PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lawrence Finch (ranked 7939 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Alexsej (ranked 25179 p4p, 760 weight class). Michael Alexsej will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Finch
vs
Alexsej

168 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
19
170 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lawrence Finch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Alexsej!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Finch fails in his attempt to clinch.

Alexsej fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Finch to the ground. Alexsej is now in Finch's guard.
Finch is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Alexsej is controlling him.
Alexsej would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Finch wants to sweep but no luck.
Finch could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Finch 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.
Finch performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Finch wants to work for an arm triangle but Alexsej is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Alexsej is trying to maintain the position but Finch is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finch is keen to just control but Alexsej is a slippery customer.
Finch is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Finch is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Finch working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Finch is trying to control the action in half guard but Alexsej is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Finch missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Finch throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Finch throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Finch missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Finch is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexsej has hold of Finch's hands but Finch slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Alexsej is trying to maintain the position but Finch is very close to passing his half guard.

Finch is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Alexsej still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Alexsej has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Alexsej postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Alexsej misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Finch 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.
Finch is trying to improve his position.
Finch is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alexsej is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Finch is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Finch might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Finch tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Alexsej wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Finch manages to get back to half guard.
Finch wants to control but Alexsej is keeping busy.
Finch controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Finch is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Alexsej decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Alexsej gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Alexsej has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Finch is trying to keep an underhook but Alexsej manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Alexsej is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Finch is just riding it out for now. Alexsej eventually gives up the hold.
Alexsej tries to stand but can't do so whilst Finch controls his leg.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Finch is concentrating on defense, preventing Alexsej from advancing position.
Alexsej prevents Finch from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Michael Alexsej will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Finch moves into the clinch.
Finch goes for a takedown in the clinch but Alexsej prevents it.
Finch jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Alexsej walks away with a smile on his face. Finch gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Finch tries to clinch up but Alexsej circles away and keeps his distance.
Finch tries to clinch but Alexsej moves out of range.
Finch doesn't manage to clinch there - Alexsej circles away.

Alexsej is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Finch's half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finch is trying to get back to full guard.
Finch tries to kick Alexsej off but Alexsej keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finch trying to control but Alexsej postures up.
Finch slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Finch working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Alexsej.
Finch is trying to keep Alexsej in close.

Alexsej decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Alexsej clinches up against the cage.

Alexsej gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Finch kicks off Alexsej and gets to his feet.

Alexsej closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Finch keeping control of the position.
Alexsej throwing shots but Finch is blocking nicely.
Alexsej not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Alexsej seems to be working for a kimura but Finch defends the submission attempt.
Finch gets back to full guard.

Alexsej gets to his feet. Finch looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Finch tries to clinch but Alexsej moves out of range.
Alexsej slaps away a takedown attempt from Finch, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lawrence Finch. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alexsej gets a clinch.
Alexsej prevents the takedown attempt.

Alexsej ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Alexsej no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Finch trying to control the position from guard on top but Alexsej is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Alexsej throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Finch working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Finch loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Finch postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finch throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Alexsej working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Finch doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Finch manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Finch wants to control from the top but Alexsej keeps moving.
Finch is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Alexsej keeping moving, preventing Finch from controlling successfully.
Finch makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alexsej keeping moving, preventing Finch from controlling successfully.

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

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Alexsej showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Finch's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Finch with a lazy takedown attempt

and Alexsej moves into the clinch.

Finch has clasped his hands together around Alexsej's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Finch taking a break here but Alexsej is having none of it and regains half guard.
Finch missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Alexsej wants to control but Finch is keeping busy.
Finch is looking to stall here but Alexsej recovers full guard.
Finch wants to control from the top but Alexsej keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexsej is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Finch trying to control the position from guard on top but Alexsej is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexsej looking for a sweep. Not yet Alexsej, not yet.
Finch lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Finch controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

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

Finch trying to keep a closed guard but Alexsej is proving a slippery customer.
Finch pulls Alexsej in close to prevent any damage.
Finch is looking to stand up but Alexsej isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Alexsej stands and throws Finch's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alexsej stands up.

Alexsej gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Finch ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Finch no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Alexsej decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Finch, up you get!

Finch looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Alexsej wants to improve his position but Finch is controlling well.
Finch thows a huge punch but Alexsej dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finch working over Alexsej with some ground and pound. Alexsej looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Finch not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Alexsej manages to get to full guard.
Michael Alexsej has got the better of the ground game so far.
Finch stands and throws Alexsej's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Alexsej manages to work his way to half guard, despite Finch's best efforts.

Finch is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Finch slips a nice elbow through Alexsej's hands, connecting with Alexsej's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alexsej wants to get back to his feet.
Finch controlling the action here.
Finch working the head and body with strikes.
Finch takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Finch is looking to take a break and control but Alexsej is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Finch is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Alexsej tries to get to full guard but Finch has control of the leg.
Lawrence Finch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael Alexsej is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Alexsej actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Michael Alexsej.
Well Alexsej 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Alexsej!