PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mathew Alexander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rangi Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rangi Smith looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Alexander
vs
Smith

157 cm
21
177 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

180 cm
18
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mathew Alexander!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rangi Smith!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, Hugh Johnson and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Alexander closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Alexander jumps into guard, dragging Smith to the mat.
Smith wants to stand but Alexander is controlling his posture from full guard.
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Alexander is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alexander is pulling down on Smith's head. It's preventing any offense from Smith, at least for the moment.
Smith trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Alexander manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Alexander looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Alexander trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexander's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Smith wants to stand and escape but Alexander is having none of it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Smith dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Smith throws a leg kick but Alexander moved away.
Alexander throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Alexander swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Alexander chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Alexander clinches.

Alexander gets control of Smith's arms and successfully pulls guard. Alexander will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Smith postures up in Alexander's guard and throws a big left but Alexander blocks it.
Smith stops Alexander from standing up.

Alexander pushes Smith off and scrambles back to his feet.
Smith looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alexander gets a double leg takedown into Smith's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alexander slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Smith trying to control the position.

Alexander thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Alexander 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.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Alexander shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Smith can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Alexander controls the pace.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Alexander really is a fat lump.
Alexander seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Smith for as long as he can get away with.
Alexander might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Alexander's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Alexander has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mathew Alexander just wasn't active enough.
Smith tries for a takedown but Alexander sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Smith throws a leg kick

and Alexander counters by clinching up.
Alexander tries to pull guard but Smith holds him up against the cage and eventually Alexander drops back down to his feet.
Alexander with a knee to the head.
Alexander just leaning against Smith, taking a breather.
Alexander tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Alexander successfully pulls guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mathew Alexander dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mathew Alexander's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Smith tries to clinch up

and Alexander counters by moving into the clinch.
Alexander tries to pull guard but Smith holds him up against the cage and eventually Alexander drops back down to his feet.

Alexander jumps into guard, dragging Smith to the mat.
Alexander keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Alexander holds on and takes a little breather.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Alexander wriggles free and stands up.
Smith is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith stuffs the takedown attempt from Alexander. Alexander gets slowly back to his feet.
Smith has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.

Alexander clinches up against the cage.

Alexander has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Smith regains guard immediately.
Smith being controlled here, momentarily.
Alexander throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Smith trying to control the position.
Mathew Alexander overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Alexander is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Smith can't keep his opponent in guard - Alexander advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Smith wants to stand back up but Alexander manages to pass into side control.
Alexander takes a little break here. Smith wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Alexander has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.
Alexander connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Smith some visible discomfort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alexander is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Smith has escaped the position, nice work there.

Alexander tries for a kimura but Smith is defending well.

Alexander stands up and beckons Smith to his feet.
Smith tries to clinch up

and Alexander counters by moving into the clinch.

Alexander breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alexander leaves Smith with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alexander closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nice body punch from Alexander - that landed with a thud.
Alexander is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Alexander seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.

Alexander decides to pull guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith wants to stand and escape but instead Alexander has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Alexander gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Alexander is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Smith's half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mathew Alexander dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mathew Alexander's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Alexander closes the distance and clinches.
Smith looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Alexander struggles to land a body shot inside as Smith controls his hands.

Alexander manages to break the clinch.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Alexander sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.
Smith misses with a jab, cross combination.
Alexander throws a nice head kick!
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Alexander counters with a shoot takedown. Smith fights it but they end up in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexander forces his way into half guard.
Smith is trying to control but can't.
Alexander is taking a breather. Smith 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.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Mathew Alexander has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Alexander fails with a takedown attempt.

Alexander scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Alexander content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Mathew Alexander.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt

and Alexander counters by moving into the clinch.
Mathew Alexander has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rangi Smith.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Alexander.

Alexander manages to pull guard.
Alexander wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Alexander is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Smith is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexander pulls Smith in to control the position.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Alexander is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Alexander throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Smith throws a lazy head kick

and Alexander counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Alexander is trying to pull guard but Smith has him pressed against the cage.

Alexander breaks the clinch.

Smith gets tackled into the cage by Alexander. Alexander maintains the clinch.
Alexander is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smith can do to turn this around?
Alexander working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Alexander pulls guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alexander tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smith stops Alexander from standing up.
Smith wants to control from the top but Alexander keeps moving.
Smith missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alexander swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Alexander pulls Smith in close to prevent any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Smith wants to clinch but Alexander slips to the side

and Alexander counters by clinching up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Alexander pulls guard effortlessly.
Rangi Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mathew Alexander is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Alexander kicks Smith off and gets to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mathew Alexander showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Alexander 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 Darius Henderson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mathew Alexander!