PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Julio Alves (ranked 6032 p4p, 24420 weight class) and Dembe Ndembe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dembe Ndembe has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Alves
vs
Ndembe

180 cm
25
180
0 - 2 - 0

169 cm
22
173
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Julio Alves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dembe Ndembe!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Seu Braga and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ndembe has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Alves finds it's way round the side to connect with Ndembe's head.

Ndembe closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Alves's guard.
Alves is trying to control the position but Ndembe postures up.
Ndembe really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Alves. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ndembe stays in close to Alves's body and controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ndembe is pushing down on Alves's leg trying to pass to half guard. Alves is fighting to maintain full guard but Ndembe has managed to sneak the leg through.
Ndembe lands strikes from half guard.
Alves is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Alves has one foot on Ndembe's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
A decent looking cross lands there for 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!
Alves throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Alves delivers a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves thuds his right hand into Ndembe's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Julio Alves seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alves throws a lazy body kick

and Ndembe counters by moving into the clinch.

Ndembe breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Alves misses with a head kick.

Ndembe shoots in and gets a takedown into Alves's guard.

Alves pushes Ndembe off and scrambles back to his feet.
Alves stuns Ndembe with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alves lands with a kick to the temple. Ndembe shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Dembe Ndembe has been cut.
Ndembe takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

Alves gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Alves is looking for a triangle but Ndembe pushes his legs off easily.
Ndembe sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ndembe postures up.
Alves looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ndembe is one step ahead there.

Alves is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ndembe defends well.
Ndembe scoring with some ground and pound.
Ndembe wants to pass the guard but Alves is keeping the position.
Ndembe must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ndembe lands a couple of digs.
Alves wants to sweep but no luck.
Alves working a defensive guard here.
Ndembe showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Alves is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Alves is looking for a triangle but Ndembe pushes his legs off easily.

Ndembe decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Alves, up you get!
That kick from Alves tenderised Ndembe's leg. Ndembe is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters circling a little - Alves finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Crunch! Alves slams his shin into Ndembe's torso.
Alves is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Alves scores with a jab to the body.

Ndembe feints and as Alves raises his hands in defense, Ndembe changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ndembe looks winded!
Ndembe controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Alves not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Alves is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Alves is on top in guard.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alves trying to control but Ndembe is working from the bottom.

Alves stands up from Ndembe's guard - Alves perhaps looking for a knockout.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Julio Alves dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dembe Ndembe's cut.
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 scoring well with a low kick there.

Ndembe drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Ndembe should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Ndembe stands up from Alves's guard - Ndembe perhaps looking for a knockout.
Alves lands with a thumping leg kick.
Alves throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ndembe on the side of the head.
Alves throws a head kick but Ndembe moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A thudding body kick lands there by Alves!

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

Alves manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Alves's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Alves breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Alves fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ndembe looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Ndembe takes a kick to the side of the head.
Good shot there by Ndembe.
Ndembe blocks a head kick by Alves.
Alves is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ndembe can do to turn this around?
Alves throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Ndembe counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Alves makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Ndembe drives through with a takedown into guard.
Alves is looking to stand back up but Ndembe counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Alves.

Ndembe controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ndembe lands with a punch from half guard.
Alves wants to get back to full guard.
Alves makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Alves.
Alves wants to sweep here but Ndembe controlling him for the moment.
Ndembe slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Alves bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ndembe's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alves drops back looking for a leg! Ndembe is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ndembe manages to kick Alves off! Alves jumps back into Ndembe's guard.

Alves gets to his feet. Ndembe looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Alves throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Ndembe tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Alves. Ndembe shrugs it off though.
Alves scores with a spinning back kick!
Alves thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Ndembe if he has to take too many more of those.

Ndembe closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Alves's guard.
Julio Alves overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ndembe won't allow Alves to sweep him here.
Alves is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Alves wants to improve his position but instead Ndembe has moved into half guard.
Alves wants to get back to full guard.
Ndembe stops Alves from getting back to his feet.
Alves is looking to improve his position.
Ndembe landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Ndembe decides to return to a standing position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Julio Alves dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Dembe Ndembe's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Ndembe drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Alves has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Ndembe is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Ndembe has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Alves.
Ndembe controlling the action here for a moment.

Ndembe breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Ndembe has closed the distance and engaged Alves in a clinch.

Ndembe lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alves pushes Ndembe off looking to stand but Ndembe dives back in and keeps control.
Alves slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ndembe takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Alves wants to control the position but Ndembe says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves is trying to stand.
Ndembe performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Let's hope that Ndembe 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.
Nice strikes from Ndembe there.
Alves gets back to full guard.
Alves will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ndembe stops Alves from standing up.
Alves trying to keep a closed guard but Ndembe is proving a slippery customer.

Alves is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ndembe defends well.

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.
Alves trying to keep a closed guard but Ndembe is proving a slippery customer.
Alves wants to stand but Ndembe is controlling the position.

Alves had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ndembe defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ndembe is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Ndembe is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Alves looking for a sweep. Not yet Alves, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ndembe avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ndembe working some strikes from top position.

Ndembe decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Alves throws a head kick but Ndembe moves out of range.
Ndembe takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Ndembe moves into the clinch.

Ndembe breaks from the clinch.

Ndembe changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Alves looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Alves manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ndembe's best efforts.
Alves has hold of Ndembe's hands but Ndembe slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Ndembe takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ndembe is taking a breather. Alves says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Alves regains full guard. Nicely done.

Alves throws his legs up looking for a submission but Ndembe uses it to pass to side control.
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!
Ndembe scoring with punches from side control.
Ndembe lands a few punches from side control.
Alves is trying to get back to half guard.
Alves manages to get back to half guard.
Ground and pound from Ndembe.
Dembe Ndembe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Julio Alves is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Alves is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ndembe's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ndembe's back!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dembe Ndembe.
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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28

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