PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jackson Alvarez (ranked 820 p4p, 2632 weight class) and Gabriel Soares (ranked 112 p4p, 293 weight class). Alvarez's entrance music is Juan Luis Guerra - Soldado. A fine choice. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Alvarez
vs
Soares

170 cm
26
165
8 - 1 - 0

180 cm
19
155
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Prefers standup

Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jackson Alvarez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gabriel Soares!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soares is looking to clinch.
Soares tries to clinch up.
It looked like Alvarez wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Soares throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Soares drives through and clinches with Alvarez against the cage.

Soares pulls guard effortlessly.

Soares looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Soares throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Alvarez gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soares misses with a head kick.

Soares instigates a clinch.
Soares has Alvarez pushed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Alvarez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Soares is trying to pull guard but Alvarez turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Soares leaning against his opponent.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Soares fails to pull guard.
Soares tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Alvarez just stands there and leans against the cage.
Jackson Alvarez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabriel Soares.
Soares tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Alvarez breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez misses with a body shot.
Alvarez lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Alvarez.
Alvarez smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Soares is looking to clinch.
It looked like Alvarez wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Soares clinches with his opponent.
Soares tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Alvarez smiles and moves away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Soares looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Soares tries to clinch but Alvarez moves out of range.
Alvarez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Soares steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Alvarez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez moves out of range as Soares throws a body kick.
Soares fails with an attempt to clinch.

Soares clinches.
Soares tries to pull guard but Alvarez won't allow it.
Come on Soares - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Soares trying to stall but Alvarez improves his position.
Alvarez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Soares tries to pull guard but Alvarez holds him up against the cage and eventually Soares drops back down to his feet.
Soares is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Soares tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Alvarez as Soares tries to tie him up.
Soares looking to slow down the pace here.
Soares is trying to pull guard but Alvarez has him pressed against the cage.
The referee calls for Soares to work.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Gabriel Soares.
Alvarez tries to bum rush Soares with a series of wild strikes but Soares uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Soares tries to counter with a clinch but Alvarez shakes him off and moves away.
Alvarez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Soares fails with an attempt to clinch.
Alvarez throws a series of punches but Soares moves out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Soares is looking to clinch.

Soares gets in close and instigates a clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jackson Alvarez will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Soares misses with a wild body shot.
Alvarez was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Soares is looking to clinch.
Soares tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Soares slips a straight right by Alvarez.
Soares is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Soares throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Soares tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Alvarez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Soares wants to clinch up but Alvarez keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez misses with an uppercut. Soares saw that one coming.

Soares clinches.
Soares is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Alvarez is keeping busy.
Alvarez tries to circle away but Soares has him pinned against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soares stalling in the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Soares trying to control the position but instead, Alvarez has worked for underhooks and has pushed Soares into the cage.
Soares has Alvarez pushed against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Gabriel Soares.
Alvarez misses with an uppercut. Soares saw that one coming.
Alvarez swats away the attempt to clinch by Soares.
Soares tries to clinch but Alvarez is having none of it.
Alvarez throwing a counter right hand but Soares manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Alvarez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Soares tries to clinch but Alvarez moves out of range.
Soares is looking to clinch.
Alvarez throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Soares on the side of the head.
Jackson Alvarez is winning the standup battle so far.
Soares slips under a jab from Alvarez.
Soares is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Alvarez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Alvarez swats away the attempt to clinch by Soares.
Alvarez swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Gabriel Soares seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Soares misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Soares.
Soares avoids a punch combination nicely.
Soares throws a leg kick but Alvarez sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Alvarez seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Soares slips under a jab from Alvarez.
Soares dodges the punch combination from Alvarez.
Soares steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Alvarez.

Soares rushes Alvarez and presses him up against the cage.
Soares looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soares is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Soares is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Alvarez has denied him.
Soares tries to pull guard but Alvarez holds him up against the cage and eventually Soares drops back down to his feet.
Soares slows down the pace here.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Alvarez as Soares tries to tie him up.
Soares's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Soares has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Alvarez seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Soares can turn it around.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Gabriel Soares.
Soares lands with an uppercut that bounces Alvarez off the cage and back into range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jackson Alvarez dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Alvarez connects with a right hand. Soares shakes it off.
Soares wants to clinch.
Soares lands with a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sloppy strikes from Alvarez. Those never looked like landing.
Soares tries to counter by closing the distance.

