PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thierry Henry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matheus Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matheus Alves has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Henry
vs
Alves

194 cm
28
171 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
23
178 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Insanely flexible

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thierry Henry!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matheus Alves!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Seu Braga and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Alves does no damage.
Alves misses with a wild combination.
Henry fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Alves scores with a jab to the head.
Sloppy strikes from Alves. Those never looked like landing.
Henry avoids a punch combination nicely.
Alves misses with a few strikes there.
Henry misses with the combination.
Henry is looking to clinch but Alves is avoiding it.
Henry throws a head kick that misses
and Alves connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Alves defending well as Henry loads up on a big left hand.
Alves throws an overhand right that lands on Henry's shoulder, as Henry tries to avoid the shot.
Alves tries to clinch there but Henry circles away.
Henry misses with a takedown
and Alves cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Henry gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Alves counters with a three punch combo that has Henry backing up. Henry nods at Alves to acknowledge the strikes.

Henry is rocked!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thierry Henry. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alves rushes Henry and presses him up against the cage.
Henry fails to pull guard.
Henry wants a takedown.
Alves working Henry over with knees to the body.
Alves is trying to push Henry away but Henry has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Henry managing to block the knees to the body from Alves.
Henry tries a knee to the head but Alves blocks it.
Henry tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Alves smiles and moves away.
Sloppy strikes from Alves. Those never looked like landing.
Matheus Alves seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alves with a nice cross.
Alves pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Henry shoots for a double leg takedown but Alves sprawls well. He's pushed Henry's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Matheus Alves is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Alves.
Alves rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Henry moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Alves.
Henry tries to close the distance and clinch but Alves swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Henry lands a leg kick that knocks Alves off balance momentarily.
Alves misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Henry misses with a takedown attempt - Alves sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Alves misses the jab.
Alves throws a lazy head kick
and Henry counters with a low kick, right behind Alves 's knee.
Alves looks gassed!
Henry wants to clinch up but Alves keeps it at a distance.
Henry tries for a takedown but Alves sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Alves swinging wildly here.
Henry shoots and misses
and Alves counters with a series of strikes. Henry will be more careful next time no doubt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Henry fails in his attempt to clinch.
Alves lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Henry tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Alves manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Henry throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Henry really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henry fails to land with a series of punches.
Henry fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Alves avoids it really well and circles away.
Some wild striking there from Alves.
Alves throws a nice looking combination but Henry bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Henry has his takedown stuffed
and Alves counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Alves circles away from the clinch attempt.
A thudding body kick lands there by Henry!
Henry misses with a takedown attempt
and Alves counters with a series of strikes. Henry will be more careful next time no doubt.
Henry lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Alves circles away quickly and effectively.
Henry misses with the combination.
Henry doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Alves counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alves throws a hook but Henry blocks it.
Alves misses with a combination

and Henry counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Alves as Henry tries to tie him up.
Henry seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Alves is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.
Henry has Alves pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Alves manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Henry wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Alves prevents a takedown attempt there.
Henry is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matheus Alves dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Alves misses with a two punch combination.
Henry slips under a jab.
Henry tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Alves counters by clinching up.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Henry misses with a punch to the body.

Alves manages to break the clinch.
Henry throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Alves's waist but Alves gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Henry off to one side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alves scores with a three punch combo!
Henry throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Alves's waist but Alves gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Henry off to one side.
Henry lands with a thumping leg kick.
Alves throws a series of punches but Henry moves out of range.
Alves takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves misses with a few strikes there.
Alves lands with an overhand left.
Alves throws a nice looking combination but Henry bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Alves is breathing heavily.
Henry wants to clinch.
Alves misses with a double jab.
Henry shoots in looking for a takedown but Alves manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Henry's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thierry Henry. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Henry takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Henry tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alves swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Alves displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Henry.
Alves throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Alves throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Alves will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Matheus Alves seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Henry moves forwards but Alves connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves throws a nice looking combination but Henry bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Henry is looking to clinch.
Henry swings for the body but Alves moves out of range.
Henry tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alves swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Alves leaves Henry with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Henry is looking to clinch but Alves is avoiding it.
Henry throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like Matheus Alves has been cut.
Alves swats away the attempt to clinch by Henry.
Alves misses with a jab, cross combination.
Henry shoots in and drives through. Alves sprawls well.
Henry has his takedown stuffed
and Alves counters with a three punch combo that has Henry backing up. Henry nods at Alves to acknowledge the strikes.
Henry fails with the takedown

and Alves counters by moving into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alves breaks from the clinch.
Henry has his takedown stuffed
and Alves counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Henry avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Alves swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Henry counters with a three punch combo that has Alves backing up. Alves nods at Henry to acknowledge the strikes.
Henry fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Alves throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
and Henry counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Alves fails to land with a series of punches.
Henry fails to land the takedown.
Alves swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Alves misses with a few strikes there.
Alves leaves Henry with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Alves ducks under a wild hook from Henry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alves throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Henry.
Henry fails to land with a series of punches.
Henry gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Alves counters with a series of strikes. Henry will be more careful next time no doubt.
Henry tries to clinch but Alves moves out of range.
Alves jabs Henry right on the nose. Henry blinks but takes it well.
Henry wants to clinch up but Alves keeps it at a distance.
Henry tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Alves counters with a left and a right that stings Henry.
Henry shoots in for a takedown but Alves shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Henry fails with a takedown attempt.
Alves throws a series of punches but Henry avoids them all with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matheus Alves showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Matheus Alves's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Alves will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Henry doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Henry takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Alves throws a right and a left that both miss.
Alves swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Henry wants to clinch up but Alves keeps it at a distance.
Henry with a lazy takedown attempt
and Alves counters with a straight right hand.
Alves misses with the body kick

and Henry counters by clinching up.
Henry wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thierry Henry. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Henry is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henry tries for a takedown but Alves manages to get underhooks.
Henry tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Alves smiles and moves away.
Henry misses with a takedown attempt
and Alves counters with a one-two to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Henry avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Alves throws a left and a right that both miss
and Henry counters with an inside leg kick.
Henry is looking to clinch.
Henry tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Alves manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Henry looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Alves fails to land with a series of punches.
Henry has his takedown stuffed
enabling Alves to counter with a crisp jab.
Alves swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Henry counters with a low kick, right behind Alves 's knee.
Henry tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Alves manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Alves throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Henry.
Henry misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Henry slips a jab and a cross from Alves.
Thierry Henry has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Henry is defended easily by Alves.
Henry walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Henry fails in his attempt to clinch.
Henry doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Alves counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Alves misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Henry has his takedown stuffed
and Alves counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Henry dodges the punch combination from Alves.
A combination from Alves does no damage.
Henry tries to clinch there but Alves circles away.
Henry throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Alves's waist but Alves gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Henry off to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Henry counters with a good, hard body kick but Alves shrugs it off.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Henry. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Alves displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Henry lands a high kick!
A big right from Alves misses.
Alves leaves Henry with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Henry lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Nice defenses there by Henry.
Henry closes this distance looking for a takedown but Alves circles away.
No joy there for Alves, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Alves keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Henry tries for a takedown but Alves circles away easily
and Alves counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Henry doesn't manage to clinch there - Alves circles away.
Alves swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henry tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alves swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Alves misses with a jab, cross combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Henry looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Henry is trying hard to land a takedown here. Alves sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Henry misses with a takedown attempt - Alves sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Alves throws a series of punches but Henry moves out of range.
Henry slips a jab and a cross from Alves.
Henry shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Alves will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Henry fails with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matheus 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30

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