PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Osko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alves comes into the arena with Body Head Anthem blaring out of the sound system. Osko has chosen Selling the Wind as his entrance music. Josh Osko has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Michael Alves's chin.

Alves
vs
Osko

178 cm
26
170 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

167 cm
25
178 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Alves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Josh Osko!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Thiago Cunha and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alves swats away the attempt to clinch by Osko.
Alves misses with a series of wild punches.
Alves fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sloppy strikes from Alves. Those never looked like landing.
Osko throws a series of punches but Alves moves out of range.
Osko tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice shot lands for Alves.
Osko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Osko has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Alves.
Alves throws a head kick that misses.
Osko throws a half hearted mid kick.
Osko shoots in for a takedown but Alves shows good takedown defense.
Alves is looking to clinch.
Michael Alves is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Osko misses with a straight left.
Alves wants to clinch.
Alves jabs Osko right on the nose. Osko blinks but takes it well.
A lazy left from Osko finds it's target.
Alves throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Osko swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Alves lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Osko avoids the head kick by Alves.
Alves scores with a one two! Osko had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Osko swats away the attempt to clinch by Alves.
Alves with a nice cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Osko.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Osko tries to bum rush Alves with a series of wild strikes but Alves uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Osko throws a leg kick
and Alves counters with a good low kick that Osko was not able to check.
Osko throws a wild body kick that Alves sees coming a mile off.
Alves showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Osko.
Alves lands with a nice body punch.
Osko shoots in looking for a takedown but Alves manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Osko's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Josh Osko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Osko shoots for a double leg takedown but Alves sprawls well. He's pushed Osko's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Michael Alves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Osko.
Alves with a jab.

Alves clinches up with Osko and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves working hard to break the clinch.
Alves is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Alves with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Osko has a couple of punches blocked by Alves.
Osko tries a knee to the head but Alves blocks it.
Alves with a knee to the head.
Alves lands a good knee to the midsection. Osko won't want to take too many of those.
Alves with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Alves slowing the pace effectively.
Osko fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Alves is trying to stall.
A hook to the body from Osko.
Alves crunches a lovely knee into Osko's ribcage.
Alves using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Osko has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Alves putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Osko in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Alves escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alves throws a head kick that half lands.
Osko fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Alves gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A knee to the head by Alves.
Osko trying to control the position but instead, Alves has worked for underhooks and has pushed Osko into the cage.

Alves manages to break the clinch.
Alves moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Alves tries to clinch but Osko is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alves fails in his attempt to clinch.
Good leg kick by Alves there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Alves misses with a wild combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A nice leg kick lands there from Alves.
Alves tries a head kick but it misses.
Michael Alves is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alves is looking to clinch but Osko is avoiding it.
Osko throws a jab but it's blocked by Alves.
Alves plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Alves works the jab nicely.
Alves tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Osko manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Osko throws a combination that misses
and Alves makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Michael Alves is winning the standup battle so far.
Alves fails in his attempt to clinch.
Some wild striking there from Osko.
Osko throws a head kick that misses
and Alves counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Osko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Alves moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Osko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Osko on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Osko throws a leg kick
and Alves counters with a nice low kick that buckles Osko's knee momentarily.
Alves is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Osko misses with a series of wild punches.
Alves throws a leg kick which misses Osko's front leg but catches the back leg as Osko tries to avoid it.
Alves throws a head kick that misses.
Osko throws a leg kick
and Alves counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Alves throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Osko stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Osko misses with a double jab.
Alves cracks Osko with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Osko throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Alves counters with a series of strikes. Osko will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Osko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Osko on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Alves. Alves obviously looking to wear him down.
Osko throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Alves counters with a good, hard body kick but Osko shrugs it off.
Osko is breathing heavily.
Alves looks to land a combination. Osko sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Alves comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Alves is looking to clinch but Osko is avoiding it.
Alves looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Alves doesn't manage to clinch there - Osko circles away.
Osko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Alves circles away quickly and effectively.
Osko takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Osko throws a front kick aimed at Alves's knee but Alves avoids it well.
Alves throws a body punch but Osko moves out of range.
Alves tries to close the distance and clinch but Osko swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Osko throws a right hand that Alves ducks under and follows up with a left that Alves also avoids with ease.
Alves scores with a hook.
Alves moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Osko swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Alves counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alves looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Alves's corner calls for a 1-2. Alves obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alves looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A solid leg kick lands there for Alves.
Alves with a jab.
Osko slips a jab and a cross from Alves.
Osko throws a looping overhand right but Alves ducks down to avoid it.
Osko misses with a series of wild punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Osko throws a series of punches but Alves avoids them all with ease.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alves slips a straight right by Osko.
Alves moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Osko throws a right hand that Alves ducks under and follows up with a left that Alves also avoids with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Alves dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Osko shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Alves napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Alves is trying to get back to half guard.
Alves is not content to let Osko control the position.
Alves on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Osko in side control, throwing shots but Alves defends.
Alves can't do much from the bottom here.
Osko wants to control but Alves is keeping him busy.
Osko tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Osko trying to control the position but Alves is working away.
Alves tries to improve position but can't.

Osko is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Alves has escaped the position, nice work there.
Alves is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Osko has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Osko controlling the position from side mount.
Let's hope that Osko has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Osko trying to control the action but Alves is working from the bottom.
Alves wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Osko in side control, just content to control the action for now.

Josh Osko has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Alves scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves throws a hook but Osko avoids it easily.
Alves tries to clinch there but Osko circles away.
Osko's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Alves blocks a low kick nicely.
Alves lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Osko misses with a head kick.
Alves slips a jab and a cross from Osko.
Osko will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Alves moves out of range of the strikes.
Alves throws a combination. Osko tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Osko moves out of range of the body kick from Alves.
Alves keeps Osko at a distance using the push kick.
Osko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Alves moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Michael Alves is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Osko is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
A cross from Alves lands.
No joy there for Alves, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Osko misses with a left hand
and Alves counters with a low kick, right behind Osko 's knee.
Alves lands a nice looking kick to the body. Osko takes a step back to recover.
Osko shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Osko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Osko misses with a takedown attempt - Alves sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Josh Osko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael Alves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Osko.
Osko falls off balance throwing a combination
and Alves counters with a flying knee. Nice.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Osko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Alves has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Alves!
An out of breath Michael Alves thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.