PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alessio La Preziosa (ranked 7422 p4p, 0 weight class) and Youssef Kassim (ranked 5065 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

La Preziosa
vs
Kassim

173 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
158 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight 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, Alessio La Preziosa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Youssef Kassim!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Bart Greer and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

La Preziosa has closed the distance and engaged Kassim in a clinch.
Kassim looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
La Preziosa misses with a hook to the ribs.
La Preziosa has Kassim pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kassim manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kassim keeps the fight in the clinch, despite La Preziosa's efforts to push away.
La Preziosa lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
La Preziosa is trying to force a seperation but Kassim has the dominant position.
La Preziosa fails to pull guard.

La Preziosa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice sprawl there from La Preziosa as Kassim shoots in.
Kassim takes a kick to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
La Preziosa avoids the head kick by Kassim.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from La Preziosa - that will leave a mark!
La Preziosa moves in looking to clinch but Kassim pushes him off.
Kassim avoids the head kick by La Preziosa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
La Preziosa lands a head kick. Kassim smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like Youssef Kassim has been cut.
La Preziosa dives in for a single leg takedown but Kassim sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alessio La Preziosa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
La Preziosa tries to close the distance and clinch but Kassim swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kassim fails to land the takedown.
La Preziosa tries for a takedown but Kassim sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

La Preziosa has closed the distance and engaged Kassim in a clinch.
La Preziosa is trying to stall.
La Preziosa is trying to pull guard but Kassim has him pressed against the cage.
La Preziosa is trying to pull guard but Kassim has him pressed against the cage.
La Preziosa is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
La Preziosa is trying to pull guard but Kassim has him pressed against the cage.

La Preziosa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kassim misses with a body shot
and La Preziosa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
La Preziosa lands a jab-cross combination.
La Preziosa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kassim sprawls well. Kassim wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. La Preziosa gets slowly back to his feet.
Kassim with the counter takedown but La Preziosa avoids it easily.
La Preziosa tries to clinch up but Kassim circles away and keeps his distance.
Kassim stuffs the takedown.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
La Preziosa with a poor takedown
and Kassim counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
La Preziosa slaps away a takedown attempt from Kassim, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
La Preziosa tries to clinch up but Kassim circles away and keeps his distance.
Kassim circles away from the clinch attempt.
La Preziosa tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kassim defends well and La Preziosa ends up having to push Kassim into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Kassim wants to counter with a clinch but La Preziosa pushes him away.
Kassim buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kassim throws a push kick but La Preziosa slaps the foot to one side.
La Preziosa shoots in but no luck this time.
Kassim goes for a double leg but La Preziosa avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as La Preziosa continues to drive forward.
La Preziosa shoots in for a takedown but Kassim shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
La Preziosa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kassim as he jumps to the side.
Kassim throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
La Preziosa tries for a takedown but Kassim circles away easily
and Kassim counters with a series of strikes. La Preziosa will be more careful next time no doubt.
No luck for La Preziosa with that takedown attempt.
Kassim shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has La Preziosa pinned against the cage. La Preziosa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
La Preziosa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kassim's waist but Kassim gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing La Preziosa off to one side.
La Preziosa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kassim but Kassim pushes him off and we're back to square one.
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 Alessio La Preziosa will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Youssef Kassim's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kassim tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kassim stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kassim wants it to stay on the feet.
Kassim tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
La Preziosa goes for a double leg but Kassim avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kassim continues to drive forward.
A head kick misses from Kassim.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from La Preziosa.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alessio La Preziosa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kassim shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as La Preziosa sprawls well. La Preziosa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kassim gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
La Preziosa lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kassim looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? La Preziosa is fending him off so far but Kassim persists. Nope, La Preziosa circles away and we're back to standing.
Kassim is breathing heavily.
Kassim stuffs the takedown.
Kassim wants to counter the offense by La Preziosa and move into the clinch position.
La Preziosa shoots in looking for a takedown. Kassim tries to sprawl out of it but La Preziosa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kassim manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kassim misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
La Preziosa tries to clinch but Kassim is having none of it.

La Preziosa manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Kassim on his heels. He'll look to pass Kassim's guard now, I'm sure.
La Preziosa engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

La Preziosa thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
La Preziosa not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Kassim has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but La Preziosa can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kassim is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
La Preziosa is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Kassim looking to hit a scissor sweep but La Preziosa is one step ahead there.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
La Preziosa tries to clinch but Kassim moves out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by La Preziosa as he connects with a hook.
La Preziosa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kassim paws at him with a jab and circles away.
La Preziosa shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kassim as he avoids it easily.

La Preziosa clinches.
La Preziosa is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kassim to keep the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kassim breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
La Preziosa tries to clinch up.
La Preziosa tries to clinch but Kassim is having none of it.
La Preziosa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
La Preziosa keeps Kassim at a distance using the push kick.
La Preziosa moves in looking to clinch but Kassim pushes him off.
Kassim tries to counter by closing the distance.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kassim throws a nice looking combination but La Preziosa bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
La Preziosa is looking for a counter combo.
La Preziosa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
La Preziosa throws a series of strikes that have Kassim backpedaling.
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 Alessio La Preziosa will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Youssef Kassim's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A decent looking body kick lands there for La Preziosa.
La Preziosa connects with a leg kick. Kassim looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Kassim keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Kassim clinches up with La Preziosa and pushes him back against the cage.

Kassim pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
La Preziosa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kassim unleashes a big counter combination but La Preziosa bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

La Preziosa closes the distance and clinches.

Kassim breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kassim takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kassim doesn't manage to clinch there - La Preziosa circles away.
An inside leg kick lands from La Preziosa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
La Preziosa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kassim paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kassim throws a big counter head kick but La Preziosa avoids it with no problem.
Kassim leaves La Preziosa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kassim avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
La Preziosa lands with a nice combination. Kassim backs away looking to recover.
La Preziosa dives in for a single leg takedown but Kassim sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alessio La Preziosa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
La Preziosa throws a sloppy head kick and Kassim moves out of range easily.
Kassim lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Alessio La Preziosa is winning the standup battle so far.
Kassim shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with La Preziosa but La Preziosa pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kassim shoots in but no luck this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
La Preziosa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kassim but Kassim pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kassim tries for a takedown but La Preziosa circles away easily
and La Preziosa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
La Preziosa shoots in but Kassim avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kassim swings for the body but La Preziosa moves out of range.
La Preziosa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kassim is fending him off so far but La Preziosa persists. Nope, Kassim circles away and we're back to standing.

Kassim gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
La Preziosa stalling the fight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
La Preziosa wants to break free but Kassim has control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
La Preziosa prevents a takedown attempt there.
La Preziosa is struggling to control the position.
Kassim tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
La Preziosa is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kassim pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Kassim is looking for a takedown.
La Preziosa tries for a takedown. No joy.
Kassim leaning his opponent against the cage.
La Preziosa is trying to break the clinch but Kassim has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kassim tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. La Preziosa just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kassim is looking to break free of the clinch but La Preziosa has double underhooks.

La Preziosa breaks from the clinch.
La Preziosa fails with an attempt to clinch.
La Preziosa fails in his attempt to clinch.
La Preziosa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kassim.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
La Preziosa moves in looking to clinch but Kassim pushes him off.
Kassim unleashes a big counter combination but La Preziosa bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Youssef Kassim has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alessio La Preziosa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
La Preziosa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kassim but Kassim pushes him off and we're back to square one.

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 Alessio La Preziosa.
Well La Preziosa has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:28
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alessio La Preziosa!