PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alex Morais (ranked 4142 p4p, 5522 weight class) and Justin Bolivar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Justin Bolivar will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Morais
vs
Bolivar

189 cm
22
135
0 - 0 - 0

151 cm
18
134
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight 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, Alex Morais!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Justin Bolivar!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Morais is defended easily by Bolivar.
Bolivar looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Morais shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Morais was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Bolivar tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

Morais is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Bolivar is defending well though. Morais let's go of the attempt for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morais controlling the position well here. Bolivar rolled but Morais kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bolivar is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Bolivar defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Morais's arms.
Morais is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Morais will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

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.

Morais working for a choke but Bolivar is defending well.
I would not like to be Bolivar right now.

Bolivar showing good submission defense here.
Morais controlling from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morais lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Bolivar really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Morais. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Morais has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Bolivar's body.
Morais's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Even with his hooks in, Morais manages to miss with strikes from the back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Morais dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Morais shoots in for a takedown but Bolivar shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Morais closes the distance and clinches up with Bolivar, looking for a takedown. Morais pushes Bolivar against the cage but Bolivar circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Morais avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Morais shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Morais slips nicely into half guard.
Morais looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Morais works his way into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Morais decides to stand back up.
Bolivar is breathing heavily.

Bolivar gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Morais to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morais loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Morais passes into half guard.
Bolivar blocking the ground and pound attempt from Morais.
Morais perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Further stalling from Morais.
Morais really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Morais uses his free foot to push down on Bolivar's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Bolivar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morais throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Morais sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Morais throwing strikes here but Bolivar is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Morais wants to finish this one by submission but Bolivar is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Morais.
Morais looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morais throwing strikes here but Bolivar is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Morais throws some wild stikes that Bolivar manages to avoid easily.
Alex Morais overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Morais looking for a guillotine from mount but Bolivar is having none of it.
Morais controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Morais with the ground and pound from mount.
Morais moves to back control.

Morais looking to break Bolivar's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Bolivar remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Morais will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Morais punches the canvas rather than the man.

Bolivar showing good submission defense here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Morais throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Morais dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Morais clinches.
Morais managing to block the knees to the body from Bolivar.
Morais blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Morais goes for a takedown attempt but Bolivar pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Morais rushes Bolivar and presses him up against the cage.

Morais breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Morais misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bolivar takes one to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morais shoots in and drives through. Bolivar sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Morais. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morais misses with a head kick.
Morais is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bolivar can do to turn this around?
Bolivar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bolivar tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Morais defends well and Bolivar ends up having to push Morais into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Morais changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Morais clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Morais decides to pull guard.
Morais has control of Bolivar's left arm, preventing Bolivar from doing any damage.

Morais has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Bolivar has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Morais jumps guard and drags Bolivar to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Morais throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Morais trying to control the position here.
Morais throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morais is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

We've been informed that Bolivar has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Morais works his way into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Bolivar takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Morais happy to just control the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Morais stands up.

Morais clinches with his opponent.
Morais is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Morais goes for a takedown attempt but Bolivar pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Alex Morais is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Bolivar tries to keep at a distance but Morais has taken the fight into the clinch.
Morais looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morais trying to land knees to the body.
Morais goes for a takedown attempt but Bolivar pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Morais shoots in for a double leg but Bolivar sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Morais misses with a few strikes there.
Morais tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bolivar sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Morais somewhat.
Morais closes the distance but Bolivar moves to the side
and Bolivar counters with a right hand to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bolivar shoots in for a takedown but Morais shows good takedown defense.

Morais gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Justin Bolivar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alex Morais is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Morais is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Morais showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Morais, 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Morais!