PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taec Cece (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Alves
vs
Cece

179 cm
25
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
24
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Alves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Taec Cece!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Leandro Rodrigues and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cece shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Alves pinned against the cage. Alves gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Thiago Alves seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alves throws an off balance right hand

and Cece counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Alves's guard now.
Cece throws a big right hand that misses.
Alves wants to sweep but no luck.
Cece prevents Alves from getting back to his feet.

Cece drops back looking for a leg! Alves is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Alves manages to kick Cece off! Cece jumps back into Alves's guard.
Cece stopping the sweep attempt from Alves.

Cece drops back looking for a leg! Alves is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Alves manages to kick Cece off! Cece jumps back into Alves's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cece slips nicely into half guard.
Alves has a hand on Cece's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Cece takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Cece punching from mount but Alves doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Cece scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Alves?

Cece is working for a guillotine from mount but Alves frees his head quite easily.
Alves on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Alves tries to get out of the position.

Cece stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves stuffs the takedown attempt from Cece. Cece gets slowly back to his feet.
Alves throws an off balance right hand

and Cece counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Alves!
Alves squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Cece has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cece punching from mount but Alves doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Alves really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Cece lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Alves is breathing heavily.

Cece working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Alves is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cece cracks Alves with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Cece looking for a guillotine from mount but Alves is having none of it.
Cece wants to control the pace but Alves is squirming around nicely.
Alves can't escape the position.
Alves knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cece on the ground.

Cece jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Alves is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Alves and Cece has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Alves is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cece trying to control the position but Alves is working away.

Cece is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Alves knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Cece sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Alves is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Cece trying to control the action but Alves is working from the bottom.
Alves is trying to control Cece's posture but Cece avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Alves throws a lazy right hand but Cece sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Alves works Cece's body with a nice hook.
Alves misses with a straight right.
Alves misses with a left hand

and Cece counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Cece keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Alves's efforts to push away.
Cece with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Alves wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cece has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Alves's face as he tries to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cece throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Cece keeps control of Alves as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cece misses with a knee strike.
A frustrated look appears on Alves's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Cece is breathing heavily.
Cece tries to stall but Alves uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Cece using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Alves has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Alves slowing the pace effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves is trying to break free.
Cece is looking to control Alves's arms but Alves gets an underhook and turns him. Now Cece has his back to the cage.
Cece just leaning against Alves, taking a breather.
Alves tries to break the clinch but Cece is controlling the position.
Cece misses with an elbow strike.
Cece throws a knee to the head but misses.
Cece throws an elbow but it misses.
Alves has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Alves tries to circle away but Cece has him pinned against the cage.
Cece pushes off an throws an elbow but Alves leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Cece keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Alves's efforts to push away.
Alves wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cece has him pressed against the cage.
Cece throws a knee to the head but misses.
Alves is trying to force a seperation but Cece has the dominant position.
Alves is trying to break free.
Alves presses Cece against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Alves can't break the clinch.
Cece tries to land a knee to the head but Alves blocks with his arms.
Alves wants to break the clinch but can't.
Alves is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

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.
Cece throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Cece pushes off an throws an elbow but Alves leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Alves is trying to break the clinch but Cece is controlling him.
Cece keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Alves's efforts to push away.
Alves is trying to break the clinch but Cece has him pressed against the cage.
Alves taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Cece tries a knee to the head but Alves blocks it.
A frustrated look appears on Alves's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Alves is trying to force a seperation but Cece has the dominant position.
Cece throws an elbow that misses.
Alves is trying to force a seperation but Cece has the dominant position.
Cece throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Cece throws a knee to the head but misses.
Alves wants to break the clinch but can't.
Alves tries to circle away but Cece has him pinned against the cage.
Cece lands a nice elbow.
Alves has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Alves wants to get back to striking at distance but Cece won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cece lands an elbow just above Alves 's eye.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Cece just misses with a elbow thrown towards Alves's brow.
Alves wants to break free but Cece has control.
Alves is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cece connects with a knee to the head.
Alves can't break the clinch.
Alves is looking to control Cece's arms but Cece gets an underhook and turns him. Now Alves has his back to the cage.
Cece prevents Alves from breaking the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Cece pushes off an throws an elbow but Alves leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Cece throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Cece pushes off an throws an elbow but Alves leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Cece misses with an elbow over the top.
Alves wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cece stalling in the clinch but Alves improves position.
Alves has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Alves tries to break the clinch but Cece is controlling the position.
Alves takes a knee right on the jaw!

