PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Juliano Hafele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiego Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hafele comes to the cage accompanied by Charlie Brown Jr. - No passo a passo. On his way into the cage it seems that Juliano Hafele has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Juliano Hafele seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Hafele
vs
Alves

182 cm
18
169 lbs
0 - 0 - 1

175 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Win Nutritional - proof of quality

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 0 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Juliano Hafele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiego Alves!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Thiago Cunha and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hafele fails with a takedown attempt.
Alves looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Alves misses with a takedown
and Hafele counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hafele lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Hafele tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alves swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hafele digs a good body shot into Alves's ribs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hafele closes the distance and clinches.

Hafele pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hafele misses with a takedown
and Alves cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hafele tries to bum rush Alves with a series of wild strikes but Alves uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Alves takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

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

Alves is rocked!
Hafele is landing with some decent strikes but Alves is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Alves is still in real trouble! Can Hafele finish him?
Hafele looking to finish Alves with some ground and pound. This is bad for Alves!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hafele controlling from the full mount.
Alves seems to have recovered his senses.

Hafele is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Alves has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hafele wants to stand but Alves is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Alves tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Hafele is going olschool here, as he tries to force Alves to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Alves shrugs it off.
Alves is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Alves is squirming around, avoiding Hafele's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hafele stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Hafele cracks Alves with a right hand to the side of the head.
Hafele lands with a straight right. Alves didn't see that one coming.
Hafele lands the left hand.
Hafele with a poor takedown
and Alves counters with a one-two to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juliano Hafele. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alves has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Alves gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Hafele ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hafele no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Hafele can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Alves controls the pace.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hafele can't keep his opponent in guard - Alves advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hafele trying to control here.
Alves wants to control but Hafele is keeping him busy.
Alves is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hafele regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juliano Hafele dominated that 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.

Hafele tries for a takedown but Alves circles away easily

and Alves counters with a single leg into guard. Hafele didn't expect that.
Hafele wants to stand up but Alves is controlling him.
Alves wants to control from the top but Hafele keeps moving.
Hafele has a closed guard, preventing Alves from standing up.
Hafele wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hafele is looking for a triangle but Alves pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Alves decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Hafele throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hafele throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Alves uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hafele.
Alves pushes Hafele away with a front kick.
Horrible takedown by Hafele or perhaps it was just good defense by Alves which made him look bad.
Alves throws a series of punches but Hafele avoids them all with ease.
Juliano Hafele seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hafele shoots in for a double leg but Alves sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juliano Hafele. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves stuffs the takedown attempt from Hafele. Hafele gets slowly back to his feet.
Alves looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hafele is fending him off so far but Alves persists. Nope, Hafele circles away and we're back to standing.
Alves dives in and grabs Hafele's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hafele pushes down on Alves's head and hops out.
Hafele fails with the takedown

and Alves counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hafele's guard now.

Hafele has his foot on Alves's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Alves works his way back into a safe position though.
Hafele wants to stand up but Alves is controlling him.
Hafele working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Alves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves tries to stand but Hafele is controlling from the bottom.
Alves trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hafele throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Alves won't allow Hafele to sweep him here.
Alves looking to sit in guard and control but Hafele gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Alves is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hafele shoots and misses

and Alves counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Hafele is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Alves pulls his head out easily.
Hafele is trying to get back to full guard.

Alves is looking for a kimura here.
Alves trying to control from half guard but Hafele is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiego Alves showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hafele with a poor takedown

and Alves counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hafele's guard now.
Hafele tries to strike from the bottom.
Alves trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hafele's guard.
Hafele seems keen to control Alves's posture.
Hafele keeping full guard, as Alves tries to pass.
Hafele is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Alves is controlling him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves wants to stand but Hafele has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Alves is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Hafele has his foot on Alves's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Alves works his way back into a safe position though.
Hafele keeping moving, preventing Alves from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Hafele isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Alves stacks Hafele on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Alves!
Hafele bucks up and tries to throw Alves off but instead Alves has got his back!
Alves biding his time, controlling Hafele.

Alves working for a choke but Hafele is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hafele staying busy and making it hard for Alves to control.
Thiego Alves has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hafele is trying to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Alves avoiding Hafele 's attempts to control his hands.
Hafele trying to get back to his feet but Alves is in full control for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Alves is looking for the choke from the back position but Hafele is controlling his hands well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiego 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29

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