PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vinicius Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Mert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Alves
vs
Mert

180 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vinicius 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, Matt Mert!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Seu Braga and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mert wants to clinch
and Alves counters with a three punch combo that has Mert backing up. Mert nods at Alves to acknowledge the strikes.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mert.
Mert misses with a takedown attempt - Alves sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Alves forces Mert back against the cage and clinches.

Alves manages to break the clinch.

Alves closes the distance and clinches.

Alves breaks from the clinch.
A head kick by Mert misses
and Alves counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
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!

Alves darts in and clinches Mert up against the cage.
Alves blocks a body shot from Mert.
Mert tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Alves's elbow.
Alves utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Mert looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alves pulls guard effortlessly.
Alves has his hands on Mert's head, controlling the position.
Alves is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mert is controlling him.
Alves knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mert on the ground.
Alves looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mert stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alves swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mert won't allow Alves to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mert is fighting to break Alves's control of his arms but Alves is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mert tries to score a power double leg takedown but Alves sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mert somewhat.
Vinicius Alves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Mert.

Mert gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Alves controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves throws a big right hand that misses.

Alves decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Mert, up you get!
Alves stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Alves wants it to stay on the feet.
Alves feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Mert's calf.

Alves instigates a clinch.
Alves wants a takedown but no success here.

Mert is fighting off a takedown attempt but Alves is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Mert to the mat. Mert regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Alves is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mert looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Mert keeping full guard, as Alves tries to pass.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alves sitting in guard, not really doing much.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vinicius Alves dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Alves tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mert sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Alves somewhat.
A left lands for Mert.
Alves changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mert tries to avoid it but Alves manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mert to the ground. Mert escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Alves moves into the clinch successfully.
Mert goes for a takedown in the clinch but Alves prevents it.
Mert misses with a hook to the ribs.

Alves breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Mert backs up against the cage.
Mert shoots for a double leg takedown but Alves sprawls well. He's pushed Mert's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Alves fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vinicius Alves. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mert has a takedown stuffed.

Mert tries to keep at a distance but Alves has taken the fight into the clinch.

Alves breaks the clinch.
Mert tries for a takedown but Alves sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Alves has taken the fight to the clinch.
Mert is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Alves to keep the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alves breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mert fails to land the takedown.

Alves shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Mert napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Alves is trying to get an arm triangle but Mert is defending well.
Alves working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
You can see the frustration on Mert's face as Alves controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mert prevents Alves from improving position.
Alves looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Mert is avoiding damage well.

Alves stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Alves gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mert is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Alves is defending well.
Mert tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Alves smiles and moves away.
No luck for Alves with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Mert or perhaps it was just good defense by Alves which made him look bad.

Mert gets tackled into the cage by Alves. Alves maintains the clinch.
Alves has Mert pushed against the cage.
Mert tries for a takedown but Alves manages to get underhooks.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alves tries to score a body lock takedown but Mert shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Mert is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vinicius Alves dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Alves lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Alves looks for a takedown but Mert sprawls well.
Alves misses with a takedown attempt - Mert sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mert shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Alves as he avoids it easily.
Mert doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Alves holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Alves tries to pull guard but Mert won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vinicius Alves. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Alves tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mert smiles and moves away.
Mert is looking to clinch but Alves is avoiding it.
Vinicius Alves is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alves closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Mert's guard.
Vinicius Alves overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mert controls Alves momentarily but Alves frees himself.
Alves trying to stand up but can't free himself from Mert's guard.
Mert looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Alves trying to control but Mert is working from the bottom.
Mert being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Vinicius Alves has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Alves fails with the takedown.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mert is defended easily by Alves.
Vinicius Alves is winning the standup battle so far.

Alves clinches with his opponent.
Mert looking for a takedown.
Alves taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alves breaks from the clinch.

Alves gets a clinch.

Alves drags the fight down to the ground.
Alves tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Alves controls Mert momentarily but Mert frees himself.
Alves striking off his back but it's not causing Mert any problems.
Mert stopping the sweep attempt from Alves.
Alves is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mert trying to control but Alves is working from the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Vinicius Alves wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Alves sizes up Mert with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Alves shoots in for a double leg but Mert sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mert looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alves is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mert sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Matt Mert has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vinicius Alves is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Alves scores with a shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vinicius Alves showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Alves 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vinicius Alves!