PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Troy Alexander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyron Thatch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Alexander
vs
Thatch

175 cm
26
175 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
181 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Troy Alexander!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tyron Thatch!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Steve Smith and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thatch avoids the body shot from Alexander.
Alexander misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
No joy there for Alexander, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Alexander avoids a punch combination nicely.
Some wild striking there from Alexander.
Thatch darts in trying to clinch
and Thatch takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Alexander throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thatch wants to clinch up but Alexander keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexander misses with a few strikes there.
Alexander lands a two punch combo.
Alexander circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thatch misses with a body kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thatch closes the distance looking to clinch
and Alexander counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexander misses with a double jab.
Alexander has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Thatch tries to clinch there but Alexander circles away.
Thatch is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thatch shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Alexander as he jumps to the side.
Alexander throws a right and a left that both miss.
Alexander misses with a double jab.
Thatch looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A combination from Alexander does no damage.
Alexander tried to score with a low kick but Thatch checks it.
A head kick misses from Thatch.
Thatch scores with a body shot.
Thatch is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alexander closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Thatch looking to throw knees to the head but Alexander is blocking nicely.

Alexander pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Thatch has a takedown stuffed.
Alexander tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thatch tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alexander swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Troy Alexander is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thatch is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Alexander scores with a hook to the body. Thatch takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Alexander will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thatch doesn't manage to clinch there - Alexander circles away.
Alexander throws a leg kick but Thatch checks it.
Thatch drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Alexander defends it well.

Alexander takes the fight into the clinch.
Thatch jumps guard but Alexander stands there with Thatch around his waist. Thatch gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Troy Alexander has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyron Thatch.
Thatch is looking for a takedown.
Thatch changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Alexander fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Thatch throws a front kick aimed at Alexander's knee but Alexander avoids it well.
As Thatch looks to move away, Alexander throws a big counter combo bu Thatch just gets out of the way.
Thatch shoots in for a double leg but Alexander sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Thatch throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thatch fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Thatch looks winded!
Thatch slips a jab and a cross from Alexander.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alexander pushes Thatch up against the cage in a clinch.
Alexander taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Thatch breaks the clinch.
Alexander ducks under a wild hook from Thatch.
Danga de danga de dang - Alexander scores with a four punch combination!
Thatch shoots in but Alexander avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alexander connects with a body shot.

Alexander clinches up with Thatch and pushes him back against the cage.

Alexander breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Alexander lands a nice shot that snaps Thatch's head back.
No joy there for Alexander, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Troy Alexander dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Alexander scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Thatch doesn't seem bothered though.
Thatch misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Alexander pushes Thatch up against the cage in a clinch.
Thatch throws a knee to the head but misses.

Alexander breaks from the clinch.
Alexander is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thatch can do to turn this around?

Thatch tries to keep at a distance but Alexander has taken the fight into the clinch.
Thatch fails to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thatch is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Alexander pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Thatch tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Alexander content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Thatch taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alexander pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Alexander throws a leg kick but Thatch checks it.
Troy Alexander is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alexander circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thatch tries to score a power double leg takedown but Alexander sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Thatch somewhat.
Troy Alexander has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyron Thatch.
Thatch shoots in looking for a takedown. Alexander tries to sprawl out of it but Thatch keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Alexander manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Thatch dodges the punch combination from Alexander.
Alexander moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Tyron Thatch has been cut.
Thatch doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Alexander counters with a left and a right that stings Thatch.
Thatch is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Alexander. Those never looked like landing.

Alexander clinches.

Alexander breaks from the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alexander slaps away a takedown attempt from Thatch, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Thatch shoots in for a takedown but Alexander shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Some bone on bone action there as Thatch checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Alexander swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Alexander throws a low kick but Thatch avoids it.

Alexander lands a left and a right that send Thatch crashing to the mat, dazed. Alexander thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
A left and a right from Alexander both land. Nice combination.

Thatch is rocked!
Alexander is looking to wear down Thatch with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Alexander throws a low kick but Thatch avoids it.
Thatch unleashes a big counter combination but Alexander bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Thatch is still on wobbly legs! Can Alexander finish him?
Alexander throws a head kick that misses.
Thatch seems to have recovered his senses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexander wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Alexander pushes Thatch up against the cage in a clinch.
Thatch tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Alexander avoids it.

Alexander breaks the clinch.
Alexander takes a swing at Thatch's ribcage but misses.
Thatch avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thatch with the counter takedown but Alexander avoids it easily.
Alexander throws a leg kick but Thatch sees it coming and moves out of range.
Alexander leaves Thatch with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thatch clinches up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alexander breaks from the clinch.
Thatch lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Thatch doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Thatch throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Alexander is looking for a counter combo.
Thatch has a takedown stuffed.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alexander looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Thatch unleashes a big counter combination but Alexander bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
No luck for Thatch with that takedown attempt.
Alexander dips to his left and cracks Thatch with an uppercut!
Thatch avoids a punch combination nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Troy Alexander dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tyron Thatch's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Thatch fails with a takedown attempt.
Alexander throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thatch.
Thatch tries to clinch there but Alexander circles away.
Alexander lands with a nice combination. Thatch backs away looking to recover.
Alexander fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Thatch is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Thatch swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Alexander misses with a double jab
and Thatch counters with a one-two to the body.

It looks like Troy Alexander has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexander fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Alexander lands a jab to Thatch's midsection.
Alexander misses with a body shot.
Thatch is trying to counter with his kicks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Alexander will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thatch is looking to clinch but Alexander is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexander circles away from the clinch attempt.
A punch combination from Alexander misses.
Alexander tries to bum rush Thatch with a series of wild strikes but Thatch uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Horrible takedown attempt by Thatch or perhaps it was just good defense by Alexander, which made it look bad.
Alexander avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Alexander throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Alexander will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thatch shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Alexander sprawls well. Alexander wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Thatch gets slowly back to his feet.
Troy Alexander has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyron Thatch.

Alexander closes the distance and pushes Thatch back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexander pressing his opponent against the cage.
Thatch has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Alexander after a bit of a struggle.

Thatch breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thatch has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Troy Alexander seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alexander swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Alexander throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thatch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thatch tries to clinch up but Alexander circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexander slaps away a takedown attempt from Thatch, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Thatch swings for the body but Alexander moves out of range.
Thatch tries to clinch but Alexander moves out of range.
Alexander throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thatch.
Thatch is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Alexander blocks a head kick by Thatch.
Alexander fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Thatch feints the counter takedown.
A clash of legs there as Thatch blocks the low kick.
A shot to the liver by Thatch. Beautiful body shot.
Thatch thows a left - swing and a miss!
Thatch misses with a low kick.
Thatch's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Thatch duly obliges.
Alexander throws a series of punches but Thatch moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alexander gets a clinch.

Alexander breaks the clinch.
Thatch fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Alexander fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thatch manages to avoid it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thatch.
Alexander avoids the head kick by Thatch.
Alexander throws a front kick aimed at Thatch's knee but Thatch avoids it well.
Alexander lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A right-left combo lands from Alexander.
Thatch connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Alexander lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Tyron Thatch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Troy Alexander is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thatch misses with a double jab
and Alexander counters with a left and a right that stings Thatch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Troy Alexander showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Alexander has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Troy Alexander!