PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nasir Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Alves
vs
Escobar

178 cm
23
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
148 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Alves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nasir Escobar!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Felipe Paraventi and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Escobar fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Alves avoids it really well and circles away.
Alves tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Escobar swivels and escapes.
Escobar ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Alves moves away.

Alves moves into range and clinches up with Escobar.
Alves gets underhooks to prevent Escobar's takedown attempt.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Alves just misses with a elbow thrown towards Escobar's brow.

Alves jumps into guard, dragging Escobar to the mat.
Alves being controlled here, momentarily.
Alves pulls Escobar in close to prevent any damage.
Alves is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar trying to control but Alves is working from the bottom.
Alves has a closed guard, preventing Escobar from standing up.
Escobar trying to control but Alves is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Escobar throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Alves blocks a head kick by Escobar.
Alves defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Escobar.
Antonio Alves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nasir Escobar.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Alves lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Escobar has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Escobar and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Escobar fails with the takedown

and Alves counters by clinching up.
Escobar has Alves pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Alves manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Alves lands a body shot.
Alves softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Alves just misses with a elbow thrown towards Escobar's brow.

Alves manages to pull guard.

Escobar gets to his feet. Alves looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Alves throws a series of punches but Escobar moves out of range.
Escobar showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Alves.
Alves keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alves closes the distance and pushes Escobar back into the cage.
Alves gets underhooks to prevent Escobar's takedown attempt.
Alves tries a knee to the head but Escobar blocks it.
Alves fails to pull guard.
Escobar tries to score a body lock takedown but Alves shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Alves prevents a takedown attempt there.
Escobar looks gassed!
Escobar is trying to break the clinch but Alves has him pressed against the cage.
Escobar is looking to control Alves's arms but Alves gets an underhook and turns him. Now Escobar has his back to the cage.
Escobar jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Alves walks away with a smile on his face. Escobar gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Alves throws a sloppy head kick
and Escobar counters with a head kick. That will keep Alves thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Alves shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Escobar as he avoids it easily.

Alves rushes Escobar and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Alves tries to break free but Escobar pushes him back against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Alves creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Alves stops a takedown attempt from Escobar.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Escobar is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Escobar jumps guard but Alves stands there with Escobar around his waist. Escobar gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Alves drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Escobar gets the underhooks and prevents it.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Alves just misses with a elbow thrown towards Escobar's brow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Alves dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Escobar darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Alves wants to control but Escobar is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Escobar not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Escobar wants to stand up but Alves is controlling the position.
Alves flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Escobar thows a huge punch but Alves dodges it nicely.
Escobar thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Still in half guard, Escobar seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves tries to get to full guard but Escobar has control of the leg.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Escobar is looking to clinch.
Escobar tries to score a power double leg takedown but Alves sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Escobar somewhat.
Escobar tries to clinch up.
Escobar fails with the takedown.

Alves darts in and clinches Escobar up against the cage.
Escobar tries to pull guard but Alves won't allow it.
Antonio Alves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nasir Escobar.
Escobar blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Alves jumps guard.
Escobar trying to control the position from guard on top but Alves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Escobar trying to control the position from guard on top but Alves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Alves throws his legs up looking for a submission but Escobar uses it to pass to side control.
Alves dodges the ground and pound from Escobar.
Escobar trying to control the action but Alves is working from the bottom.

Escobar is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Alves has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Escobar has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Escobar fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Escobar tries to clinch up.
Alves tries to close the distance and clinch but Escobar swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Alves rushes Escobar and presses him up against the cage.
Alves pushes Escobar back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alves's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alves stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Alves wants it to stay on the feet.
Alves with a lazy takedown attempt
and Escobar finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Escobar moves in looking to clinch but Alves pushes him off.
Escobar misses with a double jab.
Escobar lands a head kick. Alves smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Escobar is looking to clinch.
Escobar shoots in but Alves avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Escobar tries to clinch up.
Escobar misses with a takedown attempt - Alves sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Escobar looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nasir Escobar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Alves misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Alves has closed the distance and engaged Escobar in a clinch.
Escobar wants to stall.
Escobar drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Alves gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alves cracks Escobar with a nice body shot.
Alves stalls.

Alves manages to pull guard.
Alves has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Escobar has passed into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar working the ground and pound but Alves is defending the strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Escobar trying to control the position but Alves is working away.

Escobar decides to stand up, so the ref orders Alves to his feet.
Alves throws a series of punches but Escobar avoids them all with ease.
A swing and a miss from Escobar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Escobar shoots in but no luck this time.
Antonio Alves is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Escobar fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Alves avoids it really well and circles away.
Antonio Alves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nasir Escobar.
Nice takedown defense from Alves. No joy for Escobar on that attempt.
Escobar looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Escobar shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Alves but Alves pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Escobar with a lazy takedown attempt

and Alves moves into the clinch.
Alves is looking to break free of the clinch but Escobar has double underhooks.
Alves misses with a knee to the head.
Alves goes for a takedown in the clinch but Escobar prevents it.
Escobar is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Alves is keeping busy.
Escobar has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Alves is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Alves is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Escobar tries to pull guard but Alves won't allow it.

Alves decides to pull guard.
Escobar won't allow Alves to sweep him here.
Escobar wants to control from the top but Alves keeps moving.
Escobar won't allow Alves to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alves is trying to keep Escobar in close.
Alves can't keep his opponent in guard - Escobar advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Alves looks like he's trying to stand up.
Escobar sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Alves defending well though.
Escobar is trying to control the action in half guard but Alves is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Escobar lands with a thumping leg kick.
Escobar throws a series of strikes that have Alves backpedaling.
Alves takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Escobar shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Alves pinned against the cage. Alves gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Escobar tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Alves counters by clinching up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nasir Escobar.
I think Escobar has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Antonio Alves!