PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Al Hammond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matheus Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Al Hammond has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Hammond
vs
Alves

212 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Al Hammond!
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, Matheus Alves!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Edson Gomes and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alves is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hammond stuffs the takedown attempt from Alves. Alves gets slowly back to his feet.
Alves dives in and grabs Hammond's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hammond pushes down on Alves's head and hops out.
Hammond cracks Alves with a good jab.

Hammond forces Alves back against the cage and clinches.
Hammond tries to break free but Alves pushes him back against the cage.

Alves manages to break the clinch.
Alves tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hammond defends well and Alves ends up having to push Hammond into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Al Hammond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matheus Alves.

Alves manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Hammond stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alves swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Alves throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hammond stopping the sweep attempt from Alves.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alves has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Hammond is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Alves.
Alves wants to get back to his feet but Hammond drags him back down.
Alves has one of Hammond's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alves is trying to improve his position.
Alves manages to work his way to half guard, despite Hammond's best efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alves is defending against the submission attempts here by Hammond.
Alves tries to roll over but Hammond keeps him under control.
Alves avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hammond.
Hammond performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammond trying to pass the guard but Alves defending well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Alves is trying to control but can't.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Alves misses with a takedown attempt - Hammond sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hammond shoots in and drives through. Alves sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammond fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Alves fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Alves looks winded!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Alves stalling.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hammond is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Alves gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matheus Alves will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Alves thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hammond fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Alves shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hammond but Hammond pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Al Hammond is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alves stuffs the takedown.
Hammond keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hammond blocks a head kick by Alves.
Alves fails with the takedown.
Al Hammond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matheus Alves.
Alves misses with a body shot.
Hammond throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hammond moves into the clinch.

Hammond pulls guard successfully.
Alves trying to control but Hammond is working from the bottom.
Alves throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hammond will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hammond wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Alves is now in half guard.
Alves throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Hammond to regain full guard.
Hammond managing to control the position.
Hammond has a closed guard, preventing Alves from standing up.
Alves is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammond keeping moving, preventing Alves from controlling successfully.

Hammond has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Alves off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Hammond shoots in but Alves avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hammond is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hammond walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Alves checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves shoots in and drives through. Hammond sprawls well.

Hammond instigates a clinch.
Alves is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hammond throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Hammond avoiding damage.
Alves changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hammond fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hammond changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Alves tries to avoid it but Hammond manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Alves to the ground. Alves escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Alves misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammond dives in and grabs Alves's left leg, looking for a takedown. Alves pushes down on Hammond's head and hops out.

Hammond drives through and clinches with Alves against the cage.
Alves is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hammond is defending well.
Alves tries to pull guard but Hammond holds him up against the cage and eventually Alves drops back down to his feet.
Hammond missing with knees to the body.

Hammond decides to pull guard.
Hammond has control of Alves's left arm, preventing Alves from doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alves passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Al Hammond dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Alves fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hammond tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Alves paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Alves leaves Hammond with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hammond shoots in looking for a takedown. Alves tries to sprawl out of it but Hammond keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Alves manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hammond misses with a few strikes there.
Hammond fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Alves avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Al Hammond. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alves misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves lets loose with a powerful body kick. Hammond will feel that in the morning.
Alves fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hammond looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hammond.
Alves fails in his attempt to clinch.
Alves tries to clinch but Hammond moves out of range.
Alves shoots in but no luck this time.
Al Hammond is winning the standup battle so far.
Hammond shoots for a takedown but Alves saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hammond stuffs the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves is looking to clinch.
Hammond fails with a takedown attempt.
Alves lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Alves lands a slapping body shot.

Alves has Hammond up against the cage in a clinch.
Alves tries to score a body lock takedown but Hammond shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Alves stalling in the clinch.

Hammond drags the fight down to the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alves won't allow Hammond to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Alves has taken the fight to the clinch.
Alves tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hammond smiles and moves away.
Nice takedown defense from Hammond. No joy for Alves on that attempt.
Hammond looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Hammond shoots for a double leg takedown but Alves sprawls well. He's pushed Hammond's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Alves darts in looking for a takedown but Hammond gets double underhooks and turns Alves into the cage.
Hammond misses with an elbow over the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alves tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hammond avoids it.

Hammond jumps into guard, dragging Alves to the mat.
Hammond trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Hammond keeping moving, preventing Alves from controlling successfully.
Alves stays in close to Hammond's body and controls the position.
Alves postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Hammond tries to strike from the bottom.
Hammond wants to sweep but no luck.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matheus Alves comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Alves has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29

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