PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rogerio Carvalho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Alexander (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.

Carvalho
vs
Alexander

174 cm
25
134 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
21
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Enjoys gardening

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rogerio Carvalho!
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, Thiago Alexander!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Thiago Cunha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alexander tries to clinch but Carvalho is having none of it.
Carvalho throws a leg kick

and Alexander counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Alexander.

Alexander has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Carvalho uses from the top position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Alexander had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Carvalho defends it easily.
Carvalho controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Carvalho throwing strikes from guard but Alexander blocks nicely.
Carvalho preventing the sweep.
Alexander keeping full guard, as Carvalho tries to pass.
Alexander doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Carvalho sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexander wants to stand up but Carvalho is controlling him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Rogerio Carvalho.
Carvalho closes the distance and clinches up with Alexander, looking for a takedown. Carvalho pushes Alexander against the cage but Alexander circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jab from Carvalho.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Alexander.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Carvalho.
Carvalho shoots in for a double leg but Alexander sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rogerio Carvalho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alexander tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Carvalho paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carvalho doesn't manage to clinch there - Alexander circles away.
Alexander swings for the body but Carvalho moves out of range.
Alexander fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Carvalho fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Carvalho throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Alexander's waist but Alexander gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Carvalho off to one side.
Alexander slaps away a takedown attempt from Carvalho, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Carvalho closes this distance looking for a takedown but Alexander circles away.
Carvalho is breathing heavily.
Carvalho falls off balance throwing a combination
and Alexander counters with a nice body kick.
Alexander looks for a takedown but Carvalho sprawls well.

Alexander drives through and clinches with Carvalho against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carvalho looking for a takedown.
The referee is keeping an eye on Alexander - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Alexander breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Carvalho.

Alexander moves into the clinch successfully.

Alexander has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Carvalho uses from the top position.
Alexander is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Carvalho wants to control from the top but Alexander keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alexander controlling the position.
Carvalho is stalling in the full guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Rogerio Carvalho has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Alexander tries to close the distance and clinch up but Carvalho swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Carvalho shoots in for a takedown but Alexander shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Carvalho tries to score a power double leg takedown but Alexander sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Carvalho somewhat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Carvalho gets tackled into the cage by Alexander. Alexander maintains the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Alexander dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Alexander shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Carvalho as he avoids it easily.

Carvalho closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Alexander's guard.
Alexander is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Alexander wants to get back to his feet but Carvalho is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Alexander not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Alexander wants to sweep but no luck.
Alexander is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Carvalho trying to control but Alexander is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Thiago Alexander.
Carvalho misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Carvalho scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Alexander is breathing heavily.
Carvalho working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Alexander is trying to maintain the position but Carvalho is very close to passing his half guard.
Carvalho is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Carvalho lands strikes from half guard.
Alexander is trying to stand up here but Carvalho is controlling him well.
Carvalho is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Carvalho lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexander wants to hold on but Carvalho pushes him away.
Carvalho takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Carvalho looking to control but Alexander is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Carvalho scoring with strikes but Alexander is staying in there.
Carvalho can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Alexander is looking to escape.
Carvalho connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carvalho controlling the pace for now.
Rogerio Carvalho overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Carvalho get's back to his feet.
Alexander shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Carvalho as he jumps to the side.
Carvalho lands with an overhand left.
Carvalho throws a right and a left that both miss.
Carvalho fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck for Alexander with that takedown attempt.
Rogerio Carvalho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Alexander.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carvalho looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Alexander is fending him off so far but Carvalho persists. Nope, Alexander circles away and we're back to standing.
Carvalho keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rogerio Carvalho is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Carvalho!
Carvalho scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Horrible takedown by Carvalho or perhaps it was just good defense by Alexander which made him look bad.
Carvalho closes this distance looking for a takedown but Alexander circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Carvalho tries to score a power double leg takedown but Alexander sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Carvalho somewhat.

Alexander has closed the distance and engaged Carvalho in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rogerio Carvalho dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

A leg kick checked by Alexander.
Alexander shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Carvalho but Carvalho pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Alexander is looking to clinch but Carvalho is avoiding it.
Alexander shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Carvalho pinned against the cage. Carvalho gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Carvalho has a takedown stuffed.
Alexander misses with a takedown attempt

and Carvalho decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Alexander's guard.
Rogerio Carvalho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Alexander.
Alexander wants to sweep but no luck.
Carvalho throws a big elbow that misses.
Carvalho has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Carvalho trying to control the position from guard on top but Alexander is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carvalho is really struggling to control Alexander but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Carvalho is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rogerio Carvalho wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Alexander fails with a takedown attempt.
Carvalho shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Alexander sprawls well. Alexander wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Carvalho gets slowly back to his feet.
Carvalho avoids the body shot from Alexander.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carvalho shoots in looking for a takedown. Alexander tries to sprawl out of it but Carvalho keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Alexander manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Alexander fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Alexander fails in his attempt to clinch.
Alexander doesn't manage to clinch there - Carvalho circles away.
Alexander shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Carvalho but Carvalho pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Alexander throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Alexander closes the distance and clinches up with Carvalho, looking for a takedown. Alexander pushes Carvalho against the cage but Carvalho circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Carvalho shoots for a takedown but Alexander saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexander showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Carvalho.
Alexander tries to clinch but Carvalho moves out of range.

Carvalho looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Carvalho trying to control but Alexander is working from the bottom.
Carvalho postures up.
Alexander tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alexander trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Carvalho trying to control the position from guard on top but Alexander is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Rogerio Carvalho.
Carvalho looks for a takedown but Alexander sprawls well.

Alexander gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Alexander obliges.

Alexander breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Carvalho throws a right and a left that both miss.
Alexander tries to clinch up.
Alexander wants to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rogerio Carvalho showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Carvalho 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rogerio Carvalho!