PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tad Pohl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and thaigo alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). alves has chosen sandstorm as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Pohl
vs
thaigo alves

160 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

168 cm
20
145 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tad Pohl!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, thaigo alves!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Thiago Cunha and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
alves shoots in but Pohl avoids the takedown attempt easily.

alves closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pohl with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Pohl wants a takedown.

alves breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

alves darts in and clinches Pohl up against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
alves lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Tad Pohl has been cut.

alves manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Pohl wants to control from the top but alves keeps moving.
Pohl knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for alves on the ground.
alves tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pohl has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
alves trying to keep a closed guard but Pohl is proving a slippery customer.
Pohl is breathing heavily.
Pohl stays in close to alves's body and controls the position.
alves is trying to keep Pohl in close.
Pohl looking to sit in guard and control but alves gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
alves controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells alves's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
alves trying to control but Pohl is working from the bottom.

alves stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Pohl tries to clinch up

and alves counters by moving into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
alves tries to break the clinch but Pohl is controlling the position.
Pohl is trying to drag alves to the mat but alves just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
alves tries for a takedown. No joy.
Pohl goes for a takedown in the clinch but alves prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tad Pohl. That's going to take a lot out of him.

alves's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pohl tries to clinch but fails miserably

and alves moves into the clinch.
Pohl drops down looking for an ankle pick but alves pulls his leg out and moves away.
alves lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Pohl backs up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

alves rushes Pohl and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

alves escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pohl tries to clinch

and alves moves into the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by alves.

alves has clasped his hands together around Pohl's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
alves sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Pohl is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

alves is trying to get an arm triangle but Pohl is defending well.
alves wants to control but Pohl is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

thaigo alves dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tad Pohl's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Pohl fails with a takedown attempt.

alves gets a clinch.

alves jumps into guard, dragging Pohl to the mat.
alves managing to control the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now alves is on top in guard.
alves stopping the sweep attempt from Pohl.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
alves trying to control the position from guard on top but Pohl is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pohl pulls alves in close to prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
alves stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pohl swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
alves thows a big elbow that misses.
alves postures up.
Pohl controlling the position.
Pohl looking for a sweep. Not yet Pohl, not yet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Pohl wants to clinch but alves slips to the side

and alves moves into the clinch.
Pohl trying to control the position but instead, alves has worked for underhooks and has pushed Pohl into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

alves drags the fight down to the ground.
alves is striking off his back. Pohl thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Pohl is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
alves won't allow Pohl to pass to mount.
alves blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pohl.

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.
alves gets full guard.
alves controls Pohl momentarily but Pohl frees himself.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if alves can do anything to dispel that myth.
alves wants to sweep but no luck.
alves is trying to keep Pohl in close.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pohl wants to clinch but alves slips to the side
and alves counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Horrible takedown by Pohl or perhaps it was just good defense by alves which made him look bad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

thaigo alves showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tad Pohl's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

alves closes the distance and pushes Pohl back into the cage.

alves breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
alves lands a head kick. Pohl smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Tad Pohl is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pohl tries to clinch up

and alves moves into the clinch.
alves prevents a takedown attempt there.
alves taking a breather.
alves lands a knee to the body.
Pohl goes for a takedown attempt but alves pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

alves gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
alves drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pohl is trying to maintain a safe position but alves gets an underhook and turns Pohl into the cage.
alves dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
alves jumps guard but Pohl stands there with alves around his waist. alves gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Pohl is trying to stall.
Pohl tries to land knees in the clinch but alves avoids the damage to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
alves misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pohl is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
alves is trying to drag Pohl to the mat but Pohl just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Tad Pohl has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of thaigo alves.
Pohl is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Pohl tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
alves tries to score a body lock takedown but Pohl shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Pohl jumps guard.
alves trying to control but Pohl is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
alves 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.
alves trying to control the position from guard on top but Pohl is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Pohl is working an open guard so alves takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Pohl shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with alves but alves pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

alves instigates a clinch.

alves pulls Pohl into guard.
alves working a defensive guard here.
alves doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
alves wants to stand up but Pohl is controlling him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pohl wants to control from the top but alves keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
thaigo alves comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well alves has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... thaigo alves!