PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matt Pazzini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Willis Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pazzini comes into the arena with Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Pazzini
vs
Alves

177 cm
22
186 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

165 cm
20
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Pazzini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Willis Alves!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Jonathan Paton and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pazzini is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Alves's half guard.
Pazzini seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Alves does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Alves is trying to control but can't.

Pazzini looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Alves is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Alves keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Pazzini trying to pass the guard but Alves defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pazzini is trying to work for a kimura but Alves is defending well.
Pazzini wants to pass to mount but Alves is defending the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Pazzini lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Alves clinches with his opponent.
Pazzini 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.
Pazzini taking a breather.
Alves is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Alves pushes Pazzini back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Pazzini manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Pazzini is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Pazzini is breathing heavily.
Alves has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Pazzini is proving hard to escape from.
Alves trying to control but Pazzini is working from the bottom.
Alves wants to get up but he can't break Pazzini's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pazzini controls Alves momentarily but Alves frees himself.
Alves trying to control but Pazzini is working from the bottom.
Pazzini wants to sweep here but Alves controlling him for the moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Alves wants to clinch up but Pazzini keeps it at a distance.

Alves gets a clinch.

Pazzini gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alves wants to get back to full guard.
Pazzini trying to control from half guard but Alves is working away.
Pazzini is just content to waste time from the top position. Alves takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
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.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Alves seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pazzini wants to stand but Alves is controlling his posture from full guard.
Pazzini looking to pass the guard.
Alves is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pazzini is controlling him.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alves looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pazzini throws a nice looking combination but Alves bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Alves is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alves looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pazzini wants to clinch up but Alves keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Pazzini lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Alves circles away quickly and effectively.
Pazzini looks to land a combination but Alves avoids it well.

Alves has taken the fight to the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Alves as Pazzini tries to tie him up.
Alves is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Pazzini is keeping busy.
Pazzini is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Alves is trying to break the clinch but Pazzini is controlling him.
Pazzini stalling in the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Alves.
Alves is trying to break the clinch but Pazzini has him pressed against the cage.

Pazzini breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alves tries to clinch up but Pazzini circles away and keeps his distance.
Pazzini displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Alves.
Alves is looking to clinch but Pazzini is avoiding it.
Pazzini fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Alves tries to clinch but Pazzini is having none of it.
Alves works the jab nicely.
Pazzini misses with a series of wild punches.
Alves just misses with a punch to the body.
Pazzini is trying hard to land a takedown here. Alves sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Alves tries to clinch up.
Alves scores with a nice head shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Willis Alves will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Alves gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Pazzini escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice body punch from Alves.
Alves tries to clinch up but Pazzini circles away and keeps his distance.
Pazzini shoots in for a takedown but Alves shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Alves wants to clinch up but Pazzini keeps it at a distance.

Alves rushes Pazzini and presses him up against the cage.
Alves wants to get back to striking at distance but Pazzini won't allow it.

Alves gets control of Pazzini's arms and successfully pulls guard. Alves will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Alves pulls Pazzini in to control the position.
Alves wants to get back to his feet but Pazzini is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Pazzini preventing the sweep.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves pulls Pazzini in close to his closed guard and prevents Pazzini from doing any damage or advancing position.
Let's hope that Alves 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.
Pazzini pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Alves is keeping the position for now.
Alves really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Pazzini. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Alves is on top in guard.
Alves trying to control but Pazzini is working from the bottom.
Alves controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Alves trying to control but Pazzini is working from the bottom.

Despite being in the dominant position, Willis Alves just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Alves throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Alves shoots in looking for a takedown. Pazzini tries to sprawl out of it but Alves keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pazzini manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Pazzini clinches up with Alves and pushes him back against the cage.

Pazzini breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Alves tries to close the distance and clinch but Pazzini swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alves looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Matt Pazzini seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pazzini shoots in for a takedown but Alves shows good takedown defense.
Some wild striking there from Pazzini.
Pazzini tries to bum rush Alves with a series of wild strikes but Alves uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pazzini doesn't manage to clinch there - Alves circles away.
Pazzini moves in looking to clinch but Alves pushes him off.

Alves takes the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Alves ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Alves no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Pazzini wants to pass the guard but Alves is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alves tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Alves wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Alves bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pazzini's guard.
Pazzini throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Pazzini looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Pazzini is working hard here to advance position.
Pazzini manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pazzini goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Alves is on top in guard.
Pazzini looking to hit a scissor sweep but Alves is one step ahead there.
Alves sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pazzini's guard.
Alves is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Alves works his foot free and advances to mount.
Pazzini is squirming around, avoiding Alves's attempts to control the action.
Pazzini in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Willis Alves 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Pazzini circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pazzini is looking to clinch.

Pazzini shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Alves tries to hold on but Pazzini pushes him away.
Alves might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Pazzini kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Alves stops Pazzini from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Alves really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Pazzini looking to control but Alves is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Pazzini is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pazzini walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Pazzini closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves moves in looking to clinch but Pazzini pushes him off.
Alves wants to clinch up but Pazzini keeps it at a distance.
Alves wants to clinch up but Pazzini keeps it at a distance.

Alves takes the fight into the clinch.
Pazzini wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Good body shot from Alves.
Nice body punch from Alves - that landed with a thud.
Alves lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Pazzini backwards.
Alves working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Alves tries to break the clinch but Pazzini is controlling the position.
Alves lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Alves tries to circle away but Pazzini has him pinned against the cage.
Alves cracks Pazzini with a nice body shot.
Pazzini is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Alves breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Alves fails with an attempt to clinch.
Alves tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pazzini swats him away and circles back towards the center.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Alves.
Pazzini slips under a jab from Alves.
Pazzini swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Alves tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pazzini paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Alves dives in and grabs Pazzini's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pazzini pushes down on Alves's head and hops out.
Alves wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pazzini tries to bum rush Alves with a series of wild strikes but Alves uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Pazzini is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Alves jumps guard and drags Pazzini to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Pazzini is fighting to break Alves's control of his arms but Alves is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Pazzini looking to sit in guard and control but Alves gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Pazzini keeping moving, preventing Alves from controlling successfully.
Alves is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Pazzini will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Pazzini keeping moving, preventing Alves from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves controlling from the top position.
Alves preventing the sweep.

Pazzini looking for a guillotine here but Alves defends easily.
Alves trying to control the position from guard on top but Pazzini is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Alves misses with a body shot.
Pazzini attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Pazzini swats away the attempt to clinch by Alves.
Pazzini swats away the attempt to clinch by Alves.
Matt Pazzini has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matt Pazzini is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four 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 jabs at Pazzini's body.

Alves gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Pazzini breaks the clinch.
Alves fails to land the takedown.
Alves ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Alves moves into the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Alves.
Alves lands a nice shot to the body.
Alves can't break the clinch.

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

Alves moves into the clinch.
Pazzini tries to stall but Alves uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Alves effectively controlling the action here.

Alves breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pazzini on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Pazzini swats away the attempt to clinch by Alves.

Alves takes the fight into the clinch.
Pazzini doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Willis 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30

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