PBP Commentary

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

Dominguez
vs
Alves

156 cm
18
177 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

177 cm
25
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Dominguez!
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, Antonio Alves!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Luis Engracia and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alves throws a head kick that misses.
Alves connects with a leg kick. Dominguez looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Alves looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Alves is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Dominguez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Alves wants to pass the guard but Dominguez is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alves perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alves is working for a kimura but Dominguez is defending it quite comfortably.

Alves is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Alves wants to free his trapped foot but Dominguez is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Alves trying to control from half guard but Dominguez is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Dominguez won't allow Alves to pass to mount.
Alves not doing much here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Alves clinches up against the cage.
Alves is stalling here.
Dominguez could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Alves has clasped his hands together around Dominguez's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Alves has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Alves shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves is trying to control the action in half guard but Dominguez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Alves with the ground and pound but Dominguez uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Alves avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Alves trying to control but Dominguez is working from the bottom.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Alves is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Alves working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Alves slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Alves looking to sit in guard and control but Dominguez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Alves wants to stand and escape but Dominguez is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Alves dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Dominguez avoids a kick to the body.
Dominguez went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Dominguez tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Alves defends well and Dominguez ends up having to push Alves into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Alves decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Alves content to control rather than advance.

Alves gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Alves feints and as Dominguez raises his hands in defense, Alves changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Dominguez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves throws a strike but Dominguez rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Alves looking to control.
Dominguez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Alves looking for a sweep. Not yet Alves, not yet.
Alves trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Dominguez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Alves working a defensive guard here.

Alves looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Dominguez has picked Alves up and slammed him! Alves can't keep hold of the triangle and Dominguez manages to pass to side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves wants to control but Dominguez postures up.
Alves tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Dominguez wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Alves sneaks out the side door and pushes Dominguez away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Dominguez blocks a head kick by Alves.
Alves scores with a head kick. Dominguez tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Alves throws a head kick that misses.
Alves is breathing heavily.

Alves drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
You can see the frustration on Dominguez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves trying to control the action but Dominguez is working from the bottom.

Alves stands up and beckons Dominguez to his feet.

Alves looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Dominguez!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Alves wants to control but Dominguez is keeping him busy.
Dominguez is trying to control Alves's posture but Alves avoids it.
Dominguez dodges the ground and pound from Alves.
The ground and pound from Alves seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Alves is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Dominguez knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Alves trying to control the position but Dominguez is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Alves showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Alves misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dominguez appears to be looking for a big counter.

Dominguez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Alves!

Dominguez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Alves knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Antonio Alves has got the better of the ground game so far.
Alves is looking for a sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dominguez thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
You can see the frustration on Alves's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves is looking to reverse the position.
Alves tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Dominguez easily slips into full mount!
Alves has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dominguez working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves is working to get back to half guard.

Dominguez jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Alves manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Alves is trying to get back to his feet.
Alves looks to move to half guard but instead Dominguez has passed into mount! Damn!

Dominguez swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Alves is now in Dominguez's guard. A big mistake from Dominguez there, giving up the dominant position!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dominguez keeping moving, preventing Alves from controlling successfully.
Alves looking to pass the guard.

Alves decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Dominguez, up you get!

Alves gets the takedown into side control.
Alves trying to control the action but Dominguez is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Alves takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dominguez is not content to let Alves control the position.

Alves tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antonio 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30

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