PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Zulu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Felipe Alvez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zulu's entrance music is Grupo Fora de Série - Menina da Zona Sul. A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Zulu
vs
Alvez

165 cm
18
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
131 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brandon Zulu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Felipe Alvez!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Daniel Cesar and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zulu gets a takedown into half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Zulu stalling away here and it's allowed Alvez to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Alvez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zulu prevents Alvez from getting back to his feet.
Alvez doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Alvez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zulu is aware though and is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zulu pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Alvez is keeping the position for now.
Zulu landing some decent shots from guard.
Zulu looking to pass the guard.
Zulu postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zulu landing with the ground and pound.
Zulu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alvez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zulu wants to control from the top but Alvez keeps moving.
Alvez is pulling down on Zulu's head to control his posture.
Zulu won't allow Alvez to get back to his feet.
Zulu stands up out of Alvez's guard for a moment - Alvez manages to land a nice upkick.
Zulu trying to control but Alvez is working from the bottom.
Zulu knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Alvez on the ground.
Zulu lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zulu working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zulu throws a strike but Alvez rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Zulu is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Alvez is controlling him.
Alvez lands a couple of elbows.
Alvez passes into half guard.

Alvez stands up and beckons Zulu to join him on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zulu is trying hard to land a takedown here. Alvez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Alvez connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Alvez looks to land a combination but Zulu avoids it well.

Zulu changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Alvez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Alvez is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Zulu's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Zulu trying to control from half guard but Alvez is working away.
Zulu is breathing heavily.
Alvez wants to get back to his feet.
Alvez moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvez wants to sweep here but Zulu controlling him for the moment.
Zulu stands up over Alvez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Zulu stopping the sweep attempt from Alvez.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Alvez trying to control the position.
Zulu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alvez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alvez manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Alvez takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Felipe Alvez will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Alvez shoots for a takedown but Zulu saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Zulu closes the distance and clinches up with Alvez, looking for a takedown. Zulu pushes Alvez against the cage but Alvez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Brandon Zulu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alvez tries a head kick but it misses.
Zulu shoots in for a takedown but Alvez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Alvez leaves Zulu with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brandon Zulu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zulu shoots in and drives through. Alvez sprawls well.
Alvez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Zulu darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Alvez moves into full guard.
Alvez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Alvez is adopting a defensive guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvez trying to control the position.
Zulu trying to control but Alvez is working from the bottom.
Alvez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Alvez is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Felipe Alvez.
Zulu slips a jab and a cross from Alvez.
Alvez stuffs the takedown.
Alvez misses with a series of wild punches.
Alvez misses with a wild combination.
Alvez misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Alvez does no damage.
Alvez tries to bum rush Zulu with a series of wild strikes but Zulu uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zulu shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Alvez defends it nicely.
Alvez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zulu as he avoids it easily.
Alvez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zulu.
A combination from Alvez does no damage.
Felipe Alvez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Zulu 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.
Alvez trying to keep a closed guard but Zulu is proving a slippery customer.
Alvez is pulling down on Zulu's head to control his posture.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zulu tries to free his leg and advance position but Alvez is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvez looking to control.
Alvez keeping moving, preventing Zulu from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Felipe Alvez was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Alvez throws a right and a left that Zulu avoids nicely.
Zulu shoots in but Alvez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Alvez lands with a nice combination. Zulu backs away looking to recover.
Alvez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Alvez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Some wild striking there from Alvez.
Alvez misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zulu closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Alvez to the mat! Alvez manages to get full guard.

Alvez 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! Zulu rolls with it to try and escape but Alvez cranks on the arm and Zulu is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:28 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Felipe Alvez!