Soares moves into range and clinches up with Alvarez.
Soares stalling.
Alvarez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Soares has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Alvarez as Soares tries to tie him up.
Soares displaying some good clinch control by pressing Alvarez up against the cage.
Soares is trying to pull guard but Alvarez has him pressed against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Come on Soares - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Gabriel Soares.

Soares pushes Alvarez up against the cage in a clinch.
Soares is trying to pull guard but Alvarez has him pressed against the cage.
Soares jumps guard but Alvarez stands there with Soares around his waist. Soares gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Jackson Alvarez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabriel Soares.
Soares tries to pull guard but Alvarez holds him up against the cage and eventually Soares drops back down to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soares wants to stall.

Soares manages to pull guard.
Alvarez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Soares's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Alvarez stands and steps away. Soares gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Soares needs to keep his hands up - Alvarez had a free shot at his head there.
Soares is looking to clinch.
Alvarez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez looks to land a combination but Soares avoids it well.
Alvarez is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Alvarez throws a nice looking combination but Soares bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Soares tries to clinch up but Alvarez circles away and keeps his distance.
It looked like Alvarez was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Soares is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Alvarez swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Alvarez swats away the attempt to clinch by Soares.
Soares tries to clinch up but Alvarez circles away and keeps his distance.
Soares tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soares moves away from the strike by Alvarez.
A big left from Alvarez misses.
Soares wants to land a leg kick but Alvarez is out of range.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Soares is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Alvarez appears to be looking for a big counter.
Alvarez seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Soares ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Soares steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Alvarez.
Soares wants to counter with a clinch but Alvarez pushes him away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Alvarez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Soares moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Alvarez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Soares can do to turn this around?

Soares clinches with his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jackson Alvarez clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Alvarez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Soares drives through and clinches with Alvarez against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Soares.
Soares is struggling to control the position.
Soares effectively controlling the action here.
Soares continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
A frustrated look appears on Alvarez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Soares wants to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soares tries to pull guard but Alvarez forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Soares keeps control of Alvarez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Alvarez tries to break free but Soares pushes him back against the cage.
Soares dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soares dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Gabriel Soares.
Soares keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Alvarez.
Soares tries to close the distance and clinch but Alvarez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nice defenses there by Soares.
Soares is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Soares darts in trying to clinch
letting Alvarez counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Soares.
Soares tries to counter with a clinch but Alvarez shakes him off and moves away.
Jackson Alvarez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alvarez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Soares circles away quickly and effectively.
Soares wants to counter with a clinch but Alvarez pushes him away.
Alvarez takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Alvarez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Soares has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Soares there as he acknowledges the shot.
Soares fails with an attempt to clinch.
Alvarez throws a nice looking combination but Soares bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Alvarez sets himself, and Soares steps forward looking for the clinch! Alvarez avoids it this time.
Alvarez lands the left hand.
Some wild striking there from Alvarez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soares tries to clinch up but Alvarez circles away and keeps his distance.
Alvarez looks to throw the jab but Soares is out of range.
Soares throws a body kick that misses
and Alvarez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Soares tries to clinch up but Alvarez circles away and keeps his distance.
Alvarez throws a big counter combination but Soares scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Soares is looking to clinch.

Soares forces Alvarez back against the cage and clinches.
Alvarez is trying to push Soares away but Soares has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Alvarez being controlled against the cage.
Soares is trying to pull guard but Alvarez turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Soares leaning against his opponent.
Soares jumps guard but Alvarez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Jackson Alvarez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabriel Soares.

Soares drags the fight down to the ground.

Alvarez gets to his feet - Soares follows without any prompting.
Alvarez swinging wildly here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alvarez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Soares manages to avoid it.
Alvarez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jackson Alvarez had his way with Gabriel Soares in that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Soares tries to clinch up but Alvarez circles away and keeps his distance.
Alvarez swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Soares.
Alvarez looks to score with a jab to the body but Soares is just out of range.
Alvarez displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Soares is rocked!
Soares darts in trying to clinch
and Alvarez counters with a big right hand! Oh Soares is in trouble here! Alvarez follows up with more strikes and that's it! The ref has stopped it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:32 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jackson Alvarez!
Jackson Alvarez retains his lightweight title!
Jackson Alvarez seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.