston is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Alston looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gagarin is one step ahead there.
Alston is looking to stand up but Gagarin isn't so interested in that idea.
Alston is striking but Gagarin is not phased and passes to half guard.

Gagarin escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gagarin closes the distance looking to clinch

and Alston counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
It looks like Alston is going to stand back up.
Well, if Alston is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Alston wants to work for an arm triangle but Gagarin is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gagarin is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gagarin is trying to stand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alston is looking to pass Gagarin's guard but actually Gagarin recovers to full guard.
Gagarin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrae Alston dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Alston lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gagarin circles away quickly and effectively.

Alston shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Alston throws and elbow that misses. Gagarin uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Alston's guard. Nice move by Gagarin!
Alston managing to control the position.
Alston looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gagarin is fighting to break Alston's control of his arms but Alston is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Alston has a closed guard, preventing Gagarin from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alston is trying to keep Gagarin in close.

We're going to have a standup here because Andrae Alston wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Gagarin tries to clinch but Alston moves away

and Alston counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Alston is looking for a kimura but Gagarin is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Alston to get the leverage.
Alston is thwarting Gagarin's attempts to control the position.
Gagarin looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Alston is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Yuri Gagarin wasn't active enough on the ground.

Alston closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gagarin did well to prevent Alston getting side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alston wants to stand up but Gagarin manages to regain full guard.
Gagarin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alston lands a couple of elbows.
Alston trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gagarin's guard.
Gagarin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Alston engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Andrae Alston has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Alston shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gagarin's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alston throws a strike but Gagarin rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Alston escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gagarin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Yuri Gagarin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Gagarin stands up from guard. Let's bang!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gagarin wants to clinch but Alston slips to the side

and Alston counters by moving into the clinch.
Gagarin lands an elbow that stopped Alston in his tracks for a moment.
Andrae Alston is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

It looks like Andrae Alston has been cut.
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!
Gagarin with an attempt at a knee that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrae Alston showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Alston, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrae Alston!