PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joey Engle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Reva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Reva's choice of entrance music: Hopeless Wanderer. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Engle
vs
Reva

225 cm
29
275 lbs
11 - 3 - 1

198 cm
30
260 lbs
17 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

TWGC Champion
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Tokyo United Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joey Engle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 1, fighting out of London, Alexander Reva!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Colin Fotheringham and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Engle has managed to clinch.
Engle really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Reva has Engle pressed against the cage, preventing Engle from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Engle looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Reva has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Engle is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Reva jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Engle walks away with a smile on his face. Reva gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Engle tries to clinch
and Reva counters with a nice body shot.
Nice takedown defense from Engle. No joy for Reva on that attempt.
Joey Engle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Reva.

Engle instigates a clinch.
Reva drops down looking for an ankle pick but Engle pulls his leg out and moves away.
Engle closes the distance looking to clinch
and Reva counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like Joey Engle 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!
Engle wants to clinch but Reva slips to the side
and Reva connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Reva circles away from the clinch attempt
and Reva counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Engle looks to clinch

and Reva counters with a left hand that sends Engle to the canvas!

Engle is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Reva pushes down on Engle's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Oh Engle is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Reva is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Reva is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Reva looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Engle seems to have got his legs back now.
Reva wants to take his opponent's back but Engle doesn't allow it.
Engle is squirming around, avoiding Reva's attempts to control the action.
Reva controlling from mount.
Engle wants to try and get back to his feet.
Reva looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reva wants to control the pace but Engle is squirming around nicely.
Engle is looking to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Reva is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Engle can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Engle wants to try and get back to his feet.
Reva avoids the attempt from Engle to control.

Reva is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Engle to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Engle shrugs it off.
Engle tries to buck Reva off but he can't manage it.
Reva controlling his opponent.
Engle tries to hold on but Reva postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reva trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Engle is trying desperately to improve position.

Reva is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! Engle is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:51 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Alexander Reva!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Alexander Reva waved his t-shirt featuring Tokyo United Fightwear's logo in front of the cameras.