PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tiago Alexandre (ranked 903 p4p, 109 weight class) and Mathias Wendel (ranked 1720 p4p, 194 weight class). Mathias Wendel told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Alexandre
vs
Wendel

175 cm
26
162 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

188 cm
26
170 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

KOMBAT KLOTHING

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tiago Alexandre!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mathias Wendel!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Colin Fotheringham and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wendel lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Tiago Alexandre has been cut.
We've been informed that Wendel 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.
Wendel misses with a lunging right hand

and Alexandre counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Wendel!

Alexandre is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Wendel knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Alexandre wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wendel keeps working.
The strikes coming from Alexandre are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Alexandre is trying to get an arm triangle but Wendel is defending well.
Wendel is not content to let Alexandre control the position.

Alexandre tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alexandre is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Wendel has escaped the position, nice work there.

Alexandre thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Wendel is trying to escape the position but Alexandre is controlling the position.
Alexandre tries to move to mount but Wendel blocks the move with his legs.

That's two 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.
Alexandre wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wendel keeps working.

Alexandre is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Wendel knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Alexandre tries to advance to mount but Wendel denies him.
Alexandre is working hard here to advance position.
Alexandre is looking to take a break and control but Wendel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alexandre tries for a kimura but Wendel is defending well.

Alexandre tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Alexandre has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Alexandre works to advance to full mount. Wendel defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alexandre controlling his opponent.
Wendel is squirming around, avoiding Alexandre's attempts to control the action.

Wendel defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Alexandre.
Alexandre looking to control but Wendel is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Alexandre is working for a guillotine from mount but Wendel frees his head quite easily.
Poor strikes thrown by Alexandre there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tiago Alexandre dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tiago Alexandre's cut.
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.

Wendel throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Wendel jabs Alexandre right on the nose. Alexandre blinks but takes it well.
Wendel throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Alexandre bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Alexandre displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Wendel throws out the jab.
Wendel misses with a hook

and Alexandre counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Alexandre.
Alexandre passes Wendel's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Alexandre is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Alexandre looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Alexandre not doing much here.
Wendel is not content to let Alexandre control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wendel is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Alexandre is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Wendel can do to turn this around?
Wendel is not content to let Alexandre control the position.
Alexandre moves nicely into side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Wendel can do anything to dispel that myth.

Alexandre is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Wendel knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

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.
Alexandre advances to mount.

Alexandre looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Alexandre fails to move to back control.

Alexandre wants to finish this one by submission but Wendel is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Alexandre.

Alexandre working for a submission but Wendel is keeping him at bay.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wendel tries to hold on but Alexandre pushes him away.
Alexandre trying to control but Wendel is having none of it.

Alexandre is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Wendel has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Alexandre has hold of Wendel's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Wendel manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Alexandre throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alexandre throwing strikes but Wendel uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Wendel is in trouble now - Alexandre has advanced to mount!
Wendel avoids a series of strikes thrown by Alexandre.
Wendel avoids a series of strikes thrown by Alexandre.
Alexandre can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Wendel is looking to escape.
Alexandre takes Wendel's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Wendel is in trouble.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Alexandre tightening his grip on Wendel, looking for the choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tiago Alexandre dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tiago Alexandre's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Alexandre takes one on the button.
Wendel swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Alexandre half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Wendel misses with an uppercut

and Alexandre counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Wendel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Alexandre trying to control the position from guard on top but Wendel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexandre wants to pass the guard but Wendel is keeping the position.
Alexandre is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wendel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Alexandre works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Alexandre seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Wendel does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Alexandre is looking to advance position but Wendel won't allow it.
Alexandre is trying to control the action in half guard but Wendel is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Alexandre passes to side control.

Alexandre working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Alexandre misses with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wendel avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Alexandre.

Alexandre thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Alexandre is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Wendel is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Wendel is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexandre has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Wendel is looking to improve his position but Alexandre isn't that keen on the idea.
Alexandre forces the positional change into back control.
Alexandre misses with punches from the back.

Alexandre is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Alexandre is working for the choke. He's slipped one arm under the chin. Wendel has to defend the other arm for all he's worth... but Alexandre has managed to get that arm free too and he's tightening the choke! Wendel taps out and looks absolutely disgusted with himself. Alexandre doesn't care though - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Tiago Alexandre!
Tiago Alexandre retains his welterweight title!