PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ben Rothwell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rothwell
vs
Alves

172 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 Los Angeles, Ben Rothwell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thiago Alves!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alves throws a combination that misses
letting Rothwell counter with a right hand.

It looks like Thiago Alves has been cut.

Rothwell fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Alves sprawls well initially but Rothwell persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rothwell controlling the action here.
Rothwell wants to take a breather but Alves is having none of it.
Alves tries to get to full guard but Rothwell has control of the leg.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rothwell in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Ben Rothwell wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Rothwell takes a kick to the side of the head.
Alves plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Rothwell moves into range and clinches up with Alves.

Rothwell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Alves misses with a head kick.
Alves misses with a double jab

and Rothwell counters with a takedown into side control.
Rothwell working away.
Rothwell is chipping away with strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The ground and pound from Rothwell seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rothwell is looking to take a break and control but Alves is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rothwell content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Rothwell decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rothwell has managed to clinch.

Rothwell lands a takedown into guard.
Alves not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Alves keeping moving, preventing Rothwell from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rothwell decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Alves, up you get!
Rothwell scores with a shot to the body.
Alves looks gassed!
Alves misses with the combination.

Rothwell has closed the distance and engaged Alves in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rothwell is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Rothwell can't break the clinch.
Alves blocks an elbow strike from Rothwell.

Rothwell turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Sloppy strikes there by Rothwell.
Alves defending against the ground and pound.

Rothwell is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Alves has escaped the position, nice work there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rothwell thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Rothwell dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thiago Alves's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Alves throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Alves lands with a kick to the temple. Rothwell shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Rothwell shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Alves as he avoids it easily.
Alves misses with a combination

and Rothwell counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rothwell controlling the action here.

Rothwell seems to be looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rothwell is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Rothwell content just to control the position here.
Rothwell pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Rothwell there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Rothwell throws some wild stikes that Alves manages to avoid easily.
Alves manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Alves wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves is refusing to be controlled, as Rothwell sits in half guard.
Rothwell keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Rothwell thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Alves's head.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Ben Rothwell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Ben Rothwell has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Rothwell has closed the distance and engaged Alves in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Alves is trying to break the clinch but Rothwell is controlling him.
Alves is trying to break the clinch but Rothwell is controlling him.

Rothwell wants the takedown. Alves is fighting it off but Rothwell persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Alves's guard against the cage.
Rothwell trying to control the position from guard on top but Alves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alves manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Alves prevents Rothwell from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Rothwell dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Thiago Alves's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Alves throws a series of punches but Rothwell avoids them all with ease.
Alves takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Rothwell slips under a jab.
Alves throws a left and a right that both miss

and Rothwell counters with a single leg into guard. Alves didn't expect that.

Rothwell gets to his feet - Alves follows without any prompting.
Alves tries a head kick but it misses.

Rothwell shoots in and gets a takedown into Alves's guard.
Rothwell trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Rothwell decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alves falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rothwell counters with a two punch combo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rothwell scores with a hook to the body. Alves takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Rothwell shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Alves's guard.

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

Rothwell fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Alves, pushing him back against the cage.

Alves pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rothwell is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Alves pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Alves is trying to break the clinch but Rothwell is controlling him.
Rothwell keeps control of Alves as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Alves wants to break free but Rothwell has control.
Rothwell has Alves pressed against the cage, preventing Alves from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rothwell tries to break free but Alves pushes him back against the cage.
Alves working hard to break the clinch.
Alves can't break the clinch.
Alves tries to break the clinch but Rothwell is controlling the position.
Rothwell keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Alves's efforts to push away.
Rothwell keeps control of Alves as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Rothwell has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Alves regains guard immediately.

Rothwell drops back, looking for a kneebar! Alves looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Alves looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Alves!
Rothwell is trying to work for a sweep but Alves has mounted him!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rothwell holds on for dear life, controlling Alves's posture momentarily.
Alves takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rothwell tries to hold on but Alves postures up.
Rothwell is trying to escape the mount.

Alves is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Rothwell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rothwell has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Suge Night scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Rothwell!