PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maddox Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Drake comes into the arena with I Dare You blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Alves's choice of entrance music: i Got a Felling. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Drake
vs
Alves

183 cm
20
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Maddox Drake!
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, Thiago Alves!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Reed Andrews and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alves tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Drake shoots for a double leg takedown but Alves sprawls well. He's pushed Drake's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Alves stuffs the takedown.
Alves tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Alves wants to clinch up but Drake keeps it at a distance.
Drake shoots in looking for a takedown. Alves tries to sprawl out of it but Drake 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 Maddox Drake. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Drake is looking to clinch but Alves is avoiding it.
Alves lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Drake is rocked!

Alves pushes Drake up against the cage in a clinch.
A knee to the head by Alves.
Oh Drake is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Drake is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Alves pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Drake jumps guard but Alves stands there with Drake around his waist. Drake gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Alves with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Alves throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Drake blocks it with crossed arms.
Drake seems to have got his legs back now.
Drake is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Drake is breathing heavily.

Alves breaks the clinch.
Drake tries to clinch up.

Alves gets the takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Drake is trying to get back to half guard.

Alves stands up and beckons Drake to his feet.
Left hook, right uppercut from Alves.
Alves tries to clinch but Drake is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Alves throws a right and a left that Drake avoids nicely.

Drake drives through and clinches with Alves against the cage.

Drake breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Drake closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Drake is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Drake looking to finish Alves with some ground and pound. This is bad for Alves!
Drake wants to control the pace but Alves is squirming around nicely.
Alves can't escape the position.

Drake is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Alves closes the distance and clinches.
Drake is looking to control Alves's arms but Alves gets an underhook and turns him. Now Drake has his back to the cage.

Alves escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Drake shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nice takedown defense from Alves. No joy for Drake on that attempt.
Alves pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Alves closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Alves looking to throw knees to the head but Drake is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alves escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No luck for Drake with that takedown attempt.
Alves closes the distance looking to clinch
and Drake makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Alves tries to clinch there but Drake circles away.

Alves closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Drake tries to pull guard but Alves won't allow it.
Drake could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Alves lands a damaging elbow.
Alves tries a knee to the head but Drake blocks it.
Alves throws a knee to the head but misses.
Alves tries to land a knee to the head but Drake blocks with his arms.
Alves looking to throw knees to the head but Drake is blocking nicely.

Alves breaks the clinch.

Alves rushes Drake and presses him up against the cage.
Drake 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.
Alves with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Drake with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Drake can't get the takedown.
Alves tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Drake tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Alves smiles and moves away.
Drake shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Alves as he jumps to the side.
Alves lands with a precision combination! Left, right, uppercut and Drake falls flat on his face, eyes wide open but he's out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Thiago Alves!