PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Franck Ribery (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pablo Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Ribery
vs
Alves

170 cm
20
140 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
132 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Franck Ribery!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pablo Alves!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alves fails with the takedown.
Alves shoots in and drives through. Ribery sprawls well.
Nice body kick there by Ribery.
Crunch! Ribery slams his shin into Alves's torso.
Ribery finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Alves blocks a head kick by Ribery.
A head kick misses from Ribery.
Ribery misses with a jab, cross combination.
Alves closes the distance and clinches up with Ribery, looking for a takedown. Alves pushes Ribery against the cage but Ribery circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Franck Ribery has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pablo Alves.
Ribery punishes Alves's body with a nice straight punch.
Ribery throws a jab when Alves was well out of range.
Ribery getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Ribery stuns Alves with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Ribery takes the fight into the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Ribery.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribery gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Ribery seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Alves goes for a takedown attempt but Ribery pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Alves changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ribery tries to avoid it but Alves manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ribery to the ground. Ribery escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ribery tries a head kick but it misses.
Alves checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Nice takedown defense from Ribery. No joy for Alves on that attempt.

Ribery moves into the clinch.
Ribery working aggressively here.
Alves changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ribery fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's two 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.
Alves needs to keep his hands up - Ribery had a free shot at his head there.
Alves shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ribery pinned against the cage. Ribery gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ribery misses with a wild body shot.

Alves drives through with a takedown into guard.
Alves won't allow Ribery to sweep him here.
Ribery wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Alves preventing the sweep.
Alves tries to free his leg and advance position but Ribery is retaining full guard.
Alves passes into half guard.
Alves is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Ribery tries to get to full guard but Alves has control of the leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ribery manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves being controlled here momentarily.
Alves slips nicely into half guard.
Alves looks gassed!
The fighters are battling for position here. Ribery manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Alves tries to free his leg and advance position but Ribery is retaining full guard.
Alves won't allow Ribery to sweep him here.
Alves pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ribery is keeping the position for now.
Ribery has his hands on Alves's head, controlling the position.
Ribery working a defensive guard here.
Ribery is pulling down on Alves's head to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ribery throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ribery tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Alves changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ribery tries to avoid it but Alves manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ribery to the ground. Ribery escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ribery throws a leg kick but Alves sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Ribery tries to bum rush Alves with a series of wild strikes but Alves uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Alves takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Ribery pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Alves blocks a head kick by Ribery.
Alves shoots for a takedown but Ribery saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Alves will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Alves shoots in but Ribery avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ribery lands a nice looking body shot.
Ribery shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Ribery thows a body shot but no joy.
Alves changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ribery tries to avoid it but Alves manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ribery to the ground. Ribery escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Alves fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ribery wants to clinch up but Alves keeps it at a distance.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Ribery tries to clinch there but Alves circles away.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Alves misses with a takedown attempt - Ribery sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

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 pushes down on Ribery's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ribery slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ribery is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Alves passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Ribery wants to control but Alves postures up.

Alves is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ribery knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ribery struggling a bit here.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Ribery is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

Alves is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ribery is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Alves swings around for an armbar but Ribery sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Alves's guard.
Ribery is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ribery'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.
Ribery tries to free his leg and advance position but Alves is retaining full guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Ribery is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Alves looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Alves keeping moving, preventing Ribery from controlling successfully.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Franck Ribery just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Ribery throws a body punch but Alves moves out of range.
Alves looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ribery is fending him off so far but Alves persists. Nope, Ribery circles away and we're back to standing.
Alves takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
No joy there for Ribery, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Alves misses with a takedown attempt - Ribery sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Pablo Alves seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ribery misses with a hook. Alves ducked under it nicely.
Ribery is looking to wear down Alves with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Ribery throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Alves misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ribery fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Alves manages to avoid it.
Alves shoots in and drives through. Ribery sprawls well.

Ribery clinches up against the cage.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Ribery stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Alves is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ribery pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Alves is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Ribery escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ribery gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Alves.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Alves tries for a takedown but Ribery manages to get underhooks.
Alves tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ribery smiles and moves away.
Alves shoots for a double leg takedown but Ribery sprawls well. He's pushed Alves's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ribery throws a front kick that sends Alves stumbling back into the cage.
Alves fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Ribery has managed to clinch.

Ribery breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Alves shoots in but no luck this time.
Alves fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Franck Ribery dominated that round.
That's time! Ribery's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Alves fails with the takedown.
No luck for Alves with that takedown attempt.

Ribery takes the fight into the clinch.

