PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Riku Tiirismaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Junior Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Junior Alves acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the ring.

Tiirismaa
vs
Alves

180 cm
18
175 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

189 cm
19
176 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Riku Tiirismaa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Junior Alves!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Konstantin Menshow and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tiirismaa shoots in looking for a takedown. Alves tries to sprawl out of it but Tiirismaa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Alves manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Alves looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Tiirismaa with the active half guard here but Alves passes nicely into side control.

Alves wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tiirismaa, who protects the arm well.
Alves working away.
Tiirismaa tries to improve position but can't.

Alves looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Tiirismaa gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Alves is trying to control the action in half guard but Tiirismaa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alves wants to work for an arm triangle but Tiirismaa is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Tiirismaa is looking to improve his position.
Tiirismaa is not content to let Alves control the position.
Tiirismaa wants to improve his position but Alves is controlling well.

Alves is looking for a kimura here.

Alves seems to be looking for submissions.
Alves looks gassed!
Tiirismaa gets full guard.

Alves avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Alves thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Alves thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Tiirismaa 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.

Tiirismaa has his foot on Alves's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Alves works his way back into a safe position though.
Tiirismaa trying to strike off his back.
Alves trying to control the position from guard on top but Tiirismaa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alves tries to free his leg and advance position but Tiirismaa is retaining full guard.
Tiirismaa is trying to control the position but Alves postures up.

Alves avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tiirismaa has his foot on Alves's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Alves works his way back into a safe position though.
Alves stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tiirismaa swivels though and keeps the full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Alves shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Tiirismaa wants to stand up but Alves is controlling him.
Alves slips nicely into half guard.

Alves is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Tiirismaa sees it coming and defends easily.

Tiirismaa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Alves is trying to work for a kimura but Tiirismaa is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tiirismaa is looking to control Alves's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tiirismaa avoid being mounted?

Alves is trying to work for a kimura but Tiirismaa is defending well.
Tiirismaa moves into full guard.

Alves drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Tiirismaa dives on top into guard.

Alves escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tiirismaa gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Alves utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior Alves dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tiirismaa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Alves counters with a nice double leg into side control. Tiirismaa won't be happy with that.
Tiirismaa manages to get back to half guard.

Alves wants to work for an arm triangle but Tiirismaa is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Alves thows a huge punch but Tiirismaa dodges it nicely.
Alves working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Tiirismaa's thigh. Tiirismaa counters though and makes it back to full guard.

Alves is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Tiirismaa is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Tiirismaa has escaped and now he's on top!
Tiirismaa has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Tiirismaa missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tiirismaa trying to control but Alves is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiirismaa wants to get up but he can't break Alves's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Tiirismaa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tiirismaa stopping the sweep attempt from Alves.

Tiirismaa drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tiirismaa jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Alves looking for a guillotine here but Tiirismaa defends easily.

Alves looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Tiirismaa wants to stand but Alves is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Alves working for a triangle but Tiirismaa defends it easily.
Tiirismaa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tiirismaa trying to control but Alves is working from the bottom.

Alves had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Tiirismaa is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Alves Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Tiirismaa's back instead.
Tiirismaa trying to control the hands but Alves breaks the grip.
Tiirismaa wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alves is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Tiirismaa covering up well under a series of strikes from Alves.

Alves looking for the choke but no joy.
Alves is trying to stick to Tiirismaa's back but Tiirismaa is turning into Alves. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Alves's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Tiirismaa.
Tiirismaa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Alves is keeping the position for now.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tiirismaa covering up well under a series of strikes from Alves.

Alves patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Tiirismaa is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Tiirismaa just trying to survive but Alves is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Junior Alves has got the better of the ground game so far.
Alves is trying to stick to Tiirismaa's back but Tiirismaa is turning into Alves. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Alves's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Tiirismaa.

Alves has an active guard here but Tiirismaa has managed to pass into half guard.
Alves taking some punishment here, with Tiirismaa in his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior 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.

Tiirismaa shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Tiirismaa trying to control but Alves is working from the bottom.

Alves looking for a guillotine here but Tiirismaa defends easily.
Tiirismaa passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Alves is looking for a sweep.

Tiirismaa is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Alves has escaped the position, nice work there.
Alves manages to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tiirismaa not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves gets full guard.
Tiirismaa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Alves has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tiirismaa can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Alves is working an open guard so Tiirismaa takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Tiirismaa fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Alves sprawls well initially but Tiirismaa persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Alves is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Alves is not content to let Tiirismaa control the position.

Tiirismaa is looking for a kimura here.

Tiirismaa is looking for a kimura but Alves is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Tiirismaa to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tiirismaa missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Alves is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tiirismaa's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tiirismaa's back!
Tiirismaa tries to break free.

Alves looking to break Tiirismaa's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Tiirismaa remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Alves will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Alves is persistently looking for the submission but Tiirismaa is defending it well.
Tiirismaa trying to control but not successfully.

Alves patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Tiirismaa trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Alves keeps control of the position as Tiirismaa tries to break free.

Alves is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alves is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Tiirismaa defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Alves tightening his grip on Tiirismaa, looking for the choke.
Tiirismaa manages to reverse the position and now he's in Alves's guard. Nice work there by Tiirismaa.
Alves looking to control.
Tiirismaa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Alves keeping full guard, as Tiirismaa tries to pass.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tiirismaa's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Alves is trying to hold Tiirismaa in close to prevent damage but Tiirismaa has managed to pass into half guard.

Tiirismaa looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Tiirismaa is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Junior Alves is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Alves wants to control but Tiirismaa is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Tiirismaa gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Riku Tiirismaa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tiirismaa misses with a knee strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Junior Alves comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Alves winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30

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