PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Benson Anderson (ranked 4700 p4p, 4487 weight class) and Alexander Bagration (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.

Anderson
vs
Bagration

190 cm
18
200
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
18
192
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Benson Anderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alexander Bagration!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, William Peck and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anderson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bagration defends it nicely.
Bagration throws a fast counter high kick but Anderson manages to duck under it in time.
Bagration feints and then cracks Anderson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Anderson down.
Bagration swats away the attempt to clinch by Anderson.
Anderson backing away here, and Bagration unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
A slapping leg kick lands for Bagration.
Anderson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bagration throws a head kick but Anderson moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bagration stuffs the takedown attempt from Anderson. Anderson gets slowly back to his feet.
Bagration throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Anderson goes for a double leg but Bagration avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bagration continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benson Anderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bagration fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Anderson has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bagration lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Alexander Bagration is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bagration scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Bagration takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Anderson dives in and grabs Bagration's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bagration pushes down on Anderson's head and hops out.
Bagration defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Anderson.
Bagration throws a half hearted mid kick.
Anderson goes for a double leg but Bagration avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bagration continues to drive forward.
Anderson tries to close the distance and clinch but Bagration swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bagration throws a quick inside leg kick.
Bagration misses with the combination.
Bagration lands with a slapping head kick.
Anderson wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bagration swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bagration was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Bagration throws a sloppy head kick and Anderson moves out of range easily.
A good leg kick by Bagration.
Bagration misses with a body kick.
Bagration scores with a head kick.
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!
Bagration throws a quick inside leg kick.
Bagration stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bagration wants it to stay on the feet.
Bagration pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Anderson seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Anderson checks a low kick from Bagration.
Anderson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bagration defends well and Anderson ends up having to push Bagration into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A low kick lands for Bagration.
Bagration connects with an inside leg kick.
Bagration dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Anderson. That did some damage!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson lands with a slapping head kick.
Anderson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bagration defends it nicely.
Anderson moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromBagration.
Anderson is breathing heavily.
Anderson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bagration raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Bagration. Anderson shrugs it off though.
Bagration lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Bagration throws a head kick that misses.
Anderson is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Bagration moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Bagration fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Anderson has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Bagration misses with a straight right.
Anderson takes a kick to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Anderson with that takedown attempt.
Bagration raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Bagration pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Anderson takes a kick to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bagration with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Bagration buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Anderson tries to close the distance and clinch but Bagration swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Some bone on bone action there as Anderson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Bagration throws a lazy head kick
and Anderson counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Bagration throws out a leg kick but Anderson moves out of range and Bagration only half commits.
It looked like Anderson was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Bagration.
Bagration throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Bagration throws a chopping leg kick but Anderson manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Anderson blocks a head kick by Bagration.
Anderson appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Bagration dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Good work by Anderson as he checks the leg kick.
Anderson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bagration shapes to counter with a head kick.
Anderson darts in looking for a takedown but Bagration gets double underhooks and turns Anderson into the cage.
Bagration with the inside leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Bagration.
Bagration throws a head kick that misses.
Bagration is looking to slow Anderson down with leg kicks.
Anderson tries to clinch up but Bagration circles away and keeps his distance.
Anderson moves in looking to clinch but Bagration pushes him off.
Alexander Bagration seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bagration throws a leg kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anderson shoots in but Bagration avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Anderson wants to clinch up but Bagration keeps it at a distance.
Bagration has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bagration tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bagration checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Bagration throws a sloppy head kick and Anderson moves out of range easily.
Anderson moves out of range of the leg kick from Bagration.
Bagration throws a low kick, looking for Anderson's leg but Anderson calmly moves out of range.
Anderson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benson Anderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bagration thumps Anderson with a low kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Bagration.
Anderson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bagration counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A good leg kick by Bagration.
Bagration throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Anderson's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bagration with a nice calf kick.
Anderson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Anderson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A nice inside leg kick there by Bagration. That's going to slow Anderson down.
Anderson dives in for a single leg takedown but Bagration sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Bagration throws a big counter head kick but Anderson avoids it with no problem.
Anderson lunges at Bagration with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Bagration's hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bagration throws a head kick that misses.
Bagration moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Bagration connects with an inside leg kick.
Bagration moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Anderson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bagration pinned against the cage. Bagration gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson moves out of range of the body kick from Bagration.
A nice leg kick from Bagration, right into the meat of the thigh.
That kick from Bagration tenderised Anderson's leg. Anderson is trying to keep his angry face on.
Bagration throws a head kick that misses.
Bagration is looking to slow Anderson down with leg kicks.
Anderson walks forward, straight into a front kick from Bagration.
Alexander Bagration seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Anderson thuds a left hand into Bagration's body.
Bagration throws a head kick that misses.
Anderson changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
An inside leg kick from Bagration misses.
Bagration uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Anderson.
Anderson tries to clinch but Bagration moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bagration as he jumps to the side.
Bagration swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A chopping leg kick lands by Bagration.
Bagration lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Bagration throws a head kick that misses.
Anderson dives in for a single leg takedown but Bagration sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Bagration misses with a low kick.
Bagration looks to throw a body kick

