PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Magomed Bankalaev (ranked 4302 p4p, 6477 weight class) and Paolo Alfonso (ranked 509 p4p, 614 weight class). Alfonso has chosen 1 2 as his entrance music. Paolo Alfonso will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Bankalaev
vs
Alfonso

181 cm
25
191
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
193
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Prefers standup

Concrete Clothing (Laundry Re Stock Coming Soon)
Pit Bull Development

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Magomed Bankalaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paolo Alfonso!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paulsen Ambrosius and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alfonso throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A quick step to the side and Bankalaev tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Alfonso throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Bankalaev blocks a low kick nicely.
It looked like Bankalaev wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Bankalaev drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bankalaev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Alfonso works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bankalaev sitting in guard here, content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bankalaev working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bankalaev with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bankalaev slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Bankalaev is looking to work some ground and pound but Alfonso has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bankalaev 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.
Bankalaev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bankalaev is stalling in the full guard.
Alfonso really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bankalaev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bankalaev throwing strikes from guard but Alfonso blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Bankalaev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alfonso swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bankalaev is pushing down on Alfonso's leg trying to pass to half guard. Alfonso is fighting to maintain full guard but Bankalaev has managed to sneak the leg through.
Bankalaev content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Bankalaev is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Alfonso defends it well.

Bankalaev wants to work for an arm triangle but Alfonso is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alfonso taking some punishment here, with Bankalaev in his half guard.
Bankalaev is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Bankalaev is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Alfonso has managed to free his arm - good work.
Bankalaev is nestled in close to Alfonso, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Bankalaev controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bankalaev not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bankalaev passes the guard and advances to mount!
Bankalaev with shots to the head and body - Alfonso looks very uncomfortable down there.
The referee warns Alfonso that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Bankalaev tries to control but Alfonso wriggling away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bankalaev is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Bankalaev raining down hammerfists from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Magomed Bankalaev dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bankalaev checks a leg kick.
Alfonso misses with a head kick.

Bankalaev feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Alfonso is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Bankalaev presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Bankalaev wants a takedown but no success here.
Bankalaev is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Alfonso's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Alfonso tries to break the clinch but Bankalaev is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alfonso gets underhooks to prevent Bankalaev's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Magomed Bankalaev. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alfonso gets underhooks to prevent Bankalaev's takedown attempt.

Alfonso breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alfonso throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Alfonso pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Bankalaev shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Alfonso working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bankalaev.
Bankalaev scoring with punches to the head and body.

Bankalaev is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Alfonso is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Alfonso has escaped and now he's on top!

Bankalaev has his foot on Alfonso's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Alfonso works his way back into a safe position though.
Magomed Bankalaev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bankalaev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bankalaev pulls Alfonso in close to prevent any damage.
Bankalaev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Alfonso can do to turn this around?

Bankalaev looking for subs off his back but Alfonso has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bankalaev controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Bankalaev is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four 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.
Bankalaev is trying is best to control the position here.
Bankalaev tries to get to full guard but Alfonso has control of the leg.

Bankalaev looking for submissions off his back.
Bankalaev keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paolo Alfonso showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Bankalaev closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Alfonso quickly recovers to half guard.
Bankalaev thows a huge punch but Alfonso dodges it nicely.
Bankalaev drops an elbow to the side of Alfonso's head.
Bankalaev looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Alfonso with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Bankalaev takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Bankalaev working Alfonso over with strikes.
Bankalaev trying to control the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bankalaev scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bankalaev content to control rather than advance.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Bankalaev lands a nice short elbow.
Bankalaev is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Bankalaev has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Bankalaev passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Alfonso!
Bankalaev controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bankalaev pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Bankalaev with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Bankalaev lands a big elbow.

Alfonso is rocked!
Bankalaev controlling the position easily from mount.
Alfonso is still in real trouble! Can Bankalaev finish him?
Bankalaev scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bankalaev swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Magomed Bankalaev!