PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jody Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Dover (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ben Dover will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Alvarez
vs
Dover

159 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

189 cm
19
167 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jody Alvarez!
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, Ben Dover!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Emerson Jorge and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dover throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Alvarez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Alvarez really is a fat lump.
Alvarez stalling.
Dover stalling the fight.

Dover gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Alvarez manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Dover gets a double leg takedown into Alvarez's guard.

Alvarez uses the cage to get back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alvarez is looking to clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Dover misses the target.

Dover rushes Alvarez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Alvarez throws a knee to the head but misses.

Dover breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Dover clinches up with Alvarez and pushes him back against the cage.

Alvarez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dover misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Dover manages to break the clinch.

Alvarez has closed the distance and engaged Dover in a clinch.

Dover gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Alvarez wants to stand and escape but Dover is having none of it.

Dover stands up and waves to Alvarez to follow him.

Alvarez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Alvarez pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Dover tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Alvarez's elbow.

Dover works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Alvarez pushes Dover off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The fight stays on the outside here - Alvarez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Alvarez tries to keep at a distance but Dover has taken the fight into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Dover's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Dover is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Dover has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Alvarez regains guard immediately.
Dover looking to sit in guard and control but Alvarez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Dover looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dover has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Alvarez is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Dover is trying to break the clinch but Alvarez is controlling him.

Dover's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Dover closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Alvarez successfully pulls guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alvarez throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Dover stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Alvarez gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Dover to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Alvarez has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Dover is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Dover looks winded!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dover is looking to break free of the clinch but Alvarez has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez gets control of Dover's arms and successfully pulls guard. Alvarez will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Alvarez striking off his back.
Alvarez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dover scoring with some ground and pound.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dover decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Alvarez on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Dover fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Alvarez, pushing him back against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dover is trying to force a seperation but Alvarez has the dominant position.
Alvarez stalling.
Alvarez creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jody Alvarez will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Dover gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Dover is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Alvarez can't fight it off and eventually Dover manages to take the fight to the floor. Alvarez looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Alvarez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dover gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Dover stands up from guard. Let's bang!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dover clinches up with Alvarez and pushes him back against the cage.
Dover pushes off an throws an elbow but Alvarez leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Dover gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Alvarez has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Dover has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dover has Alvarez pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Dover pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Alvarez tumbling to the mat - Dover dives into Alvarez's guard.
Alvarez tries to strike from the bottom.
Dover is working Alvarez over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Dover stops Alvarez from standing up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Alvarez is on top in guard.

Alvarez 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.
Dover is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Alvarez is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Dover wants to stand and escape but Alvarez is having none of it.
Alvarez is stalling in the full guard.
Dover wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dover looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Alvarez puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Dover wants to sweep but Alvarez has passed to side control!
Dover is breathing heavily.
Alvarez working away.
Alvarez staying calm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Dover is looking for a sweep.
Alvarez trying to control the action but Dover is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Dover darts in and clinches Alvarez up against the cage.

Alvarez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jody Alvarez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Alvarez gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Alvarez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dover would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Alvarez wriggles free and stands up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jody Alvarez will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Dover pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Alvarez back to the cage. Dover follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Alvarez tries to clinch but Dover moves out of range.
Ben Dover seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Dover instigates a clinch.

Dover breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Alvarez wants to clinch.
Alvarez blocks a head kick by Dover.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dover displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Dover swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Dover closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Alvarez fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Alvarez.
Dover is trying to push Alvarez away but Alvarez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Alvarez is trying to break the clinch but Dover is controlling him.

Alvarez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Dover throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Alvarez tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Dover is in Alvarez's guard.
Dover takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Alvarez keeping moving, preventing Dover from controlling successfully.
Alvarez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Alvarez manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Dover clinches.
Alvarez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Dover walks away with a smile on his face. Alvarez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez tries to close the distance and clinch but Dover swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alvarez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dover looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Alvarez tries to clinch up but Dover circles away and keeps his distance.

Dover closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dover scoring with punches from side control.
Alvarez is trying to get back to his feet.
Alvarez wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.

Dover decides to stand up, so the ref orders Alvarez to his feet.
A combination from Dover does no damage.

Dover shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Dover avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Alvarez moves in looking to clinch but Dover pushes him off.
Alvarez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Dover manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Alvarez is looking to clinch.

Dover moves into the clinch.
Dover is trying to force a seperation but Alvarez has the dominant position.
Dover is trying to break the clinch but Alvarez is controlling him.

Dover jumps guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Dover is looking to stand up but Alvarez isn't so interested in that idea.
Dover working a defensive guard but Alvarez manages to pass into side control anyway.
Dover manages to work his way to half guard, despite Alvarez's best efforts.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Dover comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Alvarez 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ben Dover!