and Anderson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Anderson jumps into guard, dragging Bagration to the mat.
Bagration trying to stand up but can't free himself from Anderson's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Bagration showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Bagration with a nice calf kick.
Bagration throws a head kick that misses.
Anderson went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Bagration with the inside leg kick.
Bagration throws a sloppy head kick and Anderson moves out of range easily.
Bagration throws a head kick but Anderson moves out of range.
As Bagration tries to get set, Anderson tries to push him back and clinch up but Bagration manages to avoid the attempt.
Bagration throws a leg kick which misses Anderson's front leg but catches the back leg as Anderson tries to avoid it.
Bagration pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Anderson is looking to counter with head kicks.
Anderson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anderson is looking to clinch but Bagration is avoiding it.
Bagration thumps Anderson with a low kick.
Bagration takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Anderson moves into range and clinches up with Bagration.
Bagration has had enough of the clinch but Anderson keeps him there for the moment.
Bagration wants to break free but Anderson has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bagration tries to break free but Anderson pushes him back against the cage.

Anderson manages to break the clinch.
Anderson throws a head kick that misses.
Bagration throws a solid leg kick but Anderson takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Bagration.
Anderson moves out of range of the body kick from Bagration.
Bagration keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Anderson wants to clinch.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Anderson checks a leg kick.
Benson Anderson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
An inside leg kick from Bagration misses.
A leg kick checked by Anderson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bagration tries a head kick but it misses.
Anderson checks the leg kick nicely there.
Anderson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bagration throws a wild body kick that Anderson sees coming a mile off.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Anderson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benson Anderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Anderson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Bagration on the side of the head.
An inside leg kick from Bagration misses.
A nice leg kick from Bagration, right into the meat of the thigh.
Anderson moves out of range of the leg kick from Bagration.
Anderson blocks a low kick nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bagration.
Bagration stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bagration wants it to stay on the feet.
Horrible takedown attempt by Anderson or perhaps it was just good defense by Bagration, which made it look bad.
Alexander Bagration is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Anderson misses with a takedown attempt - Bagration sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bagration looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bagration lands with a thumping leg kick.
A good leg kick by Bagration.
Anderson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Bagration.
Anderson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
As Bagration tries to get set, Anderson tries to push him back and clinch up but Bagration manages to avoid the attempt.
Bagration with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bagration throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Anderson shoots in but no luck this time.
Bagration thumps Anderson with a low kick.
Good leg kick by Bagration.
Bagration misses with a head kick.
A head kick from Bagration lands but Anderson takes it in his stride.
Anderson avoids the head kick by Bagration.
Bagration thows a body kick. Anderson tries to catch it but that hurt him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Anderson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bagration tries to avoid it but Anderson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bagration to the ground. Bagration escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Bagration lands a nice leg kick that just misses Anderson's sensitive parts.
Bagration throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Anderson blocks a head kick by Bagration.
Benson Anderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Good work by Bagration as he checks the leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Bagration comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bagration 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight for Alexander Bagration!
Judge William Peck scores the fight for Alexander Bagration!
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight for Alexander Bagration!

Alexander Bagration wins by unanimous decision!