PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bruno Niedzwiedzinski (ranked 4433 p4p, 4273 weight class) and Abraham Alcantara (ranked 578 p4p, 552 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Niedzwiedzinski
vs
Alcantara

190 cm
34
201
18 - 18 - 0

180 cm
36
200
14 - 20 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Very quick

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

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 18 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bruno Niedzwiedzinski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Abraham Alcantara!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big right from Alcantara misses.
Niedzwiedzinski doesn't manage to clinch there - Alcantara circles away.
Niedzwiedzinski ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Niedzwiedzinski connects with an inside leg kick.
No joy there for Niedzwiedzinski, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Niedzwiedzinski throws a series of punches but Alcantara moves out of range.
Alcantara moves forwards but Niedzwiedzinski connects with a nice, crisp jab.
No joy there for Alcantara, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Niedzwiedzinski throws a combination. Alcantara tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Alcantara's coach down at Hotrod Express MMA Training was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Alcantara's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Niedzwiedzinski closes the distance and clinches.
Niedzwiedzinski blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Niedzwiedzinski breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
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!
Niedzwiedzinski throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Alcantara looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Niedzwiedzinski forces Alcantara back against the cage and clinches.
Knees in the clinch landing for Alcantara.
Niedzwiedzinski blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niedzwiedzinski blocks the elbow strike.

Niedzwiedzinski breaks from the clinch.
Bruno Niedzwiedzinski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Niedzwiedzinski misses with a leg kick.
Alcantara tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Niedzwiedzinski paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Niedzwiedzinski went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Alcantara.
Alcantara throws a jab but it's blocked by Niedzwiedzinski.
Niedzwiedzinski takes a swing at Alcantara's ribcage but misses.
Niedzwiedzinski lands with a good body shot.
Niedzwiedzinski keeps Alcantara at a distance using the push kick.
Niedzwiedzinski keeps the fight on the outside.
Niedzwiedzinski ducks under a wild hook from Alcantara.
Nice uppercut there from Niedzwiedzinski.
Niedzwiedzinski throws a right hand that Alcantara ducks under and follows up with a left that Alcantara also avoids with ease.
We've been hearing reports that Niedzwiedzinski has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Niedzwiedzinski catches Alcantara with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niedzwiedzinski throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Alcantara.
Alcantara steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Niedzwiedzinski takes a shot right to the bread basket.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alcantara tries to close the distance and clinch but Niedzwiedzinski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Alcantara connects with a crisp jab.

Alcantara gets a clinch.

Niedzwiedzinski breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Alcantara scores with a jab. Niedzwiedzinski acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Niedzwiedzinski lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Niedzwiedzinski circles away from the clinch attempt.
Niedzwiedzinski appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Niedzwiedzinski fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bruno Niedzwiedzinski is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Niedzwiedzinski throws a right and a left that Alcantara avoids nicely.

