PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ryder Hefner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Hefner
vs
Alves

191 cm
27
186 lbs
3 - 1 - 1

175 cm
21
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

AnonymouS
Namunamu Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 1, fighting out of London, Ryder Hefner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thiago Alves!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Wagner Zegers and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Alves drives through and clinches with Hefner against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Hefner.
Hefner tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hefner lands a hook that snaps the head of Alves backwards.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hefner just misses with a elbow thrown towards Alves's brow.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Hefner lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Alves utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Alves is looking to control Hefner's arms but Hefner gets an underhook and turns him. Now Alves has his back to the cage.
Alves lands a nice shot to the body.
Alves scores with a shoulder strike.
Hefner avoiding damage.
I was talking to Hefner's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Alves blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Alves blocking some punches.
Hefner misses with the head strike.
Hefner swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Alves misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hefner misses with some punches.
Alves blocks an elbow strike from Hefner.
Alves digs a right hand underneath Hefner's ribcage. Hefner let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Alves prevents a body shot from Hefner.
Hefner is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hefner has a couple of punches blocked by Alves.
Hefner misses with a short punch on the inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, Hefner throws an elbow but misses.
Hefner throws a knee to the head but misses.
Alves managing to block the knees to the body from Hefner.
Alves tries to land a knee to the head but Hefner blocks with his arms.
Alves pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Alves keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hefner's efforts to push away.
Hefner with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Alves misses with a body punch.
A short body shot lands from Alves as the two fighters clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hefner missing with knees to the body.
Alves unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hefner lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Hefner wants to get back to striking at distance but Alves won't allow it.
Alves misses with a punch to the body.
Alves lands a knee to the body.
Hefner pushes Alves back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Alves is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hefner misses with a punch on the inside.
Hefner can't find room to land a body shot as Alves controls the action.
Hefner is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Alves is defending well for now.
Alves presses Hefner against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hefner working aggressively here.
Alves doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Alves doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hefner pressing his opponent against the cage.
Hefner scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves stalling in the clinch but Hefner improves position.
Alves blocks a body shot from Hefner.
Hefner tries to land knees in the clinch but Alves avoids the damage to the body.
Alves is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Hefner is keeping busy.
Hefner takes an elbow to the temple.
Alves trying to land knees to the body.
Hefner tries to break free but Alves pushes him back against the cage.
Alves gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Hefner struggles to land a body shot inside as Alves controls his hands.
Hefner misses with an elbow over the top.
Alves gets through Hefner's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hefner tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Alves trying to control the position but instead, Hefner has worked for underhooks and has pushed Alves into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hefner using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Alves has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Alves is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Alves lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Alves.
With the fighters up against the cage, Hefner throws an elbow but misses.
Alves misses with the head strike.
Hefner unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Alves is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Hefner is keeping busy.
Hefner doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Alves prevents a body shot from Hefner.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hefner.
Nice elbow from Alves.
Knees to the body from Alves.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Thiago Alves will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Alves wants to clinch.
Alves looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hefner misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Alves lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Alves fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hefner throws a shot from downtown. Alves moves away and avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hefner misses with a body shot.
Alves lands a two punch combo.
Hefner moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Alves, right into the meat.
Alves has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Hefner circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hefner misses with a hook.
Alves tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hefner paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hefner rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Alves counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hefner shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Hefner tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ryder Hefner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hefner fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Alves looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
No joy there for Hefner, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hefner swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Alves.
Alves tries to clinch there but Hefner circles away.

