Career Averages - Joel Alvarez
Career Averages - Thiago Moises
Joel Alvarez
Thiago Moises
Joel Alvarez - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joel Alvarez | 0 | 8 of 22 | 36% | 9 of 23 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Yaroslav Amosov | 0 | 16 of 28 | 57% | 22 of 34 | 6 of 11 | 54% | 1 | 0 | 3:52 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joel Alvarez | 0 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 3 of 7 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Yaroslav Amosov | 0 | 10 of 17 | 58% | 16 of 23 | 5 of 9 | 55% | 0 | 0 | 3:43 | |
| 2 | Joel Alvarez | 0 | 6 of 16 | 37% | 6 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Yaroslav Amosov | 0 | 6 of 11 | 54% | 6 of 11 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 0:09 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joel Alvarez | 8 of 22 | 36% | 7 of 20 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Yaroslav Amosov | 16 of 28 | 57% | 11 of 20 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 6 | 9 of 20 | 5 of 6 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joel Alvarez | 2 of 6 | 33% | 2 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Yaroslav Amosov | 10 of 17 | 58% | 8 of 13 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 9 | 5 of 6 | 2 of 2 | |
| 2 | Joel Alvarez | 6 of 16 | 37% | 5 of 14 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Yaroslav Amosov | 6 of 11 | 54% | 3 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 6 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Amosov (-185), Alvarez (+154)
Round 1
When two grappling-first athletes collide, sometimes they play the “there are levels to this” game. Other times, it results in a somewhat sloppy kickboxing match. Let’s see how things turn out between Spanish former lightweight Alvarez (23-3, 8-2 UFC) and cast away ex-Bellator welterweight kingpin Amosov (29-1, 1-0 UFC). Referee Keith Peterson joins the two 170ers in the cage to watch over them and keep all nonsense at bay. A high-five from the athletes precedes their mutual combat.
Alvarez stands firm in the center of the Octagon while Amosov circles around him flashing his jab. Amosov bounces on his heels in and out, and Alvarez does not budge much even as a front kick aims at him. Amosov dips down and clips Alvarez with a left hand, reddening the Spaniard’s nose in a second. Alvarez advances directly into a double-leg entry that is waiting for him, with a guillotine that is nowhere near completion. Amosov shrugs it out and sits down in a partial half guard, more interested in pushing Alvarez’ shoulder down. Amosov considers an arm-triangle choke across his opponent’s torso, and Alvarez frees himself from it to wall-walk. Amosov holds on with a standing arm-triangle choke, all while he looks for a trip as well.
Amosov wrenches Alvarez down on his face, and he slugs him in the side of the melon once or twice. He then knees Amosov in the posterior before aiming to secure another mat return. He gets it while Alvarez grimaces. “El Fenomeno” stands back up with the wall at his side, and Amosov laces his leg between Alvarez’ to threaten bringing him back down again. Amosov is able to sweep out the leg to put the Spanish fighter down once more, but he can only hold him for a second or three. While Alvarez is trying to stand again, Amosov beans him with several flush left hands. The round ends with Amosov selling out by lowering his weight down to hurl Alvarez over him to the floor, and this stands him back up like two kids playing on a playground. The round ends with Amosov helping Alvarez back to his feet like a real ladykiller.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Amosov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Amosov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Amosov
Round 2
The two are friendly with one another in their greeting, but once it’s on, it’s on. Alvarez walks forward to engage, keeping his hands down to prevent the expected takedown. This opens the Ukrainian up to kick Alvarez in the face. Amosov connects with two low kicks and springs into a punch combination, but this is exactly what Alvarez wants. Alvarez opens up and connects with a flurry, and Amosov snatches him up and deposits him gingerly to the canvas.
“Dynamo” practically lands in arm-triangle position after taking Alvarez for a ride, and Alvarez is in grave danger the second he hits the floor. Coming into this event, no one had ever tapped out submission ace Alvarez. That all changes when Amosov forces Alvarez to give up.
This is a statement win, the kind of breakout performance that will make the rest of the division pay attention to the ex-Bellator titlist. How does he celebrate? He breakdances in the middle of the cage.
The Official Result
Yaroslav Amosov def. Joel Alvarez R2 1:13 via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)
Angelo picks Yaroslav Amosov, citing his chain wrestling and ability to get the fight to the ground at will. He notes Alvarez has no takedown defense (47%) and cannot keep the fight standing. He says Amosov is very good on the ground and will control from there. He mentions the line flipped from Alvarez being a big favorite to Amosov being favored.
Angelo is confident in Yaroslav Amosov, citing Joel Alvarez's poor takedown defense (47% but 0% before Vicente Luque). He believes Amosov's wrestling and grappling are on a different level and that he will take Alvarez down and dominate. He thinks Amosov runs through Alvarez.
Big Brady picks Joel Alvarez as a live dog, noting his improved takedown defense and massive size advantage. He believes if Alvarez can keep the fight standing, he has the power to knock out Amosov, who has been knocked out before. Brady expects Alvarez to get a finish, citing his 96% finish rate, and predicts a knockout.
Cody picks Amosov, citing his wrestling and top control. He thinks Amosov can take Alvarez down and neutralize his submission threats. Cody expects Amosov to win by decision.
Connor also picks Amosov, agreeing with Zane that the style matchup favors the wrestler. He notes that Alvarez's trap game relies on opponents driving into his guard, but Amosov is a patient top-control artist who won't fall into that trap. Connor points out that Alvarez's two UFC losses came against strong top-control grapplers, and Amosov fits that mold.
Daniel picks Amosov, citing his elite wrestling and the fact that Alvarez's kryptonite is good wrestlers. He notes Amosov's 29-1 record and believes he will maul Alvarez, possibly by submission.
Predicted method: Decision. Amosov is a former Bellator champion with elite grappling (4.64 takedowns per round, 4.6 submission average) and a dominant win over Neil Magny in his UFC debut. Alvarez is a dangerous submission specialist (1.1 sub avg) but has poor takedown defense (47%) and may struggle to keep the fight standing. Amosov's 54% striking defense and pressure will likely lead to takedowns and ground control. However, Alvarez has length and power on the feet, so Amosov must be careful. Expect Amosov to win by decision or late submission.
Jacob picks Amosov, noting that calf kicks will play a big part and that Joel Alvarez can be stationary. He thinks Amosov will get takedowns and control, making Alvarez look like he did in the Arman Tsarukyan fight. He expects a dominant performance.
Lucrative James picks Yaroslav Amosov because he believes Amosov's wrestling and top control will neutralize Joel Alvarez's submission threats. He notes that Alvarez has a history of being taken down and that Amosov is too good on top to get swept. He predicts Amosov wins by decision, as Alvarez is tough and dangerous on the feet but will be controlled on the ground.
The host picks Amosov, citing his well-rounded skills and superior wrestling. He believes Amosov can stay safe on the feet and take the fight to the ground, where he can control Alvarez and avoid submissions. He expects a decision win, noting that Alvarez may struggle to get submissions off his back against a strong wrestler.
Paul does not make a clear pick, saying he is tempted by Alvarez but ultimately passes. He notes the line movement and uncertainty, and decides to avoid the fight.
The MMA Guru picks Yaroslav Amosov, praising his elite grappling and elusive style. He notes Amosov dominated Neil Magny and has a 29-1 record. He worries about Alvarez's vulnerability on bottom and believes Amosov's wet blanket style will neutralize Alvarez's finishing potential. He predicts a decision win for Amosov, as long as he avoids a guillotine.
