PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Curt Alexander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Floyd Hope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Floyd Hope was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Alexander
vs
Hope

214 cm
19
177 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

179 cm
20
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Curt Alexander!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Floyd Hope!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Wesley Smith and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hope throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hope tries to close the distance and clinch but Alexander swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Some wild striking there from Alexander.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Alexander enables Hope to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Alexander manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Hope looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexander looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hope trying to control but Alexander is working from the bottom.
Hope trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hope must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Alexander is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hope defends well.

Hope 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 Hope, into his guard.
Hope is trying to keep Alexander in close.

That's two 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.

Hope 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 ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Alexander has taken the fight to the clinch.

Hope pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hope tries to clinch up but Alexander circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hope looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hope feints and as Alexander raises his hands in defense, Hope 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.
Hope trying to control the position from guard on top but Alexander is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alexander will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Alexander holds on and takes a little breather.
Hope pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Alexander is keeping the position for now.
Alexander is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hope is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hope has gone for a leg lock! Alexander slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hope's guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hope looking to hit a scissor sweep but Alexander is one step ahead there.
Alexander makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Alexander really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Alexander makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Alexander throwing strikes from guard but Hope blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Floyd Hope will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hope changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Alexander looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Alexander throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hope.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Alexander is looking to reverse the position.

Hope swings around for an armbar but Alexander sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Hope's guard.
Alexander content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Alexander trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexander is looking to work some ground and pound but Hope has wrist control.
Alexander lands a couple of elbows.
Hope working a defensive guard here.
Hope avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Alexander scoring with some ground and pound.
Hope working a defensive guard but Alexander manages to pass into side control anyway.
Hope controls the position for a moment.
Hope is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Alexander grinds an elbow into Hope's temple.
Curt Alexander overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Alexander working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Alexander is chipping away with strikes.
Hope looking for a sweep but Alexander has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Hope is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexander working Hope over with strikes here.

Alexander working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Hope is in a horrible position here. Alexander smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Hope is desperately trying to improve his position but Alexander has a good base and remains in mount.
Hope looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

Hope showing good submission defense here.
Alexander has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alexander is punishing Hope with some ground and pound.
Alexander is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Alexander.
Alexander lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hope is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Alexander is working the ground and pound. Can Hope escape?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Curt Alexander dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Alexander rushes Hope and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Hope drags the fight down to the ground.
Alexander postures up.
Alexander scoring with punches to the head and body.
Alexander keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hope's head.
Hope manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Alexander manages to get himself to full guard.

Alexander wants to sweep here but Hope controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hope trying to control but Alexander is working from the bottom.
Alexander bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hope's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexander connects with a couple of short punches.
Alexander working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hope's head.
Alexander throwing strikes from guard but Hope blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hope looking for a sweep. Not yet Hope, not yet.
Alexander working some strikes from top position.
Hope wants to stand up but Alexander is controlling him.
Alexander chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hope has momentary wrist control but Alexander slips an elbow through the middle.
Alexander connects with a couple of short punches.
Alexander lands a couple of digs.
Alexander keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hope's head.
Alexander with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Alexander landing some decent shots from guard.
Alexander throws a big elbow that misses.
Alexander working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hope's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexander lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Alexander's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Alexander lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Alexander keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hope's head.
Alexander postures up and lands a big shot to Hope's brow.
Hope takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Alexander postures up.
Alexander cracks Hope with a solid left hand.
Alexander is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hope pulls Alexander in to control the position.
Hope looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alexander wants to stand but Hope has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Hope tries to clinch but Alexander moves away

and Alexander counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Alexander.
Alexander is working Hope over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hope trying to keep a closed guard but Alexander is proving a slippery customer.
Alexander with a nice head shot there.

Alexander got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hope has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Alexander has managed to get both his arms back between Hope's legs - danger averted.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alexander makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Curt Alexander showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Alexander has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Curt Alexander!