PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chris Weidman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chrystov Aleksey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Weidman
vs
Aleksey

188 cm
25
198 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

170 cm
27
187 lbs
12 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Chris Weidman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chrystov Aleksey!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Aleksey with that takedown attempt.
Chrystov Aleksey seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big right from Aleksey misses.
Aleksey looks to land a left hand but Weidman moved out of range nicely.
Weidman throws a low kick but Aleksey moves out of range easily.
Nice straight punches there by Aleksey. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Aleksey.
Aleksey changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Weidman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Aleksey misses with an uppercut.
Weidman closes this distance looking for a takedown but Aleksey circles away.
Nice defenses there by Aleksey.
A big right from Aleksey misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aleksey lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Weidman tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Aleksey defends well and Weidman ends up having to push Aleksey into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Weidman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Aleksey turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Aleksey manages to end up in side control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Aleksey in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Aleksey throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Weidman is working to avoid the ground and pound but Aleksey connects with a decent elbow.
Aleksey throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
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!
You can see the frustration on Weidman's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Weidman is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Aleksey is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Weidman is in a horrible position here. Aleksey smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Weidman is looking to improve his position but Aleksey isn't that keen on the idea.
Weidman tries to lock up and control but Aleksey gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aleksey working Weidman over with strikes here.
Aleksey trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Weidman holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Aleksey tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Weidman holds on for dear life, controlling Aleksey's posture momentarily.
Aleksey looking to finish with strikes here!
Aleksey with a couple of short strikes.
Aleksey has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Weidman's face.
Aleksey looking to finish with strikes here!
Aleksey pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aleksey pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Aleksey landing strikes, looking to finish!
Aleksey raining down hammerfists from mount.
Aleksey unloading with bombs!
Aleksey landing strikes from the mount and Weidman is in trouble!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Aleksey looking to control but Weidman is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Aleksey looking to ground and pound but Weidman is blocking nicely.
Aleksey dominating with strikes here.
Aleksey is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Weidman can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Aleksey in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Weidman is rocked!
Weidman bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Aleksey is adopting a defensive guard.
Aleksey is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aleksey wants to sweep but no luck.
Weidman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aleksey works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Weidman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've been hearing that Weidman has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Aleksey pulls Weidman in close to his closed guard and prevents Weidman from doing any damage or advancing position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Aleksey looking for a sweep. Not yet Aleksey, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chrystov Aleksey dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Weidman throws a chopping leg kick but Aleksey manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Aleksey checks the leg kick.
Aleksey throws a hook to the side of Weidman's head but Weidman sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Aleksey doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Weidman counters with a thumping low kick.
Aleksey fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Aleksey misses with a jab, cross combination.
Aleksey smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Weidman throws a front kick aimed at Aleksey's knee but Aleksey avoids it well.
Aleksey shoots in looking for a takedown. Weidman tries to sprawl out of it but Aleksey keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Weidman manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Aleksey avoids a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Weidman.
Aleksey lunges at Weidman with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Weidman's hand.

Aleksey gets the takedown into side control.
Weidman tries to buck Aleksey off but Aleksey is having none of it.
Weidman manages to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aleksey lands with a punch from half guard.
Weidman is holding on to half guard well.
Weidman blocking the ground and pound attempt from Aleksey.
Weidman tries to roll over but Aleksey keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aleksey not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Aleksey missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Weidman blocking the ground and pound attempt from Aleksey.
Weidman is not content to let Aleksey control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aleksey thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Weidman's head.
Aleksey wants to lay and pray for a moment but Weidman keeps working.
Aleksey is thwarting Weidman's attempts to control the position.
Aleksey trying to control the action but Weidman is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Weidman avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Aleksey.
Weidman trying to control here.
Aleksey throwing shots but Weidman is blocking nicely.
Weidman gets back to full guard.
Weidman trying to control the position.
Weidman is adopting a defensive guard.
Aleksey is working Weidman over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Aleksey missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Aleksey postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aleksey postures up.
Aleksey throws a strike but Weidman rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Weidman slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Weidman preventing the sweep.
Aleksey keeping moving, preventing Weidman from controlling successfully.
Aleksey utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aleksey tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Weidman wants to control from the top but Aleksey keeps moving.
Weidman in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chrystov Aleksey showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Aleksey keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
The fighters circling - Aleksey throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Aleksey has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Weidman defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Aleksey.
Aleksey fails with a takedown attempt.
Weidman keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Chris Weidman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chrystov Aleksey.
Aleksey looks for a takedown but Weidman sprawls well.
Aleksey throws a hook but Weidman blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aleksey connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Aleksey misses with an uppercut. Weidman saw that one coming.
Aleksey might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Aleksey shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Weidman but Weidman pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Weidman misses with a low kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Weidman.
Weidman finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Aleksey fails to land the takedown.
A head kick misses from Weidman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weidman cracks the inside of Aleksey's front leg.
Aleksey shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Weidman defends it nicely.
Aleksey takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Aleksey misses with a double jab.
The fighters circling - Aleksey throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Aleksey blocks a leg kick.

Aleksey closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Weidman's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aleksey being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weidman avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Aleksey postures up in Weidman's guard and throws a big left but Weidman blocks it.
Weidman looking to control.
Weidman will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Weidman controlling Aleksey's posture.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

We're going to have a standup here because Chris Weidman wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Weidman moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Aleksey bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aleksey looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Weidman is fending him off so far but Aleksey persists. Nope, Weidman circles away and we're back to standing.
Aleksey tries to move into range but Weidman moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Nice sprawl there from Aleksey as Weidman shoots in.
Chrystov Aleksey is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Aleksey scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Weidman misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Aleksey throws a right hand that Weidman ducks under and follows up with a left that Weidman also avoids with ease.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aleksey uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Weidman.
A jab from Aleksey does it's job there.
Chris Weidman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Weidman throws a leg kick but Aleksey moved away.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Chrystov Aleksey.
Well Aleksey 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chrystov Aleksey!
A very excited looking Chrystov Aleksey made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.