PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bessarion Alexius (ranked 328 p4p, 52 weight class) and Marvin Vettori (ranked 568 p4p, 90 weight class). Alexius kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is A Country Boy Can Survive. Vettori has chosen Police On My Back- The Rocketz as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Alexius
vs
Vettori

178 cm
37
180 lbs
30 - 13 - 1

183 cm
31
183 lbs
15 - 5 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Groove Gear
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 30 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bessarion Alexius!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 1, fighting out of New York, Marvin Vettori!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vettori lands a lovely overhand right.
Alexius looks to land a combination but Vettori avoids it well.
Vettori's jab looks to have found its range, popping Alexius under the eye.
Alexius has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Alexius takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Alexius slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Alexius uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Vettori.
Alexius tries to counter by clinching up but Vettori breaks away and moves out of range.
Alexius just misses with a punch to the body.
Vettori tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Vettori pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Vettori throws a jab but it's blocked by Alexius.
Vettori bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Alexius's head backwards.
Alexius's corner calls for a 1-2. Alexius obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vettori avoids the body shot from Alexius.
Alexius slips under a jab.
A slow jab from Vettori misses its intended target.
Alexius ducks under a wild hook from Vettori.

Alexius pushes Vettori up against the ropes in a clinch.
Vettori tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Alexius just stands there and leans against the ropes.

Alexius breaks from the clinch.

Alexius gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vettori lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Alexius backwards.

Alexius breaks from the clinch.

Alexius forces Vettori back against the ropes and clinches.
Vettori tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Vettori with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Vettori misses with the head strike.
Alexius misses with a hook to the ribs.

Alexius works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Vettori working a defensive guard here.
Vettori is looking to sweep but instead, Alexius has passed into half guard.
Alexius is trying to control the action in half guard but Vettori is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexius working Vettori over with strikes.
Vettori pushes Alexius off looking to stand but Alexius dives back in and keeps control.
Alexius is just content to waste time from the top position. Vettori takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Alexius throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Alexius avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Our spies down at at Five Round Fight Club NY (50 max) inform us that Vettori has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

Vettori escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Alexius gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bessarion Alexius will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Vettori takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Vettori misses with a hook.

Alexius shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Alexius works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Vettori is not content to let Alexius control the position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Still in half guard, Alexius seems content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexius thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Vettori's head.
Vettori tries to get to full guard but Alexius has control of the leg.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Alexius is thwarting Vettori's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Alexius is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Alexius thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Vettori trying to control from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Alexius fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vettori manages to avoid it.
Vettori lands with an uppercut that bounces Alexius off the ropes and back into range.
Alexius ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vettori moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Alexius as he connects with a hook.
Vettori blocks a jab.
Vettori lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Alexius gets tackled into the ropes by Vettori. Vettori maintains the clinch.
Vettori working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Vettori throws a knee to the head but misses.
Vettori swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Vettori wants a takedown but no success here.

Alexius breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vettori throws a head kick that misses.
Marvin Vettori seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Vettori just misses with a punch to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vettori lands a jab to the head.
Alexius misses with a wild body shot.
Marvin Vettori seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alexius throws a series of punches but Vettori avoids them all with ease.
Vettori lands a body shot.
Vettori misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
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 Bessarion Alexius will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Vettori misses with a hook

and Alexius counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Alexius.
Vettori keeping moving, preventing Alexius from controlling successfully.
Alexius not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Alexius'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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Alexius accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vettori keeping moving, preventing Alexius from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Alexius connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Some bone on bone action there as Vettori checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Alexius lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Alexius looks to score with a jab to the body but Vettori is just out of range.

Alexius closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Alexius just content to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A control attempt from Vettori but he's now mounted!
Vettori is desperately trying to improve his position but Alexius has a good base and remains in mount.
Alexius wants to control the pace but Vettori is squirming around nicely.
Alexius looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vettori working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bessarion Alexius clearly takes that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Alexius walks into a jab.
Vettori takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Vettori checks a leg kick.
Alexius on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Vettori shoots in for a takedown but Alexius shows good takedown defense.
Vettori jabs at Alexius's body.
Alexius is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vettori.
Nice defenses there by Alexius.
Alexius is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Vettori is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Alexius gets caught flat footed, as Vettori shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alexius keeping full guard, as Vettori tries to pass.
Alexius keeping moving, preventing Vettori from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vettori would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Vettori trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Vettori wants to control from the top but Alexius keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

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.
Alexius lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Vettori at a distance.
Vettori connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Vettori misses with a double jab.
Vettori throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vettori lands with a nice body punch.
Alexius throws a sloppy head kick and Vettori moves out of range easily.
Alexius looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Vettori looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Alexius looks to land a left hand but Vettori moved out of range nicely.
Vettori throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Alexius is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Vettori.
Vettori tries to work over Alexius's front leg with a kick but Alexius checks it.
Alexius will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A little jabbing left from Vettori on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Vettori fails with the takedown

and Alexius holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Alexius.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Marvin Vettori will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Alexius uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Vettori.
Alexius slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Vettori is looking to clinch but Alexius is avoiding it.
Alexius tries a head kick but it misses.
Alexius avoids a punch combination nicely.
Alexius swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Vettori takes a swing at Alexius's ribcage but misses.
Alexius lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Vettori walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Vettori lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Vettori takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vettori misses with a body shot.
Vettori is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Alexius scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alexius gets a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Vettori manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Marvin Vettori has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alexius controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Alexius postures up.
Alexius works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Alexius wants to control but Vettori is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexius controlling the action here.
Vettori is refusing to be controlled, as Alexius sits in half guard.
Alexius is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bessarion Alexius is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vettori feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Alexiuss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Alexius has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Vettori finds it's way round the side to connect with Alexius's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bessarion Alexius showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Alexius has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Bessarion Alexius!
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight for Bessarion Alexius!
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for Bessarion Alexius!

Bessarion Alexius wins by unanimous decision!
Bessarion Alexius retains his welterweight title!
After the fight, Bessarion Alexius was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.