PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shane Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joao Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shane Velasquez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Velasquez
vs
Alves

185 cm
21
187 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

179 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Shane Velasquez!
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, Joao Alves!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Thiago Cunha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alves wants to clinch up but Velasquez keeps it at a distance.
Velasquez tries to clinch

and Alves counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Velasquez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Alves blocks an elbow strike.
Velasquez lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Alves has Velasquez pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Alves pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Velasquez tumbling to the mat - Alves dives into Velasquez's guard.

Velasquez working for a triangle but Alves defends it easily.

Velasquez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Alves gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Velasquez tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Velasquez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Alves seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Alves is one step ahead there.
Alves not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Velasquez is looking for a triangle but Alves pushes his legs off easily.
Alves stands and throws Velasquez's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Velasquez is looking for a sweep.
Velasquez is breathing heavily.
Velasquez is being controlled here.
Alves looks up at the clock and then as Velasquez takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Alves smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Velasquez's face as Alves controls the position.
Velasquez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Velasquez manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Alves tries to get to full guard but Velasquez has control of the leg.
Alves regains full guard. Nicely done.

Velasquez drops back, looking for a kneebar! Alves looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Alves looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Alves!
You can see the frustration on Velasquez's face as Alves controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Velasquez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Alves looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Velasquez is looking for a sweep.
Alves is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Velasquez's shoulder. That is not cool.
Let's hope that Alves has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Alves landing strikes.

Alves tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Alves slows the pace down.
Alves's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
I looks like Alves might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

Despite being in the dominant position, Joao Alves just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Alves closes the distance and clinches.
Alves is trying to drag Velasquez to the mat but Velasquez just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Alves has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Velasquez is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Alves dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Velasquez tries to clinch up

and Alves counters by clinching up.
Velasquez misses with the head strike.
Velasquez prevents a takedown attempt there.
Velasquez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Velasquez throws a head punch that misses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Velasquez.
Alves tries to score a body lock takedown but Velasquez shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Velasquez throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Velasquez throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alves blocks an elbow strike.
Alves avoids a wild elbow strike from Velasquez.
With the fighters up against the cage, Velasquez throws an elbow but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Velasquez just misses with a elbow thrown towards Alves's brow.

Alves has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Velasquez regains guard immediately.

Velasquez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves tries to free his leg and advance position but Velasquez is retaining full guard.
Alves content to stall in guard here.
Velasquez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Alves is one step ahead there.
Alves works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Alves slows the pace down in half guard.

Velasquez looking for a kimura from the bottom but Alves passes into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves takes a little break here. Velasquez wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Velasquez tries to bench press Alves off him but Alves keeps the position.
Velasquez being controlled for a moment.

Alves looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Alves wants to control but Velasquez is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez tries to buck Alves off but Alves is having none of it.
Alves moves into full mount!
Alves looking to control and managing it successfully.
Velasquez working to try and regain half guard.
Alves controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Alves prevents Velasquez from getting the reversal.
Alves controlling from the full mount.

Despite being in the dominant position, Joao Alves just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Velasquez clinches but Alves breaks the clinch

and Alves counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Alves is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Velasquez!
Velasquez is trying to escape the mount.
Velasquez is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Alves showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.

Alves is looking to score with low kicks.

Velasquez shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Velasquez was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Velasquez has control of Alves's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Alves regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Velasquez is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Alves has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Alves!
Alves is stalling in the full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Velasquez has an active guard here but Alves has managed to pass into half guard.

Velasquez is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Alves pulls his head out easily.

Velasquez actively working from the bottom here.
Alves slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Alves is trying to work for a kimura but Velasquez is defending well.
Alves with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Despite being in the dominant position, Joao Alves just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Velasquez wants to clinch

and Alves counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Joao Alves has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Velasquez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Alves doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Alves manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Alves throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Alves content to stall in guard here.
Velasquez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Alves is one step ahead there.
Alves slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joao Alves comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Alves has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joao Alves!