PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Assuerio Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frederick Finklestein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Alves
vs
Finklestein

180 cm
19
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Assuerio Alves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frederick Finklestein!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Daniel Franklin and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Finklestein bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Alves is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Finklestein asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Finklestein stands up and we're back to a striking position.
The fight stays on the outside here - Finklestein looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Alves fails with an attempt to clinch.
Finklestein misses with a jab, cross combination.
Alves throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Finklestein has managed to clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Finklestein.
Alves wants to get back to striking at distance but Finklestein won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves tries for a takedown but Finklestein manages to get underhooks.

Finklestein has clasped his hands together around Alves's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Alves is looking for a sweep.
Alves is not content to let Finklestein control the position.
Finklestein sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Alves is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Alves is being controlled here.
Finklestein wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alves keeps working.
Finklestein taking a breather here.
Finklestein is looking to take a break and control but Alves is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves is trying to control Finklestein's posture but Finklestein avoids it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Finklestein tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Alves swivels and escapes.
Finklestein falls off balance throwing a combination
and Alves counters with a left to the body.
Finklestein looks gassed!
A head kick misses from Alves.
Alves is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Alves looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves looks to clinch

and Finklestein counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Finklestein 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.
Alves working a defensive guard here.
Alves wants to stand up but Finklestein is controlling him.
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 avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finklestein wants to control from the top but Alves keeps moving.
Finklestein sitting in guard, not really doing much.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Finklestein takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Finklestein has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Alves finds it's way round the side to connect with Finklestein's head.
No luck for Finklestein with that takedown attempt.

Finklestein shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Finklestein showed some decent athleticism there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frederick Finklestein dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Finklestein swings away with a body shot that misses
and Alves counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Finklestein pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Alves throws a combination that misses

and Finklestein counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Finklestein.
Alves wants to break free but Finklestein has control.

Finklestein breaks the clinch.
Alves scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Finklestein shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Finklestein was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Alves tries to buck Finklestein off but he can't manage it.
Finklestein controlling from the full mount.
Finklestein lands a big shot there that rocks Alves but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves wants to hold on but Finklestein pushes him away.
Finklestein tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Alves is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Finklestein cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Alves is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alves tries to improve his position but instead Finklestein has taken his back!
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Finklestein.
Finklestein tries to get the hooks in deep but Alves pushed the leg off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Good control from Finklestein.
Alves is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Alves takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Finklestein has the hooks in. Alves is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Finklestein is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Finklestein's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves is covering up but some of the strikes from Finklestein are getting through and doing damage.
Alves tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Alves taking shots to the head.
Alves working to try and regain half guard.
Finklestein controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Alves really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Finklestein controlling his opponent.
Alves working to try and regain half guard.

Finklestein has control of Alves's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Alves regains control of the situation pretty easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frederick Finklestein showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! 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.

Finklestein closes the distance and clinches up with Alves, looking for a takedown. Finklestein pushes Alves against the cage but Alves circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Finklestein shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Alves pinned against the cage. Alves gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Finklestein needs to keep his hands up - Alves had a free shot at his head there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alves throws a series of punches but Finklestein avoids them all with ease.
Finklestein takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
No luck for Alves with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finklestein lands a nice leg kick that just misses Alves's sensitive parts.

Finklestein gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Finklestein tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Assuerio Alves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frederick Finklestein.
Alves can't break the clinch.
Finklestein landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Finklestein breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alves lands a jab-cross combination.
Finklestein has his takedown stuffed

and Alves counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Alves has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Alves would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Finklestein wriggles free and stands up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Finklestein.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Finklestein decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Finklestein with a lazy takedown attempt
and Alves counters with a series of strikes. Finklestein will be more careful next time no doubt.
Alves throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Finklestein is looking to clinch but Alves is avoiding it.
Finklestein fails to land the takedown.
Alves bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Finklestein's head backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves circles away from the clinch attempt.
Alves clinches but Finklestein breaks the clinch

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

Alves kicks off Finklestein and gets to his feet.
Finklestein ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Alves moves away.
Finklestein gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Finklestein shoots for a double leg takedown but Alves sprawls well. He's pushed Finklestein's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Alves lands a jab-cross combination.
Assuerio Alves has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
No luck for Finklestein with that takedown attempt.
Finklestein looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Finklestein feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Alves's calf.
Finklestein tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Alves paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Finklestein scores a takedown into full mount!
Alves wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alves is trapped and Finklestein is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Finklestein lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Finklestein.

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 Assuerio Alves.
I think Finklestein 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 George Francis scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frederick Finklestein!