Zane picks Amosov, noting that while Alvarez is a dangerous trap fighter, Amosov's grinding top control and submission game are similar to the styles that have beaten Alvarez before (e.g., Arman Tsarukyan). He believes Amosov will get multiple takedowns and control the fight, though it may be ugly. Zane acknowledges Alvarez's finishing ability but sees the matchup favoring Amosov's methodical approach.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vicente Luque | 0 | 30 of 99 | 30% | 31 of 101 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Joel Alvarez | 0 | 89 of 148 | 60% | 197 of 288 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 6:30 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vicente Luque | 0 | 21 of 65 | 32% | 21 of 65 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Joel Alvarez | 0 | 38 of 67 | 56% | 38 of 67 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Vicente Luque | 0 | 6 of 18 | 33% | 7 of 20 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Joel Alvarez | 0 | 48 of 72 | 66% | 122 of 173 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 3:35 | |
| 3 | Vicente Luque | 0 | 3 of 16 | 18% | 3 of 16 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Joel Alvarez | 0 | 3 of 9 | 33% | 37 of 48 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 2:55 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vicente Luque | 30 of 99 | 30% | 16 of 74 | 6 of 13 | 8 of 12 | 30 of 99 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Joel Alvarez | 89 of 148 | 60% | 74 of 130 | 12 of 15 | 3 of 3 | 55 of 100 | 0 of 0 | 34 of 48 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vicente Luque | 21 of 65 | 32% | 11 of 51 | 3 of 5 | 7 of 9 | 21 of 65 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Joel Alvarez | 38 of 67 | 56% | 30 of 56 | 6 of 9 | 2 of 2 | 38 of 67 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Vicente Luque | 6 of 18 | 33% | 3 of 13 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 6 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Joel Alvarez | 48 of 72 | 66% | 42 of 66 | 5 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 34 of 48 | |
| 3 | Vicente Luque | 3 of 16 | 18% | 2 of 10 | 1 of 5 | 0 of 1 | 3 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Joel Alvarez | 3 of 9 | 33% | 2 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Alvarez (-550); Luque (+400)
Round 1
Although his Fight Finder profile says he is from Westwood, New Jersey, Luque (23-11-1, 16-7 UFC) calls Brazil home as he moved there when he was young. He will have a full contingent of fan support behind him to take on ex-lightweight finisher Alvarez (22-3, 7-2 UFC), who somehow looks larger than the man who has made 170 pounds for the lion’s share of his career. The third man in the Octagon for this all-action clash will be referee Osiris Maia, and he bears witness to a sporting glove touch before the frenzy begins.
Alvarez sticks out his jab, and he parries a front kick. Luque swings his way forward, and the former lightweight swats his hands out of the air. Luque sits down on a low kick that forces a stance switch, and Alvarez responds with a straight let hand that marks up Luque’s nose. They connect with single strikes, with Alvarez relying on his power jab to set things up. Luque works his way in and scores once before Alvarez backs him off with his own attack. Luque again commits to a hard low kick, and he snaps the head back with a left hand. Alvarez stays composed and calm, and he jabs to string three punches after it. Luque drives home a low kick, and he rips a right hand over the top. Luque’s calf kick is doing damage, and Alvarez pushes him away as the knuckle of his thumb drills into Luque’s eye socket. Maia calls time, and Luque practically collapses to his knees in pain. The replay shows that the strike was legal, and Maia calls off the fight to award Alvarez the TKO win…and then uncalls it, giving Luque time to see the doctor. This fight should be over, as the strike was a legal one so Luque should not be given time to recover. The complete and utter failure in regulation allows Luque 90 seconds to clear his vision, and the fight somehow continues.
When they resume, Luque knows his time is limited, so he lets loose with short but effective flurries. Alvarez strikes back with a vengeance, but Luque reaches him and lands flush several times. Alvarez gets off an especially effective front kick, and the two calm down for a bit. Luque’s eye is showing some serious damage, and Alvarez gets back to action by targeting the right side of Luque’s head with a kick and a number of punches. The round ends, despite what happened earlier.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Alvarez
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Alvarez
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Alvarez
Round 2
The two have reached the second round. Alvarez wants to finish the job…again, and he starts it with a barrage of punches, a high kick and a wheel kick as well. Alvarez takes time to celebrate his handiwork, staying out of range for Luque’s blitzes. Alvarez chains punches into a body kick, and Luque tries for a takedown and is shoved to his back. The Spanish fighter briefly considers a brabo choke, and he lets it go to slam his fists into Luque’s face. Alvarez lowers himself down for a much tighter brabo, and Luque twists and manages to survive, but he is under fire. Alvarez drops down punches any target he can find with Luque pulling guard to get Alvarez close to him, and Alvarez thanks him for this by belting him with 12-to-6 elbows.
Alvarez elbows Luque in the thigh to open up his guard, and he advances to half guard and smacks Luque around with more elbows. Luque clings to Alvarez’ left arm while doing practically nothing else on his knees, and Alvarez methodically pounds on him. Maia stands idly by as Luque takes a beating, and Alvarez hangs on from above to keep Luque from escaping. Alvarez’ elbows open things up further for him, and Luque can only answer with a leglock that Alvarez completely ignores until the horn sounds. The only question is whether that round, one that should not have happened in the first place, will be a 10-9 or a 10-8.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Alvarez
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-8 Alvarez
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Alvarez
Round 3
Doctors and Maia check in on Luque’s condition between rounds, with his right eye swelling and damaged. He is cleared to resume even though it sounds like he says his eye is
not working
, and they both flick jabs at one another. As if he does not want to cause more harm to his opponent, Alvarez takes his foot largely off the gas, while dancing away from the labored offense hurled his way. Luque is the more active of the two, but he will most certainly need a finish barring an aberrant scorecard. The fighters trade low kicks, and Alvarez’ brushes the cup. Luque signals he is fine, and he keeps out of range until shooting in for a single.
Alvarez defends it without issue, and he slithers his legs around Luque’s neck for an inverted triangle. Luque signals a thumbs-up that the choke is not too tight, and Alvarez is sitting on him in a precarious position unable to land with much as Luque has the back of his neck and spine presented. Alvarez chills out on top of Luque, completely nullifying the veteran, and the crowd does not love what is transpiring in the cage. Alvarez cranks on Luque’s toes to no effect, and he smacks Luque in the side again and again until the Brazilian turns over. Alvarez concludes the match with hammerfists to the face, and they have heard the final bell. At least it’s over, but Alvarez’ 100% finish rate is no more.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Alvarez (30-26 Alvarez)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Alvarez (30-26 Alvarez)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Alvarez (30-26 Alvarez)
The Official Result
Joel Alvarez def. Vicente Luque via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
Angelo picks Joel Alvarez, calling him 'Vicente 2.0' and stating that the current version of Vicente is older, slower, and chinnier. He believes Joel will likely finish Vicente on the feet or ground. He notes Vicente's only chance is if Joel doesn't defend takedowns, but still picks Joel.
Big Brady picks Joel Alvarez to win dominantly by first-round submission. He expresses serious concerns about Vicente Luque's durability and mentality after a brain bleed and a quit against Buckley. He notes Alvarez is moving up to welterweight, which is overdue, and will be much bigger. Brady sees multiple paths to victory: hurting Luque on the feet, Luque shooting in and getting submitted, or Luque looking for a way out.
Cody picks Alvarez but with hesitancy due to the weight move and Luque's toughness. He notes Alvarez's momentum and Luque's recent struggles, but worries about the physical matchup. He likes Alvarez to finish but sees limited value at the current price.
Lucrative James is confident in Joel Alvarez, citing his youth, power, and submission skills. He notes Vicente Luque's age and fight mileage, including a brain bleed. He expects Alvarez to finish Luque, likely by submission, as Luque has been submitted before. He likes the submission prop at +175.
James is confident Alvarez will steamroll Luque, citing Alvarez's superior durability, power, and striking arsenal. He notes Luque's likely grappling attempts but believes Alvarez's submission threats from his back will be decisive. He predicts a first-round finish and suggests betting on Alvarez inside the distance or under 1.5 rounds.
Manpreet is confident in Alvarez, citing Luque's decline due to wear and tear, and Alvarez's youth, power, and finishing ability. He notes Alvarez's height and reach advantages, and believes Alvarez can finish Luque early, possibly by KO in round one. He recommends Alvarez inside the distance or under 1.5 rounds as betting options.
Paul picks Joel Alvarez, believing Vicente Luque is shot and has changed his style after knockouts. He notes Alvarez's pressure, length, and cardio, and expects him to finish Luque via submission or TKO. He acknowledges the weight move but sees Alvarez as the better fighter.
