PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alvin Firpo (ranked 2755 p4p, 394 weight class) and Vincenzo Nibali (ranked 3314 p4p, 450 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Firpo
vs
Nibali

182 cm
21
178 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

185 cm
22
186 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alvin Firpo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vincenzo Nibali!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Stewart Dunkirk and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice inside leg kick there by Firpo. That's going to slow Nibali down.
A head kick misses from Nibali.
Nibali 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.
A jab from Nibali misses.
Nibali thuds a left hand into Firpo's body.
Firpo on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Firpo misses the jab.
Nibali lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Nibali slips under a jab from Firpo.
Nibali misses with a straight right.
Firpo fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Firpo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nibali.
Nibali lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
We've been informed that Nibali has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Good exchange - Nibali coming out on top.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Firpo throws a sloppy head kick and Nibali moves out of range easily.
Nibali throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Nibali misses with a straight left.
Nibali takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Firpo lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Nibali has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Nibali and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Nibali fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nibali is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Firpo.
Firpo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Firpo misses with a kick to the body.
Firpo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nibali sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nibali keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Firpo.
Firpo chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Nibali can pounce on him.
Nibali throws a body shot but no joy.
Firpo walks into a left hand.
Firpo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Firpo dodges the punch combination from Nibali.
Nibali throws a leg kick which misses Firpo's front leg but catches the back leg as Firpo tries to avoid it.
Nibali misses with a hook.
Nibali moves out of range of the strikes.
Firpo scoring well with a low kick there.
Nibali moves forwards but Firpo connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Nibali throws a big shot that misses.
Firpo misses with a looping left.
Firpo backing away here, and Nibali unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Firpo looks to land a right hand but Nibali moved out of range.
Firpo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nibali.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nibali looks to score with a jab to the body but Firpo is just out of range.
Firpo throws a body punch but Nibali moves out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Firpo.
Firpo looks to land a left hand but Nibali moved out of range nicely.
Firpo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Firpo takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Nibali misses with a low kick.
Nibali lands a slapping body shot.
Firpo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nibali sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A solid leg kick lands there for Nibali.
Firpo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nibali.
An inside leg kick lands from Nibali.
Nibali swings for the body but Firpo moves out of range.
Nibali bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Firpo on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Nibali works Firpo's body with a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Firpo getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Vincenzo Nibali seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nibali digs a good body shot into Firpo's ribs.
Firpo closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Firpo moves forwards but Nibali connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Firpo takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
An inside leg kick lands from Nibali.
Firpo lands a head shot.
Firpo throws a looping overhand right but Nibali ducks down to avoid it.
Nibali misses with a straight right.
Nibali keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Firpo.
A swing and a miss from Firpo.
Nibali loads up on a big right hand but Firpo slips the punch.
Firpo throws a shot from downtown. Nibali moves away and avoids it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Firpo takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Nibali throws a shot from downtown. Firpo moves away and avoids it.
Firpo throws a hook to the side of Nibali's head but Nibali sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Firpo throws an overhand right that lands on Nibali's shoulder, as Nibali tries to avoid the shot.
Nibali is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Firpo had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nibali lands with a straight right. Firpo didn't see that one coming.
Firpo throws out a loose jab but Nibali uses good head movement to avoid it.
Firpo loads up on a big right hand but Nibali slips the punch.
Nibali looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Nibali lands a nice looking body shot.
Firpo throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Firpo pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Nibali only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Firpo cracks Nibali with a good jab.
Firpo buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Nibali darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Nibali throws a body punch but Firpo moves out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Firpo misses the target.
Nibali thuds his shin into the meat of Firpo's side.
Firpo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nibali was well out of range. Poor timing from Firpo.
Nibali uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Firpo.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nibali lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Nibali misses with a looping right.
Firpo connects with a single shot there.
Nibali uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Firpo.
Nibali looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vincenzo Nibali dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nibali lands a nice hook to Firpo's body. Firpo takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Nibali fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Nibali cracks Firpo with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Firpo is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A looping hook to the body misses from Firpo. Nibali does a little dance to reset his feet.
Good leg kick by Nibali there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Firpo throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Firpo misses with an uppercut. Nibali saw that one coming.
Firpo throws a looping overhand right but Nibali ducks down to avoid it.
Firpo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nibali sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Firpo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nibali.
Firpo lands a high kick!
Firpo throws a predictable looking body shot
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Nibali slips a jab from Firpo.
Nibali moves out of range as Firpo strikes.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Nibali! But no joy.
Nibali has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nibali scores with a jab to the body.
A swing and a miss from Firpo.
Firpo lands a nice hook to Nibali's body. Nibali takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Nibali lands a jab to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Firpo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Nibali misses with a looping right.
Nibali displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Firpo throws out the jab.
Nibali takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A lazy left from Nibali finds it's target.
A decent looking cross lands there for Nibali.
Vincenzo Nibali seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nibali listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Firpo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nibali sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nibali scores with a shot to the body.
Firpo takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Firpo misses with a body shot.
Firpo takes one on the button.
Nibali's jab looks to have found its range, popping Firpo under the eye.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Firpo takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Firpo throws a jab but it's blocked by Nibali.
Nibali was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Nibali misses with an uppercut. Firpo saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Nibali blocks the low kick.
Firpo chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Nibali can pounce on him.
Firpo's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Nibali connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Firpo scrambles back to his feet.
Nibali connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Firpo's hands.
Nibali staying out of range there.
A good leg kick by Nibali.
Firpo looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Nibali.
Firpo scores with a leg kick.
Firpo lands a nice shot that snaps Nibali's head back.
Nibali throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nibali lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Nibali avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Nibali throws an overhand right that lands on Firpo's shoulder, as Firpo tries to avoid the shot.
Nibali scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Nibali moves out of range as Firpo strikes.
Firpo misses the shot to the body.
It seemed like Nibali was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A slow jab from Firpo misses its intended target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nibali scores with a shot to the body.
Nibali tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Firpo was well out of range. Poor timing from Nibali.
Firpo misses with a hook. Nibali ducked under it nicely.
Nibali feints and then cracks Firpo's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Firpo down.
Nibali connects with a solid leg kick.
Firpo swings for the body but Nibali moves out of range.
Firpo has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Nibali.
Firpo throws out a leg kick but Nibali moves out of range and Firpo only half commits.
Nibali takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Firpo throws a jab when Nibali was well out of range.
Firpo misses the jab.
Nibali throws a body punch but Firpo moves out of range.
No joy there for Firpo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Firpo.
Firpo backing away here, and Nibali unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Firpo throws a big shot that misses.
Nibali throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Firpo takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Firpo moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nibali looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nibali slips under a jab from Firpo.
Firpo tests Nibali's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nibali scores with a jab. Firpo acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Nibali tries to score with a low kick but Firpo moves his leg out of the way.
Firpo misses with a hook. Nibali ducked under it nicely.
Nibali throws a shot to the body.
Firpo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nibali looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nibali throws a big shot that misses.
Firpo slips a jab from Nibali.
Nibali takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nibali misses with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vincenzo Nibali showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nibali throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Firpo stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Nibali.
Nibali misses with a low kick.
Firpo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nibali.
Nibali doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Nibali lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Firpo might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Firpo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nibali was well out of range. Poor timing from Firpo.
Nibali looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Firpo slips a jab from Nibali.
Nibali keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A swing and a miss from Nibali.
Nibali works Firpo's body with a nice hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Firpo slips a jab and a cross from Nibali.
Firpo moves out of range as Nibali throws a body kick.
Nibali moves away from the strike by Firpo.
Nibali lands a jab to the nose.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Nibali lands a leg kick that knocks Firpo off balance momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nibali has managed to clinch.
Firpo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Nibali lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Nibali trying to land knees to the body.

