PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fedor Alexandrov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mr Phil Davis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexandrov comes into the arena with Pelageya & Darya Moroz-Oy, da ne vecher (russian folk music) blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Alexandrov
vs
Phil Davis

188 cm
26
220 lbs
12 - 2 - 0

182 cm
28
222 lbs
17 - 4 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fedor Alexandrov!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 4 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mr Phil Davis!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Illya Tyunina and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alexandrov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Davis paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Alexandrov misses with a wild combination.
Alexandrov scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Davis throws a series of punches but Alexandrov moves out of range.
Davis tries to clinch up but Alexandrov circles away and keeps his distance.
Davis throws a shot to the body.
Davis is looking to clinch.

Alexandrov shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Davis napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Alexandrov working the ground and pound from side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Davis is trying to control Alexandrov's posture but Alexandrov avoids it.
Davis throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Alexandrov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Alexandrov working the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Alexandrov off and has taken his back!
A lull in the action here.
Davis doesn't have the hooks in and Alexandrov manages to turn into his guard.
Alexandrov throwing strikes from guard but Davis blocks nicely.
Alexandrov with a flurry of punches that miss.

Davis kicks Alexandrov off and gets to his feet.
Alexandrov throws a body punch but Davis moves out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by Davis as he connects with a hook.
Alexandrov throws a low kick but Davis avoids it.
Davis misses with a jab, cross combination.
Davis digs a good body shot into Alexandrov's ribs.
Alexandrov misses with a series of wild punches.
A jab from Davis misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexandrov dodges the punch combination from Davis.
Alexandrov keeps the fight on the outside.
Alexandrov moves out of range as Davis strikes.
Alexandrov throws a series of punches but Davis moves out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alexandrov gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Davis moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Nice uppercut lands for Davis. That snapped Alexandrov's head back.
Davis moves away from the strike by Alexandrov.
Davis throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Alexandrov on the side of the head.
Mr Phil Davis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice uppercut lands for Davis. That snapped Alexandrov's head back.
A looping hook to the body misses from Alexandrov. Davis does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexandrov throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Davis throws a looping overhand right but Alexandrov ducks down to avoid it.
Nice body punch from Davis.
Davis throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Alexandrov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Davis.
A punch combination from Davis misses.
Davis swings for the body but Alexandrov moves out of range.
Davis will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Davis throws a series of punches but Alexandrov moves out of range.
Alexandrov throws a shot from downtown. Davis moves away and avoids it.
Alexandrov attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Davis fails to land with a series of punches.
Davis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Alexandrov swats away the attempt to clinch by Davis.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davis looks to land a right hand but Alexandrov moved out of range.
Alexandrov misses with a few strikes there.
Davis smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Davis looks to score with a jab to the body but Alexandrov is just out of range.
Alexandrov has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Alexandrov there as he acknowledges the shot.
Davis fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Alexandrov catches Davis with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Davis lands with a cross.

Davis fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Alexandrov, pushing him back against the cage.
Davis misses with a hook to the ribs.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Alexandrov gets control of Davis's arms and successfully pulls guard. Alexandrov will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Davis sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Alexandrov's guard.
Alexandrov desperately trying to maintain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mr Phil Davis dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Alexandrov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Davis throws out the jab.
Davis misses with a series of wild punches.
Alexandrov misses with an attempted mid kick.
Davis throws a jab but it's blocked by Alexandrov.
A lazy left from Davis finds it's target.
Davis getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Davis thows a left - swing and a miss!
Alexandrov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Davis sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Alexandrov somewhat.
Davis misses with a straight right.
Alexandrov takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Davis connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Alexandrov's hands.
Davis throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Davis looks to land a combination. Alexandrov sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Alexandrov keeps the fight on the outside.
Davis slips a jab from Alexandrov.
Davis scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Alexandrov staying out of range there.
Davis dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Alexandrov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Jab, jab by Davis - just one landing.
Davis displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Alexandrov.
Davis cracks a nice hook into Alexandrov's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alexandrov takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Davis lands a nice looking body shot.
Alexandrov on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Alexandrov throws a right and a left that Davis avoids nicely.
Davis takes a swing at Alexandrov's ribcage but misses.
Davis throws a big shot that misses.
Alexandrov's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Davis connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Alexandrov scrambles back to his feet.
A telegraphed right hand from Davis misses the target.
Davis with a nice cross.
Alexandrov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Davis.
Alexandrov slips a jab from Davis.
Alexandrov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fedor Alexandrov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alexandrov misses with a takedown attempt - Davis sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Davis listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Alexandrov on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Davis scores with a jab to the jaw.
A jab from Davis does it's job there.
Alexandrov thows a body shot but no joy.
Davis throws out a loose jab but Alexandrov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Davis throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Alexandrov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Davis lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Davis throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Davis paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Alexandrov avoids the body shot from Davis.
Davis lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alexandrov looks for the body kick but Davis saw that one coming.
Davis moves out of range of the leg kick from Alexandrov.
Alexandrov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Davis sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Davis enables Alexandrov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Davis manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Davis bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Alexandrov's guard.
Davis wants to control from the top but Alexandrov keeps moving.
Davis controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Davis wants to control from the top but Alexandrov keeps moving.
Alexandrov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Davis accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Davis not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mr Phil Davis wasn't active enough on the ground.
Davis scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mr Phil Davis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Davis misses with a looping left.
Alexandrov tries a head kick but it misses.
Alexandrov misses with a low kick.
Alexandrov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Davis just misses with a punch to the body.
Davis blocks a jab.
Mr Phil Davis seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Davis slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Davis throws a jab but it's blocked by Alexandrov.
Davis stuffs the takedown.
Davis throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Alexandrov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Davis dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Alexandrov ducks right into an uppercut from Davis.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Davis, as that shot connected.
A big right from Davis misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis fails in his attempt to clinch.
Alexandrov throws a chopping leg kick but Davis manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Mr Phil Davis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Davis fails to land with a series of punches.
Alexandrov is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Davis fails to land with a series of punches.
Davis slips under a jab.
Davis swings for the body but Alexandrov moves out of range.
Davis misses with a hook. Alexandrov ducked under it nicely.
Alexandrov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Davis throws out a powerful jab.
Davis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Alexandrov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Davis misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Alexandrov.
Alexandrov throws a head kick but Davis moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davis misses with a two punch combination.
Davis misses with the combination.
Davis throws out a loose jab but Alexandrov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Davis takes a swing at Alexandrov's ribcage but misses.
Davis misses with a hook. Alexandrov ducked under it nicely.
Davis throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Davis 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.
Fedor Alexandrov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Davis keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alexandrov takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A leg kick checked by Davis.
A combination from Davis does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Davis duly obliges.
Alexandrov takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Davis bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Alexandrov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Davis.

