PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mike Fanning (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Davi Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Fanning
vs
Alves

178 cm
22
153 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

167 cm
23
149 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mike Fanning!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Davi Alves!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Trevor Gratis and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fanning misses with a looping left.
Alves connects with a solid leg kick.
Alves lands a nice shot to the body.
Alves throws a body punch but Fanning moves out of range.

Fanning closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Alves to the mat! Alves manages to get full guard.
Fanning tries to free his leg and advance position but Alves is retaining full guard.
Fanning throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alves wants to sweep but no luck.

Alves is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alves keeping full guard, as Fanning tries to pass.

Alves looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fanning landing some decent shots from guard.

Alves has his foot on Fanning's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Fanning works his way back into a safe position though.
Alves keeping full guard, as Fanning tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alves working for a triangle but Fanning defends it easily.
Fanning chips away with some ground and pound.

Fanning got a little sloppy there for a moment and Alves has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Fanning has managed to get both his arms back between Alves's legs - danger averted.
Fanning is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Fanning wants to control from the top but Alves keeps moving.
Fanning postures up in Alves's guard and throws a big left but Alves blocks it.
Fanning trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Fanning avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Alves tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fanning got a little sloppy there for a moment and Alves has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Fanning has managed to get both his arms back between Alves's legs - danger averted.
Fanning trying to move into half guard but instead Alves has managed to sweep!
Alves slips nicely into half guard.
Fanning wants to control but Alves is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Alves is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Fanning doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Alves.
Alves throwing shots but Fanning is blocking nicely.
Alves sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Fanning defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fanning wants to improve his position but Alves is controlling well.
Alves lands strikes from half guard.
Alves is controlling the pace.

Alves is looking for submissions but instead, Fanning has regained full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Alves accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Alves thows a big elbow that misses.

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 pushes down on Fanning's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Alves stalling away here and it's allowed Fanning to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Fanning manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Fanning scoring with strikes but Alves is staying in there.
Fanning will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Alves bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Fanning not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Alves keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Fanning's head.
Alves throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Davi Alves dominated 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 keeps Fanning at a distance using the push kick.
Fanning blocks a low kick nicely.
Alves takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Mike Fanning seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A cross from Fanning lands.
Fanning misses with a double jab

and Alves counters with a shoot takedown. Fanning fights it but they end up in guard.
Alves working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Fanning working a defensive guard here.
Alves throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Fanning has his foot on Alves's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Alves works his way back into a safe position though.
Fanning keeping moving, preventing Alves from controlling successfully.
Alves stands up over Fanning, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Alves has gone for a leg lock! Fanning slips out almost immediately though and dives into Alves's guard.
Fanning stopping the sweep attempt from Alves.
Davi Alves has got the better of the ground game so far.
Alves lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Fanning postures up.
Alves lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Fanning!
Alves raining down shots from the mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fanning really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Fanning is working hard here to advance position.
Alves looking to finish Fanning with some ground and pound. This is bad for Fanning!
Alves lands with some strikes.
Alves thowing shots but they're missing.
Fanning is working to get back to half guard.
Alves lands a heavy elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fanning is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Alves punishing his opponent with strikes.
Alves with a couple of short strikes.
Alves raining down shots from the mount!
Alves looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Alves has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Fanning is bucking up trying to escape but Alves cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Fanning keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Alves.
Fanning really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Alves cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Fanning holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Alves tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Alves working for a guillotine from mount but Fanning is in no mood to give up.
Fanning is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Fanning tries to hold on but Alves pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fanning really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Alves working for a guillotine from mount but Fanning is in no mood to give up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Davi Alves showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Fanning fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Alves rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Fanning counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Alves's guard now.

Fanning avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Fanning pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Alves is keeping the position for now.

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

Alves looking for a guillotine here but Fanning defends easily.
Alves doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fanning throwing strikes from guard but Alves blocks nicely.
Fanning throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Fanning in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Fanning won't allow Alves to sweep him here.
Alves has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Fanning has passed into side control.
Alves is trying to control Fanning's posture but Fanning avoids it.
Fanning landing a few strikes.
Alves sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Fanning tries to pass the half guard into mount. Alves knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Fanning thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Fanning not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mike Fanning has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two 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.
Fanning working over Alves with some ground and pound. Alves looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Alves looking for submissions off his back.

Alves is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Fanning pulls his head out easily.
Alves takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Fanning wants to work for an arm triangle but Alves is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Alves avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Fanning.
Alves tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Alves tries to get to full guard but Fanning has control of the leg.
Fanning lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Alves regains full guard. Nicely done.
Fanning stopping the sweep attempt from Alves.

Alves working for a triangle but Fanning defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fanning looking to pass the guard.

Alves is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Fanning rolls with it to try and escape but Alves cranks on the arm and Fanning is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Davi Alves!