The MMA Guru picks Joel Alvarez over Vicente Luque, citing Alvarez's size, reach, and finishing ability. He notes Luque has been in many wars and is aging, while Alvarez is a talented lightweight moving up. He predicts a TKO finish.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joel Alvarez | 0 | 20 of 24 | 83% | 39 of 44 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
| Drakkar Klose | 0 | 7 of 13 | 53% | 16 of 23 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:08 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joel Alvarez | 0 | 20 of 24 | 83% | 39 of 44 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
| Drakkar Klose | 0 | 7 of 13 | 53% | 16 of 23 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:08 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joel Alvarez | 20 of 24 | 83% | 15 of 19 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 12 of 16 | 8 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
| Drakkar Klose | 7 of 13 | 53% | 1 of 6 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 4 | 7 of 12 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joel Alvarez | 20 of 24 | 83% | 15 of 19 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 12 of 16 | 8 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
| Drakkar Klose | 7 of 13 | 53% | 1 of 6 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 4 | 7 of 12 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Alvarez (-395), Klose (+310)
Round 1
The referee for this lightweight contest is Dan Miragliotta. Klose and Alvarez meet in the center of the cage. Klose lands a heavy leg kick and then goes to the body twice. Alvarez using his length to jab on the outside. Alvarez hurts Klose with a straight right hand. Klose powers through with a takedown and goes straight into side control. Alvarez gets back to guard and starts landing elbows. Alvarez uses the cage to get back up. Klose gets hurt by a 1-2.
Alvarez lands a jumping knee, and Klose is knocked immediately out cold. Alvarez is holding up the body of Klose and landing more punches until the referee steps in.
Wow!
The Official Result
Joel Alvarez def. Drakkar Klose via KO (Knee and Punches); R1, 2:48.
Angelo picks Alvarez despite being a vocal hater, because Alvarez's striking looked fantastic in his last fight and his jiu-jitsu is very good. He notes that Klose is a good wrestler with solid boxing, but Alvarez has more ways to win. However, he strongly believes the odds are too wide (3-to-1 favorite) and that this should be a close fight. He warns that Klose can control where the fight goes and if he has success striking, Alvarez is in trouble because he has no offensive wrestling.
Big Brady picks Joel Alvarez to win by second-round submission. He is confident Alvarez is a problem, with 18 submissions and improving striking. He thinks Klose is vulnerable after the Jeremy Stephens push and looked bad against Warlley Alves. He expects Alvarez to hurt Klose on the feet and then snatch a submission when Klose shoots.
Connor also picks Alvarez but is hesitant, noting that Klose is a durable wrestle-boxer who has only lost to Benil Dariush and a split decision to David Teymur. He points out that Alvarez is a dangerous opportunist whose whole game is built to spring traps, but Klose is tough to finish and might be able to control the fight in the clinch. Connor thinks Alvarez's long strikes and submission threats give him the advantage, but it's a risky pick.
Alvarez's aggressiveness should allow him to get a late finish over Klose, specifically in the second or third round. However, Klose's strength of schedule and grinding ability make him worth an underdog consideration given the wide odds.
The MMA Guru picks Joel Alvarez, calling him 'the truth' in the lightweight division. He praises Alvarez's multi-range ability: striking at range, clinch work, and submissions. He notes that Alvarez is entering his prime at 31, has improved his weight cut, and has a highlight-reel finish over Elves Brener. He contrasts this with Drakkar Klose, whom he considers consistently mid and lacking dynamic ability to separate himself. He predicts a TKO in the second round.
Zane picks Alvarez but with hesitation, noting that Klose is a tough, durable fighter who has only lost once clearly in his career. He acknowledges that Alvarez's game is full of holes but is directionally sound, built to draw opponents into traps. He worries that Klose might be able to frustrate Alvarez with clinch work and toughness, but ultimately believes Alvarez's finishing ability and opportunistic style give him the edge.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joel Alvarez | 1 | 95 of 141 | 67% | 114 of 164 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:51 |
| Elves Brener | 0 | 45 of 97 | 46% | 45 of 98 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:22 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joel Alvarez | 0 | 25 of 36 | 69% | 39 of 52 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:48 |
| Elves Brener | 0 | 15 of 27 | 55% | 15 of 28 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:17 | |
| 2 | Joel Alvarez | 0 | 31 of 45 | 68% | 32 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Elves Brener | 0 | 18 of 42 | 42% | 18 of 42 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:05 | |
| 3 | Joel Alvarez | 1 | 39 of 60 | 65% | 43 of 66 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
| Elves Brener | 0 | 12 of 28 | 42% | 12 of 28 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joel Alvarez | 95 of 141 | 67% | 67 of 111 | 24 of 26 | 4 of 4 | 71 of 112 | 24 of 29 | 0 of 0 |
| Elves Brener | 45 of 97 | 46% | 17 of 58 | 7 of 16 | 21 of 23 | 45 of 96 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joel Alvarez | 25 of 36 | 69% | 15 of 24 | 9 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 21 of 32 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Elves Brener | 15 of 27 | 55% | 6 of 14 | 0 of 4 | 9 of 9 | 15 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Joel Alvarez | 31 of 45 | 68% | 19 of 33 | 10 of 10 | 2 of 2 | 31 of 45 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Elves Brener | 18 of 42 | 42% | 6 of 24 | 5 of 10 | 7 of 8 | 18 of 42 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Joel Alvarez | 39 of 60 | 65% | 33 of 54 | 5 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 19 of 35 | 20 of 25 | 0 of 0 |
| Elves Brener | 12 of 28 | 42% | 5 of 20 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 6 | 12 of 27 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Alvarez (-185), Brener (+154)
Round 1
The main card kicks off with a potential banger at 155 pounds, between two athletes who combine for two decision wins across their 36 pro victories. Alvarez (20-3, 5-2 UFC) sports a marvelous 100% finish rate, while the two triumphs on the scorecards can be attributed to Brener (16-4, 3-1 UFC). In this Spain vs. Brazil battle, referee Lukasz Bosacki takes charge to make sure there are no ill international relations. There is a fist bump to get things started, and Brener engages with a pair of leg kicks. Brener jabs his way into range, and he kicks the lead leg and gets knocked back with a right hand. Alvarez loads up on a power right hand to get Brener’s attention, and he walks the Brazilian down while measuring him with a jab. Alvarez calmly cuts off the cage, and he pins a one-two on the chin. Brener ducks down, directly into a standing guillotine choke, and he furiously throws Alvarez off of him. Alvarez resets and jabs the body, and he hops away from a jumping low kick. Brener keeps working on the leg and tosses out a front kick to mix things up, strafing to the side when Alvarez advances. Alvarez boots his man in the head, rings his bell with two punches and rails him with a jump knee. Brener absorbs it all without flinching, and he ties Alvarez up and looks to throw him down. The gangly Alvarez does not go down, landing in a 50-50 position and getting back up. Alvarez targets the liver with a left and kicks his man as well. Blasting Brener in the body and then kneeing him on the chin, Alvarez lines up a few more knees until Brener shoots in on his hips. Alvarez welcomes this as he fastens a brabo choke, and Brener rolls to his side and back in hopes of defending the submission. Brener pulls on Alvarez’ shorts to defend it, and Alvarez puts as much pressure as he can muster on the choke. Brener miraculously survives to the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Alvarez
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Alvarez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Alvarez
Round 2
Alvarez is so ready to get back to it, he paces in his corner before they begin. When they do, gloves are briefly touched, and Alvarez moves right to the middle of the cage. Brener awkwardly moves back and forth, hands up and down, but Alvarez does not flinch even when absorbing a clean left hand on the jaw. Alvarez swings his way in, and Brener counters with a left and digs a body shot to open up a right hand over the top. Alvarez pushes with a front kick and irritates Brener’s nose with a long jab, and he aims a jab at the body while backing away from a front kick. Alvarez zips a left and a right to the midsection, and Brener charges, landing and getting caught with a right at the end. Brener kicks the body a few times, and Alvarez jabs him up. Brener works the body and shoots for a takedown, where he pushes Alvarez to the wall but cannot wrench him to the canvas. Alvarez splits off and jabs a front kick to the ribs, and Brener kicks him and rushes away. Brener swipes out with a left hook, and it is one-and-done. Alvarez continues to plod forward, sneaking a left around the guard and aiming a right hand to the sternum. Alvarez blocks a kick aimed at his noggin and keeps the pressure going, doubling up on a jab to make Brener scoot away. Alvarez follows him around, jabbing and following one with a low kick. Brener kicks him back in the same spot, and he darts in with a leaping left. Alvarez catches Brener coming in with a sniping left, and he just misses with a long right hand and a head kick. Brener keeps moving to not take anything flush, and he scoops a left hand under the guard. Alvarez paws out a few jabs to stay busy, and he backs off when Brener charges him. Brener walks through a jab to connect with a right hand, and Alvarez walks him down and boots him in the raised guard. Brener tries to jump knee him, and the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Alvarez
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Alvarez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Alvarez
Round 3
The fighters motion to the crowd to get them energized, which works while they meet in the middle and clap their hands together. Brener scores a low kick and hurries away, and he is out of range from a front kick. They crash together with right hands, and Alvarez walks through a leg kick to track him down. Brener is on his bike, not planting his feet for long, but that does not stop Alvarez from popping him with a one-two. A rushed exchange from Brener results him in getting tagged more often and more effectively, so he breaks off and tries a spinning strike. Alvarez blocks it without issue, and he goes to the body with a left and kicks high twice. Brener guards against both and connects with a leg kick, and he sprints in with a left hand and backs off when Alvarez kicks him in the lead calf. Alvarez jabs and sets up a hook when Brener does the same, and Brener pours it on but that only results in him getting worked.
