PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maik Murmann (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Murmann has chosen Nur ein Wort as his entrance music. Maik Murmann is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Alves
vs
Murmann

180 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

173 cm
21
180 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Knockout power

(GTI) - HGH Nutrients
Win Nutritional

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thiago Alves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Maik Murmann!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Alves closes the distance and pushes Murmann back into the cage.
Murmann looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Alves's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alves closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Alves shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Murmann defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Alves.
Murmann holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Alves tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Murmann working to try and regain half guard.
Alves thowing shots but they're missing.
Alves looking to finish with strikes here!
Alves sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Alves looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murmann is in all sorts of trouble here.
Alves looking to finish with strikes here!
Alves throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Alves sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Alves throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Alves thowing shots but they're missing.
Murmann avoids a series of strikes thrown by Alves.
Alves is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Murmann can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Murmann is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Alves throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Alves thowing shots but they're missing.

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 looking to finish Murmann with some ground and pound. This is bad for Murmann!
Murmann tries to hold on but Alves pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alves looking to ground and pound but Murmann is blocking nicely.
Alves is landing with some decent strikes but Murmann is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Alves thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Murmann tries to reverse the position but Alves maintains control.
Alves thowing shots but they're missing.

Alves is standing up, even though he is in mount.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alves looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Alves gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Alves.
Alves taking a breather.
Alves lands with a right to the head.
Alves lands a body punch.

Alves lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Alves not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Murmann 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.
Alves trying to pass the guard but Murmann defending well.
Murmann blocking the ground and pound attempt from Alves.
Alves landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alves sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Murmann defending well though.

Alves gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Maik Murmann seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Alves clinches.
Alves has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Murmann is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Alves scores with a shot to the side of Murmann's head.
Alves lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Alves's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Alves has managed to clinch.
A shot in the inside from Alves.

Alves escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Alves throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Alves dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Alves lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Alves.

Alves rushes Murmann and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Alves slows down the pace here.

Alves manages to break the clinch.
Alves tries to clinch up.
Murmann with a lazy takedown attempt
and Alves counters with a one-two to the body.

Alves closes the distance and pushes Murmann back into the cage.
Alves lands a shoulder strike.
Alves is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Murmann gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Murmann is breathing heavily.

Alves wants the takedown. Murmann is fighting it off but Alves persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Murmann's guard against the cage.
Alves tries to free his leg and advance position but Murmann is retaining full guard.

Alves is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves wants to pass the guard but Murmann is keeping the position.
Alves stopping the sweep attempt from Murmann.

Alves decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Alves moves in looking to clinch but Murmann pushes him off.
Alves tries to clinch up.
Murmann avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Alves throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Murmann stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's two 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 moves in looking to clinch but Murmann pushes him off.
Alves throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Murmann's head.
Alves misses with the combination.

Alves instigates a clinch.
Alves lands a left hand that snaps the head of Murmann backwards.

Alves has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Murmann clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Murmann defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Alves throwing sloppy strikes.
Murmann is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Alves knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Murmann on the ground.

Alves is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Murmann has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Alves has the hooks in. Murmann is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Alves is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Alves tightening his grip on Murmann, looking for the choke.
Alves avoiding Murmann 's attempts to control his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
I really don't envy Murmann right now.
Alves misses with an elbow to the head.
Alves somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.

Alves is looking for the choke from the back position but Murmann is controlling his hands well.
Murmann trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Murmann trying to get back to his feet but Alves is in full control for now.
Alves throwing wild punches that miss their target.

Alves tightening his grip on Murmann, looking for the choke.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Murmann showing good submission defense here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Alves dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Alves wants to clinch up but Murmann keeps it at a distance.
Murmann shoots and misses
and Alves counters with a series of strikes. Murmann will be more careful next time no doubt.

Alves clinches.
Alves landing knees to the body.

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

Alves drives through with a takedown into guard.

Alves is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Murmann looking for a sweep. Not yet Murmann, not yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Alves thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murmann has his foot on Alves's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Alves works his way back into a safe position though.
Thiago Alves overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Murmann avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Alves tries to free his leg and advance position but Murmann is retaining full guard.
Alves loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Alves throws a big right hand that misses.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Alves throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Murmann.
Alves scores with a head kick.
Thiago Alves is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Alves rushes Murmann and presses him up against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Nice body punch from Alves - that landed with a thud.

That's two 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 manages to break the clinch.
Murmann fails with the takedown
and Alves counters with a two punch combo.

Alves drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Alves accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Alves advances position into side control!
Murmann is trying to get back to half guard.
Alves gets to mount! Murmann was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Murmann keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Murmann wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Alves.
Alves is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Murmann can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murmann is looking to get to half guard.

Alves is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Alves scores with a push kick.

Alves takes the fight into the clinch.
Alves drops down looking for an ankle pick but Murmann pulls his leg out and moves away.
Alves throws a nice head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alves clinches up against the cage.
Alves scores a nice knee to the body.
Alves lands with a short shot to the head.

Alves pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Murmann with a poor takedown

and Alves counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Thiago Alves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maik Murmann.

Alves decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Murmann, up you get!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Murmann has his takedown stuffed

and Alves moves into the clinch.

Alves manages to break the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Murmann swats away the attempt to clinch by Alves.
Alves throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Murmann.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiago Alves showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Alves 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:24
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:24
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thiago Alves!