PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Barry Kearney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Alves
vs
Kearney

175 cm
23
180 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

177 cm
22
180 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thiago Alves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Barry Kearney!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paulsen Ambrosius and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kearney rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Alves counters with a low kick, right behind Kearney 's knee.
Kearney swats away the attempt to clinch by Alves.
Nice uppercut lands for Kearney. That snapped Alves's head back.
Kearney throws a one two combo.
Kearney swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kearney swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Alves counters with a nice kick to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alves looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kearney throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
As Kearney backs away, Alves returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alves tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kearney swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Alves uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kearney.
Alves tried to counter with a leg kick but Kearney avoided it.
Kearney avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
It seemed like Kearney was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Kearney misses with a body shot.
Kearney ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Alves is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Alves clinches up with Kearney and pushes him back against the cage.
Alves tries a body shot but Kearney blocks it.
Kearney wants to get back to striking at distance but Alves won't allow it.
Kearney misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Our sources have told us that Alves has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Kearney stalling in the clinch.
Alves misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kearney.
Alves blocks an uppercut.
Kearney tries to throw a body punch but Alves avoids it by throwing Kearney back against the cage.
Alves tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kearney's elbow.
Kearney on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kearney tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Alves lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kearney fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves is trying to stall.
Kearney tries to throw a body punch but Alves avoids it by throwing Kearney back against the cage.
Alves utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Still in the clinch, Alves scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kearney taking a breather.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kearney as Alves tries to tie him up.
Kearney lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Alves tries a body shot but Kearney blocks it.
Kearney misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kearney throws a head punch that misses.
Alves goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Alves holding his opponent close, 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!
Kearney swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kearney is defending well for now.
Alves tries to work over Kearney's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Alves tries to stall but Kearney uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Alves tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Alves lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kearney backwards.
Kearney is trying to break the clinch but Alves is controlling him.
Kearney avoids the elbow strike from Alves, against the cage.
Kearney taking a breather.
Kearney misses with the head strike.
A right handed body shot lands from Kearney.
Kearney misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kearney.
Alves landing knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kearney tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Alves blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Alves is leaning against Kearney and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Kearney pushes Alves back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kearney tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kearney manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Alves has Kearney pushed against the cage.
Kearney lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kearney misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kearney has a couple of punches blocked by Alves.
Knees to the body from Alves.
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!
Kearney swings wildly with an uppercut but Alves uses good head movement to avoid it.
Alves stalling the fight.
Alves blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Alves takes a shot to the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kearney makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Alves instigates a clinch.
Kearney misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Alves.
A right hand to the body from Kearney.
Alves dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Kearney tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kearney tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Alves missing with knees to the body.
Kearney tries to throw a body punch but Alves avoids it by throwing Kearney back against the cage.
Kearney swings wildly with an uppercut but Alves uses good head movement to avoid it.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Alves lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kearney swings wildly with an uppercut but Alves uses good head movement to avoid it.
A nice left hand lands by Kearney.
Alves working Kearney over with knees to the body.
Kearney misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kearney managing to block the knees to the body from Alves.
Alves blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Alves can't find room to land a body shot as Kearney controls the action.
Kearney takes an elbow to the temple.
Alves using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Alves tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kearney avoids it.
Alves taking a breather.
Kearney managing to block the knees to the body from Alves.
Alves blocks a body shot from Kearney.
Alves lands an uppercut.
Alves has Kearney pressed against the cage, preventing Kearney from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kearney looking to stall.
Kearney tries to throw a body punch but Alves avoids it by throwing Kearney back against the cage.
Alves lands a nice shot to the body.
Alves lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kearney backwards.
Kearney looking to slow down the pace here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves lands a good knee to the midsection. Kearney won't want to take too many of those.
Kearney is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Alves misses with a punch to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Alves blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Alves is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Kearney misses with a punch on the inside.
Alves putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Kearney in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kearney is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kearney misses with the head strike.
Alves landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Alves scores a nice knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Alves obliges.
Alves lands a knee to the body.
Alves leaning his opponent against the cage.
Alves lands an elbow just above Kearney 's eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves lands a damaging elbow.
Kearney has had enough of the clinch but Alves keeps him there for the moment.
Alves taking a breather.
Kearney stalling the fight.
Kearney takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kearney misses with a body punch.
Kearney is trying to stall.
Alves lands a nice knee to the body.
Alves lands a knee to the body.
Nice elbow from Alves.
Kearney tries to work over Alves's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Alves lands a nice elbow.
Alves blocks an uppercut.
Kearney can't find room to land a body shot as Alves controls the action.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kearney stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kearney.
Kearney is looking to break free of the clinch but Alves has double underhooks.
Kearney misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kearney misses with a body punch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Alves creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Alves.
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!
Kearney tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A bit of stalling here from Alves.
Alves softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Thiago Alves has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kearney is trying to push Alves away but Alves has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Alves blocks an uppercut.
Kearney swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kearney misses with a short punch on the inside.
Alves scores a nice knee to the body.
Alves lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Kearney or not.
Alves works on Kearney's body with a couple of short punches.
Alves is pushing Kearney up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Alves dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Alves is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kearney misses with a left hand
and Alves counters with a left and a right that stings Kearney.
Alves fails with an attempt to clinch.
A big right from Kearney misses.
Alves fires out a quick counter leg kick but Kearney just manages to avoid it.
Alves lands a leg kick that knocks Kearney off balance momentarily.
Kearney circles away from the clinch attempt.
Alves on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Alves fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kearney, pushing him back against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Alves.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alves blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Alves blocks a body shot from Kearney.
Alves avoiding damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kearney.
Alves taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves lands a body shot in the clinch.
Alves lands a body punch in the clinch.
Kearney takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Alves tries to land a knee to the head but Kearney blocks with his arms.
A head punch on the inside from Kearney fails to land.
Kearney takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kearney letting Alves take a breather here.
Alves unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Kearney takes an elbow to the temple.
Kearney tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Alves dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Alves lands a right hand.
Alves tries to throw a body punch but Kearney avoids it by throwing Alves back against the cage.
Alves creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Kearney's defenses.
A shot in the inside from Alves.
Alves displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kearney up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves lands a nice uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Alves throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Alves misses with a knee strike.
Alves blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Alves taking a breather.
Alves tries to throw a body punch but Kearney avoids it by throwing Alves back against the cage.
Kearney throws a head punch that misses.
A short right from Kearney.
Kearney is trying to push Alves away but Alves has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Kearney pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Alves tries to clinch but Kearney is having none of it.
Kearney swats away the attempt to clinch by Alves.
Alves throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves scores with a head kick. Kearney tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Barry Kearney seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kearney looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Alves moves in looking to clinch but Kearney pushes him off.
Alves fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kearney.
Alves tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kearney manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kearney swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Alves tries to clinch up.
A big right from Kearney misses.
Kearney stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Alves.
Kearney misses with an uppercut.
Kearney avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kearney misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Alves.
Alves wants to clinch up but Kearney keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kearney loads up on a big right hand but Alves slips the punch.
Alves on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Alves moves in looking to clinch but Kearney pushes him off.
Kearney moves away from the strike by Alves.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kearney! But no joy.
Kearney swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Alves counters with a big head kick but Kearney shrugs it off.
Barry Kearney seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kearney keeps the fight on the outside.
Alves wants to clinch.
Alves ducks under a wild hook from Kearney.
Alves keeps the fight on the outside.
Kearney takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kearney loads up on a big right hand but Alves slips the punch.
Alves walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiago Alves showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Alves has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thiago Alves!
In his post fight interview, Thiago Alves started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.