PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Danilo Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesus Leonardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leonardo has chosen California Gurls as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Alves
vs
Leonardo

190 cm
22
265 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

205 cm
20
265 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Clube Da Esquina Nutrition ($10 Q156 Rec)
Clube Da Esquina Nutrition ($10 Q156 Rec)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Danilo Alves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jesus Leonardo!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Leandro Rodrigues and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leonardo keeps the fight on the outside.
Danilo Alves seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alves is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Alves fails in his attempt to clinch.
Leonardo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Leonardo keeps the fight on the outside.
Alves is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Alves throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Leonardo takes the fight into the clinch.
Leonardo looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Leonardo.
Alves working aggressively here.
Alves working aggressively here.
Leonardo misses with a knee to the head.
Leonardo blocks an uppercut.
Leonardo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Alves has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Alves takes a knee right on the jaw!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alves swings wildly with an uppercut but Leonardo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Leonardo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Leonardo jumps guard.
Alves wants to stand and escape but instead Leonardo has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alves is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonardo tries to free his leg and advance position but Alves is retaining full guard.
Leonardo 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 is working an open guard so Leonardo takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Alves tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Leonardo moves into the clinch.

Leonardo manages to break the clinch.
Alves closes the distance looking to clinch

and Leonardo moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonardo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Leonardo lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Danilo Alves has been cut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Leonardo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Leonardo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Alves lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Leonardo.
Alves misses with the head strike.
Alves working aggressively here.

Leonardo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Alves wants to clinch

and Leonardo counters by moving into the clinch.
Alves lands a hook to the side of the head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Leonardo.
Alves presses Leonardo against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A nice right hand lands inside from Alves.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alves swings wildly with an uppercut but Leonardo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Alves scores with a shot to the side of Leonardo's head.
Leonardo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Leonardo blocks an uppercut.
Alves throws a punch but it's blocked by Leonardo.
Leonardo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Alves blocks it with crossed arms.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Alves.
Leonardo looks gassed!
Leonardo lands a left hand.
Alves has a couple of punches blocked by Leonardo.
Leonardo blocking some punches.
Still in the clinch, Alves scores with a nice short uppercut.

Leonardo has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Alves uses from the top position.
Alves has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Leonardo tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonardo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Alves manages to get himself to full guard.
Leonardo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Leonardo sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Leonardo trying to control the position from guard on top but Alves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Leonardo gets to his feet - Alves follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alves tries to clinch but Leonardo moves away

and Leonardo counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Alves scores with a nice hook to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Leonardo.
Alves lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Leonardo backwards.
Alves misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Leonardo is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Alves is keeping busy.
Leonardo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Alves is defending well for now.
Leonardo blocks an uppercut.
Leonardo tries a knee to the head but Alves blocks it.
Alves swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Leonardo tries a knee to the head but Alves blocks it.
A short right from Alves.
Alves scores with a shoulder strike.
Alves throws a punch but it's blocked by Leonardo.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alves avoids the elbow strike from Leonardo, against the cage.
Alves misses with some punches.
Alves misses with a hook from the clinch.
Alves takes a knee to the side of the body.
A head punch on the inside from Alves fails to land.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Leonardo.
Leonardo takes a shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jesus Leonardo will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Danilo Alves's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Leonardo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Leonardo misses with a knee strike.
Alves misses with the head strike.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Leonardo in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Leonardo gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Leonardo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Alves fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Leonardo lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Alves misses with a hook from the clinch.
Leonardo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Leonardo lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Alves managing to block the knees to the body from Leonardo.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Alves working aggressively here.
Leonardo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Leonardo manages to break the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Alves.
Alves looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Alves falls off balance throwing a combination
and Leonardo counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Leonardo chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nice body kick from Leonardo.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alves walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonardo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alves swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Leonardo closes the distance and clinches.
Alves takes a knee to the side of the body.
Alves being controlled against the cage.
Leonardo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Leonardo jumps guard and drags Alves to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Leonardo is pulling down on Alves's head. It's preventing any offense from Alves, at least for the moment.
Leonardo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Leonardo has control of Alves's left arm, preventing Alves from doing any damage.
Alves won't allow Leonardo to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alves avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Leonardo is pulling down on Alves's head. It's preventing any offense from Alves, at least for the moment.

Leonardo pushes Alves off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Leonardo counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Leonardo doesn't manage to clinch there - Alves circles away.

Leonardo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A knee to the head by Leonardo.
Leonardo gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Leonardo tries to stall but Alves uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Leonardo pulls guard effortlessly.
Leonardo is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Alves knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Leonardo on the ground.
Let's hope that Leonardo has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Alves preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Leonardo holds on and takes a little breather.

Leonardo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Leonardo looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesus Leonardo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Danilo Alves's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Alves tries to bum rush Leonardo with a series of wild strikes but Leonardo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Leonardo clinches up with Alves and pushes him back against the cage.
Leonardo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Alves just stands there and leans against the cage.
Alves working aggressively here.
Leonardo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Leonardo.
Alves prevents a body shot from Leonardo.
Leonardo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Leonardo's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Leonardo looking to stall.
Leonardo landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Leonardo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Alves wants to clinch but Leonardo slips to the side

and Leonardo counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Leonardo.
Alves has a couple of punches blocked by Leonardo.
A short uppercut from Alves.
Alves lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Leonardo creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Alves's defenses.
Leonardo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Leonardo tries to pull guard but Alves won't allow it.
Leonardo tries to pull guard but Alves holds him up against the cage and eventually Leonardo drops back down to his feet.
Danilo Alves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesus Leonardo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Leonardo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonardo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Alves lands with a light punch inside.

Leonardo successfully pulls guard.
Leonardo controlling the position.
Alves tries to stand but Leonardo is controlling from the bottom.
Leonardo wants to sweep but no luck.
Leonardo controlling Alves's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves preventing the sweep.
Jesus Leonardo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Leonardo pulls Alves in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves won't allow Leonardo to sweep him here.
Danilo Alves has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leonardo is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Despite being in the dominant position, Jesus Leonardo just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Alves throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's four 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.

Leonardo moves into range and clinches up with Alves.
Alves takes an elbow to the temple.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Alves.
Alves swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Leonardo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alves closes the distance but Leonardo moves to the side
and Leonardo counters with a nice body kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Leonardo.
Leonardo lands with a kick to the ribs.

Leonardo moves into the clinch.
Leonardo swings wildly with an uppercut but Alves uses good head movement to avoid it.
Leonardo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Leonardo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Leonardo utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Knees to the body from Leonardo.
Leonardo lands a knee to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesus Leonardo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Leonardo 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesus Leonardo!