PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Pawel Aleksewicz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anzhor Azhiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anzhor Azhiev acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Aleksewicz
vs
Azhiev

178 cm
24
140 lbs
5 - 9 - 0

177 cm
29
144 lbs
12 - 40 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite 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 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Pawel Aleksewicz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 40 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Anzhor Azhiev!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Azhiev gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Azhiev isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Aleksewicz stacks Azhiev on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Aleksewicz!

Aleksewicz stands up and beckons Azhiev to his feet.
Aleksewicz is looking to clinch but Azhiev is avoiding it.

Azhiev shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Azhiev was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Aleksewicz really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Azhiev is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Aleksewicz is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Azhiev is trying to get an arm triangle but Aleksewicz is defending well.

Azhiev goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Aleksewicz rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Azhiev's guard! Nice work there by Aleksewicz!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Azhiev throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Aleksewicz escapes and throws Azhiev's legs to the side, diving into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Aleksewicz stands up.
Aleksewicz is looking to clinch.
Azhiev is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Azhiev changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Aleksewicz looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Aleksewicz regains half guard.
Aleksewicz wants to control but Azhiev is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aleksewicz is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

Azhiev seems to be looking for submissions.

Aleksewicz is defending against the submission attempts here by Azhiev.

Azhiev is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Aleksewicz defends it well.
Aleksewicz trying to hold on to Azhiev's head to control him but Azhiev postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Aleksewicz is concentrating on defense, preventing Azhiev from advancing position.

Azhiev is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Aleksewicz is trying to maintain the position but Azhiev is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Aleksewicz wants to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Aleksewicz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Aleksewicz tries to clinch there but Azhiev circles away.
Azhiev changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Azhiev closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Aleksewicz quickly recovers to half guard.

Azhiev is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Azhiev is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Azhiev is looking for a kimura here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aleksewicz is looking to control Azhiev's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Aleksewicz avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anzhor Azhiev dominated that 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.

Aleksewicz feints and as Azhiev raises his hands in defense, Aleksewicz changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Azhiev is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Aleksewicz is aware though and is defending well.

Azhiev throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Aleksewicz escapes and throws Azhiev's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Azhiev tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Aleksewicz wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Aleksewicz decides to stand up, so the ref orders Azhiev to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aleksewicz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Aleksewicz gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Aleksewicz wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Azhiev has gone for a leg lock! Aleksewicz slips out almost immediately though and dives into Azhiev's guard.

Azhiev throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Aleksewicz escapes and throws Azhiev's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Aleksewicz stands up and beckons Azhiev to his feet.
Azhiev keeps the fight on the outside.

Aleksewicz gets caught napping as Azhiev dives in and scores a takedown. Aleksewicz manages to retain guard.
Azhiev must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Aleksewicz is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aleksewicz is keeping the position for now.
Anzhor Azhiev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Aleksewicz controlling Azhiev's posture.

Azhiev drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Aleksewicz dives on top into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aleksewicz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Azhiev has his foot on Aleksewicz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Aleksewicz works his way back into a safe position though.

Aleksewicz gets to his feet - Azhiev follows without any prompting.

Aleksewicz gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Aleksewicz pulls Azhiev in close to prevent any damage.
Azhiev won't allow Aleksewicz to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aleksewicz pulls Azhiev in close to prevent any damage.

Azhiev drops back, looking for a kneebar! Aleksewicz looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Aleksewicz looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Aleksewicz!

Azhiev is trying to work for a sweep but Aleksewicz has mounted him!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Azhiev is looking to improve his position but Aleksewicz isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pawel Aleksewicz dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

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

Azhiev is looking for a kimura here.

Azhiev is working for an americana but Aleksewicz has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Azhiev was thinking about the submission.
Aleksewicz wants to sweep here but Azhiev controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aleksewicz lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aleksewicz wants to get up but he can't break Azhiev's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Aleksewicz gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Aleksewicz gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Azhiev postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Aleksewicz is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Azhiev, into his guard.

Aleksewicz decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Azhiev, up you get!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aleksewicz tries to clinch up.

Azhiev drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Azhiev preventing the sweep.
Aleksewicz looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Aleksewicz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Azhiev has gone for a leg lock! Aleksewicz slips out almost immediately though and dives into Azhiev's guard.

Aleksewicz gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Aleksewicz gets the takedown into side control.
Azhiev gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Azhiev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Aleksewicz pulls his head out easily.
Azhiev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Aleksewicz stands up out of the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Aleksewicz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Aleksewicz shoots in and bounces Azhiev off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Azhiev looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Aleksewicz has picked Azhiev up and slammed him! Azhiev can't keep hold of the triangle and Aleksewicz manages to pass to side control!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Azhiev tries to buck Aleksewicz off but Aleksewicz is having none of it.

Aleksewicz decides to stand back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Azhiev shoots in and bounces Aleksewicz off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Aleksewicz has Azhiev pulled in close to control his posture.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pawel Aleksewicz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Aleksewicz has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pawel Aleksewicz!
The defeated Anzhor Azhiev had this to say: 'I still want that title shot. Im the most experienced fighter here and everyday wants to see me smash the champ so lets do it whenever he starts ducking me.'.