PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Alexander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gioros Malaks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexander comes to the cage accompanied by Superheroes. Gioros Malaks has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Alexander
vs
Malaks

175 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

183 cm
18
171 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Michael Alexander!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Gioros Malaks!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Michael Johnstone and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malaks misses with a leg kick

and Alexander counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Alexander.
Malaks preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Malaks preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Malaks trying to control the position.
Alexander controlling from the top position.
Malaks controls Alexander momentarily but Alexander frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Alexander accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Alexander pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Malaks is keeping the position for now.
Alexander won't allow Malaks to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malaks utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Alexander missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Malaks tries to clinch but Alexander is having none of it.
Malaks tries to clinch but Alexander moves out of range.
Alexander tries to counter with a takedown but Malaks is quick to defend against it.
Malaks tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Alexander paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Alexander attempts a counter takedown but Malaks avoids it well and moves away.
Malaks misses with a series of wild punches.

Malaks instigates a clinch.
Alexander on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Alexander is trying to break the clinch but Malaks is controlling him.

Alexander has Malaks pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Alexander pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Malaks tumbling to the mat - Alexander dives into Malaks's guard.

Malaks has his foot on Alexander's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Alexander works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexander lands a couple of digs.
Alexander cracks Malaks with a solid left hand.
Alexander content to stall in guard here.

Alexander thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Alexander trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexander showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Alexander postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Alexander sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Alexander throws a strike but Malaks rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Alexander looking for a sweep. Not yet Alexander, not yet.
Alexander is working hard here to advance position.
Alexander knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Malaks on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

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

Malaks is trying to control the position but Alexander postures up.
Malaks looks winded!
Alexander 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.
Alexander throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Malaks works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Alexander stands up and waves to Malaks to follow him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Malaks tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Alexander counters with a series of strikes. Malaks will be more careful next time no doubt.
Malaks tries to clinch up but Alexander circles away and keeps his distance.
Alexander throws a right hand that Malaks ducks under and follows up with a left that Malaks also avoids with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Alexander dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Alexander circles away from the clinch attempt.
Malaks tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alexander swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Malaks tries to clinch up.
Alexander drops down looking for a counter takedown but Malaks sprawls and moves away.

Alexander drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Alexander is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Malaks knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Malaks is looking for a sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malaks on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Alexander fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Alexander tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Alexander has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malaks prevents Alexander from moving into mount.
Malaks is not content to let Alexander control the position.
Malaks on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Michael Alexander overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Alexander wants to lay and pray for a moment but Malaks keeps working.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sloppy strikes there by Alexander.
Malaks is not content to let Alexander control the position.
Malaks manages to get back to half guard.
Malaks moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Malaks keeping moving, preventing Alexander from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexander 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.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Alexander cracks Malaks with a solid left hand.
Alexander seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Alexander has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Alexander landing some decent shots from guard.

Alexander is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Malaks is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Malaks has escaped and now he's on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malaks prevents Alexander from getting back to his feet.
Malaks missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

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

Alexander trying to control but Malaks is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Alexander dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Malaks doesn't manage to clinch there - Alexander circles away.
Alexander changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Malaks rushes Alexander and presses him up against the cage.
Malaks lands a body punch.
Malaks is pressed up against the cage. Alexander has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Malaks down to the mat. Malaks avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Malaks doesn't manage to clinch there - Alexander circles away.
Malaks fails with an attempt to clinch.
An attempted straight right counter from Alexander misses the target.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Malaks enables Alexander to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Malaks manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Alexander stands and steps away. Malaks gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Malaks tries to keep at a distance but Alexander has taken the fight into the clinch.
Malaks works on Alexander's body with a couple of short punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malaks is trying to maintain a safe position but Alexander gets an underhook and turns Malaks into the cage.
Alexander jumps guard but Malaks turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Malaks trying to control the position but instead, Alexander has worked for underhooks and has pushed Malaks into the cage.
Nice elbow from Malaks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malaks is trying to stall.
Malaks stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Malaks is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Malaks takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Gioros Malaks.
Malaks throws a low kick but Alexander moves out of range easily.
Alexander appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Alexander throws a right and a left that Malaks avoids nicely.

Alexander closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
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. Alexander connects with a nice short shot to Malaks's temple.
Malaks tries to get to full guard but Alexander has control of the leg.
Alexander working the head and body with strikes.
Alexander wants to lay and pray for a moment but Malaks keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexander is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Malaks is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Alexander is controlling the pace.
Alexander drops an elbow to the side of Malaks's head.
Alexander trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michael Alexander is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Alexander wants to control but Malaks is keeping him busy.
Alexander controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Alexander lands a nice short elbow.
Alexander seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Alexander escapes and gets back to his feet.
Alexander swats away the attempt to clinch by Malaks.
Alexander drops down looking for a counter takedown but Malaks sprawls and moves away.
Malaks fails in his attempt to clinch.
Malaks closes the distance but Alexander moves to the side

and Alexander counters with a single leg into guard. Malaks didn't expect that.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alexander postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Gioros Malaks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alexander trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Alexander showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Alexander, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Alexander!
During a confident post fight interview, Michael Alexander thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.