Alcantara gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Niedzwiedzinski escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Alcantara.
Alcantara shoots for a double leg takedown but Niedzwiedzinski sprawls well. He's pushed Alcantara's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Niedzwiedzinski lands with an uppercut that bounces Alcantara off the cage and back into range.
That kick from Alcantara tenderised Niedzwiedzinski's leg. Niedzwiedzinski is trying to keep his angry face on.
Niedzwiedzinski lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Niedzwiedzinski.
Niedzwiedzinski checks a leg kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Niedzwiedzinski misses the target.
Alcantara moves out of range of the body kick from Niedzwiedzinski.
Niedzwiedzinski keeps Alcantara at a distance using the push kick.
Niedzwiedzinski uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Alcantara.
Niedzwiedzinski lands a jab-cross combination.
Niedzwiedzinski misses with a wild combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Niedzwiedzinski lands with a slapping head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Niedzwiedzinski moves into range and clinches up with Alcantara.
Still in the clinch, Alcantara scores with a nice short uppercut.
Niedzwiedzinski wants to break the clinch but can't.
Niedzwiedzinski blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Alcantara misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Niedzwiedzinski.
Alcantara misses with a body punch.
Alcantara tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Niedzwiedzinski just stands there and leans against the cage.
Niedzwiedzinski throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Alcantara.
Alcantara softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Niedzwiedzinski lands a body punch in the clinch.
Niedzwiedzinski is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Alcantara creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Niedzwiedzinski breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alcantara misses with an uppercut
and Niedzwiedzinski counters with a nice uppercut.
Niedzwiedzinski throws a wild body kick that Alcantara sees coming a mile off.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bruno Niedzwiedzinski dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Niedzwiedzinski will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A little jabbing left from Alcantara on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Niedzwiedzinski throws a right hand that Alcantara ducks under and follows up with a left that Alcantara also avoids with ease.
Alcantara misses with a double jab.
Some wild striking there from Niedzwiedzinski.
It seemed like Alcantara was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Niedzwiedzinski looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Alcantara misses with a series of wild punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niedzwiedzinski looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Alcantara misses with a hook.
Niedzwiedzinski throws a big counter combination but Alcantara scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Alcantara blocks a head kick by Niedzwiedzinski.
Niedzwiedzinski is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Niedzwiedzinski throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alcantara avoids the head kick by Niedzwiedzinski.
Niedzwiedzinski will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bruno Niedzwiedzinski is winning the standup battle so far.
Alcantara missing with a left hand there. Niedzwiedzinski was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Alcantara is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Niedzwiedzinski throws a head kick but Alcantara moves out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Alcantara keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Niedzwiedzinski's efforts to push away.
Alcantara throws a punch but it's blocked by Niedzwiedzinski.
Alcantara lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Niedzwiedzinski tries to break free but Alcantara pushes him back against the cage.
Alcantara fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, Alcantara throws an elbow but misses.
Alcantara prevents Niedzwiedzinski from breaking the clinch.
Alcantara lands with a right to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alcantara throws an elbow but it misses.
Niedzwiedzinski blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Niedzwiedzinski landing knees to the head.

It looks like Abraham Alcantara has been cut.
Alcantara stalling.
Abraham Alcantara seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Niedzwiedzinski tries to break the clinch but Alcantara is controlling the position.
Alcantara tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Alcantara obliges.
Niedzwiedzinski blocks an uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alcantara misses with an elbow over the top.
Alcantara swings away with an uppercut that misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Alcantara just misses with a elbow thrown towards Niedzwiedzinski's brow.
Alcantara throws a punch but it's blocked by Niedzwiedzinski.
Niedzwiedzinski blocks the elbow strike.
Alcantara looking to slow down the pace here.
Niedzwiedzinski avoids a wild elbow strike from Alcantara.
Alcantara swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Niedzwiedzinski breaks from the clinch.
Niedzwiedzinski is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Alcantara can do to turn this around?
Alcantara pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niedzwiedzinski connects with the punch.

Niedzwiedzinski closes the distance and clinches.
Niedzwiedzinski avoids a wild elbow strike from Alcantara.
Niedzwiedzinski avoiding damage as Alcantara throws knees to the body.
Niedzwiedzinski on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Niedzwiedzinski tries to circle away but Alcantara has him pinned against the cage.
Alcantara looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Niedzwiedzinski blocks an uppercut.
Alcantara fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Alcantara tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Niedzwiedzinski avoids it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Niedzwiedzinski.

Niedzwiedzinski escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Niedzwiedzinski is looking to land body kicks.
Niedzwiedzinski avoids the body shot from Alcantara.
Alcantara misses with a hook.
Niedzwiedzinski throws a head kick that Alcantara semi-blocks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niedzwiedzinski just misses with a punch to the body.
Alcantara wants to counter with a clinch but Niedzwiedzinski pushes him away.
Alcantara swings widly with a right hand
and Niedzwiedzinski counters with a left and a right that stings Alcantara.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Niedzwiedzinski scores with a decent looking hook.

