PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nathanial Vang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Vang
vs
Alves

157 cm
19
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

184 cm
18
166 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nathanial Vang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jose Alves!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Alves moves into the clinch.
Alves is trying to drag Vang to the mat but Vang just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Alves looking for a takedown.
Alves looking for a takedown.
Nathanial Vang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Alves.

Alves has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Vang uses from the top position.
Alves trying to keep a closed guard but Vang is proving a slippery customer.

Alves escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vang gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Vang postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Alves managing to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves wants to sweep but no luck.
Vang stands up over Alves, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Vang might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Alves working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vang.

Alves escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vang gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Alves is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vang throwing strikes from guard but Alves blocks nicely.
Vang really is a fat lump.
Alves pulls Vang in close to prevent any damage.
Alves wants to stand up but Vang is controlling him.
Vang loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Alves utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Alves is looking to stand up but Vang isn't so interested in that idea.
Alves is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Alves trying to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jose Alves.
Alves shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Alves has closed the distance and engaged Vang in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vang pulls guard.

Alves postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Vang is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Alves, into his guard.
Vang loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Alves looking for subs off his back but Vang has passed one foot through into half guard.
Alves tries to kick Vang off but Vang keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Alves clinches.

Alves pulls guard.
Alves controls Vang momentarily but Vang frees himself.
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.
Vang throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Alves works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vang postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Vang in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Vang lands a couple of digs.
Vang has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves is trying to keep Vang in close.
Vang in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Alves wants to control the position but Vang says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Alves is trying to maintain the position but Vang is very close to passing his half guard.
Jose Alves has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vang looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Vang 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.
Alves trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vang seems to be working for a kimura but Alves defends the submission attempt.
Alves wants to control but Vang is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Vang is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Alves sees it coming and defends easily.
Vang throwing shots but Alves is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vang is thwarting Alves's attempts to control the position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Vang lands a nice short elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alves missing with punches from the bottom.
Alves trying to hold on to Vang's head to control him but Vang postures up.

Vang is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Alves manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Alves has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Vang can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Vang in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nathanial Vang will probably get the nod.
That's time! Vang's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

No luck for Vang with that takedown attempt.
Alves looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Alves fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Vang slaps away a takedown attempt from Alves, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jose Alves seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alves throws a head kick that misses

and Vang counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Alves trying to control but Vang postures up.
Vang throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves gets full guard.
Vang loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Alves throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Alves takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vang throws an elbow that misses. Alves uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Vang's guard. Nice move by Alves!
Vang tries to strike from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves trying to control but Vang is working from the bottom.
Alves throwing strikes but missing.

Alves decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Vang, up you get!
Alves shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vang as he avoids it easily.
Nathanial Vang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Alves.
Alves shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Vang counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Alves is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Vang avoids it really well and circles away.
Vang displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Alves.
Vang shoots for a double leg takedown but Alves sprawls well. He's pushed Vang's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Vang wants to get back to striking at distance but Alves won't allow it.

Alves pulls guard.
Vang throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Alves works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vang scoring with punches to the head and body.
Vang passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Vang throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alves is looking for a sweep. Vang is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jose Alves.
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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:30

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