PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lazar Alex (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam Papier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alex's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, First of the year. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Alex
vs
Papier

190 cm
19
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lazar Alex!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Liam Papier!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Valeri Chadov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Alex as Papier shoots in.

Alex looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Alex trying to control the position from guard on top but Papier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alex throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Papier works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Alex stands and steps away. Papier gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Papier fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Alex avoids it really well and circles away.
Papier misses with a body punch
and Alex counters with a nice uppercut.
Papier pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Papier dives in and grabs Alex's left leg, looking for a takedown. Alex pushes down on Papier's head and hops out.
Lazar Alex has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam Papier.
Papier looks to clinch
and Alex counters with a stiff right hand.
Alex really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Alex instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alex works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Alex knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Papier on the ground.
Papier is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Alex is controlling him.
Papier looking to control.
Papier looking to hit a scissor sweep but Alex is one step ahead there.
Alex trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Alex sitting in guard, not really doing much.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Papier moves to clinch but Alex breaks away
and Alex makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Papier shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Alex moves into the clinch successfully.
Papier wants to get back to striking at distance but Alex won't allow it.
Papier stops a takedown attempt from Alex.

Alex manages to break the clinch.
Papier closes the distance but Alex moves to the side

and Alex counters by clinching up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alex prevents the takedown attempt.

Alex ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Alex no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papier trying to control but Alex is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Papier being controlled here momentarily.
Papier wants to pass the guard but Alex is keeping the position.

Alex working for a triangle but Papier defends it easily.
Papier pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Alex is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papier trying to control the position from guard on top but Alex is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Papier throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Papier being controlled here momentarily.
Papier trying to control but Alex is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Liam Papier.
Papier shoots in for a double leg but Alex sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lazar Alex dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Papier stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Papier wants it to stay on the feet.
Alex scores with a decent looking hook.
Papier looks for a takedown but Alex sprawls well.
Papier fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Papier throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Alex sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Papier darts in trying to clinch
and Alex counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Alex keeps the fight on the outside.
Papier moves to clinch but Alex breaks away
and Alex counters with a good, hard body kick but Papier shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Alex manages to pull guard.
Alex keeping full guard, as Papier tries to pass.
Alex keeping moving, preventing Papier from controlling successfully.
Alex seems keen to control Papier's posture.
Papier tries to free his leg and advance position but Alex is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Papier trying to control but Alex is working from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Liam Papier hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Papier looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Alex moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Papier tries for a takedown but Alex sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Lazar Alex has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam Papier.
Papier doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Alex counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Papier shoots in looking for a takedown. Alex tries to sprawl out of it but Papier keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Alex manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Papier is breathing heavily.
Papier stuffs the takedown attempt from Alex. Alex gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papier tries to close the distance and clinch but Alex swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Alex changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Papier tries to avoid it but Alex manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Papier to the ground. Papier escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Papier as Alex shoots in.
Papier is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Alex takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Alex has a takedown stuffed.
Papier misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papier tries to clinch up
and Alex counters with a right hand to the body.
Papier fails with an attempt to clinch.

Alex moves into the clinch successfully.
Papier is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Alex is defending well for now.
Alex fails to pull the fight into his guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Alex manages to pull guard.
Papier wants to stand but Alex is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lazar Alex will probably get the nod.
That's time! Alex's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Papier shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Alex as he avoids it easily.
Alex uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Papier.
Alex stuffs the takedown attempt from Papier. Papier gets slowly back to his feet.
Papier fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Papier fails to land the takedown.
Lazar Alex has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam Papier.
Papier gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Alex counters by clinching up.
Papier wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Alex is working for takedown but Papier is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Papier wants to take the fight to the mat but Alex manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Papier takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Alex's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alex is trying hard to land a takedown here. Papier sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Alex shoots in looking for a takedown. Papier tries to sprawl out of it but Alex keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Papier manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Papier misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alex lands a front kick.

Alex closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Papier gets underhooks to prevent Alex's takedown attempt.
Papier tries to pull guard but Alex forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Alex is working for takedown but Papier is calmly controlling the position for now.
Alex is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Alex manages to pull guard.

Papier got a little sloppy there for a moment and Alex has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Papier has managed to get both his arms back between Alex's legs - danger averted.
Papier wants to control from the top but Alex keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papier works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Papier trying to control the action but Alex is working from the bottom.
Papier tries to stand and escape but Alex is controlling the position.
Papier wants to take a breather but Alex is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Liam Papier hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Alex throws a leg kick but Papier sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Papier goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Alex dodges the punch combination from Papier.
Papier fails with a takedown attempt.
Papier takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Liam Papier has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lazar Alex is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Papier fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Alex checks it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Liam Papier.
Well Alex has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Lazar Alex!
A relieved looking Lazar Alex thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.