Alvarez rocks him with a left hand, drawing blood with a combination that follows around the left eye, and he chains a dozen or so knees to the head. Bosacki watches on closely as Alvarez clobbers him with furious knees, and Brener’s legs eventually give out beneath him. “El Fenomeno” only needs a pair of left hands to finish the job
, as Bosacki is on top of the action and rescues the Brazilian from further punishment. Alvarez retains his 100% finish rate with the stoppage late in the fight, while handing the durable Brener his first finish loss.
The Official Result
Joel Alvarez def. Elves Brener R3 3:36 via TKO (Knees and Punches)
Angelo picks Brener but is hesitant because of the submission threat from Alvarez. He notes Alvarez has never taken anyone down but submits opponents who take him down, except Arman Tsarukyan. He thinks Brener is the more powerful striker and may keep it on the feet, but worries about Brener's submission defense if he wrestles.
Big Brady is leaning towards Brener despite Alvarez's dangerous finishing ability. He notes Alvarez has a 100% finish rate but questions his durability and ability to handle pressure, recalling Alvarez's loss to Arman Tsarukyan where he was beaten on the ground. He thinks Brener's pressure and pace could break Alvarez later in the fight, predicting a third-round TKO.
Cody picks Joel Alvarez, citing his massive size advantage and superior BJJ. He notes that Brener is undersized and has been hurt by smaller opponents. Cody thinks Alvarez can use his reach and knees to keep Brener at range, and if Brener shoots, Alvarez can submit him. He also mentions that Alvarez has good striking and has finished fights standing. Cody believes Brener's upset streak ends here.
Alvarez is more dangerous with his size, length, and power. He can shell opponents up and pick them apart, and has more tools to sink in chokes and use elbows and knees. He should finish Brener within two rounds.
Paul picks Joel Alvarez, noting his size and submission skills. He thinks Alvarez can win inside the distance, possibly by submission. Paul acknowledges that Brener could take over if the fight goes deep, but he expects Alvarez to finish early. He also mentions that the fight ends inside the distance is a good prop.
The MMA Guru picks Joel Alvarez over Elves Brener, noting that Brener always gets hurt in fights and Alvarez finishes when he hurts opponents. He highlights Alvarez's massive reach advantage and nasty calf kicks. He thinks Brener's only good win is against Kaynan Kruschewsky and that he was getting beaten by Guram Kutateladze before a comeback. He expects Alvarez to crack Brener and put him away.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joel Alvarez | 0 | 20 of 46 | 43% | 29 of 60 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 3:09 |
| Marc Diakiese | 0 | 42 of 75 | 56% | 64 of 98 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1:26 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joel Alvarez | 0 | 19 of 42 | 45% | 20 of 47 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:14 |
| Marc Diakiese | 0 | 31 of 62 | 50% | 31 of 62 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:28 | |
| 2 | Joel Alvarez | 0 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 9 of 13 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 2:55 |
| Marc Diakiese | 0 | 11 of 13 | 84% | 33 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:58 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joel Alvarez | 20 of 46 | 43% | 8 of 25 | 6 of 11 | 6 of 10 | 20 of 46 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Marc Diakiese | 42 of 75 | 56% | 20 of 49 | 12 of 16 | 10 of 10 | 37 of 70 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 3 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joel Alvarez | 19 of 42 | 45% | 7 of 22 | 6 of 11 | 6 of 9 | 19 of 42 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Marc Diakiese | 31 of 62 | 50% | 15 of 42 | 7 of 11 | 9 of 9 | 31 of 62 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Joel Alvarez | 1 of 4 | 25% | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Marc Diakiese | 11 of 13 | 84% | 5 of 7 | 5 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 6 of 8 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 3 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Alvarez (-190), Diakiese (+160)
Round 1
Although this next lightweight pairing might be described as a potential brawl, neither Diakiese (16-6, 7-6 UFC) nor Alvarez (19-3, 4-2 UFC) make their bread off of being knockout artists. Instead, their grappling has been arguably their best attributes, so this could turn into a wild affair that ends up going everywhere. Keeping tabs on this fight will be referee Dan Movahedi, one that opens up with a fist bump from the 155ers. The two are amped up to engage, and the first strike offered is a low kick from Diakiese. When he misses, he resets and reaches his target with a second. Alvarez brings up a high knee when Diakiese comes at him, and he fires off a kick to the knee sleeve of his opponent and catches the Brit with a right hand. Diakiese goes down low with a kick, and he uses his other leg to kick the body. They crash together throwing fierce fists, and both catch the other with one punch and back off to take quick counts of their teeth. Diakiese chains a low kick into a spinning back kick, and Alvarez bounces off the cage wall and gets back to striking range. Alvarez springs into action with a calf kick and a right hand, and they measure one another with jabs to follow. Alvarez steps in with a knee, and Diakiese throws everything he has into a right hand that opens a cut on the cheek of his opponent. Diakiese spins with a back fist, and Alvarez ducks it and catches him with a right hand that staggers the mohawk-sporting fighter momentarily. Diakiese swings for the bleachers with a right hand, and Alvarez dodges it and absorbs a flush leg kick so he can counter with a head kick. Alvarez chambers and looses a hard leg kick, and he beats Diakiese to the punch with a check left hook as Diakiese winds up on a power punch. Alvarez pushes off with a front kick, and he gets wobbled when swinging too hard with a haymaker while Diakiese counters him. Diakiese lets him settle down and gives chase to line up a right hook and a spinning back kick, and Alvarez runs at him with two fists and a leg kick. Alvarez spins with a high kick, ducks a spinning back fist, takes Diakiese’s back and looks for a trip. Diakiese leans himself against the cage to keep himself upright, and Alvarez succeeds in tripping him out. Diakiese reverses him to end up on top, and he scores an elbow and a few body shots before the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Alvarez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Alvarez
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Alvarez
Round 2
The lightweights briefly tap their gloves together, but Diakiese is more interested in coming out firing. Alvarez pays close attention, and he watches Diakiese sail past him with a spinning wheel kick. When Diakiese gets his balance again, he changes levels and secures a takedown to put the Spaniard on his back. Alvarez scrambles to put himself close to the wall, and Diakiese is comfortable inside of the guard softening Alvarez up with short strikes. Alvarez looks to turn to the side or potentially set up something off his back, and Diakiese stays heavy and tightly pressed to his man to prevent anything from coming together. Diakiese embraces the grind, focusing more on position rather than offense. Alvarez decides to stop looking for some submission off his back, and he wall-walks to stand back up. Diakiese strips out his legs and puts him down to his back again. Alvarez uses upkicks to stop Diakiese from lowering himself down, and Diakiese shoots down low and gets turned around by the Spanish fighter. With “The Bonecrusher” turning to his knees, Alvarez opens up with punches to the side of the head. Alvarez is warned for strikes to the back of the head, and Diakiese turns to his back and suddenly explodes up to his feet. Alvarez races forward to attack, and his head bounces off Diakiese’s. Diakiese clutches the side of his head, signaling to Movahedi that he absorbed a foul. Movahedi tells them to fight on, and Alvarez unloads with several knees to the body and ferocious fists.
Diakiese desperately drops down to pursue a takedown, and Alvarez welcomes this as he follows Diakiese down and isolates the neck. “El Fenomeno” slides his arm beneath the chin and his other under the armpit to lock down a brabo choke, and he has it tight. Diakiese rolls to his back, and Alvarez moves to lower his full body weight down to complete the submission. With Diakiese still rocked by the head clash, he does not have the sense to fight the choke, and he taps out.
This is an unfortunate situation for Diakiese, as Movahedi missed the clash of heads with Alvarez’ forehead slamming into the side of Diakiese’s head behind the ear. As the official announcement is read, it is unclear if the result will be under review at this time. Diakiese is still wobbled from the foul when Movahedi raises Alvarez’ victorious arm, and he almost falls over and has to be caught by one of his cornermen so he does not crash and burn. The official result is a submission, but it might not remain as such should it get reviewed or appealed.
