PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ignacio Alexander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leland Rider (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Alexander
vs
Rider

168 cm
24
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

177 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ignacio Alexander!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Leland Rider!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
An inside leg kick lands from Rider.
Alexander pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rider looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Alexander is fending him off so far but Rider persists. Nope, Alexander circles away and we're back to standing.
Alexander will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Rider clinches up against the cage.
Alexander can't get the takedown.
Alexander is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rider pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ignacio Alexander. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alexander wants a takedown.
Alexander jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rider walks away with a smile on his face. Alexander gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Rider has managed to clinch.
Alexander is trying to drag Rider to the mat but Rider just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rider stalling against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexander lands a good knee to the midsection. Rider won't want to take too many of those.
Rider has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Alexander after a bit of a struggle.
Alexander fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rider pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Alexander looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rider is defended easily by Alexander.
Rider lands a high kick!

It looks like Ignacio Alexander has been cut.
Alexander tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Rider instigates a clinch.
Alexander fails to pull guard.
Alexander tries for a takedown but Rider manages to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexander prevents a takedown attempt there.
Alexander prevents a takedown attempt there.
Alexander wants a takedown.
Alexander blocks an elbow strike.
Rider prevents a takedown attempt there.
Alexander is breathing heavily.

Alexander manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Rider is stalling in the full guard.
Rider wants to control from the top but Alexander keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rider looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rider trying to control the position from guard on top but Alexander is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rider must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rider in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rider trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rider looking to sit in guard and control but Alexander gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Alexander accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Alexander is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Alexander stopping the sweep attempt from Rider.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Alexander's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rider working a defensive guard here.
Alexander not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rider preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rider can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rider looking to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alexander in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rider utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rider looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leland Rider dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ignacio 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.

Rider slaps away a takedown attempt from Alexander, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rider misses with a takedown attempt - Alexander sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rider tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Alexander swivels and escapes.
Rider dives in and grabs Alexander's left leg, looking for a takedown. Alexander pushes down on Rider's head and hops out.
Ignacio Alexander has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leland Rider.
Rider blocks a head kick by Alexander.
Alexander throws a nice looking combination but Rider bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexander throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Alexander lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Rider as Alexander shoots in.

Rider scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rider content to control rather than advance.
Alexander avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rider.
Rider is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Alexander manages to get to full guard.
Rider trying to control but Alexander is working from the bottom.

Rider has gone for a leg lock! Alexander slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rider's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexander working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rider's head.
Alexander slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rider is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Alexander decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Leland Rider seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rider gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rider tries to pull guard but Alexander forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexander is looking for a takedown.
Alexander tries to score a body lock takedown but Rider shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Alexander tries for a takedown but Rider manages to get underhooks.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alexander tries to score a body lock takedown but Rider shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Rider goes for a takedown attempt but Alexander pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Rider scores with a takedown into Alexander's guard.
Rider engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Alexander keeping moving, preventing Rider from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rider looking to sit in guard and control but Alexander gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Rider controls Alexander momentarily but Alexander frees himself.
Rider really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Alexander. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alexander lands a couple of digs.
Rider trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ignacio Alexander dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ignacio Alexander's cut.
That's time! Alexander's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Rider fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Alexander, pushing him back against the cage.
Alexander tries to pull guard but Rider won't allow it.
Alexander fails to pull guard.
Rider can't break the clinch.
Alexander tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rider just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ignacio Alexander. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rider is looking for a takedown.

Rider is fighting off a takedown attempt but Alexander is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Rider to the mat. Rider regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Rider controls Alexander momentarily but Alexander frees himself.
Rider is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rider is looking to advance position but Alexander won't allow it.
Alexander tries to get to full guard but Rider has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexander wants to control but Rider is keeping busy.
Rider not doing much here.
Rider is stalling here. Alexander is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Rider seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Alexander has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Alexander trying to control the action but Rider is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexander connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Rider some visible discomfort.
Rider parries the strikes from Alexander easily there. Alexander is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Rider to escape.
Alexander cracks Rider with a big right hand but Rider just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Alexander is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rider knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rider managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Alexander.
Alexander working the head with strikes.
Alexander wants to control but Rider is keeping him busy.
Rider is looking for a sweep.
Rider wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexander lands some shots froms side control.
Alexander working the head with strikes.
Alexander working away.
Rider is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Alexander postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Rider to stand up.

Rider moves into the clinch successfully.
Rider tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rider takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Alexander ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Alexander no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Rider trying to control but Alexander is working from the bottom.
Rider wants to pass the guard but Alexander is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rider trying to control the position from guard on top but Alexander is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rider missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Rider stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Alexander has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Rider manages to get his head free but now Alexander has transitioned to an armbar! Rider grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Alexander! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ignacio Alexander!