PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cuff Rotator (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Alves
vs
Rotator

175 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
21
152 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Alves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cuff Rotator!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Seu Braga and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - Rotator throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rotator looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rotator tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rotator will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rotator misses with a series of wild punches.
Cuff Rotator seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alves tries to clinch there but Rotator circles away.
Alves clinches but Rotator breaks the clinch

and Rotator counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Alves has Rotator pulled in close to control his posture.
Alves can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rotator controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Alves has an active guard here but Rotator has managed to pass into half guard.
Alves is positioning himself well to prevent Rotator advancing to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Alves wants to control but Rotator is keeping busy and won't allow it.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Alves is trying to control but can't.
Rotator looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Thiago Alves has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Alves slaps away a takedown attempt from Rotator, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rotator shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Alves napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Alves trying to control but Rotator flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Alves is in bad spot here.
Rotator throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Alves just trying to survive but Rotator is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Alves staying busy and making it hard for Rotator to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alves is in bad spot here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rotator is riding his opponent, not letting Alves buck him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cuff Rotator dominated that round.
That's time! Alves's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Alves tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Alves moves out of range of the body kick.
Nice defenses there by Alves.
Alves throws a combination. Rotator tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Alves fails with an attempt to clinch.
Alves blocks the body kick.
Alves moves out of range of the strikes.
Rotator darts in trying to clinch
and Alves cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rotator looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rotator slips a straight right by Alves.
Rotator misses with a combination
and Alves counters with a one-two to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves moves away from the strike by Rotator.
Rotator tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alves swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rotator wants to clinch up but Alves keeps it at a distance.
Alves is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Alves with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Alves moves out of range of the body kick.
Alves ducks under a wild hook from Rotator.
Rotator darts in trying to clinch
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Alves counters with a thumping low kick.
Rotator ducks under a wild hook from Alves.
Rotator misses with a kick to the body
and Alves counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rotator with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Alves to score with a decent uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rotator closes the distance and pushes Alves back into the cage.
Rotator avoiding damage.
Rotator blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Alves unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rotator lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Alves tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Alves connects with a knee to the head.
Rotator stalls.
Alves looking to stall.
Alves missing with knees to the body.
Alves with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rotator tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Alves avoids it.
Alves tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rotator avoids it.
Rotator blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Alves stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Alves with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Alves stalling in the clinch but Rotator improves position.
Alves tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Rotator drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Alves gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Alves with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rotator is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Alves tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rotator managing to block the knees to the body from Alves.
Alves utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Alves is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rotator is defending well for now.
Alves trying to land knees to the body.
Rotator slows down the pace here.
Alves avoiding damage as Rotator throws knees to the body.
Alves trying to land knees to the body.
Rotator controlling the action here for a moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alves tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rotator avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Alves 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!

Rotator pushes Alves up against the cage in a clinch.
Alves taking a breather.
Rotator is stalling here.
Rotator avoiding damage as Alves throws knees to the body.
Rotator slowing the pace effectively.
Rotator avoiding damage as Alves throws knees to the body.
Alves trying to land knees to the body.
Rotator blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rotator avoiding damage as Alves throws knees to the body.
Alves throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rotator blocks it with crossed arms.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alves scores a nice knee to the body.
The referee is keeping an eye on Rotator - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Alves trying to land knees to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Rotator.
Rotator can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves missing with knees to the body.
Alves looking to stall.
Rotator effectively controlling the action here.
Alves is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rotator is defending well for now.
Alves connects with a knee to the head.
Rotator displaying some good clinch control by pressing Alves up against the cage.
Rotator blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rotator avoiding damage as Alves throws knees to the body.
Alves looking to throw knees to the head but Rotator is blocking nicely.
Rotator is stalling here.
Alves with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's two 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.

Rotator turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Alves is trying to work for a sweep but Rotator has mounted him!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rotator trying to control but Alves is having none of it.
A nice elbow there by Rotator.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rotator unloads with some shots from mount but Alves bucks and avoids them well.
Alves tries to reverse the position but Rotator maintains control.
Rotator can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Alves is looking to escape.
Alves keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

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 manages to control the position for a moment.
Alves is looking to improve his position but Rotator isn't that keen on the idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cuff Rotator comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rotator 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cuff Rotator!