The Official Result
Joel Alvarez def. Marc Diakiese R2 4:26 via Submission (Brabo Choke)
Angelo likes Joel Alvarez's length and reach advantage, and thinks he can win by sneaky submission off his back or catch Diakiese on the feet. He notes Alvarez has no takedown defense but believes Diakiese's recent loss to an older Michael Johnson is a bad sign. He has a small moneyline bet but does not recommend tailing.
Big Brady picks Joel Alvarez to win by first-round submission. He notes Alvarez is a dangerous grappler with 84% of wins by submission, but also has good striking as shown against Thiago Moises. He thinks Diakiese will shoot for a takedown and get caught. He mentions Alvarez may miss weight but that benefits him. He would not lay -190 but thinks Alvarez wins more often than not.
Cody picked Alvarez earlier at -152, citing Diakiese's poor fight IQ and failure to wrestle against Michael Johnson. He thinks Alvarez's submission grappling and power will be too much. He notes the line has moved to -200 and feels the value is gone.
Daniel picks Joel Alvarez by submission, specifically a guillotine, because he does not trust Marc Diakiese to avoid diving into a submission. He notes Diakiese has been guillotined before and makes bonehead mistakes. He acknowledges Diakiese has the tools to win via takedowns and control, but believes Alvarez's opportunistic finishing ability and physicality will prevail. He points out that Alvarez has 0% takedown defense but is dangerous off his back. He has zero interest in betting Alvarez at -190 to -200 due to the poor value.
The host picks Joel Alvarez, citing his size, reach, aggression, and ability to inflict damage from any position. He believes Diakiese cracks under pressure and that Alvarez will finish him within 7.5 minutes. He notes Alvarez's dangerous bottom game with elbows and submissions.
Paul picks Alvarez, noting his power and submission threat. He thinks Diakiese's wrestling is overrated and that he will leave his neck exposed. He expects Alvarez to win by submission or decision, and suggests live betting if Diakiese controls the first round.
The MMA Guru picks Joel Alvarez, citing Marc Diakiese's poor performance against Michael Johnson. He praises Alvarez's win over Thiago Moises and his massive 77-inch reach in the lightweight division. The Guru notes Diakiese's tendency to get caught in guillotines when shooting takedowns, and predicts Alvarez will catch a guillotine after a takedown attempt. He also mentions Alvarez's layoff but believes he is entering his prime.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joel Alvarez | 0 | 36 of 53 | 67% | 93 of 122 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 6:08 |
| Arman Tsarukyan | 0 | 7 of 10 | 70% | 27 of 33 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joel Alvarez | 0 | 13 of 19 | 68% | 50 of 59 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:22 |
| Arman Tsarukyan | 0 | 5 of 8 | 62% | 25 of 31 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Joel Alvarez | 0 | 23 of 34 | 67% | 43 of 63 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:46 |
| Arman Tsarukyan | 0 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joel Alvarez | 36 of 53 | 67% | 31 of 48 | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 32 of 44 |
| Arman Tsarukyan | 7 of 10 | 70% | 5 of 8 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joel Alvarez | 13 of 19 | 68% | 10 of 16 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 12 |
| Arman Tsarukyan | 5 of 8 | 62% | 4 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 | |
| 2 | Joel Alvarez | 23 of 34 | 67% | 21 of 32 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 23 of 32 |
| Arman Tsarukyan | 2 of 2 | 100% | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
It’s a pairing of four-fight winning streaks for these lightweight prospects, and Chris Tognoni will referee the bout. Tsarukyan sticks a jab early. Tsarukyan kicks Alvarez’s leg and is able to score a takedown with his opponent off balance. Tsarukyan is now inside the lanky Spaniard’s guard. Alvarez lands an elbow from his back. Tsarukyan remains heavy on top, and he’s working diligently to pass to half guard. Alvarez does a good job preventing the pass. Tsarukyan drops an elbow from above. Alvarez is active with his guard and lands a hammerfist from his back. Tsarukyan floats into a front headlock before finding himself in the full guard of his opponent. A slashing elbow lands for Tsarukyan, who then lands a short elbow to the face. It’s control time galore for the Russian standout, and another elbow cuts Alvarez wide open. Alvarez is just gushing blood in the waning seconds, and Tsarukyan is pouring it on. Another elbow lands before the horn. The fight could be in danger of being stopped between rounds, as Alvarez’s face is a crimson mask.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Tsarukyan
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Tsarukyan
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Tsarukyan
Round 2
Amazingly, Alvarez is allowed to continue for another round after a brief examination from the cageside doctor. Tsarukyan shoots immediately. Alvarez looks for a guillotine but his foe passes to side control. Tsarukyan briefly achieves a mounted crucifix but Alvarez frees his arm. From side control, Tsarukyan drops brual elbows and punches, and Alvarez is spewing blood again, his vision obviously obscured. Alvarez is on all fours, eating punches. The Spaniard attempts to stand, and Tsarukyan ragdolls him back down near the fence. More punches from Tsarukyan, and Tognoni urges Alvarez to fight back.
From back mount, Tsarukyan controls the wrists and unloads with more left hands. Tognoni has finally seen enough and mercifully calls off the fight.
The Official Result
Arman Tsarukyan def. Joel Alvarez via TKO (Punches) R2 1:57
Big Brady picks Joel Alvarez to win inside the distance. He notes Alvarez has a massive eight-inch height and 4.5-inch reach advantage, and is dangerous everywhere: striking and submissions. He points out that Tsarukyan's wrestling could play into Alvarez's game, as Alvarez has a 0% takedown defense but is very dangerous off his back with multiple submission wins. Brady was initially surprised that money was coming in on Alvarez but now sees it as justified. He believes Alvarez can finish by knockout or submission.
Cody picks Tsarukyan by decision, citing his superior speed, wrestling, and cardio. He notes Alvarez's submission threats but believes Tsarukyan's head placement and takedown defense will keep him safe. Cody mentions Tsarukyan's camp in Russia as a slight concern but still sees him winning via volume and takedowns.
Daniel Levi picks Arman Tsarukyan to win by decision. He emphasizes Tsarukyan's relentless takedown game and ability to neutralize submissions. Levi notes Alvarez is dangerous with submissions off his back and has knockout power, but believes Tsarukyan will avoid standing and grind out a win. He disagrees with the dog-or-pass label and expects Tsarukyan to cover the spread.
The host hesitantly picks Alvarez as an underdog, citing his size, confidence, and finishing streak. He believes Alvarez can keep the fight standing and land big strikes, potentially drawing a desperation takedown from Tsarukyan that could lead to a guillotine. He acknowledges Tsarukyan is a top prospect but thinks the odds are too wide and Alvarez deserves more respect. He predicts a second-round TKO.
Paul agrees with Tsarukyan by decision, emphasizing his wrestling and striking advantage. He notes Alvarez's improved striking but trusts Tsarukyan's ability to mix takedowns and avoid submissions. Paul suggests waiting for a better price on Tsarukyan as the line may move.
