PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ned Alonso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Eel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Eric Eel told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Alonso
vs
Eel

169 cm
35
157 lbs
21 - 25 - 0

165 cm
36
160 lbs
10 - 18 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ned Alonso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Eric Eel!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Winston Howard and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Eel is looking to clinch.

Eel scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Alonso is looking to regain half guard here but Eel keeps moving and retains side control.
Eel working the ground and pound but Alonso is defending the strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Eel fails to land a wild elbow strike.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Eel working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Alonso manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Alonso looks to land a strike but Eel avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Alonso 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.
Alonso is looking to work some ground and pound but Eel has wrist control.
Alonso throws a strike but Eel rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Alonso doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Alonso looking for a sweep. Not yet Alonso, not yet.
Eel wants to control from the top but Alonso keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Alonso is on top in guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alonso is looking to work some ground and pound but Eel has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Eel is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Alonso is controlling him.
Alonso scoring with some ground and pound.
Alonso wants to control from the top but Eel keeps moving.
Eel is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Alonso is controlling him.
Alonso postures up in Eel's guard and throws a big left but Eel blocks it.
Alonso trying to control the position from guard on top but Eel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alonso throwing strikes but missing.

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.
Alonso stops Eel from standing up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Alonso wants to control from the top but Eel keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Alonso lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Alonso.
Eel tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Alonso manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Eel fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eel tries to clinch but Alonso is having none of it.
Eel shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Alonso as he jumps to the side.
Eel shoots in for a double leg but Alonso sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ned Alonso has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Eel.
Alonso moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Alonso looks to land a combination but Eel avoids it well.
Eel is looking to clinch but Alonso is avoiding it.
Alonso misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Eel.
Alonso misses with a few strikes there.
Eel shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Alonso as he avoids it easily.
Left hook, right uppercut from Alonso.

Eel moves into the clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Eel has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Alonso is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Eel throws an elbow that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alonso is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Alonso is pressed up against the cage. Eel has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Alonso down to the mat. Alonso avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Eel with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Alonso to score with a decent uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alonso scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Alonso misses with a jab, cross combination.
Eel shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Eel misses with a double jab.
Eel fails to land the takedown.
Alonso works over Eel's head and body with a nice combination.

Eel is rocked!
Alonso throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Eel is still on wobbly legs! Can Alonso finish him?

Eel moves into the clinch.
Eel seems to have recovered his senses.

Eel has clasped his hands together around Alonso's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Alonso explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
No joy there for Alonso, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Alonso leaves Eel with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Alonso was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Eel tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Alonso manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Alonso misses with the combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ned Alonso 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.

Eel drives through with a takedown into Alonso's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Alonso has his feet on Eel's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Eel dives in for a single leg takedown but Alonso sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Eel dodges the punch combination from Alonso.
Alonso sets himself, and Eel steps forward looking for the clinch! Alonso avoids it this time.
Alonso is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Eel can do to turn this around?
Eel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Alonso is looking for a counter combo.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Eel.
Eel fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Alonso avoids it really well and circles away.
Ned Alonso has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Eel.
Eel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ned Alonso is winning the standup battle so far.
Eel closes the distance and clinches up with Alonso, looking for a takedown. Eel pushes Alonso against the cage but Alonso circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Alonso digs a good body shot into Eel's ribs.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Alonso throws a series of strikes that have Eel backpedaling.

Alonso shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Alonso was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alonso tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Eel wants to get back to his feet.

Alonso tries for a kimura but Eel is defending well.
Eel taking a bit of punishment here - Alonso scoring with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Eel is not content to let Alonso control the position.
Alonso works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Alonso misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Eel dodges the ground and pound from Alonso.
The ground and pound from Alonso seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Alonso throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Eel can do anything to dispel that myth.
Alonso lands an elbow.
Alonso working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alonso misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Eel is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Eel sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Alonso throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Eel looks like he's trying to stand up.
Alonso throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Eel is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Alonso scores with a couple of nice shots.
Alonso scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eel on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Eel is trying to stand up here but Alonso is controlling him well.
Eel is staying active underneath Alonso, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Alonso lands strikes from half guard.

Alonso is looking for a kimura here.
Alonso missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Alonso missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ned Alonso dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Eel tries to close the distance and clinch but Alonso swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Eel misses with a takedown
and Alonso counters with a left and a right that stings Eel.
Alonso jabs at Eel's body.
Alonso tries to bum rush Eel with a series of wild strikes but Eel uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Eel tries to clinch but Alonso is having none of it.
Alonso looks to score with a jab to the body but Eel is just out of range.
Eel misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Alonso wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Alonso throws a shot to the body.
Alonso lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Eel backs up against the cage.
Nice uppercut there from Alonso.
Eel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Alonso was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Alonso connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alonso will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Eel gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Alonso.
Alonso looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Alonso scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Eel walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Alonso fails to land with a series of punches.
Alonso misses with a series of wild punches.

Eel moves into the clinch.
Eel tries to score a body lock takedown but Alonso shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ned Alonso has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Eel.
Alonso is trying to force a seperation but Eel has the dominant position.
Alonso takes an elbow to the forehead.
Alonso wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alonso wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Alonso working hard to break the clinch.
Eel lands an elbow just above Alonso 's eye.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Eel lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Alonso is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Alonso is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Eel pulls guard effortlessly.
Eel is looking to stand up but Alonso isn't so interested in that idea.
Alonso throws a big right hand that misses.
Eel wants to improve his position but instead Alonso has moved into half guard.
Alonso missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alonso throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Alonso is looking to advance position but Eel won't allow it.
Eel keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Alonso looks to land a strike but Eel avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Eel wants to stand and escape but Alonso is having none of it.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Alonso trying to control the position from guard on top but Eel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Alonso scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Eel tries to clinch up.
Ned Alonso is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A right-left combo lands from Alonso.
Eel wants to clinch.
Alonso throwing a counter right hand but Eel manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eel takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Alonso displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Eel.
Alonso dodges the punch combination from Eel.
Eel tries to clinch

and Alonso decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Eel's guard.
Alonso with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
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!
Alonso 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.
Eel keeping moving, preventing Alonso from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ned Alonso showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Alonso, 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 Topper Green scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ned Alonso!