PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zak Alm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Francisco Civintiani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zak Alm could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Francisco Civintiani's chin.

Alm
vs
Civintiani

192 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Zak Alm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Francisco Civintiani!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Dirk Anderson and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Civintiani throws a right and a left that Alm avoids nicely.
We've been informed that Civintiani has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Alm doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A head kick misses from Civintiani.
Civintiani blocks a jab.
Alm avoids a punch combination nicely.
A head kick misses from Civintiani.
Civintiani should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Civintiani uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Alm.
Civintiani ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Alm moves away.
Civintiani pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Civintiani looks to throw the jab but Alm is out of range.
Alm swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Alm closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Civintiani misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Civintiani throws the left hand but Alm avoids the punch easily.
Alm misses with a looping left.
Francisco Civintiani seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Civintiani pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Civintiani. Those never looked like landing.
Alm checks a leg kick.
Civintiani misses with a jab, cross combination.
Civintiani throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Alm.
Civintiani throws a head kick that misses.
Civintiani looks to land a body kick but Alm moved away.

Civintiani has Alm up against the cage in a clinch.
Alm has a couple of punches blocked by Civintiani.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Civintiani jumps guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Civintiani tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Civintiani has his foot on Alm's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Alm works his way back into a safe position though.
Alm knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Civintiani on the ground.
Alm trying to control the position from guard on top but Civintiani is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alm looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Civintiani can do anything to dispel that myth.
Civintiani keeping full guard, as Alm tries to pass.
Civintiani pulls Alm in close to his closed guard and prevents Alm from doing any damage or advancing position.
Alm wants to control from the top but Civintiani keeps moving.
Alm postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Civintiani has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Alm can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Alm will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alm trying to control the position from guard on top but Civintiani is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alm cracks Civintiani with a solid left hand.
Alm missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Alm lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Civintiani preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Alm slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Alm scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Civintiani has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Alm can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alm distracts Civintiani with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Alm working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alm not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Civintiani looking for a sweep. Not yet Civintiani, not yet.
Alm trying to control the position from guard on top but Civintiani is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alm keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Civintiani's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Civintiani pulls Alm in to control the position.
Alm with a nice head shot there.
Alm trying to control the position from guard on top but Civintiani is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alm with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Civintiani working a defensive guard here.
Alm has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alm seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Alm scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Zak Alm will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Civintiani works the jab nicely.
Francisco Civintiani is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Civintiani clinches up with Alm and pushes him back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Civintiani.
Alm scores with a nice hook to the head.

It looks like Francisco Civintiani has been cut.

Civintiani has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Alm is trying to keep an underhook but Civintiani manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Alm is looking for a sweep. Civintiani is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alm is working hard here to advance position.
Alm blocking the ground and pound attempt from Civintiani.
Alm is not content to let Civintiani control the position.

Civintiani is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Alm sees it coming and defends easily.
Alm controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Zak Alm overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Civintiani wants to get back to his feet.
Alm trying to control here.
Alm has a hand on Civintiani's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Civintiani takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Alm tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Civintiani working the ground and pound effectively.
Alm is looking to get to half guard.
Civintiani putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Alm is wriggling around trying to escape.
Alm tries to hold on but Civintiani pushes him away.
Civintiani wants to control the pace but Alm is squirming around nicely.
Civintiani avoids the attempt from Alm to control.
Civintiani can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Alm is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alm wants to control but Civintiani is having none of it.
Alm is trying to escape the mount.
Alm tries to lock up and control but Civintiani gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Civintiani wants to control the pace but Alm is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alm tries to lock up and control but Civintiani gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Alm is trying desperately to improve position.
Civintiani lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Civintiani wants to control the pace but Alm is squirming around nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alm is trying desperately to improve position.
Civintiani lands a big shot there that rocks Alm but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francisco Civintiani showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Francisco Civintiani's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Civintiani misses with a few strikes there.
Civintiani throws a right and a left that both miss.
Civintiani tries a head kick but it misses.
Alm slips under a jab.
Civintiani sizes up Alm with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Civintiani slips under a jab.
Civintiani misses with a jab, cross combination.
Civintiani throws a sloppy head kick and Alm moves out of range easily.
Civintiani tries to bum rush Alm with a series of wild strikes but Alm uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A big left from Alm misses.
Alm misses with a wild combination.
Civintiani misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Civintiani throws a sloppy head kick and Alm moves out of range easily.
Civintiani throws a leg kick that misses.
Civintiani throws a sloppy head kick and Alm moves out of range easily.
Civintiani takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Alm misses with a looping right.
Civintiani looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Civintiani tries to bum rush Alm with a series of wild strikes but Alm uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Alm is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Civintiani throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Alm.
Civintiani tries a head kick but it misses.
Civintiani misses with a head kick.

Alm moves into the clinch.
Alm tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Alm misses with a short punch on the inside.
Alm lands a left hand that snaps the head of Civintiani backwards.
Alm pressing his opponent against the cage.
Alm misses with a punch to the body.
Alm misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Alm misses with some punches.
Alm tries to work over Civintiani's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alm's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Alm misses with a punch to the body.
Alm tries a body shot but Civintiani blocks it.
Alm tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Civintiani is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Civintiani.
Alm throws a punch but it's blocked by Civintiani.
Alm working aggressively here.
Alm misses with some punches.
Civintiani blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Civintiani has hold of one of Alm's legs. Alm is fighting the takedown attempt but Civintiani gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Civintiani preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alm trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Alm has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Civintiani has passed into side control.
Civintiani throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Alm can't do much from the bottom here.
Civintiani tries to score with some ground and pound. Alm controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Alm dodges the ground and pound from Civintiani.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Civintiani decides to take the fight back to the feet.
A swing and a miss from Alm.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Francisco Civintiani.
I think Civintiani 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Francisco Civintiani!
Francisco Civintiani thanked the fans post fight for their support.