The MMA Guru picks Joel Alvarez to win, calling it a 51-49 lean. He acknowledges Arman Tsarukyan's skills but believes Alvarez's size, reach, and power are decisive factors. He notes that Alvarez is much bigger and may have a weight advantage, and that his immediate damaging shots (elbows, guillotines) give him more paths to victory. The Guru expects Tsarukyan to win by decision if he wins, while Alvarez can finish early by TKO or submission. He also mentions Alvarez's chin held up against Thiago Moises.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joel Alvarez | 0 | 11 of 24 | 45% | 11 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Thiago Moises | 0 | 44 of 73 | 60% | 44 of 73 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joel Alvarez | 0 | 11 of 24 | 45% | 11 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Thiago Moises | 0 | 44 of 73 | 60% | 44 of 73 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joel Alvarez | 11 of 24 | 45% | 5 of 18 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 3 | 11 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Thiago Moises | 44 of 73 | 60% | 27 of 54 | 12 of 14 | 5 of 5 | 36 of 61 | 8 of 12 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joel Alvarez | 11 of 24 | 45% | 5 of 18 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 3 | 11 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Thiago Moises | 44 of 73 | 60% | 27 of 54 | 12 of 14 | 5 of 5 | 36 of 61 | 8 of 12 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
For the second fight in a row, Alvarez (18-2, 3-1 UFC) significantly missed weight ahead of his bout. While not as egregious as weighing 159.5 pounds in 2020, coming in a pound and a half heavy has cost him 30% of his purse ahead of his battle with Moises (15-5, 4-3 UFC). This 157.5-pound catchweight contest will be under the watchful eye of Marc Goddard, and Alvarez tries to make amends with a glove touch and Moises obliges him. Moises takes the center of the cage immediately, and he scores a slapping leg kick and whiffs on a huge right hand. Alvarez returns fire, but Moises stands firm and chops at his calf again. Alvarez has a left hand sneak around the guard, and he tries to check a kick. Moises winds up with a left and a massive right hand, and Alvarez wears it well but then takes a leg kick. Alvarez replies with his own chopping kick, and Moises greets him with a slap of a kick up top. Alvarez steps forward, walking Moises down and throwing high knees to great effect. Moises circles around the edge of the cage as Alvarez is stalking him while avoiding the power punches that come at him. Alvarez has his own leg kick and big right hand go around the guards, and Moises is rattled and trying to gather himself. “El Fenomeno” lets loose a phenomenal salvo of strikes that rock Moises, and Moises is still standing but taking some serious damage. Alvarez scores a big elbow, and as he continues to give chase with Moises escaping, he looses a spinning wheel kick that clatters of the guard. Sensing the end might be near, Alvarez strides forward confidently and catches a body kick to push Moises back to the fence.
Alvarez unleashes a brutal salvo of elbows up top, and when Moises shells up, Alvarez blasts the body with a ruthless barrage of blows. Moises is barely surviving as he leans on the wall, and as the assault continues, Goddard determines that Moises is no longer intelligently defending himself and saves Moises from any further damage.
Although one more victory for him is marred by his missing weight, Alvarez certainly impressed by wrecking what the UFC considered a top-15 lightweight. Alvarez also keeps his spectacular 100% finish rate intact while earning what is a rare stoppage due to strikes for the Spaniard.
The Official Result
Joel Alvarez def. Thiago Moises R1 3:01 via TKO (Elbows and Punches)
Angelo picks Thiago Moises, noting he is the better technical striker and wrestler. He points out that Alvarez has no wrestling and has been taken down 100% of the time in the UFC. Angelo believes Moises can initiate takedowns and be on top, making him the safer pick.
Big Brady is confident in Thiago Moises, pointing out that Joel Alvarez has zero takedown defense and zero takedowns attempted in the UFC, relying on submissions from his back. Moises is a world-class grappler with a black belt, and Brady doubts Alvarez can submit him. He also notes Moises' striking has improved, as seen in his win over Alexander Hernandez.
Cody emphasizes Moises' improvements and his takedown ability, noting he even took down Islam Makhachev. He points out Alvarez's 0% takedown defense and that his submissions came against lower-level opponents. He expects Moises to take Alvarez down and control him, possibly winning by decision or submission.
Daniel Levi picks Thiago Moises, citing his higher level of competition and experience against top lightweights. He notes that Moises has a solid shell defense and kicks, and that Alvarez has zero percent takedown defense, which Moises can exploit. Levi acknowledges Alvarez's dangerous guard but believes Moises is on a different level and will win a decision or find a submission.
Jacob picks Thiago Moises but warns him not to grapple with Alvarez. He believes Moises' striking is more than enough to win and that taking Alvarez down could lead to a submission. Jacob is a fan of Moises and thinks he should keep the fight standing.
Paul thinks Moises is a more finished product with good BJJ and wrestling. He notes Alvarez has 0% takedown defense and Moises can take him down and control him. He expects Moises to win by decision or submission, but doesn't love the price.
The Guru picks Joel Alvarez by unanimous decision despite Alvarez missing weight. He expects Alvarez to out-strike Moises at range with jabs and calf kicks, while defending takedowns. The Guru expresses concern about the weight miss but still favors Alvarez's striking.
Thiago Moises - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thiago Moises | 0 | 45 of 101 | 44% | 46 of 103 | 2 of 15 | 13% | 0 | 0 | 2:33 |
| Gauge Young | 1 | 122 of 226 | 53% | 131 of 237 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 1:07 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thiago Moises | 0 | 8 of 13 | 61% | 9 of 15 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 2:22 |
| Gauge Young | 0 | 9 of 23 | 39% | 13 of 29 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:17 | |
| 2 | Thiago Moises | 0 | 14 of 38 | 36% | 14 of 38 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:11 |
| Gauge Young | 0 | 44 of 88 | 50% | 44 of 88 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:08 | |
| 3 | Thiago Moises | 0 | 23 of 50 | 46% | 23 of 50 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Gauge Young | 1 | 69 of 115 | 60% | 74 of 120 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:42 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thiago Moises | 45 of 101 | 44% | 34 of 81 | 1 of 3 | 10 of 17 | 42 of 97 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 |
| Gauge Young | 122 of 226 | 53% | 62 of 157 | 27 of 34 | 33 of 35 | 114 of 211 | 2 of 2 | 6 of 13 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thiago Moises | 8 of 13 | 61% | 4 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 3 | 6 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
| Gauge Young | 9 of 23 | 39% | 2 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 7 | 9 of 23 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Thiago Moises | 14 of 38 | 36% | 9 of 27 | 0 of 1 | 5 of 10 | 14 of 37 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Gauge Young | 44 of 88 | 50% | 19 of 60 | 12 of 14 | 13 of 14 | 43 of 87 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Thiago Moises | 23 of 50 | 46% | 21 of 45 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 4 | 22 of 49 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Gauge Young | 69 of 115 | 60% | 41 of 81 | 15 of 20 | 13 of 14 | 62 of 101 | 1 of 1 | 6 of 13 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Young (-130); Moises (+110)
Round 1
Once a hot commodity off of the sole Brazilian season of Dana White’s Contender Series, Moises (19-9, 8-7 UFC) has regressed to the mean and is one defeat away from falling to .500 in the promotion. Young (10-3, 1-1 UFC) has gone one up and one down thus far, so he is looking to break out of that pattern and into greater heights. They will battle it out under the auspices of referee Jason Herzog, who will be keeping tabs on the 155ers for as long as they keep fighting.
There is no touch of gloves. Moises pressure immediately forward, backing Young to the fence and shooting in on his hips within 10 seconds. Young places his back against the wall to keep himself afloat, and as Moises keeps clinging to his man, the crowd grows quite restless. Moises ignores the boos and irritation from the audience and keeps tight to him. Young flips Moises over him, and Moises recovers quickly enough so both men stand up. Young tosses out a high kick to keep Moises honest, and he ducks a looping punch but cannot evade a front kick aimed at his jaw. Young probes with a jab and low kick, and Moises catches him in transition with a left hook. They jab at the same time, and Young just misses a looping punch as Moises kicks the lead calf. Young stays behind his jab.
Moises loads up on power, and Young sees it coming and also knows a takedown is soon to test him. Young stops the first effort, but the Brazilian redoubles his attempt and succeeds in putting Young down. Young wall-walks to stand up, and he gives his back up in the process. Moises hops onto his back and wraps his legs around the waist while flirting with a choke attempt. Moises wraps his forearm across the face and tries to squeeze it, but the American is able to fight it off and kick off the fencing to drop to his knees. Moises welcomes this as he is leaned against the cage, and he smacks Young in the face with an undercut sneakily beneath Young’s armpit. Young sells out all the way to turn about, and Moises does not entirely give up the position and has Young trapped in an awkward side-turned position that contorts his spine but is not about to force him to tap. Young breaks out and finds himself in armbar danger, and he stacks the Brazilian up and lands a few punches to conclude the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Moises
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Moises
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Moises
Round 2
There is a slight fist bump to kick off the round, and Young is quick to follow that bump with kicks from both limbs. Moises jabs to the body to open up a right hand, and Young does not fall for the latter. Young jabs the body with his heel, and he reaches out with a right hook. Moises chops at the front leg, and Young stumbles forward but is still more than willing to trade. The American digs a shot to the body and goes after an uppercut, and Moises is just out of range with the latter. Moises wraps a right hand around the ear and shoots for a single, with Young defending it and pushing off. Moises shoulder-rolls a heavy right hand but the jabs are continuing to score. Young jabs Moises up with a kick to the stomach and follows with a punch before he has to sprawl the incoming takedown. Moises bullies Young to the wire for a few seconds, and Young knows he cannot get ground out again and breaks out soon.
