PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Liam Thomas told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Alves
vs
Thomas

185 cm
26
145 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

152 cm
23
146 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Prefers standup

[WOT] DTK Designs (Laundry)

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Anderson Alves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Liam Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alves has a takedown stuffed.
Thomas moves out of range of the body kick.
Alves looks to land a combination but Thomas avoids it well.
Thomas throws a hook but Alves blocks it.
Alves gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Thomas.
Alves lands a slapping body shot.
Alves 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 jabs Thomas to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Thomas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Alves.
Thomas connects with a right hand. Alves shakes it off.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Alves crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Thomas - the referee stops the clock and Alves gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Thomas. Alves manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Alves swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Thomas takes a swing at Alves's ribcage but misses.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Alves paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Alves wants to slow Thomas down by chopping away at his legs.
Thomas throws a hook to the side of Alves's head but Alves sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Alves throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Thomas stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves throws a low kick but Thomas avoids it.
Alves looks to score with a jab to the body but Thomas is just out of range.
Thomas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Alves.
Alves bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Liam Thomas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thomas throws a chopping leg kick but Alves manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
An inside leg kick from Alves misses.
Alves tries for a takedown but Thomas sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Alves tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thomas was well out of range. Poor timing from Alves.
Thomas throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Liam Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alves lands with a nice combination. Thomas backs away looking to recover.
Thomas misses with a body punch
and Alves counters with a left and a right that stings Thomas.
Thomas throws a jab when Alves was well out of range.
A slow jab from Thomas misses its intended target.
Alves is looking to wear down Thomas with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Thomas will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves moves into range and connects with a jab.

Alves 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.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alves scores with punches from side control.
Thomas can't do much from the bottom here.
Alves will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Thomas sneaks back into half guard.
Alves takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Thomas looking for submissions off his back.
Thomas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Thomas manages to get to full guard.
Thomas looking to hit a scissor sweep but Alves is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves postures up.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Alves from controlling successfully.
Alves won't allow Thomas to sweep him here.
Thomas wants to improve his position but instead Alves has moved into half guard.
Thomas wants to control but Alves is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Alves not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Alves is trying to control the action in half guard but Thomas is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Alves tries to pass to full mount but Thomas defends it.
Alves slips a nice elbow through Thomas's hands, connecting with Thomas's forehead.
Thomas tries to get to full guard but Alves has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas blocking the ground and pound attempt from Alves.
Alves throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Alves connects with a nice short shot to Thomas's temple.
Thomas on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Thomas wants to get back to his feet.
Alves looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Alves lands with a punch from half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alves thows a huge punch but Thomas dodges it nicely.
Alves sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Thomas defending well though.
Alves trying to control the action but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Thomas tries to get to full guard but Alves has control of the leg.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Alves connects with a nice short shot to Thomas's temple.
Alves wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thomas keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Alves 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.

Alves shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thomas as he avoids it easily.
Alves uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thomas.
Thomas blocks a low kick nicely.
Thomas lands with a right hand.
Nice sprawl there from Thomas as Alves shoots in.
Alves moves out of range as Thomas strikes.
Alves moves out of range as Thomas strikes.
Alves keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thomas lands a nice looking body shot.
A slow jab from Thomas misses its intended target.
Thomas checks a low kick from Alves.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thomas. Alves does a little dance to reset his feet.
Alves slips a straight right by Thomas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Thomas throws a shot from downtown. Alves moves away and avoids it.
Alves moves out of range of the leg kick from Thomas.
Alves scores with a body shot.
Thomas throws a looping overhand right but Alves ducks down to avoid it.
A big left from Thomas misses.
Alves checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Thomas throws a leg kick which misses Alves's front leg but catches the back leg as Alves tries to avoid it.
Alves moves out of range of the leg kick from Thomas.
Alves connects with a body shot.
Thomas ducks right into an uppercut from Alves.
A left lands for Alves.
Alves lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Thomas chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A shot to the liver by Thomas. Beautiful body shot.

Alves closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Thomas on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Thomas tries to roll over but Alves keeps him under control.
Alves lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Alves frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Thomas working to try and regain half guard.
Alves controlling from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves tries to control but Thomas wriggling away.
Anderson Alves overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thomas tries to hold on but Alves pushes him away.
Alves scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Thomas tries to hold on but Alves postures up.
Alves in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Thomas wants to control but Alves is having none of it.
Alves is landing with some decent strikes but Thomas is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Alves with good strikes from the mount here!
Alves avoids the attempt from Thomas to control.
Alves landing strikes from the mount.

Thomas is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Thomas tries to hold on but Alves postures up.
Thomas is still in real trouble! Can Alves finish him?
Alves controlling from the full mount.
Thomas seems to have recovered his senses.
Thomas working to try and regain half guard.
Alves content just to control the position here.
Thomas is trying desperately to improve position.
Alves punishing his opponent with strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Alves lands with some strikes.
Alves can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Thomas is looking to escape.
Thomas is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Alves dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Thomas throws a hook but Alves avoids it easily.
Alves fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thomas manages to avoid it.
Thomas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Alves closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Alves working the ground and pound.
You can see the frustration on Thomas's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Alves controls the position from side control.
Thomas tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Alves wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Alves has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Thomas manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Alves controlling the action here.
Thomas makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Thomas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Alves controls the pace.
Thomas wants to control the position but Alves says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Alves wants to free his trapped foot but Thomas is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Thomas trying to hold on to Alves's head to control him but Alves postures up.
Thomas is trying is best to control the position here.
Alves seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Thomas does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Thomas wants to control but Alves is keeping busy.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Alves with a poor takedown
and Thomas counters with an outside leg kick.
Thomas displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Thomas is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Thomas looks to score with a jab to the body but Alves is just out of range.
Thomas looks to throw the jab but Alves is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Alves counters with a left and a right that stings Thomas.
Alves shoots in for a takedown but Thomas shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thomas throws a hook but Alves blocks it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Alves misses with a double jab
and Alves takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Alves just misses with a punch to the body.
Thomas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thomas throws a hook to the side of Alves's head but Alves sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Alves ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Thomas looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Thomas throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Alves stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Thomas throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Liam Thomas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Alves lands a glancing blow to the side of Thomas's head.
Alves misses with the combination.
Alves throws a low kick but Thomas avoids it.
Alves takes a jab right on the kisser.
Thomas takes a swing at Alves's ribcage but misses.
Alves lands a nice hook to Thomas's body. Thomas takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Good work by Thomas as he checks the leg kick.
Alves throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Thomas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Alves.
Thomas misses with a hook
and Alves counters with a three punch combo that has Thomas backing up. Thomas nods at Alves to acknowledge the strikes.
A leg kick checked by Thomas.
Anderson Alves is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alves misses the shot to the body.
Thomas misses with a looping left.
Thomas takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Thomas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Alves.
Thomas throws a hook but Alves blocks it.
Alves scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Alves tries to score with a low kick but Thomas moves his leg out of the way.
Thomas throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Alves counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Alves connects with a right hand. Thomas shakes it off.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas avoids the body shot from Alves.
Alves steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thomas.
Liam Thomas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thomas waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Alves.

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 Anderson Alves.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Alves, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anderson Alves!
An out of breath and clearly excited Anderson Alves thanked Dynamic Nutrition $35 159 Recovery for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).