PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Helio Margules (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adrik Aleksandrov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Margules
vs
Aleksandrov

189 cm
22
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
289 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Helio Margules!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Adrik Aleksandrov!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Emerson Jorge and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Margules wants to clinch up but Aleksandrov keeps it at a distance.
Margules stuffs the takedown attempt from Aleksandrov. Aleksandrov gets slowly back to his feet.
Margules tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Aleksandrov throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Margules shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Aleksandrov as he jumps to the side.
Aleksandrov stuffs the takedown.
Margules closes the distance and clinches up with Aleksandrov, looking for a takedown. Margules pushes Aleksandrov against the cage but Aleksandrov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Helio Margules. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aleksandrov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Margules tries to avoid it but Aleksandrov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Margules to the ground. Margules escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Aleksandrov tries for a takedown but Margules circles away easily

so Margules counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Margules is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Margules could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aleksandrov is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Margules is trying to break free.
Aleksandrov is working for takedown but Margules is calmly controlling the position for now.
Margules fails to pull guard.

Aleksandrov pulls guard.
Margules looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Margules pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aleksandrov is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aleksandrov managing to control the position.
Margules with a flurry of punches that miss.
Margules wants to pass the guard but Aleksandrov is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aleksandrov manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Margules is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Margules wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Margules tries to hold on but Aleksandrov postures up.
Aleksandrov trying to control but Margules is having none of it.
Margules is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Margules tries to hold on but Aleksandrov pushes him away.
Aleksandrov wants to control the pace but Margules is squirming around nicely.

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.
Margules is trying desperately to improve position.
Aleksandrov misses with a head shot.
Margules keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Margules wants to hold on but Aleksandrov pushes him away.
Aleksandrov unloads with some shots from mount but Margules bucks and avoids them well.
Margules regains half guard.
Aleksandrov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helio Margules dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Aleksandrov has managed to clinch.
Margules tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Aleksandrov smiles and moves away.
Margules closes the distance but Aleksandrov moves to the side
and Aleksandrov counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Margules darts in trying to clinch
and Aleksandrov makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Aleksandrov closes the distance and clinches up with Margules, looking for a takedown. Aleksandrov pushes Margules against the cage but Margules circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A looping hook to the body misses from Aleksandrov. Margules does a little dance to reset his feet.
Aleksandrov lands a jab to the nose.
Margules looks for the body kick but Aleksandrov saw that one coming.

Aleksandrov clinches up with Margules and pushes him back against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Margules tries to break the clinch but Aleksandrov is controlling the position.
Margules is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Aleksandrov can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aleksandrov misses with some punches.

Aleksandrov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Aleksandrov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Helio Margules has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adrik Aleksandrov.
Margules shoots in but no luck this time.
Aleksandrov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Margules avoids it really well and circles away.
Margules stuffs the takedown.
Aleksandrov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Margules swivels and escapes.
Aleksandrov circles away from the clinch attempt

and Aleksandrov counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Aleksandrov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aleksandrov throws a punch but it's blocked by Margules.
Margules drops down looking for an ankle pick but Aleksandrov pulls his leg out and moves away.

Aleksandrov closes the distance and clinches.
Aleksandrov stops a takedown attempt from Margules.
Aleksandrov goes for a takedown in the clinch but Margules prevents it.
Margules tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Aleksandrov blocks an elbow strike.

Aleksandrov manages to break the clinch.
Aleksandrov tries to clinch but Margules moves out of range.
Aleksandrov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Margules shoots for a takedown but Aleksandrov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Margules tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Aleksandrov moves into the clinch.

Aleksandrov breaks from the clinch.
Margules wants to clinch

and Aleksandrov moves into the clinch.
Margules wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Aleksandrov has him pressed against the cage.
Margules fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Margules is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Aleksandrov pulls guard.
Margules trying to control but Aleksandrov is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Margules accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Margules trying to control but Aleksandrov is working from the bottom.
Margules trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Aleksandrov is trying to keep Margules in close.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aleksandrov striking off his back but it's not causing Margules any problems.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Aleksandrov fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adrik Aleksandrov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Aleksandrov misses with a takedown attempt - Margules sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Margules connects with a body shot.

Aleksandrov drives through and clinches with Margules against the cage.
Margules fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Margules tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Aleksandrov avoids it.
Aleksandrov lands a good knee to the midsection. Margules won't want to take too many of those.
Aleksandrov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Margules gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Margules looking for a takedown.
Aleksandrov jumps guard but Margules stands there with Aleksandrov around his waist. Aleksandrov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Helio Margules has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adrik Aleksandrov.
Margules is pressed up against the cage. Aleksandrov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Margules down to the mat. Margules avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Aleksandrov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aleksandrov clinches up against the cage.

Aleksandrov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Margules looking to pass the guard.
Aleksandrov wants to stand but Margules is controlling the position.
Margules slips nicely into half guard.
Margules seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Aleksandrov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Aleksandrov is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Margules sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Aleksandrov defending well though.
Well, if Margules 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.
Aleksandrov is refusing to be controlled, as Margules sits in half guard.
Margules stalling.
Aleksandrov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Margules.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Margules misses with a head shot. Aleksandrov uses the momentum to regain guard.
Aleksandrov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Margules is one step ahead there.
Aleksandrov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Margules controls the pace.
Margules wants to control from the top but Aleksandrov keeps moving.

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.
Margules stays in close to Aleksandrov's body and controls the position.
Aleksandrov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Margules wants to control from the top but Aleksandrov keeps moving.
Aleksandrov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Margules gets to his feet - Aleksandrov follows without any prompting.

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 Helio Margules.
I think Margules 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Helio Margules!