PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Charlie Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ikuhisa Solomon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alves comes into the arena with Zangief - Theme blaring out of the sound system. The key to victory for Charlie Alves has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Alves
vs
Solomon

175 cm
18
158 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
23
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Charlie Alves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ikuhisa Solomon!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Donatello Bradman and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Solomon moves into the clinch.
Alves looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Solomon successfully pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Solomon 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Solomon looking to control.
Solomon is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Solomon bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Alves's guard.
Solomon trying to control the position from guard on top but Alves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alves not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Solomon drops back looking for a leg! Alves is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Alves manages to kick Solomon off! Solomon jumps back into Alves's guard.

Solomon gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Alves shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solomon looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Solomon rushes Alves and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Solomon pulls guard successfully.
Alves stopping the sweep attempt from Solomon.
Alves wants to control from the top but Solomon keeps moving.
Solomon with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Alves can't handle though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Alves trying to control the position from guard on top but Solomon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Solomon has his feet on Alves's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Solomon drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Solomon stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alves swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Alves managing to control the position.
Alves wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solomon trying to stand up but can't free himself from Alves's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Solomon accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Alves pulls Solomon in to control the position.
Solomon lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Solomon postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Solomon trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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.
Alves pulls Solomon in close to prevent any damage.
Alves's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Solomon not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Solomon trying to control but Alves is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ikuhisa Solomon dominated that 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.

Alves takes a swing at Solomon's ribcage but misses.

Solomon shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Solomon was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Solomon is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Alves to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Alves shrugs it off.
Solomon avoids the attempt from Alves to control.
Alves is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Solomon is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solomon pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Alves tries to lock up and control but Solomon gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Solomon tries to control but Alves wriggling away.
Alves wants to hold on but Solomon pushes him away.
Alves is looking to get to half guard.
Solomon lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's two 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.
Solomon connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Alves manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Alves is trying to control but can't.
Alves is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Alves is trying to control but can't.
Solomon tries to stand but can't do so whilst Alves controls his leg.
Alves has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Solomon is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves manages to get to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Charlie Alves.

Solomon fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Alves sprawls well initially but Solomon persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Alves preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Solomon tries to pass to full mount but Alves defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alves keeping hold of Solomon's head, controlling as best he can.
Alves avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Solomon.
Solomon looks to land a strike but Alves avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Alves not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Alves is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Solomon is aware though and is defending well.
Alves looking for a sweep. Not yet Alves, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ikuhisa Solomon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Alves's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Alves throws a head kick that half lands.
Solomon tries for a takedown but Alves sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Solomon fails with a takedown attempt.
Solomon throws a series of punches but Alves moves out of range.
Solomon tries to clinch up.
A head kick misses from Alves.
Charlie Alves is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Alves.
Alves shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Solomon counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Alves is positioning himself well to prevent Solomon advancing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves is looking for a sweep. Solomon is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Solomon is trying to control. Alves wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Alves controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Alves wants to control but Solomon is keeping busy.
It looks like Solomon is going to stand back up.

That's two 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.

Solomon is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Alves keeping hold of Solomon's head, controlling as best he can.
Solomon is looking to take a break and control but Alves is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Alves looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Solomon is fending him off so far but Alves persists. Nope, Solomon circles away and we're back to standing.
Alves misses with a takedown

and Solomon counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Charlie Alves. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves has had enough of the clinch but Solomon keeps him there for the moment.
Solomon is pressed up against the cage. Alves has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Solomon down to the mat. Solomon avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Alves shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Solomon decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Alves's guard.
Solomon trying to control but Alves is working from the bottom.
Solomon won't allow Alves to sweep him here.
Solomon wants to control from the top but Alves keeps moving.
Ikuhisa Solomon has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Solomon is fighting to break Alves's control of his arms but Alves is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Alves is trying to keep Solomon in close.
Solomon wants to control from the top but Alves keeps moving.
Solomon is looking to stand up but Alves won't let him.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Solomon shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Alves's guard.
Charlie Alves has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ikuhisa Solomon is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Solomon trying to control the position from guard on top but Alves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ikuhisa Solomon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Solomon winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ikuhisa Solomon!