Alves clinches up with Hefner and pushes him back against the cage.
Hefner goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Alves tries to stall but Hefner uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Thiago Alves seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Alves landing knees to the body.
Alves dodges an elbow strike from Hefner.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hefner with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Alves digs a right hand into Hefner's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Hefner's gas tank.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alves trying to stall but Hefner improves his position.
Hefner takes a knee to the side of the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hefner with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hefner connects with a nasty looking knee right to Alves's face.
Hefner is trying to break free.
Alves lands a knee to the body.
Alves tries to work over Hefner's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Alves misses with a body punch.
Alves is looking to control Hefner's arms but Hefner gets an underhook and turns him. Now Alves has his back to the cage.
Alves comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Alves misses with a punch on the inside.
Hefner blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Alves lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hefner pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves looking to stall.
A head punch on the inside from Hefner fails to land.
Hefner tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Alves's elbow.
Alves on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hefner is struggling to control the position.
Hefner wants to break free but Alves has control.
Alves lands an uppercut.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hefner just misses with a elbow thrown towards Alves's brow.
Alves crunches a lovely knee into Hefner's ribcage.
Hefner takes a knee right on the jaw!
Alves lands an elbow inside that Hefner shrugs off.
A knee to the head by Alves.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Alves.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Alves obliges.
Alves crunches a lovely knee into Hefner's ribcage.
Hefner avoiding damage as Alves throws knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hefner misses with an elbow strike.
Alves tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hefner's elbow.
Hefner looking to slow down the pace here.
Hefner avoiding damage as Alves throws knees to the body.
Alves throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Alves blocks an elbow strike.
A shot in the inside from Alves.
Alves scores with a knee to the head.
Hefner misses with a hook from the clinch.
Alves tries to work over Hefner's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hefner tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Alves's elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago 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! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Alves tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hefner paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hefner misses with a wild body shot.
A little jabbing left from Alves on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Alves rushes Hefner and presses him up against the cage.

Hefner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Alves avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Alves appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Hefner throws a series of punches but Alves avoids them all with ease.
Alves turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Alves moves into range and clinches up with Hefner.
Hefner stalling the fight.
Hefner lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Alves backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alves blocking some punches.
Hefner avoiding damage as Alves throws knees to the body.
Hefner pushes Alves back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hefner looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hefner is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Alves is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves stalling.
Hefner on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hefner misses with a hook to the ribs.
Knees in the clinch landing for Alves.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Alves.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Knees in the clinch landing for Alves.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Alves tries to land knees in the clinch but Hefner avoids the damage to the body.
Alves will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Hefner up against the cage.
Hefner managing to block the knees to the body from Alves.
Hefner tries to break free but Alves pushes him back against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Alves as the two fighters clinch.
Alves slowing the pace effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hefner prevents a body shot from Alves.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Alves.
Alves misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hefner is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nice elbow from Alves.
Alves on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Alves tries to land a knee to the head but Hefner blocks with his arms.
Hefner is struggling to control the position.
Hefner stalling in the clinch but Alves improves position.
Alves creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Hefner's defenses.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Alves tries to throw a body punch but Hefner avoids it by throwing Alves back against the cage.
Alves on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hefner tries to land a knee to the head but Alves blocks with his arms.
Hefner prevents a body shot from Alves.
Hefner managing to block the knees to the body from Alves.
Hefner lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Alves backwards.
Hefner misses with the head strike.

Hefner manages to break the clinch.
Alves wants to clinch.
Ryder Hefner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Alves has managed to clinch.
Still in the clinch, Alves scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hefner missing with knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Alves - that landed with a thud.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hefner tries to throw a body punch but Alves avoids it by throwing Hefner back against the cage.
Alves lands with a short shot to the head.
Alves tries to work over Hefner's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hefner misses with the head strike.
Alves gets through Hefner's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Alves has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Alves lands an elbow inside that Hefner shrugs off.
Hefner avoids the elbow strike from Alves, against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hefner using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Alves has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hefner struggles to land a body shot inside as Alves controls his hands.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hefner as Alves tries to tie him up.
Alves pushes Hefner back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Alves misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hefner.
Nice elbow from Alves.

It looks like Ryder Hefner has been cut.
Alves tries to land knees in the clinch but Hefner avoids the damage to the body.
Thiago Alves is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hefner has Alves pressed against the cage.
Hefner misses with a hook to the ribs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiago Alves comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Alves winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thiago Alves!
Thiago Alves decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.