PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Luiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Felipe Alvez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Luiz
vs
Alvez

156 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

172 cm
20
131 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Raphael Luiz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Felipe Alvez!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Edson Gomes and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvez takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Alvez.
Alvez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Luiz moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Alvez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Alvez throws a one two combo.

It looks like Raphael Luiz has been cut.
Alvez slaps away a takedown attempt from Luiz, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Luiz shoots in for a double leg but Alvez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Luiz slips a jab and a cross from Alvez.
Alvez fails to land the takedown.
Raphael Luiz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Felipe Alvez.
Alvez throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Luiz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Alvez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Luiz somewhat.
Luiz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvez misses with a series of wild punches.
Luiz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Luiz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Alvez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Luiz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Alvez swivels and escapes.
Luiz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Alvez.
No joy there for Alvez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Alvez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Luiz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sloppy strikes from Alvez. Those never looked like landing.
Alvez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A combination from Alvez does no damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Alvez. Those never looked like landing.
Alvez goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Alvez looks gassed!
Alvez cracks Luiz with an open hand slap.
Alvez throws a right hand that Luiz ducks under and follows up with a left that Luiz also avoids with ease.
Luiz is looking to clinch.
Some wild striking there from Alvez.
Luiz tries to clinch up.
Luiz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Alvez.
Alvez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sloppy strikes from Alvez. Those never looked like landing.
Luiz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Alvez.
Alvez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Luiz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Luiz moves into the clinch.
Alvez wants to break the clinch but can't.
Luiz is trying to pull guard but Alvez has him pressed against the cage.
Luiz tries a body shot but Alvez blocks it.
Luiz prevents Alvez from breaking the clinch.
Luiz tries to circle away but Alvez has him pinned against the cage.
Luiz fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Luiz has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Alvez after a bit of a struggle.

Luiz has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Alvez uses from the top position.
Alvez trying to control but Luiz is working from the bottom.
Luiz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Alvez wants to pass the guard but Luiz is keeping the position.
Luiz might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvez postures up.
Alvez postures up in Luiz's guard and throws a big left but Luiz blocks it.
Alvez with a flurry of punches that miss.

Alvez stands up from Luiz's guard - Alvez perhaps looking for a knockout.
Luiz fails with the takedown.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Alvez.
Alvez throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felipe Alvez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Raphael Luiz's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Alvez fails with the takedown.
Alvez falls off balance throwing a combination

and Luiz counters by moving into the clinch.
Luiz throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Alvez blocks it with crossed arms.

Alvez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alvez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Luiz could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Alvez misses with the combination.
Alvez misses with a double jab.
Luiz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Alvez tries to avoid it but Luiz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Alvez to the ground. Alvez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Alvez leaves Luiz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Alvez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Luiz shoots for a double leg takedown but Alvez sprawls well. He's pushed Luiz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raphael Luiz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Luiz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Alvez swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Luiz.
Luiz wants to clinch.
Luiz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
No joy there for Luiz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Alvez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Luiz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Alvez swinging wildly here.
Alvez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Alvez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Alvez misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luiz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Alvez sprawls well. Alvez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Luiz gets slowly back to his feet.
Sloppy strikes from Alvez. Those never looked like landing.
Alvez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Luiz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A head kick misses from Alvez.
Alvez misses with a two punch combination.
Alvez circles away from the clinch attempt
and Alvez counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Alvez is defended easily by Luiz.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Luiz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Alvez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Luiz darts in and clinches Alvez up against the cage.

Alvez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Alvez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Luiz swivels and escapes.
Alvez misses with a wild combination.
Alvez slaps away a takedown attempt from Luiz, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Alvez pivots, looking for a leg kick but Luiz is out of range and Alvez settles back down.
Alvez misses with a wild combination.
Alvez misses with the combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luiz shoots in looking for a takedown but Alvez manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Luiz's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Alvez throws a head kick but Luiz moves out of range.
Luiz tries to clinch up but Alvez circles away and keeps his distance.

Luiz rushes Alvez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Luiz goes for a takedown attempt but Alvez pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Alvez misses with the combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alvez throws a series of strikes that have Luiz backpedaling.
Alvez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Luiz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Alvez's waist but Alvez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Luiz off to one side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felipe Alvez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Raphael Luiz's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Alvez throws a series of punches but Luiz moves out of range.
Alvez scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Sloppy strikes from Alvez. Those never looked like landing.
Alvez misses with a combination

and Luiz counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Alvez prevents the takedown attempt.

Alvez manages to break the clinch.
Luiz closes the distance and clinches up with Alvez, looking for a takedown. Luiz pushes Alvez against the cage but Alvez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Alvez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Luiz.
Luiz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raphael Luiz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alvez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Alvez misses with a wild combination.
Alvez misses with a few strikes there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvez throws a head kick that misses.
Raphael Luiz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Luiz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Alvez as he avoids it easily.
Luiz avoids a punch combination nicely.

Luiz clinches up against the cage.
Alvez prevents a takedown attempt there.

Alvez breaks the clinch.
Alvez misses with a series of wild punches.
Alvez misses with a two punch combination.
Luiz moves in looking to clinch but Alvez pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Luiz.
Luiz throws a right hand that Alvez ducks under and follows up with a left that Alvez also avoids with ease.
Alvez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Alvez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Luiz defends it nicely.
Luiz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Alvez throws a right hand that Luiz ducks under and follows up with a left that Luiz also avoids with ease.
Felipe Alvez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Luiz misses with a takedown attempt - Alvez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Alvez shoots in and drives through. Luiz sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Luiz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Alvez but Alvez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Luiz misses with a double jab.
Luiz is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Alvez.
Luiz is looking to clinch.
Alvez swinging wildly here.
Luiz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Felipe Alvez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Luiz has a takedown stuffed.
Alvez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvez throws a right hand that Luiz ducks under and follows up with a left that Luiz also avoids with ease.
Alvez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Some wild striking there from Alvez.
Alvez misses with a jab, cross combination.

Alvez gets tackled into the cage by Luiz. Luiz maintains the clinch.
Alvez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Alvez successfully pulls guard.
Alvez keeping moving, preventing Luiz from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Luiz stopping the sweep attempt from Alvez.

And that's the end of the fight!
Felipe Alvez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Alvez 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Felipe Alvez!