PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alexandrukas Ozdemir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Powers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ozdemir
vs
Powers

165 cm
18
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Attliction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alexandrukas Ozdemir!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Frank Powers!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, David Schapiro and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Powers checks the leg kick.
Ozdemir blocks a leg kick.

Ozdemir drives through and clinches with Powers against the cage.
Ozdemir lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Powers.

Ozdemir lands a takedown into guard.

Ozdemir is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Powers is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Powers has escaped and now he's on top!
Ozdemir seems keen to control Powers's posture.
Powers wants to stand but Ozdemir has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Ozdemir is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ozdemir looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ozdemir on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ozdemir tries to get out of the position.
Ozdemir trying to keep a closed guard but Powers is proving a slippery customer.
Ozdemir throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Ozdemir is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Powers is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Powers misses with a takedown attempt - Ozdemir sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Powers looks to land a combination but Ozdemir avoids it well.

Ozdemir scores a takedown into full mount!
Ozdemir is breathing heavily.
Ozdemir pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powers tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ozdemir lands a big shot there that rocks Powers but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Powers tries to reverse the position but Ozdemir maintains control.
Ozdemir has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Powers's face.

Ozdemir moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Powers has worked his arm free - good work by Powers!
Ozdemir postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Powers tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ozdemir wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ozdemir wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Powers, who protects the arm well.
Powers is not content to let Ozdemir control the position.

Ozdemir is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Powers knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ozdemir works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Powers regains half guard there - taking advantage of Ozdemir's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ozdemir wants to free his trapped foot but Powers is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ozdemir trying to control the action but Powers is working from the bottom.

Ozdemir is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ozdemir is taking a breather. Powers says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Ozdemir wants to lay and pray for a moment but Powers keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexandrukas Ozdemir dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ozdemir misses with a combination
letting Powers counter with a right hand.

Ozdemir closes the distance and clinches.
Ozdemir crunches a lovely knee into Powers's ribcage.
Powers wants to get back to striking at distance but Ozdemir won't allow it.
Powers is trying to break free.
Ozdemir is working Powers over against the cage.
Ozdemir lands an elbow inside.
Knees to the body from Ozdemir.
Nice body punch from Ozdemir.
Powers wants to break the clinch but can't.
Powers has had enough of the clinch but Ozdemir keeps him there for the moment.
Knees to the body from Ozdemir.
Ozdemir lands a damaging elbow.
Powers is looking to break free of the clinch but Ozdemir has double underhooks.
Powers is trying to break free.
Powers can't break the clinch.
Powers tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ozdemir just stands there and leans against the cage.

Ozdemir has Powers pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Ozdemir pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Powers tumbling to the mat - Ozdemir dives into Powers's guard.
Ozdemir stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Powers swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ozdemir showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ozdemir looking to pass the guard.
Ozdemir throwing strikes from guard but Powers blocks nicely.
Ozdemir advances to half guard.
Ozdemir blocks the strikes from Powers.
Powers wants to improve his position but Ozdemir is controlling well.
Ozdemir wants to take a breather but Powers is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Ozdemir keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Powers works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ozdemir wants to control from the top but Powers keeps moving.
Ozdemir is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ozdemir wants to control from the top but Powers keeps moving.
Ozdemir advances position into side control!
Powers manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powers wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ozdemir is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Powers is trying to stand.
Powers is in trouble now - Ozdemir has advanced to mount!
Powers tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ozdemir has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Powers's face.
Ozdemir lands a nice shot to the head.
Powers has given up his back.
Powers is really stuck here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Ozdemir struggling to land strikes to the head as Powers covers up.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Ozdemir doesn't have the hooks in and Powers manages to turn into his guard.
Ozdemir is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Ozdemir decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexandrukas Ozdemir dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Powers fails with the takedown

and Ozdemir counters with a single leg into guard. Powers didn't expect that.
Ozdemir trying to control but Powers is working from the bottom.
Ozdemir works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ozdemir wants to free his trapped foot but Powers is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ozdemir has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Ozdemir looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Powers working to try and regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powers sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Powers blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ozdemir.

Powers is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Ozdemir pulls his head out easily.
Ozdemir looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Powers tries to kick Ozdemir off but Ozdemir keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Powers is in trouble now - Ozdemir has advanced to mount!

Ozdemir goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Powers is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ozdemir trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Powers wants to stand but Ozdemir is controlling his posture from full guard.

Ozdemir looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ozdemir wants to sweep here but Powers controlling him for the moment.
Ozdemir has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Powers has passed into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ozdemir gets back to half guard.
Ozdemir wants to sweep but Powers has passed to side control!

Powers is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ozdemir knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ozdemir sneaks back into half guard.

Powers is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ozdemir doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Powers.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ozdemir is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Powers jumps into side control!
Frank Powers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ozdemir gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Ozdemir is not content to let Powers control the position.
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. Powers connects with a nice short shot to Ozdemir's temple.

Powers seems to be working for a kimura but Ozdemir defends the submission attempt.
Powers is nestled in close to Ozdemir, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexandrukas Ozdemir showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ozdemir, 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexandrukas Ozdemir!