PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bessarion Alexius (ranked 2752 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zapi Zap (ranked 24982 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexius's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, A Country Boy Can Survive. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Alexius
vs
Zap

178 cm
29
180 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

172 cm
20
170 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bessarion Alexius!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zapi Zap!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Alexius lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zap backwards.
Zap tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Alexius smiles and moves away.

Alexius clinches up with Zap and pushes him back against the cage.
Alexius lands a right hand.

Alexius wants the takedown. Zap is fighting it off but Alexius persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Zap's guard against the cage.
Zap looking for a sweep. Not yet Zap, not yet.
Alexius has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zap is proving hard to escape from.
Zap trying to keep a closed guard but Alexius is proving a slippery customer.
We've been hearing good reports from Alexius's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Zap being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zap is wriggling around but Alexius manages to pass to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Zap manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Alexius wants to get up but he can't break Zap's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Zap 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zap looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Alexius closes the distance and pushes Zap back into the cage.

Zap is fighting off a takedown attempt but Alexius is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Zap to the mat. Zap regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Alexius wants to stand but Zap has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Alexius engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Alexius continues to stall.
Zap throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexius passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.

Alexius gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Alexius moves into the clinch successfully.
Alexius works on Zap's body with a couple of short punches.

Alexius drags the fight down to the ground.
Alexius controlling Zap's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alexius is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Zap is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zap wants to control from the top but Alexius keeps moving.
Alexius lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Alexius engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Alexius gets to his feet. Zap looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bessarion Alexius dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Alexius lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like Zapi Zap has been cut.

Alexius moves into the clinch successfully.
Alexius digs a right hand into Zap's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Zap's gas tank.

Alexius breaks the clinch.

Alexius has taken the fight to the clinch.
Alexius lands with a light punch inside.
Alexius cracks Zap with a nice body shot.
Alexius lands a nice uppercut.

Zap is rocked!

Alexius lands a takedown into guard.
Zap is looking to stand back up but Alexius counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Zap.
Zap is still in real trouble! Can Alexius finish him?
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Alexius is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Zap seems to have recovered his senses.
Alexius tries to stand but can't do so whilst Zap controls his leg.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zap can do anything to dispel that myth.
Alexius controlling the action here.
Zap is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexius wants to stand up but Zap is controlling the position.
Zap is trying to stand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alexius wants to stand up but Zap has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Alexius content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
It looks like Alexius is going to stand back up.

Alexius postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Zap to stand up.

Alexius clinches up with Zap and pushes him back against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Alexius.
Alexius controlling the action here for a moment.
Alexius throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Alexius breaks the clinch.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexius pushes Zap back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Alexius lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Alexius.
Alexius lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Alexius has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Zap uses from the top position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Alexius is on top in guard.

Alexius stands and steps away. Zap gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Alexius gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Alexius lands a body shot.
Alexius lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Zap backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Alexius jumps guard.
Alexius is looking to stand up but Zap isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alexius trying to control the position here.
Alexius 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.
Alexius is controlling Zap's posture.
Zap throws an elbow that misses. Alexius uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zap's guard. Nice move by Alexius!

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

Bessarion Alexius dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Zapi Zap's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Alexius throws a left that rocks Zap and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Alexius dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Zap regain composure!
Zap felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Alexius decides to stand back up.

Alexius closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Zap drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Alexius gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Alexius manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
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!
Alexius is looking to stand back up but Zap counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Alexius.
Bessarion Alexius overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Alexius slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Alexius seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zap is looking to work some ground and pound but Alexius has wrist control.
Alexius manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zap manages to get himself to full guard.

Alexius tries to stand but Zap is controlling from the bottom.
Alexius is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zap can do to turn this around?
Zap working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Zap trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Alexius wants to get up but he can't break Zap's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Alexius stands and steps away. Zap gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Zap takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zap throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Alexius.
Alexius lands with a precision combination! Left, right, uppercut and Zap falls flat on his face, eyes wide open but he's out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Bessarion Alexius!
A relieved looking Bessarion Alexius thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.