PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nasir Israz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Goran Alexander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nasir Israz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Israz
vs
Alexander

180 cm
20
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nasir Israz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Goran Alexander!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, David Schapiro and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alexander swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Alexander closes the distance and pushes Israz back into the cage.
Israz misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Alexander.

Israz pulls guard.
Alexander is looking to pass into half guard but Israz pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Israz is in guard.
Alexander looking to control.
Israz pushes down on Alexander's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Israz is keen to just control but Alexander is a slippery customer.
Israz tries to stand and escape but Alexander is controlling the position.
Alexander is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Israz performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexander wants to control the action here but instead Israz manages to pass to full mount!
Alexander really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Israz unloading with bombs!
Israz controlling the pace for now.
Alexander is desperately trying to improve his position but Israz has a good base and remains in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Israz is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Alexander can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Alexander wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Israz lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Alexander hang on?
Alexander is squirming around, avoiding Israz's attempts to control the action.
Alexander tries to hold on but Israz pushes him away.
Alexander is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Israz has taken his back!
This has been an exciting period of action!
A bit of a pause in the action here. Israz controlling the positon.
Alexander really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Israz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Israz patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Israz trying to control.
Israz landing with strikes.
Israz is looking to control Alexander but Alexander is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Israz tightening his grip on Alexander, looking for the choke.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Israz working for a choke but Alexander is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alexander is really stuck here.
Alexander looking very determined here, making life difficult for Israz.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alexander is covering up but some of the strikes from Israz are getting through and doing damage.
Alexander tries to roll but Israz sticks to his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nasir Israz dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Alexander misses with a head kick.
Israz moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Alexander wants to clinch up but Israz keeps it at a distance.
Israz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Alexander.
Alexander tries to close the distance and clinch up but Israz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Israz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Israz misses with a takedown
and Alexander counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Israz tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Alexander defends well and Israz ends up having to push Alexander into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nasir Israz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alexander digs a right hand underneath Israz's ribcage. Israz let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Alexander pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Israz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Alexander.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Israz tries to clinch there but Alexander circles away.
Israz throws a sloppy head kick and Alexander moves out of range easily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Alexander. That's going to slow Israz down.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Alexander fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Israz, pushing him back against the cage.
Israz stops a takedown attempt from Alexander.
Alexander is looking to take this one to the mat.

Alexander breaks the clinch.
Alexander connects with a solid leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Alexander, right into the meat.

Alexander gets a clinch.
Israz is trying to break the clinch but Alexander is controlling him.

Alexander breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Alexander misses.
Israz doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Alexander counters with a big head kick but Israz shrugs it off.
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!
Alexander tries to close the distance and clinch but Israz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Alexander closes the distance and clinches.
Israz being controlled against the cage.
Alexander drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alexander has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Israz clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Israz breaks Alexander's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Israz trying to control the position from guard on top but Alexander is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Alexander can do anything to dispel that myth.
Alexander pulls Israz in close to his closed guard and prevents Israz from doing any damage or advancing position.
Alexander trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alexander working for a triangle but Israz defends it easily.
Alexander has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Israz has passed into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Israz is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Alexander is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Alexander is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Goran Alexander showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Israz shoots in but Alexander avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Alexander doesn't manage to clinch there - Israz circles away.
Alexander misses with a combination

and Israz moves into the clinch.

Israz manages to pull guard.
Alexander won't allow Israz to get back to his feet.
Alexander trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Israz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Israz trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Israz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Alexander is one step ahead there.
Alexander wants to stand and escape but instead Israz has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Israz trying to control the position from guard on top but Alexander is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alexander is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Israz postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Alexander is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Israz, into his guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Israz is trying to control the position but Alexander postures up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Israz holds on and takes a little breather.

Israz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Alexander doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Alexander manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Israz looking for a sweep. Not yet Israz, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexander wants to stand but Israz has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Alexander postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Alexander stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Israz swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Israz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Alexander keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Israz's head.
Alexander sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Israz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Alexander stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Israz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Alexander is stalling in the full guard.
Alexander preventing the sweep.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Israz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Alexander.

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 Nasir Israz.
I think Israz 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight for Nasir Israz!
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight for Nasir Israz!
Judge John Roberts scores the fight for Nasir Israz!

Nasir Israz wins by unanimous decision!