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.
Cece lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Cece creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Alves's defenses.
Cece throws an elbow that misses.
Alves is trying to break the clinch but Cece has him pressed against the cage.
Cece using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Alves has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Cece looking to throw knees to the head but Alves is blocking nicely.
Cece lands a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Cece.
A left hand lands to the body for Alves.
Alves takes an elbow to the forehead.
Cece using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Alves has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Alves wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Alves avoids a wild elbow strike from Cece.
Cece looking to throw knees to the head but Alves is blocking nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cece is trying to maintain a safe position but Alves gets an underhook and turns Cece into the cage.
Alves can't break the clinch.
Alves looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
With the fighters up against the cage, Cece throws an elbow but misses.
Cece misses with an elbow over the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Taec Cece will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Alves stuns Cece with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Cece moves out of range of the strikes.
Alves lands a lovely overhand right.
Alves misses with an uppercut

and Cece counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A frustrated look appears on Alves's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Cece gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Alves takes an elbow to the forehead.
Alves takes a knee right on the jaw!
Alves avoids a wild elbow strike from Cece.
Cece tries to land a knee to the head but Alves blocks with his arms.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alves blocks the elbow strike.
Alves has had enough of the clinch but Cece keeps him there for the moment.
Cece pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cece keeps control of Alves as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cece has Alves pressed against the cage, preventing Alves from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Cece throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Alves wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves is looking to break free of the clinch but Cece has double underhooks.
Alves is trying to break the clinch but Cece has him pressed against the cage.
Cece tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Cece tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Alves wants to break free but Cece has control.
Cece pushes off an throws an elbow but Alves leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Cece stalling in the clinch but Alves improves position.
Cece has Alves pressed against the cage, preventing Alves from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Cece lands an elbow just above Alves 's eye.
Cece tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Alves avoids a wild elbow strike from Cece.
Cece controlling the action here for a moment.
Alves is trying to force a seperation but Cece has the dominant position.
Cece throws a knee to the head but misses.
Alves looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Alves wants to break free but Cece has control.
Cece connects with a knee to the head.

That's two 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.
Cece prevents Alves from breaking the clinch.
Cece keeps control of Alves as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cece throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Alves blocks it with crossed arms.
Cece lands an elbow that stopped Alves in his tracks for a moment.
Cece using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Alves has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Cece using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Alves has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Cece with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Alves avoids a wild elbow strike from Cece.
Cece lands an elbow inside that Alves shrugs off.
Cece comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Cece with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nice elbow from Cece.
Cece throws a knee to the head but misses.
Cece looking to slow down the pace here.
A frustrated look appears on Alves's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Cece tries a knee to the head but Alves blocks it.
Cece throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Cece misses with a knee strike.
Cece with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cece tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Alves blocks the elbow strike.
Come on Alves - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Alves can't break the clinch.
Cece lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Cece lands an elbow inside.
A frustrated look appears on Alves's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Alves as Cece tries to tie him up.
Cece connects with a knee to the head.
Alves presses Cece against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Alves lands a body punch in the clinch.
Cece tries a knee to the head but Alves blocks it.
Alves has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Nice elbow from Cece.
Alves is trying to break the clinch but Cece is controlling him.
Cece trying to control the position but instead, Alves has worked for underhooks and has pushed Cece into the cage.
Taec Cece is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Alves is trying to force a seperation but Cece has the dominant position.
Cece misses with a knee to the head.
Alves avoids a wild elbow strike from Cece.
Alves tries to circle away but Cece has him pinned against the cage.
Alves blocks an elbow strike from Cece.
The referee calls for Alves to work.
Cece lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
The referee calls for Alves to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cece connects with a knee to the head.
Thiago Alves has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cece with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Alves tries to work over Cece's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taec Cece comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cece winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taec Cece!