PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joao Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fatih Emir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alves comes to the cage accompanied by Carl Orff - Carmina Burana - André Rieu's version. Emir comes into a darkened arena with his song building. i kill people kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Alves
vs
Emir

179 cm
26
200 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

185 cm
27
190 lbs
11 - 10 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joao Alves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fatih Emir!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Edson Gomes and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Alves pushes Emir up against the cage in a clinch.
Alves prevents the takedown attempt.
Emir goes for a takedown attempt but Alves pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Emir looks to land a combination. Alves sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Joao Alves has been cut.
Alves tries to clinch but Emir moves out of range.
Alves will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Alves throws a sloppy head kick and Emir moves out of range easily.
Alves tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Emir manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Alves will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Alves fails in his attempt to clinch.
Emir throws a nice looking combination but Alves bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Alves closes the distance and clinches.
Alves tries to land a knee to the head but Emir blocks with his arms.
Alves prevents the takedown attempt.
Joao Alves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fatih Emir.
Emir has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Alves is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Emir has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Alves is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emir can't get the takedown.
Alves will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Emir up against the cage.
Emir has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Alves avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Alves has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Emir uses from the top position.

Emir avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Emir trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Emir lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Alves working for a triangle but Emir defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emir is in close to Alves's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Emir slips nicely into half guard.
Emir wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alves keeps working.
Alves throws a strike from the bottom but Emir passes into side control!

Emir is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Alves knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Emir tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
You can see the frustration on Alves's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Emir lands an elbow.

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.

Emir tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Emir has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Alves takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

Emir thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Alves tries to bench press Emir off him but Emir keeps the position.
Alves is trying to control Emir's posture but Emir avoids it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Emir tries for a kimura but Alves is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fatih Emir dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joao Alves's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A bone on bone clash there as Emir blocks the leg kick.
Alves avoids a punch combination nicely.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Emir has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Alves is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Alves tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Alves ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Alves no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Emir got a little sloppy there for a moment and Alves has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Emir has managed to get both his arms back between Alves's legs - danger averted.

Emir avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Alves trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emir is looking to work some ground and pound but Alves has wrist control.
Emir trying to control but Alves is working from the bottom.
Emir working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Emir lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Emir postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Alves is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Emir, into his guard.
Emir looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Emir 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.

Emir 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.

Emir 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.
Emir is breathing heavily.

Alves avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Emir is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Alves wants to control from the top but Emir keeps moving.
Alves is pushing down on Emir's leg trying to pass to half guard. Emir is fighting to maintain full guard but Alves has managed to sneak the leg through.

Emir looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Emir makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Emir.

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.

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

Alves got a little sloppy there for a moment and Emir has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Alves has managed to get both his arms back between Emir's legs - danger averted.
Alves is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alves preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Fatih Emir will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Joao Alves's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Emir fails with a takedown attempt.
Emir swinging wildly here.

Emir tries to keep at a distance but Alves has taken the fight into the clinch.
Alves tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Alves jumps into guard, dragging Emir to the mat.

Alves is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Emir in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Emir must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Emir is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Alves is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Alves has escaped and now he's on top!
Alves passes into half guard.
Emir flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Emir wants to control but Alves is keeping busy.
Emir gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emir lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Alves!
Emir lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Emir lands a heavy elbow.
Emir with a couple of short strikes.
Alves throwing hammer fists to the chest of Emir. What's that going to do exactly?

Emir goes for an armbar but Alves turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Alves.

Emir had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Alves defends it easily.
Fatih Emir has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Emir is looking for a triangle but Alves pushes his legs off easily.
Alves preventing the sweep.

Emir 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.
Alves thows a big elbow that misses.

That's four 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.
Emir keeping moving, preventing Alves from controlling successfully.
Emir is trying to control the position but Alves postures up.
Emir thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Emir throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Joao Alves has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fatih Emir is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Alves postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Fatih Emir.
I've got Emir 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fatih Emir!