He proceeds to jab and cross Moises with short combinations, and he just misses with a step-in knee. Moises wants another takedown, but Young is not having it and shucks him away easily. Both men look to double up their jab and come over the top with a right hand, but neither is able to do so as the big rights are telegraphed. They pick at one another with low kicks and stay busy from up close, not overswinging anything and just selecting their places carefully. It is one after the other, Moises lands, Young fires back, Moises keeps on throwing and Young is ready for more. Moises shoots low for a takedown, and he gets pushed away and nearly booted in the face when standing up. The Brazilian manages to tackle Young over, and he comes up short with a hefty knee. Young puts his fists on Moises up high and to the chest, rolling with a right hand to press ever forward until the bell sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Young
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Young
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Young
Round 3
Young offers a high-five, and Moises accepts it before the final frame ensues. Young gets back right where he left off, slowly pressing the action and outboxing the slugging Moises. Moises is loading up on sheer power, while Young is content to touch and move. Young pitches Moises to the side when Moises changes levels, and he delivers a stern uppercut to the jaw and staggers the Brazilian with a follow-up right. He also marks Moises’ face up on multiple places, including both cheeks and the bridge of the nose. Young steps in with a sharp elbow, and he tosses Moises to the side as Moises predictably shoots in on his hips. Young kicks Moises’ lead leg out from him as Moises is shooting for a takedown, and Moises flops to his back while Young raises in arms in the air. Moises stands up thanks to Herzog, and he steps in with a thudding elbow on the nose. Moises failed takedown is an even worse look when he falls to his back again when he does not get it. Young forces him to stand.
Moises tries to brawl, but he is far too slow while Young picks him apart with fast combinations. Young clips Moises behind the ear, sending the Brazilian collapsing to the mat, and he follows him down to bash him with punches and hammerfists. When there is no finish in sight, Young dances around to showboat and gets Herzog to bring him back upright. Young beats Moises with a left hand and points at it, and he is feeling himself and motioning in a Diaz-like manner any thing he lands flush. Moises stands firm and drills him with a right hand, and Young shakes it out to re-engage. Moises meets him with sheer power, hurling his right hand like he wants to knock the head of “Gee Money” into the third row. Young tanks the ones that connect and backs Moises to the wall, stinging him with an elbow but getting caught flush with a power right hand. Moises is swinging with hammers, and Young picks him apart and has his hands up to defend from the most dangerous of attacks. Moises punctuates the brawl with two punches and a head kick, and the lightweights hug it out after a hard-fought contest.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Young (29-28 Young)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Young (29-28 Young)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Young (29-28 Young)
The Official Result
Gauge Young def. Thiago Moises via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Angelo picks Gauge Young despite acknowledging Thiago Moises is good everywhere. He likes Gauge's aggression, scrambling, and forward pressure, believing he will do more and impress judges. He worries about Gauge cutting easily and bleeding, which could affect judging.
Big Brady picks Thiago Moises as an underdog, citing his elite jiu-jitsu and wrestling. He notes Moises' inconsistency but believes he wins step-down fights. Brady points out Grant Dawson's vulnerability to takedowns and submissions, and predicts Moises will win by decision.
Cody picks Gauge Young, citing his youth, volume, and recent improvements. He notes that Thiago Moises is inconsistent and has taken a lot of damage. He also mentions that Moises' chin is a question mark after the Jared Gordon loss.
Daniel believes Moises is on a decline and has looked poor recently, while Young is improving and can push a pace that Moises struggles with. He thinks Young's hands and pressure will overwhelm Moises. He picks Young to get the biggest win of his career.
Young is a high-pressure striker with excellent cardio, while Moises has poor cardio and relies on grappling. Moises is passive on the feet and only shoots a few takedowns per fight. Young's takedown defense is good enough to scramble back up, and he will out-strike Moises significantly. This is a classic striker vs grappler where Young has a huge edge.
James picks Gauge Young to win, citing his durability, cardio, and pressure. He thinks Moises is on a downtrend and will struggle with Young's pace. Despite Moises being more skilled, James favors Young's will to win and stylistic advantages.
The host is hesitant but picks Moises by submission, thinking he will eventually find a position to put Young away. He notes that Moises is being overlooked due to his knockout loss to Jared Gordon, and that his BJJ and striking can be competitive. However, he needs a good number on the Moises submission prop to pull the trigger.
Paul also picks Gauge Young, agreeing with Cody. He highlights Young's volume and Moises' inconsistency. He mentions that Moises' durability is a concern and that Young is the fresher fighter.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jared Gordon | 1 | 7 of 13 | 53% | 21 of 36 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:36 |
| Thiago Moises | 0 | 5 of 9 | 55% | 11 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jared Gordon | 1 | 7 of 13 | 53% | 21 of 36 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:36 |
| Thiago Moises | 0 | 5 of 9 | 55% | 11 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jared Gordon | 7 of 13 | 53% | 5 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 | 5 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 |
| Thiago Moises | 5 of 9 | 55% | 3 of 6 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jared Gordon | 7 of 13 | 53% | 5 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 | 5 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 |
| Thiago Moises | 5 of 9 | 55% | 3 of 6 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Gordon (-110), Moises (-110)
Round 1
Lightweight veterans with technically equal records in the UFC—although one has a no contest—come to blows, with plans of remaining highly regarded in the talent-rich division. Gordon (20-7, 1 NC; 8-6, 1 NC UFC) is the one who also has the grey mark on his pace thanks to a clash of heads with Bobby Green, and has otherwise alternated wins and losses for a few years. The same can be said for Brazil’s Moises (19-8, 8-6 UFC), who is ready to continue the rivalry of his team of American Top Team against regional adversarial team Kill Cliff FC and its rep of Gordon. Referee Kerry Hatley will keep things on the up-and-up, but they are fine with one another and clap hands. The first strike thrown is a Moises body kick, which Gordon uses to easily sling his opponent to his back. Gordon practically walks into top control, and Moises wraps up his arms in an unorthodox armlock attack. Moises lets go of the lockup and lashes out with a short elbow off his back that opens a tiny cut on the top of Gordon’s forehead. Gordon responds with ample ground-and-pound of his own, smearing his blood all over the Brazilian’s head and chest. Moises works his way back up to his feet, ignoring the strikes lobbed at him so he can fight his way back up and away. They proceed to smack one another with low kicks, and Gordon darts in with a pair of punches that bounce off the guard. Leg kicks continue to fly, and they tag one another with single strikes. When Gordon ducks in to throw, Moises counters with a clean right hand over the top. “Flash” does not bat an eye, and instead lets Moises pitch a left hand at him.
This is exactly what he wants, as Gordon times a picture-perfect right hand that smashes into the American Top Team fighter’s chin and puts him down for the count. Moises’ head clatters off the mat when he collapses to the ground like a bird that’s had its wings clipped, and Gordon hammers the nail with a leaping right hand that gives commentator Michael Bisping flashbacks of when he took on Dan Henderson, cleanly separating Moises from his consciousness.
Before Hatley can get to them, Gordon gets one or two off that wake Moises back up, but they are merely academic as Gordon has dropped the hammer. Blood streaming down his face, Gordon stands up and shrugs, as if he knew he was going to do this all along. When Moises comes to, the two hug it out, but it is unclear if Moises knows the license plate number of the bus that just ran him over.
The Official Result
Jared Gordon def. Thiago Moises R1 3:37 via KO (Punches)
Angelo picks Thiago Moises after going back and forth. He acknowledges that Jared Gordon has been screwed on scorecards and could be on a win streak, but trusts Moises's training and activity. He notes that Moises is a slick grappler with technical striking and that Gordon is inactive and not on as good a team. Angelo says likely no bets for this fight.
Big Brady picks Jared Gordon, citing his volume and cardio. He notes Gordon's losses are to tough competition in close decisions, and he thinks Gordon's takedown defense and chin hold up. He expects a close competitive decision win for Gordon.
The host finds this a tough puzzle but leans with Gordon's pace and pressure. He notes Moises has looked good against certain opponents but doesn't do well against guys who set the pace, and Gordon is exactly that. He expects Gordon to grind out a high pace, possibly get a late finish, but mostly win on the scorecards, provided his durability holds up.