Firpo breaks the clinch.
A slapping leg kick lands for Nibali.
Firpo misses with a body shot.
Nibali blocks the body kick.
Nibali feints a counter leg kick.
Firpo misses with an uppercut. Nibali saw that one coming.
Nibali pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Firpo back to the cage. Nibali follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Nibali looks to score with a jab to the body but Firpo is just out of range.
Firpo drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Some wild striking there from Firpo.
Nibali moves out of range as Firpo strikes.
Nibali dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A good leg kick by Firpo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nibali throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Firpo walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Firpo wants to land a leg kick but Nibali is out of range.
Firpo takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Good standup being displayed there by Nibali as he connects with a hook.

Firpo is rocked!
Firpo wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nibali throws a body shot but no joy.
Firpo throws a body punch but Nibali moves out of range.
Nibali cracks Firpo with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Oh Firpo is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A jab from Nibali does it's job there.
Nibali lands with an overhand left.
Firpo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nibali takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Firpo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nibali connects with a good right hand that stumbles Firpo. Firpo circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Ohhhhh! A huge head kick from Nibali! Firpo is out on his feet! Nibali rushes in and throws more strikes. The ref is looking closely - Firpo is covering up but the punishment is just too much and the ref steps in to stop the fight! Firpo is staring into space, just thankful that the beatdown has ended. Brutal finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Vincenzo Nibali!