PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rory McDonnell (ranked 4006 p4p, 402 weight class) and Bessarion Alexius (ranked 3573 p4p, 374 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think McDonnell might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Bloc Party - Ares (Remix). Alexius is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by A Country Boy Can Survive. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

McDonnell
vs
Alexius

183 cm
26
185 lbs
15 - 7 - 2

178 cm
31
180 lbs
18 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

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 15 - 7 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Rory McDonnell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bessarion Alexius!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Reed Andrews and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alexius tries to clinch but fails miserably
and McDonnell counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Alexius closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
McDonnell is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Alexius's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
McDonnell trying to control here.
Alexius wants to stand but McDonnell has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
McDonnell is pressing down on Alexius's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

McDonnell has an active guard here but Alexius has managed to pass into half guard.
McDonnell tries to get to full guard but Alexius has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonnell trying to control but Alexius postures up.
Alexius passes into side control, despite McDonnell's attempt to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Alexius stands up and beckons McDonnell to his feet.
McDonnell scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Alexius closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
McDonnell tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexius tries to stand but McDonnell is controlling his head.
Alexius in the domination position with McDonnell hanging on.
McDonnell tries to improve position but can't.
McDonnell struggling a bit here.
McDonnell looking for a sweep but Alexius has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Alexius wants to stand but McDonnell is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonnell manages to regain half guard. Good work.
McDonnell is trying to get back to full guard.
Alexius wants to stand up but McDonnell is controlling the position.
McDonnell moves into full guard.
Alexius tries to free his leg and advance position but McDonnell is retaining full guard.
McDonnell is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

McDonnell looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Alexius must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Alexius wanted to stand there but McDonnell had control of the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Alexius doesn't manage to clinch there - McDonnell circles away.

Alexius shoots in and gets a takedown into McDonnell's guard.

McDonnell looking for a guillotine here but Alexius defends easily.
McDonnell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alexius is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bessarion Alexius dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Alexius gets a clinch.
McDonnell taking a breather.
McDonnell working aggressively here.
Alexius misses with a hook to the ribs.
McDonnell prevents a takedown attempt there.
McDonnell taking a breather.

Alexius has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but McDonnell regains guard immediately.
McDonnell has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDonnell is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonnell is trying to control the action in half guard but Alexius is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Alexius has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McDonnell trying to advance position but Alexius counters by regaining guard.
McDonnell is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Bessarion Alexius has got the better of the ground game so far.
Alexius is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst McDonnell is controlling him.
Alexius looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two 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.
Alexius wants to sweep but no luck.
McDonnell looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Alexius is looking to stand up but McDonnell isn't so interested in that idea.
Alexius is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexius wants to pass the guard but McDonnell is defending well.

McDonnell looking for submissions off his back.
McDonnell has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Alexius is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

McDonnell looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Alexius wants to stand up but McDonnell is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Alexius passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for McDonnell!
McDonnell is in all sorts of trouble here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Alexius takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bessarion Alexius showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

McDonnell misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Alexius rushes McDonnell and presses him up against the cage.

Alexius has dropped down and is working for a takedown. McDonnell is trying to keep an underhook but Alexius manages to get the takedown into half guard.
McDonnell moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
McDonnell has his hands on Alexius's head, controlling the position.
McDonnell wants to sweep here but Alexius controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDonnell wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Alexius is now in half guard.

Alexius gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Bessarion Alexius is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexius misses with a jab to the body
and McDonnell counters with a body kick that stops Alexius in his tracks momentarily.

Alexius gets in close and instigates a clinch.
McDonnell working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Alexius works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
McDonnell tries a body shot but Alexius blocks it.
Alexius jumps guard but McDonnell turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
McDonnell looking for a takedown.

Alexius gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Alexius tries to stand but his hand is stuck under McDonnell.
Alexius trying to control the pace.
Alexius seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonnell is looking to control Alexius's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can McDonnell avoid being mounted?
Alexius looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
McDonnell trying to control but Alexius postures up.
Alexius is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Bessarion Alexius is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Alexius is trying to control. McDonnell wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rory McDonnell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexius tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McDonnell paws at him with a jab and circles away.
McDonnell misses with a leg kick
and Alexius makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Crunch! McDonnell slams his shin into Alexius's torso.
A bone on bone clash there as Alexius blocks the leg kick.
Alexius tries to counter with a clinch but McDonnell shakes him off and moves away.
Alexius wants to clinch.
Alexius is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Alexius avoids the head kick by McDonnell.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts McDonnell, as that shot connected.
Alexius doesn't manage to clinch there - McDonnell circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
McDonnell tries to work over Alexius's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alexius gets control of McDonnell's arms and successfully pulls guard. Alexius will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Alexius wants to stand and escape but McDonnell is having none of it.
Alexius keeping full guard, as McDonnell tries to pass.
McDonnell trying to control the position from guard on top but Alexius is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alexius is wriggling around but McDonnell manages to pass to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alexius is looking to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bessarion Alexius comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Alexius winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bessarion Alexius!
Our winner, Bessarion Alexius, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.