Round 1 - Story comes out swinging with a combo that just misses. Alves answers with a quick right. Story shoots and gets the takedown after some effort, Alves gets back to his feet but takes knees to the legs, thighs and body. Story continues working for the takedown but mixes in knees to the thighs and knees. Alves, though, muscles his own way to a takedown, but Story is quickly back up, and we restart. Story clinches and puts Alves against the cage and works knees to the inner thigh. The pace slow,s and the ref wants a restart. Story wings a left, Alves clinches and tries to throw a knee, but Story puts him against the cage. Alves briefly reverses, but Story puts him against the cage again. Story unloads a couple nice solid punches during a flurry. Alves pull him tight and reverses. They remain clinched, but Alves breaks off with a flurry. Story counters, and they trade power shots before Story clinches as the round ends. MMAjunkie.com scores it 10-9 for Story.
Round 2 - Alves lands a nice inside leg kick. He circles, lands a lunging right, but takes a body kick. Story clinches and drags him to the mat. Alves is back up, but Story clings to him against the cage. Alves tries to deliver a knee while Story shoots, but he misses, and Story gets the takedown. Alves immediately puts his back against the cage and gets back up. Alves remains clinches and then powers his way to a takedown. He lands in half guard and works short punches. Story is quickly back up, and they remain clinched. Story dips for a takedown, but Alves fends it off. Brute strength keeps him upright. Alves looks to back out and away, but Story quickly corrals him and pins him against the cage. The pace slows, and the ref calls for a restart. Alves lands a right but is knocked off balance by a checked head kick that Story throws. Story swarms once he's back up and pins him against the cage. Alves briefly hits the mat but is back up, but Story presses him into the fence. Alves reverses and resets. The fighters trade power shots. MMAjunkie.com scores it 10-9 for Story.
Round 3 - Alves lands a straight right, but Story unloads a nice combo to the head and body. Alves answers with a leaping knee. Story unloads a nice combo, but Alves answers with a quick left. Alves throws punches, but Story ducks and shoots. Story puts him against the cage, but Alves moves out and resets. Alves lands some nice shots from distance, but Story answers with nice body shots. Alves lands a nice left hook and pushes Story into the cage. Story chases with punches but eats a big left that he simply shakes off. They trade more heavy blows, but neither seems fazed. Story closes distance and eats a knee, but he continues working for a takedown. Alves fends it off, and they break and reset. Story checks a head kick, but Alves lands a couple punches a knee while eating a few. The fighters trade wildly to close out a thoroughly entertaining fight. MMAjunkie.com scores it 10-9 Alves. Rick Story def. Thiago Alves via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)