PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bessarion Alexius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike McGuire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexius comes into the arena with A Country Boy Can Survive blaring out of the sound system. McGuire has chosen Five Finger Death Punch - Jekyll And Hyde as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Alexius
vs
McGuire

178 cm
22
180 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

182 cm
21
182 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

KAISER
Sun-Tzu

Victory Fight Wear Store

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bessarion Alexius!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike McGuire!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Columbo Gatti and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGuire defending well as Alexius loads up on a big left hand.
Alexius ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Alexius clobbers McGuire with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
McGuire shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Alexius as he jumps to the side.

McGuire looking to score a takedown here. Alexius is defending well but McGuire drives through and ends up in Alexius's guard.
McGuire stopping the sweep attempt from Alexius.
McGuire is pushing down on Alexius's leg trying to pass to half guard. Alexius is fighting to maintain full guard but McGuire has managed to sneak the leg through.
McGuire seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Alexius does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
McGuire has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at River's Edge Gym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexius tries to get to full guard but McGuire has control of the leg.
Alexius trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuire wants to control but Alexius is keeping him busy.
McGuire prevents Alexius from improving his position.
McGuire missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Alexius is looking to improve his position.
McGuire is keen to just control but Alexius is a slippery customer.
McGuire missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

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.
McGuire looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Alexius with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
McGuire is stalling here. Alexius is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! McGuire seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Alexius has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alexius working the head and body with strikes.
Alexius throws a strike aimed at the side of McGuire's head but McGuire avoids it well.
McGuire is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Alexius trying to control the position but McGuire is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McGuire is trying to get back to half guard.
Alexius throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Alexius scores with a couple of short elbows.
McGuire regains half guard there - taking advantage of Alexius's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Alexius lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Alexius is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
McGuire wants to control but Alexius is keeping busy.
Alexius working McGuire over with strikes.
Alexius lands with a punch from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGuire is looking to improve his position.
Alexius throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Alexius landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
McGuire is looking for a sweep. Alexius is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
McGuire gets full guard.
Alexius throws a strike but McGuire rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

McGuire looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Alexius is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alexius looking for a sweep. Not yet Alexius, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bessarion Alexius 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.

Alexius avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
A nice leg kick lands there from Alexius.
McGuire misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Alexius.
Alexius throws a body shot but no joy.
Alexius tries to land a front kick but McGuire steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Alexius loads up on a big right hand but McGuire slips the punch.
Alexius throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Mike McGuire has been cut.
McGuire tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Alexius swings for the body but McGuire moves out of range.
McGuire takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexius throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McGuire wants to counter with a clinch but Alexius pushes him away.
McGuire throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Alexius stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Alexius misses with a takedown attempt - McGuire sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
That kick from Alexius tenderised McGuire's leg. McGuire is trying to keep his angry face on.
A shot to the liver by McGuire. Beautiful body shot.
McGuire getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Alexius throws an ugly left hook that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
McGuire throws a jab when Alexius was well out of range.
Alexius looking to land some kicks to the body here.
McGuire throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A slow jab from Alexius misses its intended target.
Alexius throws a sloppy head kick
and McGuire counters with a stiff right hand.
Alexius tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McGuire was well out of range. Poor timing from Alexius.
McGuire throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A jab from McGuire finds it's way through Alexius's defenses.
McGuire stuffs the takedown attempt from Alexius. Alexius gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Alexius.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McGuire takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Alexius shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Alexius showed some decent athleticism there.
Alexius sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. McGuire defending well though.
Alexius is trying to control the action in half guard but McGuire is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Alexius thows a huge punch but McGuire dodges it nicely.
Alexius trying to control the action but McGuire is working from the bottom.
Alexius thows a huge punch but McGuire dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGuire gets full guard.
Alexius is in close to McGuire's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Alexius stopping the sweep attempt from McGuire.
McGuire is adopting a defensive guard.
McGuire avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
McGuire keeping moving, preventing Alexius from controlling successfully.
Alexius preventing the sweep.
McGuire trying to keep a closed guard but Alexius is proving a slippery customer.
Alexius trying to control the position from guard on top but McGuire is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four 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.
McGuire is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Alexius ducks under a wild hook from McGuire.
McGuire throws a body shot but no joy.
McGuire pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A telegraphed right hand from Alexius misses the target.
A jab from McGuire misses.
McGuire lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Alexius pivots, looking for a leg kick but McGuire is out of range and Alexius settles back down.
Alexius shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bessarion Alexius. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McGuire avoids a kick to the body.
Bessarion Alexius seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McGuire throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Alexius's waist but Alexius gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McGuire off to one side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Bessarion Alexius will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mike McGuire'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. This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Alexius.

Alexius shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in McGuire's guard.
McGuire is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Alexius is looking to work some ground and pound but McGuire has wrist control.
Alexius wants to control from the top but McGuire keeps moving.
Alexius throws a big right hand that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexius tries to free his leg and advance position but McGuire is retaining full guard.

McGuire throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Alexius connects with a couple of short punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuire looking to control.
Alexius wants to control from the top but McGuire keeps moving.

McGuire throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Alexius is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Alexius tries to free his leg and advance position but McGuire is retaining full guard.
McGuire pulls Alexius in to control the position.
McGuire 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 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.
Alexius wants to control from the top but McGuire keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McGuire connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
McGuire fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Alexius.
McGuire explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Alexius throws a leg kick that is checked
and McGuire counters with a low kick, right behind Alexius 's knee.
McGuire tries to clinch but Alexius is having none of it.
McGuire avoids the body shot from Alexius.
Alexius throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
McGuire is trying to counter with his kicks.
A cross from McGuire lands.
McGuire avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
McGuire has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Alexius.
Mike McGuire has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexius swings away with a leg kick that misses.
McGuire counters with a body kick.
Nice body punch from McGuire.

Alexius shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. McGuire is trying to defend but Alexius finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Bessarion Alexius overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Alexius is keen to just control but McGuire is a slippery customer.
McGuire tries to roll over but Alexius keeps him under control.
Alexius seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but McGuire does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Alexius lands with a punch from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alexius throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Alexius is keen to just control but McGuire is a slippery customer.
McGuire trying to control here.
McGuire is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Alexius scores with a couple of nice shots.
McGuire tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
McGuire wants to get back to full guard.
McGuire flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Alexius in particular looking to stall.
Bessarion Alexius is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alexius trying to control from half guard but McGuire is working away.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Alexius blocks a low kick nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bessarion Alexius showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Alexius, 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bessarion Alexius!
After winning the bout, Bessarion Alexius thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.