PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Herman Wiliam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Herman Wiliam has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Wiliam
vs
Alves

220 cm
21
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

200 cm
23
205 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Herman Wiliam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Thiago Alves!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Bruno Hogan and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alves is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Wiliam.
Alves misses with a series of wild punches.
Alves scores with a jab to the jaw.
Alves misses with a straight right.
Wiliam with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Alves to score with a decent uppercut.
Alves pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Alves throws a head kick that misses.
Alves misses with a few strikes there.
Wiliam misses with a jab, cross combination.
Alves misses with the combination.
Wiliam throws a nice outside leg kick.
Wiliam lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Alves circles away quickly and effectively.

Wiliam closes the distance and clinches.
Wiliam throws a knee to the head but misses.

Wiliam escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Wiliam drives through with a takedown into guard.

Alves wriggles free and stands up.
Alves rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Wiliam moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Wiliam misses with a double jab.
Danga de danga de dang - Alves scores with a four punch combination!
Wiliam shoots in but no luck this time.
Alves lands with a cross.
Alves stuffs the takedown attempt from Wiliam. Wiliam gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wiliam lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Alves scores with a crisp jab that stopped Wiliam in his tracks.
Alves scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Herman Wiliam has been cut.
Alves throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Wiliam's waist but Wiliam gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Alves off to one side.
Wiliam shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Herman Wiliam. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wiliam slips under a jab.
Alves just misses with a punch to the body.
Wiliam misses with a wild combination.
Wiliam gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Wiliam misses with a double jab
and Alves counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Wiliam misses with a head kick.
Wiliam dives in and grabs Alves's left leg, looking for a takedown. Alves pushes down on Wiliam's head and hops out.
Wiliam is breathing heavily.
Wiliam wants to land a leg kick but Alves is out of range.
Alves lands a jab-cross combination.
Alves ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Alves misses with a head kick.
Alves has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Wiliam blocks a head kick by Alves.
Wiliam chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Alves can pounce on him.
Alves scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Wiliam doesn't seem bothered though.
Wiliam shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Alves pinned against the cage. Alves gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wiliam on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Alves bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Alves bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Alves's corner calls for a 1-2. Alves obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Alves fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Wiliam on the side of the head.

Alves throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Wiliam was covering up waiting for the punch and Alves finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Alves gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Alves scores with a jab.

Alves drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alves trying to control the position from guard on top but Wiliam is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Alves stands and steps away. Wiliam gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wiliam scores with a head kick.
Wiliam thumps Alves with a low kick.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Wiliam takes one to the side of the head.
Alves takes a kick to the side of the head.
Alves misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Wiliam.

Wiliam gets the takedown into side control.

Alves throws Wiliam to one side and escapes!
Wiliam moves out of range of the strikes.
Wiliam shoots and misses

and Alves counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Wiliam!
Wiliam is squirming around, avoiding Alves's attempts to control the action.
Wiliam tries to reverse the position but Alves maintains control.
Wiliam tries to hold on but Alves postures up.
Alves wants to control the pace but Wiliam is squirming around nicely.
Wiliam wants to control but Alves is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wiliam can't escape the position.

Alves gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Wiliam really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Alves defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Wiliam.
Alves slips a jab and a cross from Wiliam.
Alves fails with a takedown attempt.
Alves lands with a straight right. Wiliam didn't see that one coming.
Alves misses with a body shot.

Wiliam closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Wiliam lands in his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Wiliam trying to control but Alves is working from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Alves is looking to stand up but Wiliam isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Alves dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Herman Wiliam's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Alves drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Alves walks into a stiff left hand from Wiliam.
Alves throws a hook but Wiliam blocks it.
Herman Wiliam is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Some wild striking there from Wiliam.
Wiliam dives in and grabs Alves's left leg, looking for a takedown. Alves pushes down on Wiliam's head and hops out.
Alves lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Wiliam moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Wiliam shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Wiliam was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Wiliam working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Alves is trying to stand up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wiliam wants to control the pace but Alves is squirming around nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves wants to control but Wiliam is having none of it.
Alves is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

Wiliam stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Wiliam wants to clinch.
Wiliam looks for a takedown but Alves sprawls well.
The fighters circle momentarily. Alves darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A combination from Alves does no damage.
Wiliam throws a series of strikes that have Alves backpedaling.
Wiliam throws a series of punches but Alves moves out of range.