The Guru picks Jared Gordon, citing a rule of thumb that beating Thiago Moises means you're good. He thinks Gordon has been robbed in recent decisions (Bobby Green, Nazareno Malegarie) and is better than his record. He acknowledges grappling concerns from the Grant Dawson loss but believes Gordon's fundamental grappling defense is strong. He predicts Gordon wins by decision.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thiago Moises | 1 | 25 of 39 | 64% | 53 of 72 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 6:36 |
| Mitch Ramirez | 0 | 16 of 48 | 33% | 28 of 65 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:21 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thiago Moises | 0 | 4 of 6 | 66% | 25 of 31 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 4:18 |
| Mitch Ramirez | 0 | 6 of 8 | 75% | 17 of 23 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Thiago Moises | 0 | 15 of 26 | 57% | 22 of 34 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:14 |
| Mitch Ramirez | 0 | 10 of 39 | 25% | 11 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:21 | |
| 3 | Thiago Moises | 1 | 6 of 7 | 85% | 6 of 7 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
| Mitch Ramirez | 0 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thiago Moises | 25 of 39 | 64% | 10 of 23 | 3 of 4 | 12 of 12 | 17 of 30 | 2 of 2 | 6 of 7 |
| Mitch Ramirez | 16 of 48 | 33% | 4 of 32 | 5 of 7 | 7 of 9 | 13 of 45 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thiago Moises | 4 of 6 | 66% | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 |
| Mitch Ramirez | 6 of 8 | 75% | 0 of 1 | 1 of 2 | 5 of 5 | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Thiago Moises | 15 of 26 | 57% | 8 of 18 | 2 of 3 | 5 of 5 | 13 of 24 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Mitch Ramirez | 10 of 39 | 25% | 4 of 30 | 4 of 5 | 2 of 4 | 7 of 36 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Thiago Moises | 6 of 7 | 85% | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 5 |
| Mitch Ramirez | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Moises (-410), Ramirez (+320)
Round 1
Originally expecting to face Brad Riddell in the co-main event slot, Moises (17-7, 6-5 UFC) instead tumbles down to the early prelims to take on late replacement and UFC debutant Ramirez (8-1, 0-0 UFC), who lost in an appearance on last year’s Contender Series. The two lightweights will be joined in the Octagon by referee Mark Smith, who clocks them in as the fighters consider but abandon a glove touch. The two start rapping the other’s calf with kicks one after the other, testing the waters and doing some work early. They proceed to take turns with these kicks until Moises decides to mix things up with a tackling double-leg takedown. Moises succeeds in placing Ramirez on his seat, and Ramirez turns to his side in hopes of finding a sweep. Moises shuts it down and shifts to half guard, where he slowly opens up with elbow strikes. Ramirez bucks and twists, but the heavy Brazilian is not going anywhere as he proceeds to smother and land shots. Ramirez uses all his might to pop up, but Moises drags him down from behind until Ramirez realizes he should not give up his back and turns over again. Moises leans down to potentially set up an arm-triangle choke, but with half guard on the other side, he is unable to find the right leverage. Ramirez scoots himself to the wall, but Moises drags him away from it so he can hope to pass. Moises lets it go so he can slash down with elbows, and he gets bucked off but this is the best thing for him. Ramirez turns to crawl away on his knees, and like a predatory animal, Moises pounces on his back. Moises almost immediately gets the hooks in and secures a body triangle, and as Ramirez turns over to his back, Moises is already fishing for a rear-naked choke. Ramirez hand-fights well enough to prevent the choke from getting close, and Moises slides arms back and forth in search of the sub. Moises softens his man up with a couple strikes, and Ramirez tries to swing back from behind his head. The round ends in this dominant position, with the horn blaring twice.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Moises
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Moises
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Moises
Round 2
The lightweights come together in the middle of the cage, and Ramirez pushes the pace by leading off with a whipping overhand right. As Ramirez tries to shove the Brazilian against the wall, Moises turns him about. The two jockey for position while tied up, and Moises tangles up the legs for a trip attempt but does not find it. Moises drives a knee to the chest as he looks for another entry, with a double that fails. This allows Ramirez to break free, and Moises chops down on his lead leg as he gets backed off with punches. Moises reaches out with a front kick, and leans back as a head kick whizzes past his face. Ramirez swings as hard as he can with a right hand, and the veteran shoots in for a double and drives Ramirez back to the wall. The two do a little slow dance when up close in the clinch, and Moises breaks free with an elbow and misses with a front kick by a matter of inches. Ramirez punches his way forward into a clinch, and he is turned around and smacked in the face a few times. Moises lets go to reset, and he kicks the calf of his opponent that is welted and swollen badly. Ramirez kicks back, but Moises aims at the same target again to make Ramirez recoil. As he does this, he fires off a front kick and stings Ramirez with an overhand right. Moises chops low and spins with a wheel kick that buzzes the side of the head, and he calmly works his way forward, landing shots to chop away. Ramirez goes after two leg kicks of his own, and the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Moises
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Moises
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Moises
Round 3
Moises begins the round with a front kick, and
he knocks Ramirez off his feet with a vicious low kick. Ramirez hits the deck, and a ferocious Moises chases after him and whips four low kicks down reminiscent of Donald Cerrone against Myles Jury.
Ramirez grimaces in pain and Smith recognizes that he is done, and he waves off the fight. This is a statement performance for the Brazilian, who registers his first knockout as a UFC fighter by putting the newcomer away with leg kicks.
The Official Result
Thiago Moises def. Mitch Ramirez R3 0:15 via TKO (Leg Kicks)
Angelo expects Moises to be a big favorite. He is a slick grappler who stays composed and works for submissions, with technical striking and solid low kicks to set up takedowns. Although Moises was taken down five times and mauled by Benoit Saint-Denis, Angelo notes that Ramirez is not on that level. He thinks Moises will win the striking exchanges and is good enough to defend takedowns or sweep off bottom. He will bet if the line is favorable.
Big Brady picks Thiago Moises to win by second-round submission. He views this as a levels fight, with Moises' BJJ and experience being far superior to Ramirez, who is coming in on short notice. He expects Moises to get a takedown and submit Ramirez.
Cody picks Thiago Moises, noting his experience against top competition and superior skills everywhere. He acknowledges Ramirez's danger as a short-notice debutant but believes Moises is better on the feet and on the ground. He warns about Moises' durability but expects him to win.
The host notes that Ramirez is stepping in on short notice and is less skilled and experienced than Moises. He expects Moises to have the technical striking advantage and eventually open up a club-and-sub opportunity to choke out Ramirez, getting back in the win column.
Paul agrees, stating Moises is better everywhere and has seen every trick Ramirez might have. He notes Ramirez's Contender Series loss and lack of high-level experience. He will not bet Ramirez.
Expert Picks (7)
Angelo picks Thiago Moises, noting he is the better technical striker and wrestler. He points out that Alvarez has no wrestling and has been taken down 100% of the time in the UFC. Angelo believes Moises can initiate takedowns and be on top, making him the safer pick.
Big Brady is confident in Thiago Moises, pointing out that Joel Alvarez has zero takedown defense and zero takedowns attempted in the UFC, relying on submissions from his back. Moises is a world-class grappler with a black belt, and Brady doubts Alvarez can submit him. He also notes Moises' striking has improved, as seen in his win over Alexander Hernandez.
Cody emphasizes Moises' improvements and his takedown ability, noting he even took down Islam Makhachev. He points out Alvarez's 0% takedown defense and that his submissions came against lower-level opponents. He expects Moises to take Alvarez down and control him, possibly winning by decision or submission.
Daniel Levi picks Thiago Moises, citing his higher level of competition and experience against top lightweights. He notes that Moises has a solid shell defense and kicks, and that Alvarez has zero percent takedown defense, which Moises can exploit. Levi acknowledges Alvarez's dangerous guard but believes Moises is on a different level and will win a decision or find a submission.
Jacob picks Thiago Moises but warns him not to grapple with Alvarez. He believes Moises' striking is more than enough to win and that taking Alvarez down could lead to a submission. Jacob is a fan of Moises and thinks he should keep the fight standing.
Paul thinks Moises is a more finished product with good BJJ and wrestling. He notes Alvarez has 0% takedown defense and Moises can take him down and control him. He expects Moises to win by decision or submission, but doesn't love the price.
The Guru picks Joel Alvarez by unanimous decision despite Alvarez missing weight. He expects Alvarez to out-strike Moises at range with jabs and calf kicks, while defending takedowns. The Guru expresses concern about the weight miss but still favors Alvarez's striking.
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