PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Phillipe Nover (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Junior dos Santos Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Junior dos Santos Alves is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Nover
vs
dos Santos Alves

175 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Phillipe Nover!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Junior dos Santos Alves!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
dos Santos Alves misses with a takedown attempt - Nover sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
dos Santos Alves shoots for a double leg takedown but Nover sprawls well. He's pushed dos Santos Alves's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
dos Santos Alves lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Nover at a distance.
A punch combination from dos Santos Alves misses.
dos Santos Alves lands with a good body shot.
Nover uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by dos Santos Alves.
dos Santos Alves shoots in but no luck this time.
Phillipe Nover has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Junior dos Santos Alves.
Nover tries to clinch but dos Santos Alves moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nover tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but dos Santos Alves paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nover pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces dos Santos Alves back to the cage. Nover follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
dos Santos Alves looks to throw the jab but Nover is out of range.
dos Santos Alves slaps away a takedown attempt from Nover, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nover tries to close the distance and clinch but dos Santos Alves swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
dos Santos Alves misses with a double jab.
dos Santos Alves changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nover tries to avoid it but dos Santos Alves manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nover to the ground. Nover escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
dos Santos Alves misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nover.
dos Santos Alves fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Nover rushes dos Santos Alves and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nover is trying to force a seperation but dos Santos Alves has the dominant position.
Nover tries to break free but dos Santos Alves pushes him back against the cage.
Nover digs a right hand underneath dos Santos Alves's ribcage. dos Santos Alves let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Nover drops down looking for an ankle pick but dos Santos Alves pulls his leg out and moves away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from dos Santos Alves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Nover tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Nover breaks from the clinch.
dos Santos Alves tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nover was well out of range. Poor timing from dos Santos Alves.
Nover keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nover.
dos Santos Alves throws a looping overhand right but Nover ducks down to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nover tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
dos Santos Alves is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Nover rather than just go for the knockout.
A jab from dos Santos Alves misses.
Junior dos Santos Alves seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
dos Santos Alves misses with a looping right.
Nover fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but dos Santos Alves avoids it really well and circles away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nover staying out of range there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior dos Santos Alves dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A big right from dos Santos Alves misses.
dos Santos Alves fails with a takedown attempt.
dos Santos Alves misses with a low kick.
dos Santos Alves waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nover.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nover defending well as dos Santos Alves loads up on a big left hand.
dos Santos Alves throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Nover counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Nover.

That's one minute gone in the round.
dos Santos Alves wants to break free but Nover has control.
Nover is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
dos Santos Alves has Nover pressed against the cage, preventing Nover from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Nover tries to pull guard but dos Santos Alves won't allow it.
Nover can't break the clinch.
Nover tries to score a body lock takedown but dos Santos Alves shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Phillipe Nover. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nover is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
dos Santos Alves can't break the clinch.
Nover tries for a takedown. No joy.
Nover tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nover is trying to work for a single leg takedown but dos Santos Alves pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Nover swings wildly with an uppercut but dos Santos Alves uses good head movement to avoid it.
dos Santos Alves looking to slow down the pace here.
dos Santos Alves lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Nover is trying to break the clinch but dos Santos Alves has him pressed against the cage.
dos Santos Alves blocks an uppercut.
dos Santos Alves blocking some punches.
A frustrated look appears on Nover's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nover wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nover swings away with an uppercut that misses.

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.
Nover jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as dos Santos Alves walks away with a smile on his face. Nover gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

dos Santos Alves closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Nover throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
dos Santos Alves trying to control the action but Nover is working from the bottom.
Nover on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Nover tries to get out of the position.
Nover can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nover dodges the ground and pound from dos Santos Alves.
dos Santos Alves wants to control but Nover is keeping him busy.
dos Santos Alves moves into full mount!
Nover tries to lock up and control but dos Santos Alves gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
dos Santos Alves looking to finish with strikes here!
dos Santos Alves punching from mount but Nover doing a good job of avoiding damage.
dos Santos Alves sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
dos Santos Alves working the ground and pound effectively.
Poor strikes thrown by dos Santos Alves there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior dos Santos Alves showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

dos Santos Alves swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Nover counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
dos Santos Alves scores with a hook to the body. Nover takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Nover defending well as dos Santos Alves loads up on a big left hand.
dos Santos Alves shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nover as he avoids it easily.
Nover swinging wildly here.
dos Santos Alves thows a left - swing and a miss!
dos Santos Alves ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
dos Santos Alves paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
dos Santos Alves cracks Nover with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Nover checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
dos Santos Alves swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
dos Santos Alves tries to clinch but Nover is having none of it.
dos Santos Alves throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
dos Santos Alves looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nover is fending him off so far but dos Santos Alves persists. Nope, Nover circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nover looks to land a combination but dos Santos Alves avoids it well.
dos Santos Alves throws a sloppy body shot

and Nover counters with a single leg into guard. dos Santos Alves didn't expect that.
dos Santos Alves has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nover throws and elbow that misses. dos Santos Alves uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Nover's guard. Nice move by dos Santos Alves!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nover is trying to control the position but dos Santos Alves postures up.
dos Santos Alves is in close to Nover's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Nover utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
dos Santos Alves advances position into side control!
The strikes coming from dos Santos Alves are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
dos Santos Alves connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Nover some visible discomfort.
A control attempt from Nover but he's now mounted!
Nover tries to hold on but dos Santos Alves postures up.
Phillipe Nover has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Junior dos Santos Alves is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
dos Santos Alves looking to control and managing it successfully.
Nover is squirming around, avoiding dos Santos Alves's attempts to control the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Junior dos Santos Alves comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well dos Santos 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Junior dos Santos Alves!