Ribery escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ribery misses with a body shot.
Ribery throws a nice head kick!
Alves has a takedown stuffed.
Franck Ribery has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pablo Alves.
Alves shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ribery pinned against the cage. Ribery gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ribery misses with a body shot.
Ribery throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Alves throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ribery's waist but Ribery gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Alves off to one side.
Alves is breathing heavily.
Ribery misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribery looks to score with a jab to the body but Alves is just out of range.
Alves looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A left and a right from Ribery both land. Nice combination.
Ribery throws a series of punches but Alves moves out of range.
No luck for Alves with that takedown attempt.
Ribery connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A jab lands there for Ribery.
A head kick misses from Ribery.
Alves shoots in for a takedown but Ribery shows good takedown defense.
Ribery is looking to score with low kicks.
No luck for Alves with that takedown attempt.
Ribery throws a jab but it's blocked by Alves.
No joy there for Ribery, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ribery ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Alves shoots for a double leg takedown but Ribery sprawls well. He's pushed Alves's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Alves uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ribery.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ribery throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Alves shoots in but Ribery avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ribery misses with a head kick.
Ribery lands a body shot.
Alves doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Alves moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Ribery is looking to clinch.
Alves looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Alves keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Alves blocks the body kick.
Ribery throws a nice looking combination but Alves bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Franck Ribery is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Alves tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ribery swivels and escapes.

Ribery drives through and clinches with Alves against the cage.
Nice body punch from Ribery - that landed with a thud.
Ribery stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Ribery breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ribery gets a clinch.
Alves tries to pull guard but Ribery won't allow it.
Ribery lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Ribery works on Alves's body with a couple of short punches.
Alves letting Ribery take a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Alves drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ribery gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ribery leaning his opponent against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Franck Ribery.
Alves shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Alves shoots for a takedown but Ribery saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ribery is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Alves shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ribery but Ribery pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Alves avoids the head kick by Ribery.
Ribery is looking to land body kicks.
Alves misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Ribery clinches up with Alves and pushes him back against the cage.
Ribery controlling the action here for a moment.
Alves drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ribery pulls his leg out and moves away.
Alves fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Ribery stuffs the takedown.

Ribery gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ribery controlling the action here for a moment.
Alves wants a takedown.
Alves fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ribery taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Ribery is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Alves is keeping busy.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Franck Ribery.
Alves looks for a takedown but Ribery sprawls well.

Ribery moves into the clinch.
Ribery misses with the head strike.
Alves tries to pull guard but Ribery won't allow it.
Alves has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ribery is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ribery pressing his opponent against the cage.
Alves changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ribery fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Alves blocks a head kick by Ribery.
Franck Ribery is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ribery has Alves up against the cage in a clinch.
Alves tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
The is referee keeping an eye on Ribery - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Alves fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Alves drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ribery leaning against his opponent.
Ribery using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Alves has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Franck Ribery dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ribery fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Alves fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ribery tries a head kick but it misses.
Ribery pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ribery lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Ribery misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Alves shoots for a double leg takedown but Ribery sprawls well. He's pushed Alves's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ribery looks to land a combination but Alves avoids it well.
Ribery throws a push kick but Alves slaps the foot to one side.
Ribery moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Alves will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Franck Ribery has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pablo Alves.
Ribery throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ribery misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Alves.
Alves takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Ribery takes the fight into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Ribery breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribery scores with a head kick.
Ribery misses with a head kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Ribery.
Ribery throws a right and a left that both miss.
A head kick misses from Ribery.
Alves fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ribery tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice sprawl there from Ribery as Alves shoots in.

Ribery has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ribery is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Ribery breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alves throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ribery's waist but Ribery gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Alves off to one side.

Ribery closes the distance and clinches.
Alves tries for a takedown but Ribery manages to get underhooks.
Ribery has Alves pushed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ribery breaks the clinch.
Ribery misses with a double jab.
A head kick misses from Ribery.
Ribery scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Ribery keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nice sprawl there from Ribery as Alves shoots in.
Alves keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ribery.
Ribery moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Ribery throws a head kick but Alves moves out of range.
Alves shoots in and drives through. Ribery sprawls well.

Ribery rushes Alves and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Alves drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ribery gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Ribery takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribery stops a takedown attempt from Alves.
A right handed body shot lands from Ribery.
Ribery just leaning against Alves, taking a breather.

Ribery breaks the clinch.

Ribery darts in and clinches Alves up against the cage.
Come on Ribery - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Ribery for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Alves fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Alves goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ribery prevents it.
Ribery stalling.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Franck Ribery.
Ribery fakes the leg kick and cracks Alves in the body.
Ribery stuffs the takedown.
Alves throws a head kick that misses.

Ribery clinches up with Alves and pushes him back against the cage.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Ribery has Alves pressed against the cage.
Franck Ribery has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Ribery stops a takedown attempt from Alves.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Ribery takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Franck Ribery.
Ribery stuffs the takedown.
Alves will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's six 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.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ribery. That's going to slow Alves down.
Alves shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Alves slips a straight right by Ribery.

Alves drives through with a takedown into guard.

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

Alves drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Alves jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Alves drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ribery dives on top into guard.
Ribery has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

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

Alves looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ribery postures up in Alves's guard and throws a big left but Alves blocks it.

Alves is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Alves wants to sweep but no luck.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Ribery avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ribery slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Alves working for a triangle but Ribery defends it easily.
Alves wants to sweep here but Ribery controlling him for the moment.

Alves looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Alves keeping moving, preventing Ribery from controlling successfully.

Ribery is sitting in close to Alves's body. Alves has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Ribery is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Ribery is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Alves.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 8:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Pablo Alves!
Pablo Alves is the new bantamweight champion!