Wiliam drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves wants to stand up but Wiliam is controlling him.
Alves trying to control the position.
Wiliam trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Wiliam will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Wiliam won't allow Alves to get back to his feet.
Wiliam sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Wiliam trying to control the position from guard on top but Alves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Alves pushes Wiliam off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Wiliam misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wiliam takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Wiliam lands an overhand right.
Wiliam smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
A head kick from Wiliam lands but Alves takes it in his stride.

Alves is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Wiliam's half guard.
Alves prevents Wiliam from improving his position.
Wiliam trying to control but Alves postures up.
Alves tries to stand and escape but Wiliam is controlling the position.
Wiliam is trying to get back to full guard.
Wiliam on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Thiago Alves has got the better of the ground game so far.
Wiliam is trying to stand up here but Alves is controlling him well.
Wiliam wants to control but Alves is keeping busy.

Alves decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alves swats away the attempt to clinch by Wiliam.
Wiliam lands with a slapping head kick.
Wiliam throws a nice head kick!
A swing and a miss from Alves.
Alves misses with a hook. Wiliam ducked under it nicely.
Wiliam misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Alves throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Wiliam.
Alves throws a series of punches but Wiliam moves out of range.
Wiliam fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Herman Wiliam. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alves fails to land the takedown.
Thiago Alves seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Alves pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Wiliam shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Alves as he avoids it easily.
Alves looks to land a combination but Wiliam avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Herman Wiliam will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Herman Wiliam's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Alves tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Wiliam was well out of range. Poor timing from Alves.
Wiliam moves away from the strike by Alves.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Wiliam.
The fighters circling - Alves throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Alves loads up on a big right hand but Wiliam slips the punch.
Alves misses with the combination.
Wiliam blocks a head kick by Alves.
Wiliam slips a jab and a cross from Alves.

Wiliam shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Alves's guard.

Alves kicks Wiliam off and gets to his feet.
Alves throws a head kick that misses.

Wiliam changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Alves looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Alves pushes Wiliam away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Wiliam gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Wiliam trying to control the action but Alves is working from the bottom.

Alves bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves swats away the attempt to clinch by Wiliam.
Wiliam defending well as Alves loads up on a big left hand.
Wiliam misses with a series of wild punches.
Wiliam throws a right and a left that both miss.
Alves looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Wiliam scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Wiliam uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Wiliam closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Wiliam lands in his opponent's guard.

Alves pushes Wiliam off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Wiliam goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Alves throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Wiliam's waist but Wiliam gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Alves off to one side.
Wiliam connects with a looping right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wiliam jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Wiliam.
Alves fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Wiliam shoots in looking for a takedown. Alves tries to sprawl out of it but Wiliam keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Alves manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Herman Wiliam. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alves throws the left hand but Wiliam avoids the punch easily.
Wiliam pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Alves will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Alves looks for a takedown but Wiliam sprawls well.
Wiliam throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Wiliam throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Wiliam throws a head kick that half lands.
Wiliam misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Alves stalks Wiliam and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Wiliam's face. Wiliam staggers backwards, shaken.
Wiliam goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Wiliam misses with a double jab

and Alves counters with a shoot takedown. Wiliam fights it but they end up in guard.

Alves stands and steps away. Wiliam gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Alves dodges the punch combination from Wiliam.
Wiliam throws a head kick that misses.
Wiliam lands a nice looking body kick.
Alves throws the left hand but Wiliam avoids the punch easily.
Alves misses with a looping right.
Wiliam throws a sloppy head kick and Alves moves out of range easily.
Wiliam tries to clinch up but Alves circles away and keeps his distance.
Alves dodges the punch combination from Wiliam.
Wiliam tries to bum rush Alves with a series of wild strikes but Alves uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Alves throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Alves throws a hook to the side of Wiliam's head but Wiliam sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Wiliam lands a nice looking kick to the body. Alves takes a step back to recover.
Wiliam scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alves takes a swing at Wiliam's ribcage but misses.

Wiliam fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Alves sprawls well initially but Wiliam persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Wiliam is pressing down on Alves's thigh, looking to free his foot. Alves is holding on for now.
Wiliam controlling the action here.
Wiliam prevents Alves from standing back up.
Alves won't allow Wiliam to pass to mount.
Alves looks like he's trying to stand up.
Wiliam trying to pass the guard but Alves defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Herman Wiliam.
I think Wiliam 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Herman Wiliam!