PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Alvarez (ranked 1152 p4p, 1494 weight class) and Klaas Jan Tijhoff (ranked 150 p4p, 193 weight class). Ricky Alvarez had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 156.2lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Alvarez
vs
Tijhoff

188 cm
23
170
10 - 5 - 1

183 cm
24
164
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Nevermore Clothing Co
New Standard

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ricky Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Klaas Jan Tijhoff!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, John Kavanagh and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tijhoff takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Tijhoff fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Alvarez manages to avoid it.
Tijhoff defending well as Alvarez loads up on a big left hand.
And Tijhoff tries to counter it with a takedown but Alvarez pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Alvarez throws a head kick that misses.
Alvarez scores with a jab.
Tijhoff looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Tijhoff steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Alvarez. That one must have hurt.
Alvarez misses with a few strikes there.
Tijhoff sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Alvarez throws a nice looking combination but Tijhoff bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tijhoff is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A punch lands to the side of Tijhoff 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Alvarez throws an off balance right hand

and Tijhoff counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Tijhoff has gone for a leg lock! Alvarez slips out almost immediately though and dives into Tijhoff's guard.

Tijhoff has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Alvarez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tijhoff escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Alvarez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Tijhoff is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Tijhoff has a closed guard, preventing Alvarez from standing up.

Tijhoff looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Tijhoff is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Alvarez defends well.

Tijhoff escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Alvarez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tijhoff is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Tijhoff looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Tijhoff looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Alvarez passes into half guard.
Tijhoff is trying to get back to full guard.

Tijhoff looking for submissions off his back.

Alvarez decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A lazy left from Alvarez finds it's target.
Decent striking displayed by Alvarez there.
Good shot there by Alvarez.

It looks like Klaas Jan Tijhoff has been cut.
Ricky Alvarez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Alvarez.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tijhoff is defended easily by Alvarez.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Alvarez throws a nice head kick!
Nice defenses there by Alvarez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Alvarez.
Left hook, right uppercut from Alvarez.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tijhoff fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
As Tijhoff looks to move away, Alvarez throws a big counter combo but Tijhoff just gets out of the way.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tijhoff is defended easily by Alvarez.
Ricky Alvarez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Klaas Jan Tijhoff.
Tijhoff drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Alvarez gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Tijhoff counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Alvarez makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Alvarez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tijhoff moves away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Alvarez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Klaas Jan Tijhoff's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tijhoff is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Alvarez.

Tijhoff closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Alvarez tries to roll over but Tijhoff keeps him under control.
Alvarez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tijhoff can do to turn this around?
Tijhoff is trying to control. Alvarez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Tijhoff seems to be working for a kimura but Alvarez defends the submission attempt.

Tijhoff is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Alvarez is just riding it out for now. Tijhoff eventually gives up the hold.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tijhoff is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Alvarez has managed to free his arm - good work.
Tijhoff wants to take a breather but Alvarez is having none of it.
Tijhoff stops Alvarez from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tijhoff seems to be looking for submissions.
Tijhoff is looking to stall here but Alvarez recovers full guard.
Tijhoff forces his way into half guard.
Alvarez is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Alvarez is looking to improve his position.
Tijhoff uses his free foot to push down on Alvarez's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Alvarez.
Tijhoff working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Tijhoff raining down shots from the mount!
Tijhoff landing shots from mount.

Tijhoff jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Alvarez manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Tijhoff trying to control the action but Alvarez is working from the bottom.

Tijhoff is working to tighten his grip on Alvarez's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Alvarez has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Tijhoff is really squeezing tight and eventually Alvarez passes out! Tijhoff breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Klaas Jan Tijhoff!
Klaas Jan Tijhoff managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Furnace Performance 🔥, into his post fight interview.