PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Padraig Harrington (ranked 9815 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bessarion Alexius (ranked 2713 p4p, 0 weight class). Harrington's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, The Game feat. Skrilex - El Chapo. Alexius has chosen A Country Boy Can Survive as his entrance music. Bessarion Alexius is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Harrington
vs
Alexius

186 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
29
180 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Padraig Harrington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bessarion Alexius!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Harrington fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Alexius, pushing him back against the cage.
Alexius lands with a left to the head.
Harrington misses with a short punch on the inside.
Alexius has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Harrington after a bit of a struggle.
Alexius misses with a short punch on the inside.
Harrington tries a body shot but Alexius blocks it.
Harrington blocking some punches.
Harrington working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Alexius is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Harrington to keep the fight standing.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Harrington.
Harrington misses with a short punch on the inside.
Alexius misses with a punch to the body.
Alexius tries to pull guard but Harrington won't allow it.
Padraig Harrington has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bessarion Alexius.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Harrington.
Harrington misses with a punch on the inside.
A right hand to the body from Harrington.
Alexius struggles to land a body shot inside as Harrington controls his hands.
Harrington tries to work over Alexius's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Alexius doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Alexius.
Harrington throws a punch but it's blocked by Alexius.
Harrington swings wildly with an uppercut but Alexius uses good head movement to avoid it.

Alexius manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harrington stands and steps away. Alexius gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Harrington is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Alexius.

Alexius forces Harrington back against the cage and clinches.
Harrington misses with a short punch on the inside.
Alexius blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Alexius swings wildly with an uppercut but Harrington uses good head movement to avoid it.
Harrington misses with a hook from the clinch.

Harrington escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A jab lands there for Harrington.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Harrington lands a hook that snaps the head of Alexius backwards.
Harrington lands a hook that snaps the head of Alexius backwards.

Harrington is fighting off a takedown attempt but Alexius is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Harrington to the mat. Harrington regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Harrington wants to stand and escape but Alexius is having none of it.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Harrington manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Alexius lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harrington misses with a hook from the clinch.
Harrington scores with a nice hook to the head.

Harrington's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alexius misses with a series of wild punches.
Alexius tries to clinch up.
Alexius has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Alexius is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Harrington was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Alexius tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Harrington counters with a head kick. That will keep Alexius thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Alexius fails with an attempt to clinch.
Harrington throwing a counter right hand but Alexius manages to avoid it.
Alexius tries to close the distance and clinch up but Harrington swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Alexius looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Alexius.
Harrington fires out a quick counter leg kick but Alexius just manages to avoid it.

Alexius closes the distance and pushes Harrington back into the cage.
Alexius goes for a takedown attempt but Harrington pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Alexius rushes Harrington and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harrington misses with a hook from the clinch.
Alexius blocks an uppercut.

Harrington breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alexius tries to clinch but Harrington is having none of it.
Harrington fires out a quick counter leg kick but Alexius just manages to avoid it.
Alexius tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Harrington throws a leg kick

and Alexius counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Alexius.
Alexius prevents Harrington from getting back to his feet.
Alexius engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harrington is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Harrington is working an open guard so Alexius takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Harrington throws a looping overhand right but Alexius ducks down to avoid it.
Alexius doesn't manage to clinch there - Harrington circles away.

Alexius has Harrington up against the cage in a clinch.
Harrington lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Alexius tries for a takedown but Harrington manages to get underhooks.
A head punch on the inside from Harrington fails to land.

Harrington breaks from the clinch.

Harrington tries to keep at a distance but Alexius has taken the fight into the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Harrington lands with a short shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Padraig Harrington dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Harrington lands with a kick to the temple. Alexius shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Alexius scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Padraig Harrington has been cut.
A telegraphed right hand from Harrington misses the target.
Padraig Harrington is winning the standup battle so far.
Harrington throws a looping overhand right but Alexius ducks down to avoid it.
Harrington throws a push kick but Alexius slaps the foot to one side.
Alexius throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Harrington counters with a low kick, right behind Alexius 's knee.
Alexius tries to clinch but Harrington is having none of it.
Harrington feints and then cracks Alexius's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Alexius down.
Harrington connects with an inside leg kick.
Alexius tries to clinch but Harrington is having none of it.
Harrington throws a counter high kick but Alexius was just alert enough to avoid it.
Alexius avoids the head kick by Harrington.
Alexius misses with a looping left.
Harrington circles away from the clinch attempt.

Alexius clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harrington throws a head punch that misses.
Harrington misses with some punches.
Harrington tries to work over Alexius's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Harrington prevents the takedown attempt.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Harrington.
Alexius goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Harrington blocking some punches.

Alexius decides to pull guard.
Harrington has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Harrington wants to stand and escape but instead Alexius has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Harrington is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Bessarion Alexius has got the better of the ground game so far.

