PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bessarion Alexius (ranked 4288 p4p, 2494 weight class) and Gustav Line (ranked 543 p4p, 352 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Alexius might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to A Country Boy Can Survive. Line has chosen For Heavy Metal we will die! as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Alexius
vs
Line

178 cm
40
180
33 - 21 - 2

178 cm
26
182
2 - 1 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Perkele!

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 33 - 21 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bessarion Alexius!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gustav Line!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Phil Schofield and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Line throws a hook but Alexius blocks it.
Alexius seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Alexius digs a good body shot into Line's ribs.
Alexius throws a shot to the body.
Alexius throws a solid leg kick but Line takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Alexius.
Sloppy strikes from Alexius. Those never looked like landing.
Alexius blocks a jab.
Line is looking to clinch but Alexius is avoiding it.
Line missing with a left hand there. Alexius was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Line staying out of range there.
Line is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Line lands a lovely overhand right.
Line takes a swing at Alexius's ribcage but misses.
Alexius misses with a body kick.

Alexius fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Line, pushing him back against the cage.
Line pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Alexius blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stalling in the clinch from Alexius.
Alexius lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Alexius working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Line manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alexius shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Alexius throws a big right hand that misses.

Line 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.

Line 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.
Alexius stays in close to Line's body and controls the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Alexius accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Line has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Alexius is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Line.
Alexius controlling from side mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Line is not content to let Alexius control the position.
Alexius is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Line is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Alexius's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Line is looking to escape.
We've been hearing good reports from Alexius's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Line is staying active underneath Alexius, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Line wants to control but Alexius is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Alexius sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Alexius landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Line looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Line is looking to improve his position.
Alexius controlling the action here.
Alexius seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Line does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Line tries to get to full guard but Alexius has control of the leg.
Line keeps trying to improve his position.
Alexius wants to control but Line is keeping him busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Alexius just misses with a punch to the body.
Line lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Alexius circles away quickly and effectively.
A little feinted left hand from Alexius on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Line lands with a thumping leg kick.
Alexius throws a looping overhand right but Line ducks down to avoid it.
Line just misses with a punch to the body.
Line missing with a left hand there. Alexius was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Alexius throws a big counter combination but Line scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Alexius throws the left hand but Line avoids the punch easily.

Alexius gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Alexius blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Alexius gets through Line's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bessarion Alexius dominated that round.
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.

Alexius tests Line's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Alexius misses with a looping right.
Line throws out a counter right but Alexius avoids it with no problem.
Line uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Alexius.
Line misses with an uppercut. Alexius saw that one coming.
Alexius smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Line takes a swing at Alexius's ribcage but misses.
Alexius misses with a kick to the body.
Line wants to clinch up but Alexius keeps it at a distance.
Line is looking to clinch but Alexius is avoiding it.
Line is looking to clinch but Alexius is avoiding it.
Line throws a low kick but Alexius moves out of range easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Alexius misses the target.
Alexius is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Line can do to turn this around?
Alexius shoots in for a takedown but Line shows good takedown defense.
Bessarion Alexius is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexius throws a nice looking combination but Line bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Alexius throws a wild body kick that Line sees coming a mile off.
Alexius is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Gustav Line seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Line rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Alexius counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Line has taken the fight to the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Line lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexius lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Line lands with a right to the head.
Alexius tries for a takedown but Line manages to get underhooks.
Alexius lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Line breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Line misses the jab.
Alexius wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Line stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Alexius lands a body shot.
Alexius keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Alexius takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Alexius. Line does a little dance to reset his feet.
A nice leg kick from Alexius, right into the meat of the thigh.
Alexius swings for the body but Line moves out of range.
Line swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Alexius lands an overhand right.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Line misses with a looping right.

Alexius scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Alexius scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Line tries to improve position but can't.
Line gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Line tries to get to full guard but Alexius has control of the leg.
Alexius not doing much here.
Line is trying to control but can't.
Line manages to get to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alexius looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexius trying to control but Line is working from the bottom.
Alexius preventing the sweep.
Alexius passes into half guard.
Line wants to get back to full guard.

Line actively working from the bottom here.
Alexius stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Alexius escapes and gets back to his feet.
Line misses with a low kick.
Alexius scores with a crisp jab that stopped Line in his tracks.
Line takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Alexius scores with a nice head shot.

Alexius feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Line pushes Alexius off and scrambles back to his feet.
Gustav Line is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Line looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Line throws a jab but it's blocked by Alexius.
Alexius throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bessarion Alexius dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Alexius throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Line sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nice body punch from Alexius.
Line swinging wildly here.
Line scoring well with a low kick there.
Line uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Alexius.
Alexius fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Line avoids it really well and circles away.
Line misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Alexius throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexius pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Line cracks Alexius with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Line tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Alexius throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Line sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Alexius feints a jab promting Line to slip. Alexius then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Line slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Line clinches with his opponent.
Line misses with some punches.
Alexius lands with a light punch inside.
Alexius blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Alexius's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Line has a couple of punches blocked by Alexius.
Bessarion Alexius has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Alexius lands a right hand that snaps the head of Line backwards.
A short uppercut from Alexius.

Line breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Line avoids the body shot from Alexius.
Alexius on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Alexius tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The fighters circle momentarily. Alexius darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Alexius tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Line manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Line raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A jab from Line misses.
Line moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Line connects with a right hand. Alexius shakes it off.
Gustav Line has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Line throws a leg kick but Alexius checks it.
Alexius looks to land a body kick but Line moved away.
Alexius lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Line listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Alexius swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Line lands with a hook. Alexius tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Alexius uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Line.
Line slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Nice shot by Alexius.
Line lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Line is looking to clinch.
Line stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Line wants it to stay on the feet.

Line instigates a clinch.
Alexius lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Line backwards.
Alexius looking to stall.
Alexius misses with the head strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Line breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Line walks forward, straight into a front kick from Alexius.
A combination from Line does no damage.
Alexius wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Alexius misses with a double jab.
Line throws a body shot but no joy.
As Line backs away, Alexius returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Line misses with a low kick as Alexius jumps back.
Alexius uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Line.
Alexius fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bessarion Alexius. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alexius lands a nice looking body shot.
Line thows a left - swing and a miss!
Line throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Alexius connects with an inside leg kick.
Line pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Alexius seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Line with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Line throws a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Line misses the shot to the body.
Alexius moves out of range of the strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alexius works the jab nicely.
Alexius thuds a left hand into Line's body.
Alexius moves out of range of the strikes.
Alexius fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Alexius's jab looks to have found its range, popping Line under the eye.
Jab, jab by Alexius - just one landing.
Alexius swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Alexius misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bessarion Alexius is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Alexius blocks a jab.
Line takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Line misses with a lunging right hand
and Alexius counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Line throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Alexius connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Bessarion Alexius.
Well Alexius 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bessarion Alexius!
A less than humble Bessarion Alexius misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.