PBP Commentary

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

Alexander
vs
Swaber

164 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

188 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Emanuel Alexander!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Haitam Swaber !
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Swaber clinches up against the cage.

Alexander is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Swaber can't fight it off and eventually Alexander manages to take the fight to the floor. Swaber looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Swaber throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alexander is looking to stand up but Swaber won't let him.
Alexander could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Swaber wants to sweep but no luck.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Swaber is on top in guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexander wants to stand but Swaber is controlling the position.
Swaber sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexander pulls Swaber in close to prevent any damage.
Alexander utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Swaber stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Swaber closes the distance but Alexander moves to the side

and Alexander counters with a nice double leg into side control. Swaber won't be happy with that.
Alexander working the strikes but Swaber uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swaber misses with some strikes from the bottom.
It looks like Alexander is going to stand back up.
Swaber is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Alexander is looking for a kimura here.
Swaber is trying to stand.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swaber works his way to full guard. Good work.

Swaber is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Alexander presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Alexander takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Emanuel Alexander has been cut.
Alexander stops a takedown attempt from Swaber .

Swaber pulls guard.

Swaber wriggles free and stands up.
Swaber shoots in and drives through. Alexander sprawls well.
Swaber looks winded!
Swaber closes the distance and clinches up with Alexander, looking for a takedown. Swaber pushes Alexander against the cage but Alexander circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Emanuel Alexander has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Haitam Swaber .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Swaber .
Swaber is looking to clinch.
Alexander misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Alexander.
Swaber lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Swaber tries for a takedown but Alexander sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Swaber tries to clinch
and Alexander counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Swaber shoots in for a takedown but Alexander shows good takedown defense.

Alexander shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Swaber napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Swaber wants to get back to his feet but Alexander is dominant here and he's now got Swaber 's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haitam Swaber dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Emanuel Alexander's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Alexander looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Swaber rushes Alexander and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A knee to the head by Swaber .
Swaber gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Alexander trying to control the position but instead, Swaber has worked for underhooks and has pushed Alexander into the cage.
Swaber has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Swaber lands a damaging elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexander tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Swaber just stands there and leans against the cage.

Swaber 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Haitam Swaber seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Swaber looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
As Swaber tries to get set, Alexander tries to push him back and clinch up but Swaber manages to avoid the attempt.
Swaber is breathing heavily.

Swaber gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexander is trying to pull guard but Swaber has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Emanuel Alexander. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alexander is looking to take this one to the mat.
Swaber slowing the pace effectively.
Swaber lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Emanuel Alexander's cut is getting worse.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Alexander jumps guard but Swaber turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Alexander has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Swaber regains guard immediately.

Swaber has his feet on Alexander's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Swaber moves into the clinch successfully.

Swaber manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexander swats away the attempt to clinch by Swaber .
Haitam Swaber is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Swaber tries to clinch but Alexander moves out of range.
Swaber throws a sloppy head kick and Alexander moves out of range easily.
Swaber wants to clinch.
Swaber fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've been informed that Swaber has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Swaber moves into the clinch.
Swaber lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Alexander tries to score a body lock takedown but Swaber shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Swaber breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swaber tries a head kick but it misses.

Swaber gets a clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Swaber .
Alexander takes a knee to the side of the body.
Alexander stops a takedown attempt from Swaber .
Swaber has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Alexander after a bit of a struggle.
Swaber keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Alexander's efforts to push away.
Alexander tries to pull guard but Swaber won't allow it.
Alexander is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Swaber gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Swaber connects with a knee to the head.
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 Swaber walks away with a smile on his face. Alexander gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Swaber clinches with his opponent.
Alexander tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Swaber smiles and moves away.
Swaber fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swaber lands with a slapping head kick.
Swaber misses with a takedown
and Alexander counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alexander is trying hard to land a takedown here. Swaber sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Swaber goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Swaber shoots in but Alexander avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Alexander throwing a counter right hand but Swaber manages to avoid it.
Swaber fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Alexander feinted with a counter takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haitam Swaber showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Emanuel 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. This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Alexander is defended easily by Swaber .
Swaber lands a head kick!
Alexander keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexander circles away from the clinch attempt.
Swaber doesn't manage to clinch there - Alexander circles away.
Swaber takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Swaber shoots in looking for a takedown but Alexander manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Swaber 's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swaber shoots and misses
and Swaber takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Emanuel Alexander has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Haitam Swaber .
Alexander fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Alexander shoots in but Swaber avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Swaber tries for a takedown but Alexander sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Alexander throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Swaber was covering up waiting for the punch and Alexander finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Alexander won't allow Swaber to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swaber is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Swaber has a closed guard, preventing Alexander from standing up.
Alexander trying to control the position from guard on top but Swaber is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Swaber can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Alexander controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Alexander's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Swaber pulls Alexander in to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Swaber throws a lazy head kick

and Alexander decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Swaber 's guard.
Swaber not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Alexander wants to control from the top but Swaber keeps moving.
Alexander wants to get up but he can't break Swaber 's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swaber looking to hit a scissor sweep but Alexander is one step ahead there.
Alexander sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Alexander seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Swaber for as long as he can get away with.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Emanuel Alexander has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Haitam Swaber is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Alexander working some strikes from top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
Emanuel Alexander showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Swaber 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Haitam Swaber !