PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between John Alessio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexander Richards is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Alessio
vs
Richards

155 cm
23
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

167 cm
23
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, John Alessio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Alexander Richards!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Ackerman and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Alessio forces Richards back against the cage and clinches.
Richards misses with a hook to the ribs.

Richards is fighting off a takedown attempt but Alessio is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Richards to the mat. Richards regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Alessio chips away with some ground and pound.
Alessio sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Richards's guard.

Alessio seems to be working for a kimura but Richards defends the submission attempt.
Richards wants to improve his position but Alessio is controlling well.
Alessio is thwarting Richards's attempts to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ground and pound from Alessio.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards is in trouble now - Alessio has advanced to mount!
Alessio takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Alessio working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Alessio avoids the attempt from Richards to control.
Alessio controlling his opponent.
Alessio's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alessio lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Alessio tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Alessio is landing with some decent strikes but Richards is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alessio tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Alessio connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Alessio with good strikes from the mount here!
Richards can't escape the position.
Alessio sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Alessio with the ground and pound from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alessio takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Alessio swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Richards is now in Alessio's guard. A big mistake from Alessio there, giving up the dominant position!
Richards must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Alessio is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Alessio takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Alessio looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Alessio 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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Richards looking for submissions off his back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alessio not doing much here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Alessio dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Alessio is looking to clinch but Richards is avoiding it.
Richards's corner calls for a 1-2. Richards obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Richards misses with a body shot.

Alessio gets a takedown into half guard.
Alessio drops an elbow to the side of Richards's head.
Alessio looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards works his way to full guard. Good work.
Alessio slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Alessio slips nicely into half guard.
Alessio takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Alessio could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Alessio is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Alessio gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Alexander Richards is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Richards bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Alessio shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Richards is trying to defend but Alessio finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Alessio works his foot free and advances to mount.
Richards tries to hold on but Alessio postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards trying desperately to get to his feet.
Alessio lands a heavy elbow.
Alessio landing strikes from the mount and Richards is in trouble!
Alessio content just to control the position here.
Alessio looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alessio looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Alessio scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Alessio.
Alessio tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Richards tries to reverse the position but Alessio maintains control.
Alessio is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Richards bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Alessio scores with a nice shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Alessio dominated that second round.
That's time! Alessio's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Alessio looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Richards!
Richards tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
John Alessio overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Alessio looking to control and managing it successfully.
Alessio looking to finish Richards with some ground and pound. This is bad for Richards!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alessio controlling his opponent.
Alessio with a couple of short strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alessio controlling from the full mount.
Richards is bucking up trying to escape but Alessio cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Alessio working Richards over with strikes here.
Alessio controlling the pace for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Alessio takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Alessio pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Alessio controlling from mount.
Alessio raining down hammerfists from mount.
Alessio sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alessio controlling from mount.
BOOM! Alessio connects with a massive shot to the dome!
A nice elbow there by Alessio.
Alessio sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Alessio is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Richards can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alessio lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Richards hang on?
Alessio controlling his opponent.
Alessio lands a big shot there that rocks Richards but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Alessio lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Alessio controlling the pace for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alessio is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Richards can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Alessio showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Alessio, 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 Paul Tew scores the fight for John Alessio!
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight for John Alessio!
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight for John Alessio!

John Alessio wins by unanimous decision!