PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Elijah Pate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephan Alexander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Pate
vs
Alexander

195 cm
18
151 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
19
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Elijah Pate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Stephan Alexander!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Frank Dennis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Alexander darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Alexander is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Pate wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alexander is looking to take a break and control but Pate is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexander prevents Pate from improving his position.
Pate keeping control of the position.
Alexander trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pate tries to get to full guard but Alexander has control of the leg.
Alexander not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Alexander throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Alexander controlling the pace.
Alexander wants to take a breather but Pate is having none of it.
Pate keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Pate is not content to let Alexander control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Alexander closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Pate trying to control but Alexander postures up.
Alexander trying to control from half guard but Pate is working away.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Pate is trying to control but can't.
Pate is not content to let Alexander control the position.
Pate has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Alexander is working away from the top position though.
Pate moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pate has his foot on Alexander's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Alexander works his way back into a safe position though.
Pate will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Alexander trying to control but Pate is working from the bottom.
Alexander lands a couple of digs.

Pate pushes Alexander off and gets back to his feet.

Alexander shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Pate manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Pate trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Alexander throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pate looking for a sweep. Not yet Pate, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pate has control of Alexander's left arm, preventing Alexander from doing any damage.
Alexander trying to control but Pate is working from the bottom.
Pate really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Pate throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Alexander content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephan Alexander dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Pate circles away from the clinch attempt.
Alexander tries to clinch up.
Alexander tries to clinch up but Pate circles away and keeps his distance.
Pate feinted with a counter takedown.
Pate throws a sloppy head kick and Alexander moves out of range easily.
Alexander tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Alexander drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Pate is trying to get back to half guard.

Alexander thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pate is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pate is working hard here to advance position.

Alexander working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Pate managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Alexander.
Pate is trying to get back to half guard.
Pate manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Pate is pressing down on Alexander's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Alexander advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pate looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Alexander passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Pate!
Pate is looking to improve his position but Alexander isn't that keen on the idea.
Stephan Alexander has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pate gets back to half guard.
Pate is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Pate manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Alexander trying to control the position from guard on top but Pate is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexander slips nicely into half guard.

Pate actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alexander looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Pate trying to control from the bottom.
Alexander is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Pate has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Alexander is working away from the top position though.
Pate wants to get back to full guard.

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.
Pate wants to control but Alexander is keeping busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stephan Alexander seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alexander throws a nice inside leg kick.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Pate enables Alexander to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Pate manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Pate looking to hit a scissor sweep but Alexander is one step ahead there.
Alexander is fighting to break Pate's control of his arms but Pate is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephan Alexander showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Pate throws a head kick that misses.

Alexander shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Alexander was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
You can see the frustration on Pate's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Alexander working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Alexander tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Pate tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Alexander presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexander tries to control but Pate wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pate is looking to improve his position but Alexander isn't that keen on the idea.
Pate wants to hold on but Alexander pushes him away.
Alexander wants to control the pace but Pate is squirming around nicely.

Alexander with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Alexander prevents Pate from getting the reversal.
Pate sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pate has his hands clasped together around Alexander's back. He's all about the action.
Pate trying to control but Alexander postures up.
Alexander thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pate's head.
Alexander is trying to control. Pate wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Pate is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
Pate is squirming around, avoiding Alexander's attempts to control the action.
Alexander takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pate tries to lock up and control but Alexander gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Pate keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Pate slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Pate is looking to improve his position.
Alexander looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Pate with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Alexander trying to control from half guard but Pate is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alexander tries to pass to full mount but Pate defends it.
Alexander has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Alexander is thwarting Pate's attempts to control the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Pate has his hands clasped together around Alexander's back. He's all about the action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pate misses with a head kick.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Alexander staying out of range there.
Alexander looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Alexander closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Pate's guard.
Elijah Pate has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stephan Alexander is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Pate looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Alexander passes into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephan Alexander comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Alexander winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

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