PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Francesco Lucas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Salvador Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Francesco Lucas has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lucas
vs
Alves

187 cm
19
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
31
193 lbs
17 - 11 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Francesco Lucas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Salvador Alves!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Colin Fray and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Alves closes the distance and clinches.
Alves lands a nice uppercut.

Alves tightens his grip and picks Lucas up, before dumping him to the ground. Lucas manages to land in guard.
Lucas is trying to control the position but Alves postures up.
Lucas controlling the position.
Alves controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Alves trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Alves must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Lucas trying to keep a closed guard but Alves is proving a slippery customer.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Alves stalks Lucas and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Lucas's face. Lucas staggers backwards, shaken.

It looks like Francesco Lucas has been cut.
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!
Lucas shoots and misses

and Alves counters with a head kick that drops Lucas to the mat! Lucas scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!

Alves gets a clinch.

Alves gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Lucas wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Alves is now in half guard.
Alves wants to pass the guard but Lucas is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alves is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lucas sees it coming and defends easily.

Alves is trying to work for a kimura but Lucas is defending well.
Lucas wants to control but Alves is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Alves not doing much here.
Lucas trying to control from the bottom.
Alves is pressing down on Lucas's thigh, looking to free his foot. Lucas is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves throwing shots but Lucas is blocking nicely.
Lucas is trying to control but can't.
Alves stalling.
Lucas holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lucas shoots in but Alves avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A slow jab from Lucas misses its intended target.
Lucas changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Alves tries to avoid it but Lucas manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Alves to the ground. Alves escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Francesco Lucas. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Alves gets a clinch.

Alves pulls Lucas into guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Alves wriggles free and stands up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alves shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Alves takes the fight into the clinch.
Alves is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Lucas gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Alves gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Lucas is trying to control but can't.
Alves thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lucas trying to hold on to Alves's head to control him but Alves postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Alves stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Lucas to get to his feet.
Lucas chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Alves can pounce on him.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Lucas. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alves throws a wild body kick that Lucas sees coming a mile off.
Lucas shoots for a double leg takedown but Alves sprawls well. He's pushed Lucas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Alves shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lucas sprawls well. Lucas wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Alves gets slowly back to his feet.
Lucas shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Alves as he jumps to the side.
Lucas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Alves counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Lucas shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Alves as he jumps to the side.
Lucas shoots in for a double leg but Alves sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lucas shoots for a takedown but Alves saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Lucas is breathing heavily.
Lucas misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Alves misses with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salvador Alves dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Francesco Lucas's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lucas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Alves has closed the distance and engaged Lucas in a clinch.
Alves prevents Lucas from breaking the clinch.
Lucas can't break the clinch.

Alves breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alves stuffs the takedown attempt from Lucas. Lucas gets slowly back to his feet.
Lucas fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Francesco Lucas. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Alves looking to score a takedown here. Lucas is defending well but Alves drives through and ends up in Lucas's guard.
Alves wants to stand but Lucas is controlling his posture from full guard.
Alves looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucas is trying to keep Alves in close.
Alves is pushing down on Lucas's leg trying to pass to half guard. Lucas is fighting to maintain full guard but Alves has managed to sneak the leg through.
Alves working Lucas over with strikes.
Alves is thwarting Lucas's attempts to control the position.
Alves content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Alves wants to free his trapped foot but Lucas is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Alves.
Alves missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lucas tries to get to full guard but Alves has control of the leg.

Alves gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Alves throws a shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alves dives in and grabs Lucas's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lucas pushes down on Alves's head and hops out.
Alves cracks the inside of Lucas's front leg.
Salvador Alves seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Alves misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A big left from Lucas misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lucas looks to throw the jab but Alves is out of range.
Alves scores with a crisp jab that stopped Lucas in his tracks.
Lucas will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lucas throws an off balance right hand
and Alves counters with a left and a right that stings Lucas.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Alves clinches up with Lucas and pushes him back against the cage.
Alves displaying some good clinch control by pressing Lucas up against the cage.

Alves pulls guard.
Lucas won't allow Alves to get back to his feet.
Lucas throws an elbow that misses. Alves uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lucas's guard. Nice move by Alves!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lucas trying to control the position.
Lucas thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alves stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lucas swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lucas controls Alves momentarily but Alves frees himself.
Lucas has control of Alves's left arm, preventing Alves from doing any damage.
Alves is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

We're going to have a standup here because Francesco Lucas wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A looping hook to the body misses from Alves. Lucas does a little dance to reset his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alves throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Lucas tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Alves counters by clinching up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salvador Alves showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Francesco Lucas's cut.
That's time! Lucas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Alves closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Lucas to the mat! Lucas manages to get full guard.
Alves trying to control the position from guard on top but Lucas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alves is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Salvador Alves has got the better of the ground game so far.

Lucas is working an open guard so Alves takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Alves pushes Lucas up against the cage in a clinch.
Alves scores with a hook to the body.
Alves is trying to pull guard but Lucas has him pressed against the cage.

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

Lucas gets caught napping as Alves dives in and scores a takedown. Lucas manages to retain guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alves controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Lucas pulls Alves in to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucas not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Alves moves into the clinch.

Alves manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Alves tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Alves bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lucas's guard.
Alves not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Alves trying to control but Lucas is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves looking to pass the guard.
Alves throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Alves trying to control but Lucas is working from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Lucas working a defensive guard but Alves manages to pass into side control anyway.
Alves controls the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alves wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lucas keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Lucas's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Alves trying to control the action but Lucas is working from the bottom.
Sloppy strikes there by Alves.
Lucas gets back to half guard.
Lucas is looking to control Alves's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lucas avoid being mounted?
Alves looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Salvador Alves.
Lucas fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Alves avoids it really well and circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lucas is defended easily by Alves.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Alves rushes Lucas and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Alves jumps into guard, dragging Lucas to the mat.
Alves has control of Lucas's left arm, preventing Lucas from doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alves keeping moving, preventing Lucas from controlling successfully.
Francesco Lucas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Salvador Alves is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Lucas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Salvador Alves comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Alves has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 27:30

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