PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Leonardo Laiola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Alverez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laiola comes to the cage accompanied by Roots Bloody Roots. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Laiola
vs
Alverez

178 cm
26
159 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
155 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

RMC - $ 11 Shorts!

Dynamic Nutrition $35 159 Recovery

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight 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 Rio de Janeiro, Leonardo Laiola!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Alverez!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Edson Gomes and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alverez connects with a crisp jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Alverez misses the target.
Laiola throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Laiola bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Alverez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Laiola.
Alverez misses with a hook. Laiola ducked under it nicely.
A swing and a miss from Laiola.
Alverez takes a swing at Laiola's ribcage but misses.
Laiola lands a right hook to the body.
Laiola scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Alverez goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Laiola pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Laiola throws a right hand that misses
and Alverez counters with a left and a right that stings Laiola.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laiola keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Laiola gets tackled into the cage by Alverez. Alverez maintains the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Laiola.
Alverez struggles to land a body shot inside as Laiola controls his hands.
Alverez lands with a right to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Laiola.
Laiola lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Laiola manages to break the clinch.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Laiola.
Laiola darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Laiola checks the leg kick nicely there.
Laiola lands a jab to Alverez's midsection.
Laiola looks to land a right hand but Alverez moved out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Laiola throws a body punch but Alverez moves out of range.
Laiola connects with a crisp jab.
Alverez misses with a two punch combination.
Laiola digs a good hook to Alverez's body.
Alverez lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Alverez throws a low kick but Laiola moves out of range easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Laiola misses the target.
Laiola lands a jab to the head.
Laiola misses with an uppercut. Alverez saw that one coming.
A slow jab from Alverez misses its intended target.
Laiola pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laiola connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Alverez shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Alverez tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Laiola counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Laiola is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Laiola misses with a left hand

and Alverez counters by clinching up.
A nice left hand lands by Laiola.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Laiola takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Laiola tries to circle away but Alverez has him pinned against the cage.

Laiola breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Laiola connects with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laiola scores with a jab. Alverez acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Laiola cracks Alverez with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Alverez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Alverez walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Laiola checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Alverez fails with an attempt to clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A decent looking cross lands there for Alverez.
Laiola throws a combination. Alverez tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Laiola misses with a looping left.
Alverez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Laiola.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Laiola throws a lazy uppercut
and Alverez counters with a nice body shot.
Laiola throws a hook but Alverez avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonardo Laiola dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Laiola throws a poor cross that misses
and Alverez counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Laiola avoids the body shot from Alverez.
Laiola swings widly with a right hand

and Alverez holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Laiola is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Laiola manages to break the clinch.
Alverez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Laiola throws out the jab.
Alverez scores with a nice strike.
Alverez misses with a low kick as Laiola jumps back.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Alverez in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Alverez throws a leg kick that misses.
Alverez falls off balance throwing a combination
and Laiola counters with a series of strikes. Alverez will be more careful next time no doubt.
Alverez cracks Laiola with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laiola misses with the combination.
Laiola ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Alverez misses with a body punch
and Laiola connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Alverez moves into the clinch successfully.
Laiola swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Alverez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Laiola blocks a body shot from Alverez.

Laiola's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alverez with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Laiola misses with an uppercut
and Laiola takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Alverez takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laiola can't break the clinch.
Alverez throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Laiolas head.
Laiola doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Laiola controlling the action here for a moment.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Alverez misses with a body punch.

Laiola manages to break the clinch.
Nice body punch from Laiola.
Alverez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Laiola.

Alverez has Laiola up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Laiola breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alverez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Laiola was well out of range. Poor timing from Alverez.
A punch lands to the side of Alverez 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Alverez moves in looking to clinch but Laiola pushes him off.

Alverez clinches up against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Alverez scores with a nice short uppercut.
Laiola lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Alverez backwards.
Laiola has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Laiola lands with a short shot to the head.
Laiola is looking to break free of the clinch but Alverez has double underhooks.
Laiola wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Laiola breaks from the clinch.
Alverez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Laiola.
A shot to the body from Alverez misses
and Laiola counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Laiola throws a hook but Alverez avoids it easily.
Leonardo Laiola is winning the standup battle so far.
Alverez takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Laiola misses the shot to the body.
Alverez tries to clinch up.
Laiola misses with a right hand
and Alverez counters with a straight right hand.

Alverez closes the distance and clinches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Laiola's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alverez pivots, looking for a leg kick but Laiola is out of range and Alverez settles back down.
Laiola dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Leonardo Laiola will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Alverez misses with an uppercut. Laiola saw that one coming.
Alverez slips a jab from Laiola.

Alverez pushes Laiola up against the cage in a clinch.

Laiola manages to break the clinch.
Laiola gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Laiola slips under a jab from Alverez.
Alverez lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Alverez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Alverez.
Laiola has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Laiola blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laiola misses with the head strike.
A nice left hand lands by Laiola.
Alverez prevents a body shot from Laiola.

