PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex Alexandrov (ranked 3201 p4p, 2540 weight class) and Bruno Miranda (ranked 395 p4p, 334 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.

Alexandrov
vs
Miranda

188 cm
38
205
32 - 36 - 0

190 cm
26
210
7 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Very quick

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
Furnace Performance 🔥

Furnace Performance 🔥

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 32 - 36 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alex Alexandrov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bruno Miranda!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miranda cracks Alexandrov with a good jab.
We've been told by Alexandrov's head coaches at Death By Snu Snu that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Alexandrov moves out of range of the strikes.
Alexandrov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A jab from Miranda does it's job there.
Miranda scores with a one two! Alexandrov had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Alex Alexandrov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alexandrov takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Alexandrov will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Alexandrov tries to clinch there but Miranda circles away.
Alexandrov scores with a head kick.

It looks like Bruno Miranda has been cut.
Miranda punishes Alexandrov's body with a nice straight punch.

Miranda moves into the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Miranda.
Alexandrov is pressed up against the cage. Miranda has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Alexandrov down to the mat. Alexandrov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A clash of legs there as Alexandrov blocks the low kick.
Alexandrov is looking to clinch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Miranda.
Miranda misses with a body kick.

Alexandrov has taken the fight to the clinch.

Alexandrov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alexandrov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Miranda throws a jab but it's blocked by Alexandrov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miranda loads up on a big right hand but Alexandrov slips the punch.
Miranda connects with a nice looking jab.
Alexandrov throws a body kick that misses.
Despite the aggression on Miranda's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Alexandrov closes the distance and clinches.
Miranda on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Miranda has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Alexandrov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Miranda looking for a takedown.
Alex Alexandrov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruno Miranda.
Alexandrov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Alexandrov is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Alexandrov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Miranda just stands there and leans against the cage.

Miranda has hold of one of Alexandrov's legs. Alexandrov is fighting the takedown attempt but Miranda gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Alexandrov keeping full guard, as Miranda tries to pass.
Miranda postures up.
Alexandrov being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miranda pushing down on Alexandrov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Miranda frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alexandrov is desperately trying to improve his position but Miranda has a good base and remains in mount.
Miranda with good strikes from the mount here!
A nice elbow there by Miranda.
Alexandrov is squirming around, avoiding Miranda's attempts to control the action.
Miranda tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Alexandrov takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Miranda avoids the attempt from Alexandrov to control.
Alexandrov trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexandrov takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Alexandrov wants to hold on but Miranda pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Miranda controlling from mount.
Miranda fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Miranda has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Alexandrov wants to try and get back to his feet.
My spies in 3Band MMA inform me that Miranda has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Miranda can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Alexandrov is looking to escape.
Miranda raining down hammerfists from mount.
The referee warns Alexandrov that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Alexandrov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Alexandrov tries to get out of the position.
Miranda controlling from mount.
A nice elbow there by Miranda.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miranda won't let Alexandrov get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Miranda lands with some strikes.
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!
Alexandrov tries to hold on but Miranda postures up.
Miranda raining down hammerfists from mount.
Alexandrov wants to hold on but Miranda pushes him away.
Alexandrov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Alexandrov trying desperately to get to his feet.
Alexandrov is bucking up trying to escape but Miranda cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Alexandrov is looking to get to half guard.
Miranda tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Miranda breaks from Alexandrov's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Miranda lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bruno Miranda dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bruno Miranda's cut.
That's time! Alexandrov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Miranda throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Alexandrov is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Miranda misses with an uppercut.
Alexandrov closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Alexandrov misses with a double jab.
It seemed like Miranda was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Alexandrov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Miranda.
It looked like Alexandrov was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Alexandrov tries to clinch up.
Miranda swats away the attempt to clinch by Alexandrov.
Miranda jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Alexandrov wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexandrov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Miranda swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Miranda tries to counter with a clinch but Alexandrov shakes him off and moves away.
Miranda cracks Alexandrov with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Miranda circles away from the clinch attempt.
Alexandrov backing away here, and Miranda unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Alexandrov tries to clinch there but Miranda circles away.

