PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cassius Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eduardo Soares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Alves
vs
Soares

190 cm
20
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
205 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cassius Alves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Soares!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Thiago Cunha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soares shoots in and drives through. Alves sprawls well.

Alves changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Soares looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Soares pushes Alves away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Alves gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Alves staying calm.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Alves is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Soares has escaped the position, nice work there.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Soares sneaks back into half guard.
Soares taking some punishment here, with Alves in his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves prevents Soares from standing back up.
Soares is trying to get back to full guard.
Alves is trying to control the action in half guard but Soares is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Soares looking for submissions off his back.
Soares is controlling Alves's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Soares looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Soares looks like he's trying to stand up.
Soares looks gassed!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Soares tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alves swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Alves closes the distance and pushes Soares back into the cage.
Soares tries to pull guard but Alves holds him up against the cage and eventually Soares drops back down to his feet.
Alves is trying to drag Soares to the mat but Soares just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Alves gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Soares is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Alves has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Soares looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Soares had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Alves is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Soares Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Alves's back instead.
Alves trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Alves covering up well and avoiding damage.
Alves trying to control the hands but Soares breaks the grip.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Soares controlling well, preventing Alves from escaping the position.
Soares tries to keep control of the position but Alves is staying busy.

Soares is persistently looking for the submission but Alves is defending it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Soares lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Soares struggling to keep hold of the position.
Alves tries to escape but Soares has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cassius Alves dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Soares shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Soares working the head and body with strikes.
Alves is not content to let Soares control the position.
Alves wants to control but Soares is keeping busy.
Soares is just content to waste time from the top position. Alves takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Soares won't allow Alves to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soares trying to control the position from guard on top but Alves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Soares stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Soares shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Soares is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Alves!
Soares punishing his opponent with strikes.
A nice elbow there by Soares.
Soares postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Alves looks a forlorn figure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soares putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Soares is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Alves circles away from the clinch attempt.
Soares gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Alves moves into the clinch.
Soares leaning against his opponent.
Alves fails to pull guard.
Alves can't get the takedown.
Soares drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Alves tries to break the clinch but Soares is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soares goes for a takedown attempt but Alves pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Cassius Alves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eduardo Soares.
Alves avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Alves shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Soares pinned against the cage. Soares gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Soares shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Alves but Alves pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Soares misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Soares gets caught flat footed, as Alves shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Alves won't allow Soares to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alves is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Soares manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Alves manages to get himself to full guard.
Alves working a defensive guard here.
Soares loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Eduardo Soares has got the better of the ground game so far.
Soares postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Soares trying to control the position from guard on top but Alves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eduardo Soares showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Soares lands a head kick. Alves smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Alves has taken the fight to the clinch.

Alves decides to pull guard.
Soares trying to control the position from guard on top but Alves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Soares loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Soares avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Soares trying to control the position from guard on top but Alves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Soares landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Soares stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Soares fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Soares slips a jab from Alves.
Alves swats away the attempt to clinch by Soares.
Alves takes a kick to the side of the head.
Alves misses with a takedown attempt - Soares sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Soares changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Alves tries to avoid it but Soares manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Alves to the ground. Alves escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Soares has Alves up against the cage in a clinch.
Soares gets underhooks to prevent Alves's takedown attempt.
Alves jumps guard but Soares stands there with Alves around his waist. Alves gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cassius Alves. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alves tries to pull guard but Soares won't allow it.

Soares breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Soares tries to close the distance and clinch but Alves swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Soares ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Alves moves away.

Soares shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Soares was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Soares has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Alves's face.
Soares postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Alves looks a forlorn figure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soares working Alves over with strikes here.
Soares looking to ground and pound but Alves is blocking nicely.
Soares looking to control and managing it successfully.
Alves holds on for dear life, controlling Soares's posture momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Alves taking shots to the head.

Soares working for a submission but Alves is keeping him at bay.
Alves is trying to stand up.

Soares looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Alves is desperately trying to improve his position but Soares has a good base and remains in mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eduardo Soares comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Soares has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eduardo Soares!