Thiago Alves earned a unanimous decision victory over Patrick Cote tonight at UFC 210 with his best striking performance in several years.
Round One:
Leg kick for Cote and Alves looks to counter with a punch. Leg kick for Alves. Light leg kick for Cote, but a much harder one in return from Alves.
Inside leg kick for Cote as he steers clear of a punch. Right hand for ‘The Predator’. Another right for him now.
Series of body punches from Cote at close range, but Alves then lands a solid knee that backs his opponent up.
Alves pressing forward, but Cote counters to keep him at bay. Another hard kick from Alves. Head kick attempt from Alves partially lands.
Overhand right for Cote as Alves looks for the left hook. Alves misses with a front kick and Cote lets his hands go.
Head kick misses from Alves. Quick leg kick for ‘Pitbull’ and one from Cote that doesn’t have the same power behind it.
Suddenly Alves drops Cote with a left hook. Alves follows him down and Cote clings on hoping to clear the cobwebs. Alves eventually breaks out of his lockdown and lands some ground and pound before the bell.
Round Two:
Cote coming forward with punches, but Alves backs away. One-two lands for Cote. He’s trying to get aggressive here to fight his way back into the fight.
Alves willing to go toe-to-toe at close range though and he gets the better of an exchange, mixing a kick in there too.
Alves just a bit more clinical and quick with his striking here, and those kicks have plenty of snap to them. Cote lands a short combo though, and he’s always had good power in his hands.
Alves working the low kick again. Cote steps in and lands a few punches. Alves misses with a head kick attempt. A bod kick just grazes Cote, but the leg kick lands hard.
Another exchange in close and Alves drops Cote with a punch for the second time in the fight. Cote tries to work for a takedown to buy some time, but can’t get it.
He gets back to striking though, showing good durability to shake off that knockdown. Alves continuing to chop Cote’s lead kick and also sliding away from Cote’s own offense as the round ends.
Round Three:
Cote lets his hands go to start the third, but gets caught in the groin and that forces a quick stoppage.
Back to it they go. Leg kick for Alves. Now one to the body. Cote misses with a right hand. He goes to the body now, then clips Alves upstairs.
Cote drives into a takedown against the cage, but Alves stuffs it. Now Alves reversing the position in the clinch. Nice leg sweep brings Cote to the mat with 3 minutes to go.
Alves in Cote’s guard here and taking his time. A minute on the mat and Alves works a few ground and pound strikes, then decides to back up and bring the fight back to the feet.
Cote’s face covered in blood now. Alves looks to kick and gets caught with a punch from Cote. Nice body kick from Alves.
Uppercut from Cote lands. Cote winds up his arm then tries for more offense, but Alves is staying composed.
Cote looking to make something happen here, but it’s Alves who suddenly leaps up and lands a flying knee to the head that backs up Cote in the final seconds.
Decision:
No doubt about the winner here, Alves outclassed Cote in the striking department and rightly earns a clean sweep unanimous decision verdict from the judges (30-27 x3).
In the aftermath of the fight Cote reveals that he’s retiring, saying it was always his intention to do so tonight, win or lose.
