PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jose Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eddie Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Aldo
vs
Alvarez

170 cm
24
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jose Aldo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Eddie Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are , and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aldo tries for a takedown but Alvarez circles away easily
and Aldo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Alvarez misses with a series of wild punches.
Aldo with a lazy takedown attempt
and Alvarez counters with a series of strikes. Aldo will be more careful next time no doubt.
Aldo shoots and misses
and Alvarez counters with a series of strikes. Aldo will be more careful next time no doubt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Aldo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aldo shoots and misses

and Alvarez counters with a single leg into guard. Aldo didn't expect that.
Alvarez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Aldo wants to sweep here but Alvarez controlling him for the moment.
Alvarez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Alvarez scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Alvarez lands a couple of elbows.
Alvarez is working Aldo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Alvarez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aldo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Aldo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Alvarez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Alvarez throws a strike but Aldo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Aldo is breathing heavily.
Aldo would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Aldo trying to control the position from guard on top but Alvarez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aldo preventing the sweep.

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.
Aldo looking to pass the guard.
Alvarez is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Aldo tries to free his leg and advance position but Alvarez is retaining full guard.
Alvarez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Aldo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Jose Aldo has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Aldo dodges the punch combination from Alvarez.
Alvarez thows a body kick. Aldo tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Alvarez scores with a punch to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo misses with a takedown attempt

and Alvarez counters with a shoot takedown. Aldo fights it but they end up in guard.
Alvarez lands a couple of elbows.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Alvarez distracts Aldo with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Alvarez scoring with some ground and pound.
Alvarez postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Alvarez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Alvarez content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Alvarez lands a couple of digs.
Alvarez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Alvarez working some strikes from top position.
Alvarez postures up.
Alvarez throws a big right hand that misses.
Alvarez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Aldo's head.
Alvarez distracts Aldo with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Alvarez's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Alvarez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Alvarez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Aldo has momentary wrist control but Alvarez slips an elbow through the middle.
Alvarez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Aldo trying to control the position.
Alvarez is looking to work some ground and pound but Aldo has wrist control.
Alvarez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Aldo's head.
Aldo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Alvarez thows a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddie Alvarez dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A nice combination there by Alvarez.
Aldo tries for a takedown but Alvarez circles away easily
and Alvarez counters with a nice kick to the body.
Jose Aldo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aldo tries to clinch but Alvarez moves away
and Alvarez counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

Alvarez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Aldo has hold of Alvarez's hands but Alvarez slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Aldo gets back to full guard.
Alvarez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Alvarez works over Aldo with some ground and pound from guard.
Alvarez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alvarez won't allow Aldo to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo is trying to keep Alvarez in close.
Alvarez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Alvarez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alvarez is in close to Aldo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Alvarez lands a couple of elbows.
Alvarez postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Alvarez throwing strikes but missing.
Alvarez scoring with punches to the head and body.
Eddie Alvarez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Alvarez working some strikes from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aldo looking for a sweep. Not yet Aldo, not yet.
Aldo working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Alvarez is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Aldo striking off his back but it's not causing Alvarez any problems.
Alvarez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Alvarez is looking to work some ground and pound but Aldo has wrist control.
Alvarez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Alvarez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Alvarez throws and elbow that misses. Aldo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Alvarez's guard. Nice move by Aldo!
Aldo trying to control the position from guard on top but Alvarez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aldo throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alvarez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Aldo works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Aldo is keen to just control but Alvarez is a slippery customer.
Aldo wants to pass the guard but Alvarez is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Alvarez is looking to improve his position.
Aldo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Aldo stops Alvarez from getting back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alvarez tries to get to full guard but Aldo has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddie Alvarez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Aldo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Alvarez throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Aldo counters with a two punch combo.
Aldo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Alvarez counters with an outside leg kick.
Alvarez lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Alvarez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aldo has his hands clasped together around Alvarez's back. He's all about the action.
Aldo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez works over Aldo with some ground and pound from guard.
Alvarez with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Alvarez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Alvarez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aldo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Aldo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Alvarez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Aldo trying to control the position.

Jose Aldo has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Aldo walks into a straight right hand from Alvarez.

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.
Aldo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Alvarez counters with a stiff right hand.
Aldo has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Aldo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Aldo fails in his attempt to clinch.

Aldo gets caught flat footed, as Alvarez shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Alvarez landing some decent shots from guard.
Aldo wants to sweep but no luck.
Alvarez content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Alvarez with a nice head shot there.
Eddie Alvarez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez won't allow Aldo to sweep him here.
Alvarez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Alvarez content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Alvarez controls from within his opponent's guard.
Aldo controls Alvarez momentarily but Alvarez frees himself.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Aldo checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Aldo misses with an uppercut

and Alvarez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Alvarez content to stall in guard here.
Alvarez stops Aldo from standing up.

Aldo 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 slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Alvarez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Jose Aldo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Eddie Alvarez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Alvarez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Suge Night scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eddie Alvarez!