PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Alexander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Powers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexander comes to the cage accompanied by Dirt off your Shoulers. Michael Alexander could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Manny Powers's chin.

Alexander
vs
Powers

174 cm
26
175 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

179 cm
21
180 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Alexander!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Manny Powers!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Tiny Johnson and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Powers showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Alexander.

Powers feints and as Alexander raises his hands in defense, Powers changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Powers's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Powers working some strikes from top position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Powers's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Alexander is looking to sweep but instead, Powers has passed into half guard.
Alexander looks like he's trying to stand up.
Alexander wants to control but Powers is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Powers performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Powers tries to pass to full mount but Alexander defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Powers decides to stand up.
Powers looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Alexander throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Powers shoots for a double leg takedown but Alexander sprawls well. He's pushed Powers's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Powers wants to clinch.
Powers fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Powers slips a jab and a cross from Alexander.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexander swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Alexander defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Powers.
Michael Alexander has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manny Powers.

Powers moves into range and clinches up with Alexander.
Powers has Alexander pressed against the cage, preventing Alexander from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Powers manages to break the clinch.
Powers shoots in but no luck this time.
Alexander throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Powers is looking to clinch but Alexander is avoiding it.

Powers closes the distance and pushes Alexander back into the cage.

Powers escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Powers moves into the clinch successfully.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alexander can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexander stops a takedown attempt from Powers.
Powers prevents Alexander from breaking the clinch.

Powers manages to break the clinch.

Powers shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Alexander napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Powers trying to control the position but Alexander is working away.
A lull in the action here.
Alexander looks to move to half guard but instead Powers has passed into mount! Damn!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Powers has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Alexander's face.
Powers with the ground and pound from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Powers controlling the pace for now.
Powers wants to control the pace but Alexander is squirming around nicely.
Powers lands a couple of good shots and Alexander has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Alexander just trying to survive but Powers is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Alexander is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Powers gets his way!
Alexander is taking damage to the body and head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Powers is looking for the choke from the back position but Alexander is controlling his hands well.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Powers.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Powers dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Alexander lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Powers circles away quickly and effectively.
Alexander throws out a leg kick but Powers moves out of range and Alexander only half commits.
Alexander tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Powers was well out of range. Poor timing from Alexander.
Powers tries to close the distance and clinch but Alexander swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Jab by Alexander.
Alexander is looking to chop away at Powers's legs.

Powers clinches.
Powers's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Powers jumps guard but Alexander turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Powers tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Alexander smiles and moves away.

Powers looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Powers connects with a nice short shot to Alexander's temple.
Powers lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Powers lands a nice short elbow.
Alexander wants to control but Powers is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Alexander tries to get to full guard but Powers has control of the leg.
Powers controlling the action here.
Alexander wants to control but Powers is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexander moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Powers decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Alexander, up you get!
Alexander shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Powers tries to clinch but Alexander moves out of range.
Alexander pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A head kick by Alexander misses

and Powers counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Powers.
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!
Alexander wants to stand but Powers is controlling the position.
Powers scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alexander has an active guard here but Powers has managed to pass into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Powers is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Alexander doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Powers.
Powers tries to pass to full mount but Alexander defends it.
Powers looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Powers.
Powers is looking to advance position but Alexander won't allow it.
Powers takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Powers wants to take a breather but Alexander is having none of it.
Manny Powers has got the better of the ground game so far.
Alexander taking some punishment here, with Powers in his half guard.

Powers looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Powers controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Powers showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Powers tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Alexander defends well and Powers ends up having to push Alexander into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Powers manages to break the clinch.
Alexander checks the leg kick.

Powers moves into range and clinches up with Alexander.
Powers prevents Alexander from breaking the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Powers pulls guard.
Powers looking to control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Powers can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexander trying to move into half guard but instead Powers has managed to sweep!
Alexander is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Alexander keeping moving, preventing Powers from controlling successfully.
Powers with a flurry of punches that miss.

Alexander is looking for a triangle but Powers pushes his legs off easily.
Powers controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Powers's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Powers pushing down on Alexander's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powers looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Alexander manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Powers keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Alexander is trying to push Powers away but Powers has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Powers manages to pull guard.
Powers has control of Alexander's left arm, preventing Alexander from doing any damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alexander is looking to stand up but Powers won't let him.
Powers wants to sweep here but Alexander controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexander being controlled here momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Manny Powers.
Powers throws a right and a left that both miss.
Alexander throws a body punch but Powers moves out of range.

Powers feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Alexander is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Powers defends well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Powers's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alexander is trying to control the position but Powers postures up.
Powers makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Powers is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Alexander is working an open guard so Powers takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Michael Alexander is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alexander is trying to break free.

Powers has hold of one of Alexander's legs. Alexander is fighting the takedown attempt but Powers gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Michael Alexander has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alexander is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Powers controlling the position well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manny Powers comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Powers 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manny Powers!