PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Noel Rafferty (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Alvarez's choice of entrance music: The Enemy by Godsmack. Josh Alvarez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rafferty
vs
Alvarez

177 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
20
180 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Noel Rafferty!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Josh Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, John Roberts and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rafferty swivels and escapes.

Rafferty shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Alvarez's guard.

Rafferty drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Alvarez manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rafferty has Alvarez in his guard.
Alvarez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Alvarez is looking to work some ground and pound but Rafferty has wrist control.

Rafferty 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.
Alvarez stands up over Rafferty, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Alvarez decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rafferty, up you get!

Rafferty scores with a takedown into Alvarez's guard.
Rafferty is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafferty wants to stand but Alvarez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Rafferty sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Alvarez trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Alvarez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Rafferty stands up from Alvarez's guard - Rafferty perhaps looking for a knockout.
Alvarez tries for a takedown but Rafferty sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rafferty fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Alvarez on the side of the head.
Alvarez keeps the fight on the outside.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rafferty sprawls well. Rafferty wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Alvarez gets slowly back to his feet.
Noel Rafferty has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Alvarez.
Rafferty lands with a nice combination. Alvarez backs away looking to recover.
Alvarez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rafferty counters with a two punch combo.

It looks like Josh Alvarez has been cut.
Rafferty is breathing heavily.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Rafferty. Alvarez shrugs it off though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rafferty scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Rafferty throws a series of punches but Alvarez avoids them all with ease.
Rafferty fails to land with a series of punches.
Rafferty throws a series of punches but Alvarez avoids them all with ease.
Rafferty misses with a wild combination.

Rafferty moves into the clinch.
Rafferty has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Alvarez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Alvarez with a poor takedown

so Rafferty counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Rafferty postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Alvarez is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rafferty, into his guard.

Alvarez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Alvarez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rafferty 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.

Alvarez stands up from Rafferty's guard - Alvarez perhaps looking for a knockout.
Alvarez dodges the punch combination from Rafferty.
Alvarez lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alvarez shoots for a double leg takedown but Rafferty sprawls well. He's pushed Alvarez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Alvarez tries for a takedown but Rafferty circles away easily

and Rafferty counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noel Rafferty dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Josh Alvarez's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Alvarez just misses with a punch to the body.
Noel Rafferty is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rafferty throws a one two combo.
Rafferty throws a series of punches but Alvarez avoids them all with ease.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rafferty but Rafferty pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rafferty rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Alvarez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Alvarez will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rafferty scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Alvarez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rafferty pinned against the cage. Rafferty gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Rafferty rushes Alvarez and presses him up against the cage.
Alvarez looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rafferty is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Alvarez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Alvarez closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Alvarez is thwarting Rafferty's attempts to control the position.
Rafferty is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alvarez decides to stand and escape the position.

Rafferty feints and as Alvarez raises his hands in defense, Rafferty changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Noel Rafferty overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rafferty stands and throws Alvarez's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rafferty wants to control for a moment but Alvarez uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Rafferty tries to kick Alvarez off but Alvarez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Alvarez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rafferty looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rafferty wants to get back to his feet.
Rafferty trying to control but Alvarez postures up.

Alvarez is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Rafferty has managed to free his arm - good work.

Rafferty actively working from the bottom here.

Rafferty looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez is working for a submission of some sort.

Alvarez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Rafferty moves into full guard.

Alvarez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Alvarez wanted to stand there but Rafferty had control of the position.
Rafferty wants to sweep here but Alvarez controlling him for the moment.

Rafferty 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.
Rafferty wants to stand up but Alvarez is controlling him.

Alvarez is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Noel Rafferty will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Josh Alvarez's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Rafferty shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Alvarez as he jumps to the side.
No luck for Alvarez with that takedown attempt.
Rafferty stuffs the takedown attempt from Alvarez. Alvarez gets slowly back to his feet.
Alvarez fails with a takedown attempt.
Noel Rafferty has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Alvarez.

Rafferty feints and as Alvarez raises his hands in defense, Rafferty changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Rafferty gets to his feet - Alvarez follows without any prompting.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Alvarez shoots and misses

and Rafferty counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rafferty.
Rafferty pushing down on Alvarez's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Alvarez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rafferty is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafferty wants to free his trapped foot but Alvarez is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Alvarez trying to control from the bottom.
Rafferty wants to advance to full mount but Alvarez doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Rafferty would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Alvarez wants to sweep here but Rafferty controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rafferty drops back, looking for a kneebar! Alvarez looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Alvarez looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Alvarez!

Alvarez working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Rafferty throws Alvarez to one side and escapes!
Josh Alvarez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Noel Rafferty is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rafferty's half guard.
Alvarez looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Rafferty pushes Alvarez off and gets back to his feet.
Rafferty looks to land a combination. Alvarez sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown but Rafferty shows good takedown defense.
Rafferty misses with a double jab

and Alvarez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Alvarez wanted to stand there but Rafferty had control of the position.

Rafferty had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Alvarez is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Rafferty Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Alvarez's back instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez prevents Rafferty from getting a body triangle.

Rafferty has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Alvarez preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Rafferty.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Noel Rafferty.
Well Rafferty has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Noel Rafferty!