PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Owen Stubbs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Filipo Alexei (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Filipo Alexei told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Stubbs
vs
Alexei

197 cm
18
231 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
22
260 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Owen Stubbs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Filipo Alexei!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Matheus Silva and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Alexei clinches.
Alexei trying to land knees to the body.
Stubbs tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Alexei smiles and moves away.
Alexei is looking to clinch.
Stubbs walks forward, straight into a front kick from Alexei.
Alexei should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Stubbs is breathing heavily.
Stubbs will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Alexei tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Alexei has managed to clinch.
Alexei prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Owen Stubbs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stubbs keeps control of Alexei as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Alexei using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Alexei lands a knee to the body.
Stubbs gets underhooks to prevent Alexei's takedown attempt.
Stubbs prevents a takedown attempt there.
Alexei tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Stubbs tries to score a body lock takedown but Alexei shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
The is referee keeping an eye on Alexei - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Alexei can't find room to land a body shot as Stubbs controls the action.
Alexei tries to break the clinch but Stubbs is controlling the position.

Stubbs successfully pulls guard.
Stubbs is trying to keep Alexei in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stubbs trying to strike off his back.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Stubbs holds on and takes a little breather.
Alexei in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stubbs is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Stubbs manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Alexei manages to get himself to full guard.
Alexei lands a decent punch to the body there.
Alexei really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Stubbs. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Stubbs passes Alexei's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Alexei is not content to let Stubbs control the position.
Alexei is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Stubbs is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Stubbs 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stubbs throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Stubbs is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stubbs stops Alexei from getting back to his feet.
Alexei is trying to get back to full guard.
Stubbs looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Alexei with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Stubbs is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Alexei!
Stubbs controlling from mount.
Alexei is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Stubbs thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Stubbs landing punches.
Alexei keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stubbs thowing shots but they're missing.
Alexei keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Alexei is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Alexei gets back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alexei wants to improve his position but Stubbs is controlling well.
Stubbs missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Alexei slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Alexei has his foot on Stubbs's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stubbs works his way back into a safe position though.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stubbs accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stubbs content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Stubbs trying to control but Alexei is working from the bottom.
Alexei looking for a sweep. Not yet Alexei, not yet.
Stubbs connects with a couple of short punches.
Stubbs postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Stubbs makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Stubbs trying to control but Alexei is working from the bottom.
Stubbs controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stubbs slips nicely into half guard.
Stubbs is nestled in close to Alexei, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Filipo Alexei will probably get the nod.
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 fight stays on the outside here - Alexei looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Alexei shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stubbs as he avoids it easily.
Alexei swats away the attempt to clinch by Stubbs.
Stubbs tries for a takedown but Alexei sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Alexei gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Alexei throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Alexei looking for a sweep. Not yet Alexei, not yet.
Alexei avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Stubbs throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Alexei works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Alexei tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Stubbs in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stubbs accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Alexei tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Stubbs counters with a shoot takedown. Alexei fights it but they end up in guard.
Alexei not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Stubbs pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Alexei is keeping the position for now.
Stubbs preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexei can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Stubbs controls the pace.
Stubbs seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Alexei for as long as he can get away with.
Alexei has momentary wrist control but Stubbs slips an elbow through the middle.
Stubbs lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Stubbs scoring with punches to the head and body.
Stubbs trying to control but Alexei is working from the bottom.
Alexei has momentary wrist control but Stubbs slips an elbow through the middle.
Alexei keeping moving, preventing Stubbs from controlling successfully.
Stubbs stands and throws Alexei's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Stubbs advances to full mount.
Alexei working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexei throwing hammer fists to the chest of Stubbs. What's that going to do exactly?
Stubbs blocks Alexei's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Owen Stubbs overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Alexei tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Alexei wants to get back to his feet.
Stubbs working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Stubbs trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Alexei is looking to improve his position but Stubbs isn't that keen on the idea.
Stubbs postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Alexei looks a forlorn figure.
Alexei regains half guard.
Alexei tries to get to full guard but Stubbs has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexei blocking the ground and pound attempt from Stubbs.
Stubbs prevents Alexei from improving his position.
Alexei on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Well, if Stubbs is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Alexei tries to roll over but Stubbs keeps him under control.
Stubbs is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Alexei!
Stubbs controlling from mount.
Alexei keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Alexei is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Stubbs tries to control but Alexei wriggling away.
Stubbs postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Alexei looks a forlorn figure.
A nice elbow there by Stubbs.

Alexei is rocked!
Alexei working to try and regain half guard.
Alexei is still in real trouble! Can Stubbs finish him?
Stubbs lands a big elbow.
Alexei is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stubbs scoring with strikes but Alexei is staying in there.
Alexei gets back to half guard.
Stubbs is tying to control. Alexei wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Stubbs winds up and cracks Alexei with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Alexei missing with punches from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Owen Stubbs dominated that second round.
That's time! Stubbs's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Stubbs fails with a takedown attempt.
Alexei darts in trying to clinch
and Stubbs counters with a nice body shot.

Alexei clinches with his opponent.
Alexei seems to have recovered his senses.

Alexei breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stubbs closes the distance and clinches up with Alexei, looking for a takedown. Stubbs pushes Alexei against the cage but Alexei circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Filipo Alexei seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Stubbs gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Alexei.

Stubbs tightens his grip and picks Alexei up, before dumping him to the ground. Alexei manages to land in guard.
Stubbs passes Alexei's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Stubbs lands with a punch from half guard.
Alexei missing with punches from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stubbs sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Alexei defending well though.
Alexei is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stubbs scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Alexei is looking to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stubbs fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Owen Stubbs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alexei tries to clinch up but Stubbs circles away and keeps his distance.
Stubbs circles away from the clinch attempt.
Alexei tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Alexei scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Stubbs has a takedown stuffed.
Alexei fails in his attempt to clinch.

Alexei gets caught flat footed, as Stubbs shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Stubbs is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stubbs scoring with some ground and pound.
Stubbs slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Alexei throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Alexei wants to stand and escape but Stubbs is having none of it.
Stubbs preventing the sweep.
Alexei trying to keep a closed guard but Stubbs is proving a slippery customer.
Stubbs trying to control the position from guard on top but Alexei is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stubbs slips nicely into half guard.
Stubbs wants to pass the guard but Alexei is defending well.
Alexei trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Alexei closes the distance looking to clinch

and Stubbs counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Stubbs.
Stubbs is looking to work some ground and pound but Alexei has wrist control.
Stubbs works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Stubbs is stalling here. Alexei is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Stubbs seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Alexei has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
An elbow from Alexei crashes against the mat.
Stubbs tries to bench press Alexei off him but Alexei keeps the position.
Alexei wants to stand but Stubbs has his arm trapped.
Stubbs throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Stubbs gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Alexei wants to stand up but Stubbs has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Stubbs tries to roll over but Alexei keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Alexei fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stubbs takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Stubbs shoots in but Alexei avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Alexei looks to land a combination. Stubbs sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Stubbs throws a head kick that misses.
Alexei wants to clinch.
Stubbs shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Alexei as he avoids it easily.
Alexei misses the jab.
Alexei closes the distance looking to clinch

and Stubbs counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stubbs passes easily into side control. Nice work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alexei tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Alexei stops Stubbs from passing to mount.
Stubbs is looking to take a break and control but Alexei is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Owen Stubbs showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Stubbs has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Owen Stubbs!