PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Goku Sam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ederson Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sam
vs
Alves

175 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent knees
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Goku Sam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ederson Alves!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Matheus Silva and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alves misses with a wild combination.
Sam has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sam there as he acknowledges the shot.
Sam shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Alves sprawls well. Alves wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sam gets slowly back to his feet.
Sam shoots in for a takedown but Alves shows good takedown defense.
Alves fails to land with a series of punches.
Sam takes a kick to the side of the head.
Sam tries to score a power double leg takedown but Alves sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sam somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Goku Sam. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alves tries a head kick but it misses.
Sam avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sam misses with a head kick.
Alves scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Sam really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Alves throws a series of punches but Sam moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves throws a sloppy head kick and Sam moves out of range easily.
Sam shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ederson Alves seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sam scores with a nice body kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alves looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sam avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Alves tries to clinch up.
Sam swats away the attempt to clinch by Alves.
Alves is looking to clinch but Sam is avoiding it.
Alves pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alves looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Alves feints a jab promting Sam to slip. Alves then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Sam slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Sam pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Ederson Alves is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sam looks to throw a body kick
and Alves cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Sam moves into range and clinches up with Alves.
Alves misses with an elbow strike.
Sam tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sam lands a shot to the body.
Alves is trying to pull guard but Sam turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Sam goes for a takedown attempt but Alves pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Alves blocks a head kick by Sam.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Alves doesn't manage to clinch there - Sam circles away.
Alves tries to clinch but Sam is having none of it.

Alves gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Alves misses with a knee to the head.
Sam tries for a takedown but Alves manages to get underhooks.
Sam drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sam is breathing heavily.
Alves utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Sam is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Alves is defending well.
Sam has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Alves is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Alves unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Alves misses with a knee strike.
Alves tries to pull guard but Sam holds him up against the cage and eventually Alves drops back down to his feet.
Alves is trying to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alves throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sam blocks it with crossed arms.
Sam wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Alves has him pressed against the cage.
Alves wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sam has him pressed against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sam is trying to push Alves away but Alves has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Alves pulls Sam into guard.

Sam stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Alves throws a nice outside leg kick.
Alves pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Sam back to the cage. Alves follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alves is looking to clinch but Sam is avoiding it.
Alves wants to clinch up but Sam keeps it at a distance.
Alves tries to clinch up but Sam circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ederson Alves dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sam misses the shot to the body.
Sam takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Sam changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Alves tries to avoid it but Sam manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Alves to the ground. Alves escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Alves misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sam tries to clinch there but Alves circles away.
Alves tries to clinch but Sam moves out of range.
Alves scores with a nice strike.
Goku Sam is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

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

Sam escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Alves misses with the combination.
Alves throws a shot to the body.
Alves throws a right and a left that both miss.
Alves shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Sam eats them both and turns towards Alves to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
The crowd cheers as Alves lands an impressive looking overhand right. Sam doesn't seem phased though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves lands a head kick. Sam smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Sam shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Alves sprawls well. Alves wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sam gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alves plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A punch combination from Alves misses.
Alves swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sam shoots for a takedown but Alves saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Goku Sam. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alves blocks a leg kick.
Alves stalks Sam and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Sam's face. Sam staggers backwards, shaken.
Alves lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sam circles away quickly and effectively.
Sam uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Alves.
Alves tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Sam manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Sam.

Sam has closed the distance and engaged Alves in a clinch.
Alves is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Sam wants a takedown.
Alves is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sam is defending well for now.
Sam tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Alves's elbow.
Sam is trying to maintain a safe position but Alves gets an underhook and turns Sam into the cage.
Alves throws a knee to the head but misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alves using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sam has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Alves tries to land knees in the clinch but Sam avoids the damage to the body.

Sam breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sam tries for a takedown but Alves sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves throws a nice looking combination but Sam bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alves looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Alves moves into range and clinches up with Sam.
Alves is looking to control Sam's arms but Sam gets an underhook and turns him. Now Alves has his back to the cage.
Alves tries to pull guard but Sam won't allow it.

Sam ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Sam no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Alves postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sam is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Alves, into his guard.

Alves has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sam can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Alves keeping full guard, as Sam tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alves is trying to control the position but Sam postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Alves is looking for a triangle but Sam pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Alves working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sam doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sam manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sam trying to stand up but can't free himself from Alves's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ederson Alves showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

That kick from Alves tenderised Sam's leg. Sam is trying to keep his angry face on.
Alves tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sam swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sloppy strikes from Alves. Those never looked like landing.
Alves throws a low kick, looking for Sam's leg but Sam calmly moves out of range.
Sam fails with the takedown.
Alves swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sam circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ederson Alves seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Alves keeps the fight on the outside.
Sam swats away the attempt to clinch by Alves.
Sam wants to clinch up but Alves keeps it at a distance.
Sam tries for a takedown but Alves sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sam.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Goku Sam. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Alves throws a push kick but Sam slaps the foot to one side.
Alves leaves Sam with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Alves fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Alves clinches up with Sam and pushes him back against the cage.
Sam is trying to force a seperation but Alves has the dominant position.
Alves is trying to pull guard but Sam turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Alves tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Alves tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sam avoids it.
Alves is looking to control Sam's arms but Sam gets an underhook and turns him. Now Alves has his back to the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Alves's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Sam tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Alves crunches a lovely knee into Sam's ribcage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sam takes a knee to the side of the body.
Alves jumps guard but Sam stands there with Alves around his waist. Alves gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Alves unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sam lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Alves is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Alves jumps guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Sam is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Alves has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Sam is looking to defend but Alves has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Sam! Alves pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Sam taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Ederson Alves!