PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wanderlei Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wanderlei Pope has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Thiago Alvarez's chin.

Alvarez
vs
Pope

225 cm
22
300 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

201 cm
21
285 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wanderlei Pope!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Seu Braga and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Alvarez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pope but Pope pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Alvarez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Alvarez drives through with a takedown into guard.
Alvarez stopping the sweep attempt from Pope.
Alvarez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Alvarez wants to control from the top but Pope keeps moving.
Pope is pulling down on Alvarez's head to control his posture.
Alvarez pushing down on Pope's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Alvarez works his way into side control.
Alvarez passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Pope!
Pope wants to hold on but Alvarez pushes him away.

Alvarez is working for a guillotine from mount but Pope frees his head quite easily.
Pope really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Alvarez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope wants to control but Alvarez is having none of it.
Pope is trying to escape the mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Alvarez looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Pope tries to hold on but Alvarez postures up.

Alvarez is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Pope is surviving well by controlling Alvarez's body position as best he can.
Alvarez is breathing heavily.
Pope slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Pope is trying to stand.
Alvarez is keen to just control but Pope is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Alvarez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Pope is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pope gets back to full guard.
Alvarez postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Alvarez misses with a takedown attempt - Pope sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pope as he avoids it easily.

Pope looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Pope has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Alvarez to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Pope is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Alvarez pulls down on the head and he's put Pope to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:01 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Thiago Alvarez!