PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kendall Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sweeney Todd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Todd has chosen Never Forget, Never Forgive.. as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Kendall Alves has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Alves
vs
Todd

182 cm
28
141 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

169 cm
22
139 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kendall Alves!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sweeney Todd!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Gregory Folan and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice body punch from Todd.
Alves slips under a jab from Todd.
Alves tries for a takedown but Todd circles away easily
enabling Todd to counter with a crisp jab.

Alves fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Todd sprawls well initially but Alves persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Alves wants to lay and pray for a moment but Todd keeps working.
Alves throwing shots but Todd is blocking nicely.
Alves has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The fighters are battling for position here. Todd manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Todd preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Todd tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Todd is looking to stand up but Alves isn't so interested in that idea.
Todd is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Alves looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Todd's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Todd's back!
Alves is throwing shots to the body but Todd manages to wriggle free. Alves pounces on him again and ends up in Todd's guard.
Alves in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Alves has gone for a leg lock! Todd slips out almost immediately though and dives into Alves's guard.

Alves is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alves working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Todd doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Todd manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Todd preventing the sweep.

Alves has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Todd can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Alves wants to sweep but no luck.
Alves will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Alves keeping full guard, as Todd tries to pass.

Alves has his foot on Todd's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Todd works his way back into a safe position though.
Alves trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alves has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Todd is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Alves.
Alves gets back to half guard.
Alves is looking for a sweep. Todd is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Todd really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Alves. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Alves is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Todd jumps into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alves is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Todd looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

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.
You can see the frustration on Alves's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Alves manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Todd is looking for a kimura here.
Alves trying to hold on to Todd's head to control him but Todd postures up.
Todd prevents Alves from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kendall Alves will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Todd misses with a body shot

so Alves counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Alves wants to pass the guard but Todd is keeping the position.
Alves being controlled here momentarily.
Alves with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Alves is looking to work some ground and pound but Todd has wrist control.
Todd working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves with a nice head shot there.
Alves stopping the sweep attempt from Todd.
Todd is trying to control the position but Alves postures up.
Alves lands a couple of digs.
Alves is in close to Todd's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Alves is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Alves missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Alves wants to control from the top but Todd keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves postures up in Todd's guard and throws a big left but Todd blocks it.
Alves missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Alves wants to control from the top but Todd keeps moving.
Alves is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Alves working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Alves looking to pass the guard.
Alves in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Alves scoring with some ground and pound.
Alves trying to control the position from guard on top but Todd is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Todd looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Todd utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Alves working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Todd's head.
Alves trying to control but Todd is working from the bottom.
Todd working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Alves.
Todd is trying to keep Alves in close.
Alves wants to control from the top but Todd keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Todd wants to sweep here but Alves controlling him for the moment.
Alves pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Todd is keeping the position for now.
Alves throws and elbow that misses. Todd uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Alves's guard. Nice move by Todd!

Alves is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Alves had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Todd defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kendall Alves dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Todd keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Todd misses with a jab, cross combination.
Todd misses with a hook to the body
and Alves counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Todd throws a combination that misses
and Alves counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Alves fails to land the takedown.
Alves looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Alves really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Todd cracks Alves with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Todd swings widly with a right hand
and Alves counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Todd throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Todd swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Alves counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Todd kicks Alves off and gets to his feet.
Todd misses with a hook to the body

and Alves counters with a takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Todd is trying to work for a sweep but Alves has mounted him!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves lands a big shot there that rocks Todd but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Alves trying to control but Todd is having none of it.
Alves is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Todd is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Alves throwing strikes but Todd bucks up and reverses the position. He's now in guard on top.
Alves wants to control from the top but Todd keeps moving.
Alves with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Alves postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Alves drops back looking for a leg! Todd is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Todd manages to kick Alves off! Alves jumps back into Todd's guard.
Todd is looking to stand up but Alves isn't so interested in that idea.
Todd preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Alves trying to control the position from guard on top but Todd is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Todd wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Alves trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kendall Alves overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Todd trying to keep a closed guard but Alves is proving a slippery customer.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Alves passes Todd's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Alves prevents Todd from improving his position.
Alves is trying to control. Todd wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Todd is looking to improve his position.
Alves winds up and cracks Todd with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Alves missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Alves throwing shots but Todd is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alves working over Todd with some ground and pound. Todd looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Todd tries to get to full guard but Alves has control of the leg.
Todd keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Alves moves into full mount! Todd won't be happy about that!
Alves looking to ground and pound but Todd is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kendall Alves clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Alves with a lazy takedown attempt
and Todd counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Alves thinking.
Alves doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Todd counters with a right hand to the body.
Todd scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Todd avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Todd misses with a double jab
enabling Alves to counter with a crisp jab.
Todd swings away with a body shot that misses
and Alves counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Alves shoots and misses
and Todd makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kendall Alves. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Todd misses with a combination
and Alves counters with a nice uppercut.
Alves with a poor takedown
and Todd counters with a straight right hand.
Alves with a lazy takedown attempt
and Todd counters with a stiff right hand.
Todd throws a leg kick but Alves sees it coming and moves out of range.
Todd falls off balance throwing a combination
and Alves cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Alves with a poor takedown
and Todd counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Alves thinking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Todd falls off balance throwing a combination

and Alves counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Todd's guard now.
Alves being controlled here momentarily.
Alves throws a big right hand that misses.
Todd keeping moving, preventing Alves from controlling successfully.
Todd is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Alves actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Todd takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Alves looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Todd passes to full mount!
A nice elbow there by Todd.
Todd looking to control but Alves is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Alves tries to hold on but Todd pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves is looking to improve his position but Todd isn't that keen on the idea.
Alves is working hard here to advance position.
Alves regains half guard.
Alves tries to get to full guard but Todd has control of the leg.
Alves wants to control but Todd is keeping busy.

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.
Todd wants to control but Alves is keeping him busy.

Alves looking for submissions off his back.

Alves looking for submissions off his back.
Alves has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Todd is working away from the top position though.

Alves actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Sweeney Todd will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Alves drops his hands momentarily and Todd takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Alves with a lazy takedown attempt
and Todd connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Todd misses with a combination

and Alves counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Todd working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Alves.
Todd working a defensive guard here.
Alves loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Alves stopping the sweep attempt from Todd.

Todd is looking for a triangle but Alves pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Alves trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Todd working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Alves.
Alves stopping the sweep attempt from Todd.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Todd can do anything to dispel that myth.
Alves cracks Todd with a solid left hand.
Alves throwing strikes from guard but Todd blocks nicely.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Alves accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kendall Alves is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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 engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Sweeney Todd has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alves pushes down on Todd's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Alves trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kendall Alves wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Alves swings for the body but Todd moves out of range.
Alves gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Todd counter with a right hand.

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.
Alves keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Alves shoots and misses
and Todd counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kendall Alves. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Todd scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Alves has his takedown stuffed
enabling Todd to counter with a crisp jab.
Todd swings for the body but Alves moves out of range.
Sweeney Todd seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Todd ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Alves moves away.
Todd misses with a right hand

and Alves counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Todd has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Alves is working away from the top position though.
Alves controlling the pace.

Todd looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kendall Alves showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Alves has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 49:46
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 49:46
Judge William Peck scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kendall Alves!
Kendall Alves retains his bantamweight title!