PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Vaghi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ivan Vaghi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Alves
vs
Vaghi

201 cm
18
207 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

186 cm
21
205 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Alves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ivan Vaghi!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Seu Braga and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alves throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Alves scores with a takedown into Vaghi's guard.
Vaghi throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Alves pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vaghi is keeping the position for now.
Vaghi working a defensive guard here.
Alves knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Vaghi on the ground.
Alves connects with a couple of short punches.
Vaghi striking off his back but it's not causing Alves any problems.
Vaghi has his hands on Alves's head, controlling the position.
Alves looking to pass the guard.
Vaghi looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Alves is looking to land body kicks.
Alves tries a head kick but it misses.
Alves steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Vaghi.

Alves looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Vaghi tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Alves trying to control the action but Vaghi is working from the bottom.
Alves trying to control from Vaghi's half guard. Vaghi has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Alves will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Alves postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Vaghi trying to control the position.
Vaghi wants to stand and escape but Alves is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves wants to control from the top but Vaghi keeps moving.
Vaghi has control of Alves's left arm, preventing Alves from doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Alves feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Alves throwing strikes but missing.
Alves won't allow Vaghi to get back to his feet.
Vaghi looking to control.
Vaghi keeping moving, preventing Alves from controlling successfully.
Alves is breathing heavily.

Vaghi 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves trying to control but Vaghi is working from the bottom.
Alves advances to half guard.
Alves wants to advance to full mount but Vaghi doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Alves won't allow Vaghi to sweep him here.
Vaghi is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Vaghi is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Alves would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Alves trying to control the position from guard on top but Vaghi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Vaghi kicks Alves off and gets to his feet.
Vaghi fakes the leg kick and cracks Alves in the body.

Alves has taken the fight to the clinch.
Alves tries to score a body lock takedown but Vaghi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Vaghi wants to get back to striking at distance but Alves won't allow it.
Alves fails to pull guard.
Alves tries to pull guard but Vaghi won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Alves. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Alves breaks from the clinch.

Vaghi gets caught flat footed, as Alves shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Alves content to stall in guard here.
Alves has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Vaghi is proving hard to escape from.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alves wants to pass the guard but Vaghi is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Alves shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Vaghi pinned against the cage. Vaghi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Alves fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Vaghi checks it well.
Alves tries to clinch up.
Alves fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Alves lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Vaghi has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Vaghi and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Vaghi tries for a takedown but Alves circles away easily

and Alves counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alves is trying to break the clinch but Vaghi has him pressed against the cage.
Alves has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Vaghi avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Alves. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vaghi wants to get back to striking at distance but Alves won't allow it.
Alves gets underhooks to prevent Vaghi's takedown attempt.
Vaghi is breathing heavily.
Vaghi is looking to control Alves's arms but Alves gets an underhook and turns him. Now Vaghi has his back to the cage.
Alves tries to break the clinch but Vaghi is controlling the position.
Vaghi scores with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alves breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Alves thows a body shot but no joy.

Vaghi scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Vaghi wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Alves, who protects the arm well.
Alves gets back to half guard.
Vaghi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Vaghi keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves trying to hold on to Vaghi's head to control him but Vaghi postures up.
Vaghi perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Vaghi is looking to stall here but Alves recovers full guard.
Vaghi tries to free his leg and advance position but Alves is retaining full guard.
Vaghi thows a big elbow that misses.

Alves looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Vaghi passes into half guard.
Vaghi lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves is trying to maintain the position but Vaghi is very close to passing his half guard.
Alves wants to improve his position but Vaghi is controlling well.
Alves is staying active underneath Vaghi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Alves controlling the position for now.
Alves is looking for a sweep. Vaghi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vaghi is tying to control. Alves wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Vaghi prevents Alves from improving his position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Alves tries to clinch up.

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.
Alves shoots and misses

and Vaghi counters with a nice double leg into side control. Alves won't be happy with that.
Alves tries to buck Vaghi off but Vaghi is having none of it.
Alves can't do much from the bottom here.
Alves is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Alves is trying to stand.
Vaghi perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Alves is trying to stand back up but Vaghi is controlling him
Alves is trying to get back to full guard.
Vaghi uses his free foot to push down on Alves's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Alves.
Vaghi trying to control but Alves is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Vaghi with a poor takedown

and Alves moves into the clinch.

Vaghi tightens his grip and picks Alves up, before dumping him to the ground. Alves manages to land in guard.
Alves controls Vaghi momentarily but Vaghi frees himself.

Alves has his foot on Vaghi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vaghi works his way back into a safe position though.
Vaghi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Vaghi gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Vaghi looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Alves shoots and misses

and Vaghi counters with a shoot takedown. Alves fights it but they end up in guard.
Alves bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Vaghi's guard.
Alves trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Alves trying to control but Vaghi is working from the bottom.
Alves stopping the sweep attempt from Vaghi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vaghi keeping moving, preventing Alves from controlling successfully.

Alves decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Alves with a poor takedown
and Vaghi finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Alves throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Vaghi's head.
Vaghi tries for a takedown but Alves circles away easily

and Alves decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Vaghi's guard.
Vaghi wants to control but Alves passes easily into half guard.
Vaghi regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vaghi is keeping the position for now.
Alves wants to control from the top but Vaghi keeps moving.
Vaghi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Alves!
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!
Alves is looking to improve his position but Vaghi isn't that keen on the idea.
Alves sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Alves trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vaghi is looking to stall here but Alves recovers full guard.
Alves looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Alves is trying to control the position but Vaghi postures up.
Vaghi trying to control but Alves is working from the bottom.

Alves looking for a guillotine here but Vaghi defends easily.
Alves is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Vaghi thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Alves darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Alves wants to take a breather but Vaghi is having none of it.
Vaghi is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Alves's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Alves's back!
Alves tries to roll but Vaghi sticks to his back.
I would not like to be Alves right now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Vaghi has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ivan Vaghi.
I think Vaghi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!