PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Saleem Al Khan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Al Khan's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Three Days Grace - Scared. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Al Khan
vs
Alves

182 cm
29
181 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

175 cm
28
180 lbs
8 - 10 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Saleem Al Khan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thiago Alves!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Alves looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've been hearing reports that Al Khan has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Al Khan fails with a takedown attempt.
Alves tries to clinch but Al Khan is having none of it.
Al Khan attempts a counter takedown but Alves avoids it well and moves away.
Alves lands a jab to Al Khan's midsection.
Al Khan shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Alves as he jumps to the side.
Alves is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Al Khan tries to keep at a distance but Alves has taken the fight into the clinch.
Al Khan tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saleem Al Khan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Al Khan jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Alves walks away with a smile on his face. Al Khan gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alves changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Alves lands a nice looking body shot.

Al Khan drives through with a takedown into guard.
Al Khan wants to pass the guard but Alves is keeping the position.

Al Khan thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Khan trying to control the position from guard on top but Alves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alves is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Al Khan trying to control but Alves is working from the bottom.
Al Khan is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Alves is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Al Khan is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Alves really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Al Khan. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Al Khan throwing strikes from guard but Alves blocks nicely.
Al Khan stays in close to Alves's body and controls the position.
Al Khan being controlled here momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Al Khan with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Al Khan looking to pass the guard.
Al Khan working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Alves keeping moving, preventing Al Khan from controlling successfully.
Al Khan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Alves keeping moving, preventing Al Khan from controlling successfully.
Al Khan works over Alves with some ground and pound from guard.
Al Khan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Al Khan slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Al Khan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Al Khan pushes down on Alves's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Al Khan performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Al Khan is trying to control the action in half guard but Alves is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Al Khan is nestled in close to Alves, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Al Khan is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Alves is just riding it out for now. Al Khan eventually gives up the hold.

Al Khan is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Alves has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Al Khan is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alves is holding on to half guard well.
Alves felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Al Khan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alves keeps working.
Alves is trying to control but can't.

Al Khan is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Alves defends it well.
Al Khan wants to control but Alves is keeping him busy.

Al Khan is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Alves defends it well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Al Khan wants to take a breather but Alves is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saleem Al Khan dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Al Khan darts in looking for a takedown but Alves gets double underhooks and turns Al Khan into the cage.
Alves throws a counter combo.
Nice sprawl there from Alves as Al Khan shoots in.
Alves tries to clinch up

and Al Khan counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Al Khan.
Alves wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Al Khan trying to control but Alves is working from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Alves holds on and takes a little breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Khan wants to control from the top but Alves keeps moving.
Alves can't keep his opponent in guard - Al Khan advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Al Khan trying to control from half guard but Alves is working away.
Saleem Al Khan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves is trying is best to control the position here.
Alves wants to improve his position but Al Khan is controlling well.
Alves trying to control from the bottom.
Al Khan trying to pass the guard but Alves defending well.
Alves trying to control from the bottom.
Alves keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Al Khan controlling the action here.
Al Khan wants to pass to mount but Alves is defending the position.
Alves is not content to let Al Khan control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Al Khan is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Alves has managed to free his arm - good work.
Alves is not content to let Al Khan control the position.
Al Khan lands strikes from half guard.

Al Khan wants to work for an arm triangle but Alves is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Al Khan is looking for a kimura here.
Al Khan sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Alves defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Khan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alves keeps working.
Alves controlling the position for now.
Alves is not content to let Al Khan control the position.
Al Khan sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Al Khan is keen to just control but Alves is a slippery customer.
Al Khan landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Al Khan is trying to control. Alves wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Al Khan trying to mount his opponent but Alves defends it.

Al Khan is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Alves sees it coming and defends easily.
Alves slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alves trying to control the position.
Al Khan looking to pass the guard.
Alves keeping moving, preventing Al Khan from controlling successfully.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Alves holds on and takes a little breather.

Al Khan drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Alves manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Al Khan has Alves in his guard.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Alves controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saleem Al Khan dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Al Khan fails with the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Al Khan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Al Khan misses with a series of wild punches.
Alves tries a quick counter leg kick but Al Khan is wise to it.
Al Khan fails with the takedown
and Alves counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Alves displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Al Khan.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saleem Al Khan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alves throws a nice inside leg kick.
Al Khan throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Alves on the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alves doesn't manage to clinch there - Al Khan circles away.
A good leg kick by Alves.
Al Khan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Al Khan fails with the takedown
and Alves counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters circling a little - Alves finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Alves tries to close the distance and clinch up but Al Khan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Al Khan takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Alves is looking to clinch but Al Khan is avoiding it.
Alves stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Alves wants it to stay on the feet.
Alves is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Alves gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Al Khan takes a shot to the head.
Knees to the body from Alves.
Alves lands a shoulder strike.
Al Khan takes a shot to the head.
Alves crunches a lovely knee into Al Khan's ribcage.
Alves lands a left hand that snaps the head of Al Khan backwards.

Al Khan is rocked!
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!
Alves makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Oh Al Khan is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Alves creates a bit of distance for himself, with Al Khan pressed up against the cage and cracks Al Khan with a massive uppercut! Al Khan goes down! He's out cold! Wow, that was some serious power there by Alves!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Thiago Alves!
Thiago Alves bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.