PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hayaki Naitou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Alvarez
vs
Naitou

184 cm
22
174 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Thiago Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hayaki Naitou!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Donatello Bradman and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez tries to clinch but Naitou moves out of range.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Naitou tries to clinch but Alvarez moves out of range.
Naitou tries to clinch but Alvarez moves out of range.
Naitou wants to clinch.
Alvarez wants to clinch but Naitou slips to the side

and Naitou counters by moving into the clinch.
Naitou crunches a lovely knee into Alvarez's ribcage.
Come on Naitou - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Alvarez can't get the takedown.
Alvarez misses with a knee to the head.
Alvarez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Naitou tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Naitou scores with a shoulder strike.
Alvarez tries to pull guard but Naitou holds him up against the cage and eventually Alvarez drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Naitou is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Naitou using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Alvarez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Naitou trying to land knees to the body.
Naitou using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Alvarez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Alvarez jumps guard but Naitou stands there with Alvarez around his waist. Alvarez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Alvarez fails to pull guard.
Naitou misses with a knee strike.
Alvarez letting Naitou take a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naitou misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Alvarez.
Naitou connects with a nasty looking knee right to Alvarez's face.

Alvarez decides to pull guard.

Alvarez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Naitou wanted to stand there but Alvarez had control of the position.
Naitou is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Naitou is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Alvarez Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Naitou's back instead.

Naitou preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Alvarez.
Alvarez not allowing Naitou to control his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naitou can't escape the position.
Naitou looks gassed!
Naitou is trying to stand back up.

Naitou defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Alvarez's arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Naitou is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Naitou wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Alvarez dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Naitou circles away from the clinch attempt

and Naitou counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Naitou.
Alvarez fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Alvarez jumps guard but Naitou stands there with Alvarez around his waist. Alvarez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Naitou misses with a hook from the clinch.
Naitou using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Alvarez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Naitou stalling in the clinch but Alvarez improves position.
Alvarez wants to break free but Naitou has control.
Naitou avoiding damage.
Alvarez tries to pull guard but Naitou holds him up against the cage and eventually Alvarez drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Alvarez pulls Naitou into guard.
Alvarez wants to sweep here but Naitou controlling him for the moment.
Naitou is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez has a closed guard, preventing Naitou from standing up.

Alvarez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Alvarez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Naitou gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naitou seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Naitou is looking to stand up but Alvarez won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez working for a triangle but Naitou defends it easily.

Naitou avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Naitouis looking to pass into half guard but Alvarez pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Alvarez is in guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Naitou can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Alvarez works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Thiago Alvarez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Alvarez is trying for a kimura here. Naitou looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Alvarez wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Thiago Alvarez!