PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Math Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Da Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thiago Da Cruz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Alves
vs
Da Cruz

186 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

181 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
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, Math Alves!
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, Thiago Da Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Mauricio Rocha and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Da Cruz shoots and misses
and Alves counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Da Cruz is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Math Alves seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Da Cruz.
Da Cruz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Da Cruz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Alves sprawls well. Alves wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Da Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.
Math Alves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Da Cruz.

Da Cruz fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Alves, pushing him back against the cage.
Da Cruz has had enough of the clinch but Alves keeps him there for the moment.
Alves lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Thiago Da Cruz has been cut.

Alves breaks from the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alves looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Da Cruz throws a push kick but Alves slaps the foot to one side.

Alves clinches with his opponent.
Da Cruz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Alves walks away with a smile on his face. Da Cruz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alves misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alves closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Alves with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Alves breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Da Cruz looks to land a combination but Alves avoids it well.

Alves moves into the clinch successfully.
Alves tries a knee to the head but Da Cruz blocks it.

Alves breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Alves lands with a kick to the ribs.

Da Cruz has taken the fight to the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Alves manages to break the clinch.

Da Cruz gets a takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Still in half guard, Da Cruz seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Cruz throwing shots but Alves is blocking nicely.
Da Cruz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Da Cruz wants to take a breather but Alves is having none of it.
Alves pushes Da Cruz off looking to stand but Da Cruz dives back in and keeps control.
Da Cruz is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Alves wants to stand back up but Da Cruz manages to pass into side control.
Alves is pushing Da Cruz's head away, looking to escape. Da Cruz manages to hold on to the position though.

Da Cruz decides to stand up, so the ref orders Alves to his feet.

Alves closes the distance and pushes Da Cruz back into the cage.
Da Cruz wants a takedown but no success here.
Alves with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Da Cruz's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Alves escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Alves ducks under a wild hook from Da Cruz.
Da Cruz has a takedown stuffed.

Alves closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Da Cruz takes a knee right on the jaw!
Da Cruz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Alves pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Alves with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Alves breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Da Cruz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Alves tries to clinch up.
Da Cruz shoots in for a double leg but Alves sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Da Cruz looks gassed!
Da Cruz with a poor takedown
and Alves counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Da Cruz blocks a head kick by Alves.
Math Alves is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alves closes the distance and clinches.
Da Cruz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Alves walks away with a smile on his face. Da Cruz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Alves scores with a head kick. Da Cruz tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Alves wants to clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Alves gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Da Cruz stalling in the clinch but Alves improves position.

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

Alves tries to keep at a distance but Da Cruz has taken the fight into the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Da Cruz jumps guard but Alves stands there with Da Cruz around his waist. Da Cruz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Alves breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Math Alves dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thiago Da Cruz's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Da Cruz tries to keep at a distance but Alves has taken the fight into the clinch.
Da Cruz can't break the clinch.
Alves tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Da Cruz has had enough of the clinch but Alves keeps him there for the moment.
Da Cruz takes a knee right on the jaw!
Alves connects with a nasty looking knee right to Da Cruz's face.
Da Cruz fails to pull guard.

Alves breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Alves turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Da Cruz rushes Alves and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Da Cruz fails to pull guard.
Alves throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Da Cruz blocks it with crossed arms.
Alves tries to land a knee to the head but Da Cruz blocks with his arms.
Da Cruz fails to pull guard.
Math Alves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Da Cruz.
Da Cruz throws a knee to the head but misses.
Math Alves has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Da Cruz has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Da Cruz can't break the clinch.
Alves has Da Cruz pressed against the cage, preventing Da Cruz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Alves escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Da Cruz misses with a takedown

and Alves counters by clinching up.
Da Cruz wants a takedown but no success here.
Da Cruz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Alves walks away with a smile on his face. Da Cruz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Alves tries a head kick but it misses.
Alves defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Da Cruz.
Da Cruz shoots in for a double leg but Alves sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Alves tries to close the distance and clinch up but Da Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Da Cruz tries to score with a low kick but Alves moves his leg out of the way.
Da Cruz keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Da Cruz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Da Cruz shoots for a double leg takedown but Alves sprawls well. He's pushed Da Cruz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Alves is looking to clinch but Da Cruz is avoiding it.
Da Cruz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Alves throws a nice head kick!
Da Cruz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Alves sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alves lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Alves tries to clinch but Da Cruz is having none of it.
Alves throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Alves stuffs the takedown.
Alves tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Da Cruz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Cruz takes a kick to the side of the head.