Davis darts in and clinches Alexandrov up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Davis's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Davis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Davis takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Davis throws a big shot that misses.
Davis looks to land a left hand but Alexandrov moved out of range nicely.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Davis!
Davis lands a nice hook to Alexandrov's body. Alexandrov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A shot to the body from Davis misses

and Alexandrov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Davis working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Alexandrov has passed into half guard!
Davis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Alexandrov is controlling the pace.
Alexandrov trying to control from half guard but Davis is working away.

Alexandrov stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Davis to get to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Davis is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mr Phil Davis really dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Davis throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Alexandrov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A big left from Davis misses.
Alexandrov takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Davis lands a jab-cross combination.
Davis misses with a body shot.
Alexandrov throws a hook to the side of Davis's head but Davis sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A telegraphed right hand from Alexandrov misses the target.
The fighters circle momentarily. Davis darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Davis fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Alexandrov manages to avoid it.
Davis throws a hook to the side of Alexandrov's head but Alexandrov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Davis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A swing and a miss from Davis.
Alexandrov looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Alexandrov has a takedown stuffed.
Davis throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Alexandrov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis ducks under a wild hook from Alexandrov.
Davis lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Alexandrov at a distance.
Davis fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Davis has closed the distance and engaged Alexandrov in a clinch.
Alexandrov throws an elbow that misses.
Davis misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Davis wants to break free but Alexandrov has control.
Alexandrov is trying to break the clinch but Davis is controlling him.
Alexandrov is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Davis working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alexandrov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Davis uses from the top position.
Davis would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Davis sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Alexandrov's guard.
Davis looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Alexandrov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Alexandrov.
Davis trying to control but Alexandrov is working from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Davis preventing the sweep.
Alexandrov looking to control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Davis throwing strikes but missing.
Fedor Alexandrov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis trying to control but Alexandrov is working from the bottom.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Mr Phil Davis hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Davis throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Alexandrov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Alexandrov throws out a leg kick but Davis moves out of range and Alexandrov only half commits.
Davis jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Davis lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Davis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Alexandrov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Davis punishes Alexandrov's body with a nice straight punch.
Davis misses with a hook. Alexandrov ducked under it nicely.
Alexandrov takes a jab right on the kisser.
Alexandrov moves out of range of the strikes.
Alexandrov misses with a looping left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Davis misses.
Davis fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Alexandrov manages to avoid it.
Alexandrov slips a jab and a cross from Davis.
Alexandrov tries a head kick but it misses.
Alexandrov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Davis dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Davis lands with a nice combination. Alexandrov backs away looking to recover.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Davis throws a series of punches but Alexandrov moves out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Davis paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Davis misses with a two punch combination.
Davis stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mr Phil Davis dominated that fourth round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Alexandrov staying out of range there.
Davis misses with a body shot.
Alexandrov misses with a double jab.
Alexandrov takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Davis throws an overhand right that lands on Alexandrov's shoulder, as Alexandrov tries to avoid the shot.
Davis leaves Alexandrov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Davis will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Davis lands with a right hand.
Davis throws a nice looking combination but Alexandrov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Davis throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Davis lands a lovely overhand right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alexandrov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Davis fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Alexandrov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Alexandrov fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Davis is out of range.
Davis misses with a right hand
and Alexandrov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Davis ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Alexandrov moves away.
Alexandrov is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Alexandrov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Alexandrov has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Alexandrov there as he acknowledges the shot.
Davis scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Alexandrov lands with a hook. Davis tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Davis throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A leg kick checked by Davis.
Davis swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mr Phil Davis is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexandrov is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Davis.
Davis misses with a double jab.
Davis is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Davis lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Davis throws the left hand but Alexandrov avoids the punch easily.
Alexandrov closes the distance and clinches up with Davis, looking for a takedown. Alexandrov pushes Davis against the cage but Davis circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Alexandrov blocks a jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A telegraphed right hand from Davis misses the target.
Alexandrov circles away from the clinch attempt

and Alexandrov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Davis's guard.
Davis wants to sweep here but Alexandrov controlling him for the moment.
Alexandrov controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexandrov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Davis is trying to keep Alexandrov in close.
Alexandrov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Alexandrov trying to control but Davis is working from the bottom.
Fedor Alexandrov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Davis trying to control the position here.
Alexandrov throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davis keeping full guard, as Alexandrov tries to pass.
Davis avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Alexandrov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Davis trying to control the position.
Alexandrov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Davis wants to sweep here but Alexandrov controlling him for the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Davis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Alexandrov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

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 Fedor Alexandrov.
I think Davis has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 46:50
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 45:50
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mr Phil Davis!
Mr Phil Davis is the new light heavyweight champion!