PBP Commentary

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

Trombone
vs
Alves

200 cm
24
182 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
21
181 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Milwaukee's Best Nutrition 158 Energy Sale ($21)

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rusty Trombone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Thiago Alves !
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Damien Edna and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Alves closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Trombone did well to prevent Alves getting side control.
Alves thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Trombone to regain full guard.
Alves passes into half guard.
Alves perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Alves trying to control from half guard but Trombone is working away.
Alves has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Still in half guard, Alves seems content to control.
Alves works his way into side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Trombone on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Trombone tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trombone regains half guard, as Alves was trying to land strikes.
Trombone controlling the position well.
Alves trying to control the action but Trombone is working from the bottom.
Trombone taking some punishment here, with Alves in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Alves in particular looking to stall.
Trombone is not content to let Alves control the position.
Trombone really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Trombone keeping control of the position.
Alves tries to pass to full mount but Trombone defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trombone gets back to full guard.
Alves wants to control from the top but Trombone keeps moving.
Trombone avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Alves wants to control from the top but Trombone keeps moving.

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.

Despite being in the dominant position, Thiago Alves just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Trombone keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Alves .
Alves closes this distance looking for a takedown but Trombone circles away.
Trombone throws a sloppy head kick and Alves moves out of range easily.
Thiago Alves seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alves is looking to chop away at Trombone's legs.
Alves fails with the takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alves shoots in looking for a takedown. Trombone tries to sprawl out of it but Alves keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Trombone manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rusty Trombone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Alves .
Alves misses with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

No luck for Trombone with that takedown attempt.
Alves feints and then cracks Trombone's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Trombone down.
Alves misses with an uppercut.
Alves throws the left hand but Trombone avoids the punch easily.
Alves shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Trombone defends it nicely.
Alves jabbing away but nothing is landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Trombone shoots in and bounces Alves off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Trombone thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves looking for a sweep. Not yet Alves , not yet.
Alves is trying to keep Trombone in close.
Alves tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Trombone lands a couple of elbows.
Trombone will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Alves wants to sweep here but Trombone controlling him for the moment.
Alves manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Trombone manages to get himself to full guard.
Trombone preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Trombone wants to sweep but no luck.
Alves trying to control the position from guard on top but Trombone is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alves slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Trombone holds on and takes a little breather.
Trombone keeping moving, preventing Alves from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Trombone is on top in guard.
Alves wants to sweep here but Trombone controlling him for the moment.
Alves working a defensive guard here.
Trombone trying to control but Alves is working from the bottom.

That's four 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 looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Trombone is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Trombone missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Alves throws a body punch but Trombone moves out of range.
Alves connects with a solid leg kick.
Trombone throws a chopping leg kick but Alves manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rusty Trombone dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Alves looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Alves trying to control but Trombone is working from the bottom.
Alves wants to pass the guard but Trombone is keeping the position.
Trombone working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Alves .
Trombone controls Alves momentarily but Alves frees himself.
Alves is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves throws a strike but Trombone rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Alves not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Trombone is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Trombone trying to control the position from guard on top but Alves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Trombone won't allow Alves to sweep him here.
Trombone stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alves swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Alves wants to sweep but no luck.
Trombone trying to control but Alves is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Trombone ducks right into an uppercut from Alves .
Trombone throws a hook but Alves avoids it easily.
Trombone with a lazy takedown attempt

and Alves counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Alves trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Alves throws and elbow that misses. Trombone uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Alves 's guard. Nice move by Trombone!
Trombone trying to control the position from guard on top but Alves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Alves wants to sweep but no luck.
Trombone is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Alves trying to keep a closed guard but Trombone is proving a slippery customer.
Alves wants to improve his position but instead Trombone has moved into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Trombone trying to control the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiago Alves comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Alves has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29

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