Alves closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Alves lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Alves breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Alves goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Alves tries to close the distance and clinch but Da Cruz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Alves tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Alves is looking to clinch.
Thiago Da Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Da Cruz throws a hook but Alves avoids it easily.
Alves stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Alves wants it to stay on the feet.
Alves wants to clinch.
Alves tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Da Cruz misses with a takedown attempt
and Alves counters with a head kick. That will keep Da Cruz thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Alves instigates a clinch.
Alves connects with a nasty looking knee right to Da Cruz's face.
Alves tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Da Cruz is trying to push Alves away but Alves has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alves scores with a knee to the head.
Alves tries to land a knee to the head but Da Cruz blocks with his arms.

Da Cruz has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Alves uses from the top position.
Da Cruz trying to control the position here.
Da Cruz lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Alves!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Da Cruz won't let Alves get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Math Alves dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Thiago Da Cruz's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A head kick misses from Da Cruz.

Alves closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Da Cruz is trying to break free.
Alves tries to land a knee to the head but Da Cruz blocks with his arms.
Alves tries a knee to the head but Da Cruz blocks it.

Alves breaks from the clinch.
Alves fails in his attempt to clinch.
Da Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Da Cruz swats away the attempt to clinch by Alves.
Alves stuffs the takedown attempt from Da Cruz. Da Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Alves has managed to clinch.
Da Cruz tries to circle away but Alves has him pinned against the cage.
Da Cruz tries to circle away but Alves has him pinned against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Alves.
Alves scores with a knee to the head.
Alves tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Da Cruz swings wildly with an uppercut but Alves uses good head movement to avoid it.
Alves lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Alves tries to land a knee to the head but Da Cruz blocks with his arms.
Da Cruz takes a knee right on the jaw!
Alves blocking some punches.
Alves with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Da Cruz is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Alves is keeping busy.
Da Cruz is looking to break free of the clinch but Alves has double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Cruz is looking to break free of the clinch but Alves has double underhooks.

Alves breaks the clinch.
Alves defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Da Cruz.
Alves is looking to clinch but Da Cruz is avoiding it.
Alves is looking to clinch.
Alves wants to clinch but Da Cruz slips to the side

and Da Cruz counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Da Cruz gets to his feet. Alves looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Da Cruz misses with a takedown attempt - Alves sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Math Alves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Da Cruz.

Da Cruz drives through and clinches with Alves against the cage.
Alves lands a knee to the head.
Da Cruz tries to pull guard but Alves holds him up against the cage and eventually Da Cruz drops back down to his feet.
Da Cruz jumps guard but Alves stands there with Da Cruz around his waist. Da Cruz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alves pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Da Cruz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Alves sprawls well. Alves wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Da Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.
Math Alves is winning the standup battle so far.
Alves fails in his attempt to clinch.

Alves gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Alves escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Da Cruz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Da Cruz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Alves swivels and escapes.

Alves closes the distance and pushes Da Cruz back into the cage.
Alves connects with a nasty looking knee right to Da Cruz's face.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Da Cruz throws a leg kick
and Alves counters with a leg kick.
Da Cruz keeps the fight on the outside.
Alves goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Da Cruz shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Alves counters with a head kick. That will keep Da Cruz thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Da Cruz instigates a clinch.
Alves with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Da Cruz has had enough of the clinch but Alves keeps him there for the moment.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alves connects with a nasty looking knee right to Da Cruz's face.
Alves throws a knee to the head but misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Da Cruz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Alves throws a knee to the head but misses.
Thiago Da Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Math Alves is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Da Cruz tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Da Cruz misses with a hook from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Math Alves.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Alves, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

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