PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zavian Alexander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tempelton Shire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shire comes into a darkened arena with his song building. MY TIME IS NOW kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Zavian Alexander has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Alexander
vs
Shire

176 cm
20
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
19
145 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zavian Alexander!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tempelton Shire!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Lou da Vinci and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shire tries to keep at a distance but Alexander has taken the fight into the clinch.

Alexander jumps guard.
Alexander wants to sweep here but Shire controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shire wants to pass the guard but Alexander is keeping the position.
Alexander has Shire pulled in close to control his posture.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Alexander is on top in guard.
Alexander advances to half guard.
Alexander wants to free his trapped foot but Shire is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexander is trying to control the action in half guard but Shire is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Alexander connects with a nice short shot to Shire's temple.
Alexander lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Alexander thows a huge punch but Shire dodges it nicely.
Alexander looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Alexander throwing shots but Shire is blocking nicely.

Alexander escapes and gets back to his feet.
Alexander takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Shire shoots in but no luck this time.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Shire.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexander takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Shire with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Alexander is breathing heavily.
Alexander misses with a series of wild punches.
Alexander misses with a two punch combination.

Alexander darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Shire trying to control from the bottom.
Shire is trying to stand up here but Alexander is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shire is looking to improve his position.

Alexander looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Shire is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Alexander's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Alexander's back!
Shire wants to control but Alexander is keeping busy.

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.

Alexander defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Shire's arms.
Shire misses with an elbow to the head.
Will Shire go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zavian Alexander 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.

Shire rushes Alexander and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Alexander wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Shire wants a takedown.
Alexander misses with a short punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Alexander scores with a nice short uppercut.
Shire jumps guard but Alexander stands there with Shire around his waist. Shire gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Shire wants to break free but Alexander has control.

Alexander pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Alexander tries to bum rush Shire with a series of wild strikes but Shire uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shire shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Alexander sprawls well. Alexander wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Shire gets slowly back to his feet.
Zavian Alexander has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tempelton Shire.
Shire fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shire tries for a takedown but Alexander sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Shire misses.
Alexander throws a left and a right that both miss
and Shire counters with a left and a right that stings Alexander.
Tempelton Shire seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Alexander shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Alexander showed some decent athleticism there.
Shire pushes Alexander off looking to stand but Alexander dives back in and keeps control.
Shire flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Shire preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Shire wants to control but Alexander is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shire tries to get to full guard but Alexander has control of the leg.
Alexander stalling away here and it's allowed Shire to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Shire pulls Alexander in close to prevent any damage.
Alexander pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shire is keeping the position for now.
Shire really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Alexander. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Alexander won't allow Shire to sweep him here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Alexander accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Shire is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Shire tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alexander swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Alexander stuffs the takedown attempt from Shire. Shire gets slowly back to his feet.
Alexander avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Horrible takedown by Alexander or perhaps it was just good defense by Shire which made him look bad.
Alexander swats away the attempt to clinch by Shire.
Shire throws a body kick that misses.
Shire closes the distance and clinches up with Alexander, looking for a takedown. Shire pushes Alexander against the cage but Alexander circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four 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.
Shire tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Alexander shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Shire manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Alexander postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shire is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Alexander is trying to stand up here but Shire is controlling him well.
Shire is controlling the pace.
Alexander is refusing to be controlled, as Shire sits in half guard.
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 Zavian Alexander will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Shire is looking to clinch but Alexander is avoiding it.
Alexander slaps away a takedown attempt from Shire, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Shire fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Alexander fails with an attempt to clinch.
Shire tries to score a power double leg takedown but Alexander sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Shire somewhat.
Zavian Alexander has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tempelton Shire.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexander jabs Shire right on the nose. Shire blinks but takes it well.
Zavian Alexander is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alexander throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Shire's waist but Shire gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Alexander off to one side.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shire shoots in and drives through. Alexander sprawls well.
Alexander defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Shire.
Shire shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Shire shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Alexander as he avoids it easily.
Alexander throws a right and a left that Shire avoids nicely.
Shire misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Alexander shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Shire is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Alexander scores with a couple of nice shots.
Shire tries to roll over but Alexander keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexander looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Shire moves into full guard.

Shire is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Alexander gets to his feet - Shire follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexander swats away the attempt to clinch by Shire.
Alexander shoots in but Shire avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Zavian Alexander is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Shire closes the distance and clinches.

Shire breaks the clinch.
Shire throws a right hand that Alexander ducks under and follows up with a left that Alexander also avoids with ease.
Alexander keeps the fight on the outside.
Shire doesn't manage to clinch there - Alexander circles away.
Shire looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Alexander is fending him off so far but Shire persists. Nope, Alexander circles away and we're back to standing.
A punch combination from Alexander misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Shire with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Alexander has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Shire shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Shire fails with an attempt to clinch.
A right-left combo lands from Shire.
Alexander throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Shire counters with a three punch combo that has Alexander backing up. Alexander nods at Shire to acknowledge the strikes.
Shire tries a low kick but Alexander avoids it.
Alexander defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Shire.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shire fails with a takedown attempt.
Shire shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Alexander pinned against the cage. Alexander gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zavian Alexander showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Alexander, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zavian Alexander!