PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Silviu Alexandrescu (ranked 2777 p4p, 2934 weight class) and Blaze Cunningham (ranked 312 p4p, 323 weight class). Blaze Cunningham has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Alexandrescu
vs
Cunningham

181 cm
25
164
2 - 0 - 0

183 cm
26
167
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Black Lab Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Silviu Alexandrescu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Blaze Cunningham!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Steve Montenegro and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cunningham swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Alexandrescu swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cunningham falls off balance throwing a combination

and Alexandrescu counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Cunningham has one foot on Alexandrescu's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Cunningham has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Alexandrescu dives in for a single leg takedown but Cunningham sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Alexandrescu looking for a takedown.
I was talking to Alexandrescu's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Cunningham fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Cunningham's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alexandrescu closes the distance and lands a one-two.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cunningham wants to clinch up but Alexandrescu keeps it at a distance.
Cunningham tests Alexandrescu's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Alexandrescu shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cunningham pinned against the cage. Cunningham gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Silviu Alexandrescu. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexandrescu tries to bum rush Cunningham with a series of wild strikes but Cunningham uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The fighters circling - Alexandrescu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cunningham uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Alexandrescu.
A big right from Alexandrescu misses.

Cunningham drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Cunningham has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Alexandrescu is proving hard to escape from.
Alexandrescu wants to sweep but no luck.

Alexandrescu looking for a guillotine here but Cunningham defends easily.

Alexandrescu had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cunningham defends it easily.

Alexandrescu looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cunningham got a little sloppy there for a moment and Alexandrescu has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cunningham has managed to get both his arms back between Alexandrescu's legs - danger averted.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Alexandrescu has his foot on Cunningham's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cunningham works his way back into a safe position though.

Alexandrescu has an active guard here but Cunningham has managed to pass into half guard.
Alexandrescu tries to roll over but Cunningham keeps him under control.
Alexandrescu is working hard here to advance position.

Alexandrescu looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Cunningham is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham lands strikes from half guard.

Alexandrescu is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cunningham pulls his head out easily.
Alexandrescu trying to control from the bottom.

Alexandrescu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Alexandrescu works his way to full guard. Good work.

Alexandrescu isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Cunningham stacks Alexandrescu on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Cunningham!
Cunningham cracks Alexandrescu with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Cunningham landing a few strikes.

Cunningham decides to stand up, so the ref orders Alexandrescu to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alexandrescu misses with a left hand
and Cunningham counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Cunningham looking to score a takedown here. Alexandrescu is defending well but Cunningham drives through and ends up in Alexandrescu's guard.
Alexandrescu not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cunningham wants to get up but he can't break Alexandrescu's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Alexandrescu has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Cunningham doesn't defend quickly enough and Alexandrescu has managed to lock this one up! Can Cunningham escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Alexandrescu on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:49 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Silviu Alexandrescu!
After the big win, Silviu Alexandrescu made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Black Lab Clothing and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.