PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt 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.

Junior
vs
Alvarez

190 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thiago Junior!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matt Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Cecil Peabody and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Junior throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Junior shoots in for a takedown but Alvarez shows good takedown defense.
Junior tries a head kick but it misses.
Junior is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Junior wants to clinch up but Alvarez keeps it at a distance.
Junior shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Alvarez pinned against the cage. Alvarez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Junior will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Junior. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Junior tries to clinch up but Alvarez circles away and keeps his distance.
Junior goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Junior fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junior throws a push kick but Alvarez slaps the foot to one side.
Junior doesn't manage to clinch there - Alvarez circles away.
Junior shoots in but no luck this time.
Junior throws a body punch but Alvarez moves out of range.
Alvarez keeps the fight on the outside.
Junior missing with a left hand there. Alvarez was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Junior tries for a takedown but Alvarez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Alvarez stuffs the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Alvarez as Junior shoots in.

Alvarez drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Alvarez throwing strikes from guard but Junior blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Junior is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Alvarez, into his guard.
Alvarez throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Alvarez lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Junior!
Alvarez lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

It looks like Thiago Junior has been cut.
Alvarez prevents Junior from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez trying to control but Junior is having none of it.
Junior tries to hold on but Alvarez postures up.
Junior is trying to escape the mount.
Alvarez looking to control but Junior is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Junior is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Junior wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Junior is trying to break free.
Alvarez gets his hands free as Junior looks to control.
Junior covering up well and avoiding damage.
Alvarez keeps control of the position as Junior tries to break free.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Junior trying to control the action but Alvarez just sinks the hooks in.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Alvarez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thiago Junior's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Junior fails with the takedown

and Alvarez decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Junior's guard.

Junior throws his legs up looking for a submission but Alvarez uses it to pass to side control.
Alvarez moves into full mount!
Junior keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Junior bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Alvarez wants to sweep but no luck.
Alvarez working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junior trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Junior throwing strikes but missing.
Junior has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Alvarez is proving hard to escape from.
Junior trying to control but Alvarez is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Junior shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior stalling.

Junior is looking for a kimura but Alvarez is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Junior to get the leverage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alvarez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Junior is working away from the top position though.
Alvarez looks like he's trying to stand up.
Junior controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Alvarez trying to control here.
Junior frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Junior looking to control and managing it successfully.

Junior stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Junior with a lazy takedown attempt

and Alvarez holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Alvarez wants a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Junior pulls guard successfully.
Junior keeping moving, preventing Alvarez from controlling successfully.
Alvarez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Alvarez tries to free his leg and advance position but Junior is retaining full guard.

Alvarez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Junior is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Junior has escaped and now he's on top!
Alvarez striking off his back but it's not causing Junior any problems.
Junior keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Alvarez's head.
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 Thiago Junior will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Thiago Junior's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Junior gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Alvarez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Junior's guard now.
Alvarez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Junior keeping moving, preventing Alvarez from controlling successfully.

Junior working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Alvarez has passed into half guard!
Junior is pressing down on Alvarez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Junior working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Alvarez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Alvarez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Junior is trying to control the position but Alvarez postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Junior swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Junior wants to hit a switch here but Alvarez passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Junior there!
Alvarez looking to control but Junior is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Alvarez is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Junior can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Alvarez looking to control but Junior is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alvarez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Junior wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Junior regains half guard.
Junior is trying to get back to full guard.
Alvarez tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Junior.
Junior wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Junior is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Junior moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Junior bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Alvarez's guard.
Junior sitting in guard here, content to control.
Alvarez keeping full guard, as Junior tries to pass.

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

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

That's four 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.
Junior looking to pass the guard.

Alvarez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Alvarez throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Junior is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Junior shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Alvarez counters with a shoot takedown. Junior fights it but they end up in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29

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