Miranda has taken the fight to the clinch.
Miranda is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Alexandrov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Miranda has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Alexandrov pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Miranda thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Miranda trying to control but Alexandrov is working from the bottom.
Miranda postures up.
Miranda trying to control the position from guard on top but Alexandrov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Miranda tries to free his leg and advance position but Alexandrov is retaining full guard.
Miranda postures up.
Miranda is stalling in the full guard.
Alexandrov is looking to stand back up but Miranda counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Alexandrov.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Miranda connects with a nice short shot to Alexandrov's temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miranda wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alexandrov keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ground and pound from Miranda.
Miranda trying to control from half guard but Alexandrov is working away.
Bruno Miranda has got the better of the ground game so far.
Alexandrov is trying to stand.
Miranda slips a nice elbow through Alexandrov's hands, connecting with Alexandrov's forehead.
Miranda seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Miranda seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Alexandrov is looking to control Miranda's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Alexandrov avoid being mounted?
Alexandrov looks like he's trying to stand up.
Miranda seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miranda keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Alexandrov trying to control from the bottom.
Alexandrov misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Alexandrov is trying to stand.
Miranda working over Alexandrov with some ground and pound. Alexandrov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Nice strikes from Miranda there.

Miranda seems to be looking for submissions.
Alexandrov has hold of Miranda's hands but Miranda slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Miranda lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nice strikes from Miranda there.
Alexandrov is doing well to control the position and prevent Miranda from advancing to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miranda moves nicely into side control.
Miranda looks up at the clock and then as Alexandrov takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Miranda smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Alexandrov is not content to let Miranda control the position.
Alexandrov is trying to get back to his feet.
Miranda works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Miranda passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Alexandrov!
Miranda takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Alexandrov in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Miranda controlling the position easily from mount.
Alexandrov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Miranda on the ground.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bruno Miranda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bruno Miranda's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Miranda tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Alexandrov was well out of range. Poor timing from Miranda.
Alexandrov takes one on the button.
Bruno Miranda seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Alexandrov looks to score with a jab to the body but Miranda is just out of range.
Miranda steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Alexandrov.
Alexandrov tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alexandrov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Miranda looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Alexandrov takes one to the chin there.
Alexandrov tries to close the distance and clinch but Miranda swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Alex Alexandrov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alexandrov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Alexandrov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Miranda blocks a head kick by Alexandrov.

Alexandrov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Miranda, pushing him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miranda wants a takedown.
Miranda blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Miranda turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Miranda manages to end up in side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Miranda trying to control the position but Alexandrov is working away.
Miranda tries to move to mount but Alexandrov blocks the move with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexandrov taking punishment in the form of punches.
Alexandrov takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Alexandrov tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Miranda biding his time, looking for the opening.
Alexandrov is trying to get back to his feet but Miranda has full control of the position and if anything, Alexandrov has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Miranda controls the action.
Alexandrov rolls, trying to escape but Miranda keeps control of the position.
Alexandrov trying to control the position but Miranda manages to sink in the hooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Miranda's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Miranda throwing damaging strikes from the back! Alexandrov could be in trouble here!
Miranda lands a shot to the head.
Miranda is not going to allow Alexandrov to sit and survive in this position.
Miranda is looking to control Alexandrov but Alexandrov is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Alex Alexandrov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Miranda controls the position.
Alexandrov is trying to break free.
Miranda is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Well, with Miranda on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Alexandrov is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Miranda looking to soften up his opponent with punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Miranda has got one arm under Alexandrov's chin. This could be trouble... Alexandrov trying to control the other hand but Miranda gets it free and sqeezes tight - just a matter of time now! Yep, Alexandrov has tapped out! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Bruno Miranda!
An out of breath Bruno Miranda thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.