PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joao Alves (ranked 4954 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nivaldo Farias (ranked 24222 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Alves
vs
Farias

177 cm
25
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
150 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nivaldo Farias!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Matheus Silva and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alves tries to score a power double leg takedown but Farias sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Alves somewhat.
Farias is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Farias gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Alves to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Farias can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Alves controls the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alves trying to control but Farias is working from the bottom.
Farias bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Alves's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves pulls Farias in close to prevent any damage.
Farias wants to stand but Alves is controlling his posture from full guard.
Alves managing to control the position.
Farias works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Alves wants to control but Farias is keeping busy.
Alves blocking the ground and pound attempt from Farias.

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 wants to get back to his feet.
Alves is looking for a sweep. Farias is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alves wants to control but Farias is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Alves keeping control of the position.
Farias wants to take a breather but Alves is having none of it.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Alves is trying is best to control the position here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Alves shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Farias is trying to defend but Alves finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Farias tries to roll over but Alves keeps him under control.
Alves is looking to advance position but Farias won't allow it.
Alves thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Farias's head.
Alves sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Alves trying to pass the guard but Farias defending well.

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.
Farias is trying to control but Alves manages to pass to mount!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Alves cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Alves is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Farias has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Farias!
Alves is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Farias being controlled here momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nivaldo Farias will probably get the nod.
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 darts in looking for a takedown but Farias gets double underhooks and turns Alves into the cage.
Joao Alves is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alves tests Farias's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Alves gets caught napping as Farias dives in and scores a takedown. Alves manages to retain guard.
Alves wants to sweep here but Farias controlling him for the moment.

Alves has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Farias is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Farias misses with a short punch on the inside.
Alves leaning his opponent against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Alves.

Alves breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farias looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Alves moves into the clinch.
Farias fails to pull guard.
Farias has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Alves after a bit of a struggle.

Alves breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Farias avoids the head kick by Alves.
Farias drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Alves defends it well.

Alves closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Farias's guard.
Alves stopping the sweep attempt from Farias.
Farias being controlled here, momentarily.

Alves stands up from Farias's guard - Alves perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Farias rushes Alves and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Alves breaks from the clinch.

Alves closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alves sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Alves wants to pass the guard but Farias is defending well.
Farias is pressing down on Alves's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves forces his way into half guard.
Joao Alves overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Alves is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Farias doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Alves.
Alves controlling the pace.
Alves is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Farias can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Alves is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Farias sees it coming and defends easily.
Farias is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Farias keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alves slows the pace down in half guard.
Farias trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Alves dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Farias misses with a straight left.

Alves shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Farias napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Farias is trying to improve his position.
Farias wants to control but Alves postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Farias seems a little lost for a moment, as Alves dominates the positioning.

Alves tries for a kimura but Farias is defending well.
Farias is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Farias's shoulder. That is not cool.
Alves lands some shots froms side control.

Alves is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Farias knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
A lull in the action here.

That's two 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.

Alves has hold of Farias's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Farias tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Alves cranks the arm and Farias screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Farias, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Joao Alves!