PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joonatan Valasvatsa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leandro Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alves has chosen Damian Marley - Welcome To Jamrock as his entrance music. Joonatan Valasvatsa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Valasvatsa
vs
Alves

175 cm
25
180 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

195 cm
23
179 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Zentrope Fighting Universe
Zentrope Fighting Universe

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Joonatan Valasvatsa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Leandro Alves!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Donald Grub and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alves looks to throw the jab but Valasvatsa is out of range.
Valasvatsa looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Valasvatsa scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Alves doesn't seem bothered though.
Valasvatsa throws a jab but it's blocked by Alves.
Alves digs a good hook to Valasvatsa's body.
Alves tries a head kick but it misses.
Alves dives in and grabs Valasvatsa's left leg, looking for a takedown. Valasvatsa pushes down on Alves's head and hops out.
Alves fails to land with a series of punches.

Valasvatsa closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Alves did well to prevent Valasvatsa getting side control.
Alves is looking for a sweep. Valasvatsa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Alves is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Valasvatsa's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Valasvatsa's back!

Alves looking to break Valasvatsa's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Valasvatsa remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Alves will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alves is trying to stick to Valasvatsa's back but Valasvatsa is turning into Alves. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Alves's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Valasvatsa.

Alves looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Valasvatsa passes into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Valasvatsa tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Valasvatsa has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alves is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Alves gets back to half guard.
Alves wants to control but Valasvatsa is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Alves keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Valasvatsa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Alves is just riding it out for now. Valasvatsa eventually gives up the hold.

Valasvatsa is trying to work for a kimura but Alves is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Alves manages to get to full guard.
Valasvatsa trying to control the position from guard on top but Alves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alves is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Valasvatsa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Alves has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Valasvatsa can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Valasvatsa postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Alves is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Valasvatsa, into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves trying to control but Valasvatsa is working from the bottom.
Alves wants to pass the guard but Valasvatsa is keeping the position.
Alves slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Valasvatsa keeping moving, preventing Alves from controlling successfully.
Alves is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Valasvatsa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Alves doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Alves manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Alves drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Alves jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valasvatsa keeping moving, preventing Alves from controlling successfully.
Valasvatsa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Valasvatsa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Alves works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Valasvatsa is refusing to be controlled, as Alves sits in half guard.
Valasvatsa is looking for a sweep. Alves is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Valasvatsa is refusing to be controlled, as Alves sits in half guard.
Valasvatsa tries to roll over but Alves keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leandro Alves dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Valasvatsa just misses with a punch to the body.

Valasvatsa gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Alves to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Alves controls from within his opponent's guard.

Alves got a little sloppy there for a moment and Valasvatsa has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Alves has managed to get both his arms back between Valasvatsa's legs - danger averted.
Alves tries to free his leg and advance position but Valasvatsa is retaining full guard.

Valasvatsa escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Alves gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Valasvatsa isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Alves stacks Valasvatsa on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Alves!
Valasvatsa regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves wants to pass the guard but Valasvatsa is defending well.

Alves is looking for a kimura here.
Alves frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Valasvatsa tries to reverse the position but Alves maintains control.
Alves controlling from the full mount.
Alves wants to control the pace but Valasvatsa is squirming around nicely.
Alves moves to the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Valasvatsa's body.

Alves is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Valasvatsa defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Valasvatsa tries to break free.
A lull in the action here.
Alves controlling well, preventing Valasvatsa from escaping the position.
Alves tries to keep control of the position but Valasvatsa is staying busy.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Valasvatsa is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves is controlling the position but Valasvatsa somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.

Valasvatsa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Valasvatsa makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Valasvatsa.

Valasvatsa is looking for a triangle but Alves pushes his legs off easily.

Valasvatsa looking for a guillotine here but Alves defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alves trying to control the position from guard on top but Valasvatsa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alves pushes down on Valasvatsa's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Valasvatsa might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Alves trying to control the action but Valasvatsa is working from the bottom.
Valasvatsa gets back to full guard.
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.
Alves wants to control from the top but Valasvatsa keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alves looking to pass the guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leandro Alves showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Alves throws a series of punches but Valasvatsa avoids them all with ease.
Alves misses the shot to the body.
Valasvatsa fails with a takedown attempt.
Valasvatsa changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Alves tries to avoid it but Valasvatsa manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Alves to the ground. Alves escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A slow jab from Alves misses its intended target.
Valasvatsa cracks a nice hook into Alves's ribs.
Valasvatsa checks a low kick from Alves.
Valasvatsa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Alves sprawls well. Alves wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Valasvatsa gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joonatan Valasvatsa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Valasvatsa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Alves throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valasvatsa stuffs the takedown.
Valasvatsa thows a body shot but no joy.
Alves throws a shot from downtown. Valasvatsa moves away and avoids it.
Alves misses the shot to the body.

Alves gets a double leg takedown into Valasvatsa's guard.

Valasvatsa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Alves passes Valasvatsa's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Alves is keen to just control but Valasvatsa is a slippery customer.

Valasvatsa actively working from the bottom here.
Alves wants to control but Valasvatsa is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Valasvatsa has hold of a guillotine but he's not going to be able to crank on it really with only half guard, so it's no trouble for Alves. Oh but Valasvatsa has got full guard now! Oh boy! This one could be over very soon! Alves goes limp - he's gone! Valasvatsa jumps up and celebrates with the crowd - fantastic submission finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Joonatan Valasvatsa!