Harrington has his feet on Alexius's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Bessarion Alexius is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexius tries to clinch there but Harrington circles away.
Alexius throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Harrington.
Alexius throws a jab when Harrington was well out of range.
It looked like Harrington wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Harrington throws a hook to the side of Alexius's head but Alexius sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A swing and a miss from Alexius.
Alexius tries to close the distance and clinch but Harrington swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Alexius defending well as Harrington loads up on a big left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Harrington throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A nice combination there by Alexius.

Alexius drives through and clinches with Harrington against the cage.
Harrington looking to throw knees to the head but Alexius is blocking nicely.

Harrington breaks from the clinch.
Harrington feints and then cracks Alexius's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Alexius down.
Harrington throws a nice looking combination but Alexius bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harrington lands with a slapping head kick.

Alexius clinches up against the cage.
Alexius working aggressively here.
A frustrated look appears on Alexius's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Harrington fails to land.
Alexius drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Harrington lands a nice uppercut.
Alexius struggles to land a body shot inside as Harrington controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Alexius fails to land.
Alexius softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Harrington.
Alexius lands an uppercut.
Alexius tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Padraig Harrington has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bessarion Alexius.
Harrington tries to throw a body punch but Alexius avoids it by throwing Harrington back against the cage.
Alexius blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Alexius.

Harrington's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harrington lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alexius is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Harrington.

Alexius has Harrington up against the cage in a clinch.

Harrington escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Alexius tries to clinch but Harrington is having none of it.
Harrington swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Alexius uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Harrington has time to react.
Harrington misses with a looping right.

Alexius closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Alexius lands a right hand that snaps the head of Harrington backwards.

Alexius escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Harrington misses with a straight left.
Alexius wants to clinch.
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 Padraig Harrington will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Padraig Harrington's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

An inside leg kick lands from Harrington.

Alexius moves into the clinch.
Alexius goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Harrington breaks from the clinch.
Alexius is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Harrington.

Alexius clinches.
Harrington misses with a punch on the inside.
Harrington landing knees to the body.
Alexius is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Harrington to keep the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexius scores with a shot to the side of Harrington's head.
Harrington misses with the head strike.
Alexius misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Harrington scores with a shot to the side of Alexius's head.
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!
Harrington lands a body shot.
Bessarion Alexius seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Alexius goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short right from Alexius.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harrington misses with a punch on the inside.
A left hand lands to the body for Harrington.

Harrington breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alexius is looking to clinch.
Harrington takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Bessarion Alexius seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Harrington moves into range and connects with a jab.
Harrington avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Alexius throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Harrington.

Harrington gets tackled into the cage by Alexius. Alexius maintains the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Harrington.
Harrington misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Harrington fails to land.

Alexius breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Alexius darts in and clinches Harrington up against the cage.
Alexius lands with a short shot to the head.
Alexius looking for a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexius misses with a hook to the ribs.
Alexius misses with a punch to the body.

Harrington manages to break the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alexius doesn't manage to clinch there - Harrington circles away.
Sloppy strikes from Alexius. Those never looked like landing.
Alexius gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Alexius is looking to clinch.
Harrington appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Alexius throws a right and a left that both miss.
Harrington was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Harrington gets tackled into the cage by Alexius. Alexius maintains the clinch.
Alexius struggles to land a body shot inside as Harrington controls his hands.
Harrington misses with the head strike.

Alexius has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Harrington uses from the top position.
Harrington wants to stand but Alexius has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Harrington gets to his feet - Alexius follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alexius closes the distance and pushes Harrington back into the cage.

Harrington manages to break the clinch.
Alexius shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Harrington eats them both and turns towards Alexius to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
A big right from Alexius misses.
Alexius wants to clinch.
Alexius tries to bum rush Harrington with a series of wild strikes but Harrington uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Alexius tries to clinch up but Harrington circles away and keeps his distance.
Harrington swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Alexius closes the distance but Harrington moves to the side
and Harrington counters with an inside leg kick.
Harrington lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Alexius doesn't manage to clinch there - Harrington circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alexius swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Alexius takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Alexius throws a series of punches but Harrington moves out of range.
Alexius wants to clinch but Harrington slips to the side
and Alexius takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alexius doesn't manage to clinch there - Harrington circles away.
A counter left hand to the body from Harrington misses its target.
Harrington throws a jab but it's blocked by Alexius.
Harrington misses with a looping left.
Harrington throws a sloppy head kick and Alexius moves out of range easily.
Harrington connects with a jab.
Harrington scores with a shot to the body.
Alexius fails with an attempt to clinch.
Alexius closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Bessarion Alexius has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alexius tries to close the distance and clinch but Harrington swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Alexius connects with a looping right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Padraig Harrington.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Harrington, 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Padraig Harrington!
Padraig Harrington thanked the fans post fight for their support.
Bessarion Alexius spoke after the fight, saying 'Oh moth*****r, not again!'.