Niedzwiedzinski has Alcantara up against the cage in a clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Alcantara.

Niedzwiedzinski breaks the clinch.
Alcantara throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Alcantara closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Alcantara lands in his opponent's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Niedzwiedzinski tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Alcantara throwing strikes from guard but Niedzwiedzinski blocks nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Bruno Niedzwiedzinski will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Abraham Alcantara's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Alcantara tries to clinch there but Niedzwiedzinski circles away.
Niedzwiedzinski uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Niedzwiedzinski throws a head kick but Alcantara moves out of range.
Niedzwiedzinski tries a head kick but it misses.
Niedzwiedzinski sizes up Alcantara with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Niedzwiedzinski tries to clinch up but Alcantara circles away and keeps his distance.
Alcantara is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Niedzwiedzinski.
Niedzwiedzinski scores with a crisp jab that stopped Alcantara in his tracks.
Niedzwiedzinski takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niedzwiedzinski swings for the body but Alcantara moves out of range.
Alcantara swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Alcantara lands with a hook. Niedzwiedzinski tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Niedzwiedzinski misses with a double jab.
Alcantara only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Niedzwiedzinski finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Niedzwiedzinski. Those never looked like landing.
No joy there for Niedzwiedzinski, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Niedzwiedzinski steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Alcantara.
Alcantara takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Alcantara tries to clinch up.
Niedzwiedzinski goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Niedzwiedzinski misses with a wild combination.
Niedzwiedzinski tries a head kick but it misses.
Alcantara throws a big shot that misses.
Niedzwiedzinski misses with a double jab.
Alcantara feints the counter takedown.
Niedzwiedzinski misses with a two punch combination.
Abraham Alcantara has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alcantara cracks Niedzwiedzinski with a right hand to the side of the head.
Niedzwiedzinski lands a head kick!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Alcantara blocks the body kick.
Good shot there by Alcantara.
Niedzwiedzinski takes a swing at Alcantara's ribcage but misses.
A little jabbing left from Alcantara on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Niedzwiedzinski blocks a head kick by Alcantara.
As Alcantara looks to move away, Niedzwiedzinski throws a big counter combo but Alcantara just gets out of the way.
Alcantara looks to land a left hand but Niedzwiedzinski moved out of range nicely.
Niedzwiedzinski tries to bum rush Alcantara with a series of wild strikes but Alcantara uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Alcantara shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Niedzwiedzinski eats them both and turns towards Alcantara to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Niedzwiedzinski keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Alcantara.
Niedzwiedzinski lands a jab.
Alcantara looks for a takedown but Niedzwiedzinski sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niedzwiedzinski throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Niedzwiedzinski scores with a kick to the body.
Bruno Niedzwiedzinski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Niedzwiedzinski lands a nice leg kick that just misses Alcantara's sensitive parts.
Bruno Niedzwiedzinski is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Alcantara on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A slow jab from Alcantara misses its intended target.
Niedzwiedzinski swinging wildly here.
Alcantara throws an overhand right that lands on Niedzwiedzinski's shoulder, as Niedzwiedzinski tries to avoid the shot.
Niedzwiedzinski looks to land a combination. Alcantara sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Alcantara misses with a straight right.
Niedzwiedzinski misses with a few strikes there.
Alcantara lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niedzwiedzinski connects with a leg kick.
Niedzwiedzinski throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Alcantara throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Niedzwiedzinski.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Niedzwiedzinski lands a body shot.
Niedzwiedzinski throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Alcantara changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Alcantara avoids the head kick by Niedzwiedzinski.
Alcantara misses with an uppercut
letting Niedzwiedzinski counter with a right hand.
Alcantara lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Niedzwiedzinski lands a jab-cross combination.
A cross from Niedzwiedzinski lands.
Niedzwiedzinski pulls out of a head kick attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bruno Niedzwiedzinski showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Niedzwiedzinski, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruno Niedzwiedzinski!
A relieved looking Bruno Niedzwiedzinski thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.