PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sam Alexander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hwai Ja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sam Alexander has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Alexander
vs
Ja

182 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

180 cm
21
170 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Can Moonwalk

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 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sam Alexander!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hwai Ja!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ja is looking to clinch but Alexander is avoiding it.
Ja looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Alexander takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

It looks like Sam Alexander has been cut.
Ja connects with a body shot.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ja darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Ja misses with a head kick.
Ja tried to score with a low kick but Alexander checks it.
No joy there for Ja, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Alexander half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Ja wants to clinch

and Alexander counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Alexander.

Ja scrambles and gets back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ja misses with a wild body shot.
Ja jabs at Alexander's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Ja, right into the meat.
Ja digs a good hook to Alexander's body.
Alexander slips a jab and a cross from Ja.
As Ja tries to get set, Alexander tries to push him back and clinch up but Ja manages to avoid the attempt.
Ja looks winded!
A big right from Ja misses.
Ja lands a jab to Alexander's midsection.
Alexander keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Alexander throws a body shot but no joy.
Ja will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Alexander tries to counter with a takedown but Ja is quick to defend against it.
Alexander throws a sloppy head kick and Ja moves out of range easily.
Ja lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Ja throws a lazy right hand but Alexander sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ja scores with a kick to the midsection.
Ja throws an overhand right that lands on Alexander's shoulder, as Alexander tries to avoid the shot.
Alexander tries to counter with a takedown but Ja is quick to defend against it.
Ja throws a body punch but Alexander moves out of range.
Ja throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Alexander half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Alexander blocks a low kick nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ja is defended easily by Alexander.
Alexander feinted with a counter takedown.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alexander throws a body punch but Ja moves out of range.
Ja swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ja goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ja moves out of range of the body kick.
Ja is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Alexander takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Alexander gets a clinch.
Ja has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Alexander is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sam Alexander has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hwai Ja.
Alexander tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ja just stands there and leans against the cage.
Alexander has Ja pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ja manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Alexander tries to pull guard but Ja holds him up against the cage and eventually Alexander drops back down to his feet.
Alexander jumps guard but Ja stands there with Alexander around his waist. Alexander gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ja wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Ja.
Alexander tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ja leaning his opponent against the cage.
Alexander is trying to pull guard but Ja turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Alexander drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Alexander gets control of Ja's arms and successfully pulls guard. Alexander will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Alexander trying to keep a closed guard but Ja is proving a slippery customer.

Ja gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hwai Ja dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sam Alexander's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ja throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Ja just misses with a punch to the body.
Ja swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Ja clinches up with Alexander and pushes him back against the cage.
Ja working Alexander over with knees to the body.
Ja has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Ja breaks the clinch.
Hwai Ja seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ja changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A combination from Ja does no damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ja throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Alexander.
Hwai Ja is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alexander misses the shot to the body.
Ja wants to counter with a clinch but Alexander pushes him away.
Alexander looks to score with a jab to the body but Ja is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexander lands a nice hook to Ja's body. Ja takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ja is breathing heavily.
Ja tries to clinch up.
A low kick from Ja is predictable there
and Alexander counters with a straight right hand.

Alexander clinches.
Alexander on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ja lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ja can't find room to land a body shot as Alexander controls the action.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ja obliges.
Ja doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Alexander looking for a takedown.
Ja has Alexander pushed against the cage.
Ja is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Alexander is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexander blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Alexander tries to pull guard but Ja forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Alexander has Ja pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ja manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Alexander. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ja is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Alexander is defending well for now.
Ja is trying to break the clinch but Alexander is controlling him.
Alexander tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ja utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Alexander fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Alexander tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ja smiles and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexander throws a hook to the side of Ja's head but Ja sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ja fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Alexander bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ja lands with a right hand.
Alexander uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ja.
Ja misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Alexander lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ja's sensitive parts.
Alexander looks to score with a jab to the body but Ja is just out of range.
Ja chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Alexander keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ja.
Alexander feinted with a counter takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ja throws out a loose jab but Alexander uses good head movement to avoid it.
Alexander tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ja was well out of range. Poor timing from Alexander.
Alexander bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Ja takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Ja throws a leg kick but Alexander moved away.
Alexander is looking to wear down Ja with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Ja shoots for a double leg takedown but Alexander sprawls well. He's pushed Ja's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A nice leg kick lands there from Alexander.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Alexander scores with a hook.
Alexander blocks a leg kick.
Ja fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hwai Ja showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sam Alexander's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Ja misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ja misses with a head kick.
Ja throws a leg kick but Alexander checks it.
Ja connects with a looping right hand.
Ja thuds a left hand into Alexander's body.
Ja tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Alexander paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ja uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Alexander.
Ja swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Alexander feinted with a counter takedown.
Ja takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexander scores with a crisp jab that stopped Ja in his tracks.
Ja throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Ja pivots, looking for a leg kick but Alexander is out of range and Ja settles back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexander misses the shot to the body.

Alexander closes the distance and clinches.
Alexander tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ja just stands there and leans against the cage.
Alexander is looking to take this one to the mat.
Ja tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ja throws a knee to the head but misses.
Alexander is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ja pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Alexander. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ja throws an elbow but it misses.
Alexander is looking to break free of the clinch but Ja has double underhooks.
Ja landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Alexander tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ja smiles and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexander throws a head kick that half lands.
Ja throws a low kick but Alexander moves out of range easily.
Alexander changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Ja tries to clinch but Alexander moves away
and Alexander counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Alexander throws a head kick that misses.
A slow jab from Ja misses its intended target.
Ja throws a wild body kick that Alexander sees coming a mile off.
Ja fails in his attempt to clinch.
Alexander half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Ja misses with a telegraphed body shot
letting Alexander counter with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexander misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ja.
Ja throws a leg kick

and Alexander counters with a takedown into side control.
Alexander scoring with punches and elbows.
Ja tries to improve position but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alexander in side control lands a decent elbow.
Ja is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hwai Ja is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alexander working away.

Alexander looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Ja wants to control but Alexander postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Sam Alexander.
Well Ja 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hwai Ja!