Laiola manages to break the clinch.
Laiola lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Alverez throws a leg kick but Laiola sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Laiola avoids the body shot from Alverez.
Nice defenses there by Alverez.
Alverez throws a shot from downtown. Laiola moves away and avoids it.
Laiola jabs Alverez right on the nose. Alverez blinks but takes it well.
Alverez thows a body shot but no joy.
Alverez darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alverez misses the jab.
Laiola ducks under a wild hook from Alverez.
Alverez on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Alverez thows a body shot but no joy.
Laiola misses with an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alverez throws the left hand but Laiola avoids the punch easily.
Laiola misses with an uppercut. Alverez saw that one coming.
Laiola throws a big shot that misses.
Laiola misses with a looping right.
Laiola jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alverez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Laiola.
A telegraphed right hand from Laiola misses the target.
Alverez throws a looping overhand right but Laiola ducks down to avoid it.
Alverez lands a right hook to the body.
Laiola cracks Alverez with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Alverez slips under a jab.
Laiola slips a straight right by Alverez.
Laiola slips under a jab from Alverez.
Laiola throws a hook but Alverez blocks it.
Alverez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Alverez misses the body punch
and Laiola counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laiola ducks under a wild hook from Alverez.
Laiola swats away the attempt to clinch by Alverez.
Some wild striking there from Alverez.
Alverez throws a shot from downtown. Laiola moves away and avoids it.
Alverez throws a sloppy body shot
and Laiola counters with a stiff right hand.
Alverez on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Laiola connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Alverez momentarily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Alverez takes a jab right on the kisser.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Leonardo Laiola did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Alverez throws a nice looking combination but Laiola bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Laiola misses with a hook.
Alverez throws a leg kick that misses.
Alverez moves out of range as Laiola strikes.
Alverez throws an off balance right hand
and Alverez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice cross by Laiola.
Laiola throws a shot to the body.
Alverez misses with a looping left.
Laiola dips to his left and cracks Alverez with an uppercut!
Laiola comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Laiola's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Laiola duly obliges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Laiola misses.
Alverez has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Alverez takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Laiola misses with a left hand

and Alverez counters by clinching up.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Laiola.
Alverez tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Laiola's elbow.
Laiola lands with a short shot to the head.
Alverez is working Laiola over against the cage.

Laiola escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Laiola throws a right hand that misses
enabling Alverez to counter with a crisp jab.
Alverez tries to clinch up.
Laiola bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Alverez's head backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laiola tries to bum rush Alverez with a series of wild strikes but Alverez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Alverez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Laiola.
Laiola just misses with a punch to the body.
Alverez misses with a low kick.
Alverez misses the body punch
and Laiola counters with a series of strikes. Alverez will be more careful next time no doubt.
Alverez throws a series of punches but Laiola moves out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Laiola lands a really nice looking cross but Alverez seems unphased.

Alverez rushes Laiola and presses him up against the cage.
Laiola wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Alverez goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Laiola lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Laiola's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sloppy strikes from Alverez. Those never looked like landing.
Laiola swings for the body but Alverez moves out of range.
Alverez misses with an uppercut
and Laiola cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Alverez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Laiola moves away.
No joy there for Laiola, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Laiola swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Alverez.
Alverez tries to clinch up.
Alverez throws a lazy uppercut
and Laiola connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Laiola throws a one two combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laiola bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Alverez's head.
Laiola throws out a loose jab but Alverez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Laiola scores with a jab to the head.
Laiola steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Alverez.
Alverez throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alverez takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Laiola throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Alverez counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Laiola thinking.
Laiola bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Laiola jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Laiola misses with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonardo Laiola had his way with Thiago Alverez in that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Laiola throws a right and a left that both miss.
A lazy left from Laiola finds it's target.
Alverez misses with a lunging right hand
and Laiola counters with a stiff right hand.
Laiola misses with an uppercut.
Alverez takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Laiola lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Alverez looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Alverez swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Laiola checks a leg kick.
The fighters circling - Alverez throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Alverez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Laiola.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laiola misses with a straight right.
Alverez thows a body shot but no joy.
Alverez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Laiola throws a lazy uppercut
and Alverez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Laiola rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Alverez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A big right from Laiola misses.
Laiola thows a left - swing and a miss!
Alverez throws out a leg kick but Laiola moves out of range and Alverez only half commits.
Laiola throws an overhand right that lands on Alverez's shoulder, as Alverez tries to avoid the shot.
Laiola tests Alverez's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alverez scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Laiola doesn't seem bothered though.
Alverez rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Laiola counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Laiola throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Alverez throws out a loose jab but Laiola uses good head movement to avoid it.
Alverez is looking to clinch but Laiola is avoiding it.
Laiola lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Alverez misses with a body punch
and Laiola cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Alverez misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Laiola counters with a straight right hand.
Alverez throws a body punch but Laiola moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alverez is looking to clinch but Laiola is avoiding it.
Alverez fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Laiola is out of range.
Laiola moves away from the strike by Alverez.
Laiola misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A punch lands to the side of Laiola 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Alverez darts in and clinches Laiola up against the cage.
Alverez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Alverez misses with some punches.
Laiola can't find room to land a body shot as Alverez controls the action.
Laiola is trying to break free.
Thiago Alverez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leonardo Laiola is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Laiola escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Laiola uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Alverez.
Laiola throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Alverez walks into a jab.
Alverez lands a jab to Laiola's midsection.
Alverez is looking to land body kicks.
Alverez fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Laiola is out of range.
Laiola throws an overhand right that lands on Alverez's shoulder, as Alverez tries to avoid the shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Laiola connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Laiola lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Alverez scores with the left hand. Laiola knows he should have avoided that one.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Leonardo Laiola.
Well Laiola has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 50:45
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 50:45
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 50:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leonardo Laiola!
Leonardo Laiola is the new lightweight champion!
Leonardo Laiola thanked the fans post fight for their support.