PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alejandro Rios (ranked 3680 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hakkamunoi Phouthong (ranked 24945 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Hakkamunoi Phouthong was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Rios
vs
Phouthong

175 cm
25
156 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
157 lbs
1 - 7 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alejandro Rios!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hakkamunoi Phouthong!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Franklyn Lucas and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phouthong keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
We've been told by Rios's head coaches at Cozad MMA New York that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Rios looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Phouthong shoots for a takedown but Rios saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Phouthong fails with the takedown.
Rios seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Some wild striking there from Phouthong.

Rios throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Phouthong was covering up waiting for the punch and Rios finishes the takedown easily into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rios slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rios stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Phouthong swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Phouthong is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Rios presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Phouthong is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Rios jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Phouthong walks away with a smile on his face. Rios gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rios keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Alejandro Rios has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hakkamunoi Phouthong.

Phouthong tries to sprawl but Rios drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Phouthong actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rios decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Rios closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Phouthong is trying to buck Rios off.
Rios wants to control but Phouthong is keeping him busy.
Phouthong wants to get back to his feet but Rios drags him back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phouthong wants to control but Rios postures up.
Rios trying to control the position but Phouthong is working away.
Rios is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Phouthong is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Phouthong regains half guard.
Phouthong trying to control from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Phouthong is trying to break the clinch but Rios has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Phouthong wants a takedown.
Phouthong letting Rios take a breather here.
Rios missing with knees to the body.
Rios wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Phouthong tries to circle away but Rios has him pinned against the cage.
Rios misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Phouthong tries to break the clinch but Rios is controlling the position.
We've been informed that Phouthong has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rios is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Phouthong can't fight it off and eventually Rios manages to take the fight to the floor. Phouthong looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rios knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Phouthong on the ground.
Rios loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alejandro Rios dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Phouthong shoots in for a takedown but Rios shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Phouthong closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rios circles away.
Phouthong leaves Rios with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rios takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Rios is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Phouthong can do to turn this around?
Rios takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Phouthong tries to sprawl but Rios drives through with a takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rios throws a strike but Phouthong avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Rios sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rios trying to control but Phouthong is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phouthong looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Phouthong is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Rios trying to stand up but can't free himself from Phouthong's guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Phouthong keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rios shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Phouthong pinned against the cage. Phouthong gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alejandro Rios. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Phouthong fails with the takedown.
Phouthong is looking to clinch.
Phouthong shoots for a takedown but Rios saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Phouthong defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rios.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phouthong tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
As Phouthong looks to move away, Rios throws a big counter combo but Phouthong just gets out of the way.
Rios defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Phouthong.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rios.
Phouthong tries to buck Rios off but Rios is having none of it.
Rios content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
You can see the frustration on Phouthong's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rios controls the position from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rios cracks Phouthong with a big elbow.
Phouthong tries to bench press Rios off him but Rios keeps the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rios moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alejandro Rios dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Phouthong misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rios tries to clinch up but Phouthong circles away and keeps his distance.
Phouthong misses with a takedown attempt
and Rios counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rios. Phouthong does a little dance to reset his feet.
Phouthong goes for a double leg but Rios avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rios continues to drive forward.

Rios shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Phouthong's guard.
Rios looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rios's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Phouthong not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Phouthong working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Rios has passed into half guard!
Rios controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Phouthong trying to control here.
Rios wants to pass to mount but Phouthong is defending the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Phouthong looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Alejandro Rios has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hakkamunoi Phouthong.

Rios gets the takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Rios stalls from top position.
Rios has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Rios raining down shots from the mount!
Rios can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Phouthong is looking to escape.

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.
Rios can't control as he wanted to and Phouthong manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Rios trying to control from half guard but Phouthong is working away.
Phouthong wants to improve his position but Rios is controlling well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rios looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alejandro Rios showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rios has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alejandro Rios!