PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Santiago Alvares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mon Key (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Alvares
vs
Key

186 cm
27
219 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

185 cm
26
205 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Santiago Alvares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mon Key!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Shimada and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Alvares shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Key bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Key loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Key postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Key loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Key throwing strikes from guard but Alvares blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alvares wants to stand up but Key is controlling him.
Alvares throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Key stands up out of Alvares's guard for a moment - Alvares manages to land a nice upkick.
Alvares scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
Alvares scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Key content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Key throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Alvares works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Alvares keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
Alvares will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alvares wants to sweep but no luck.
Alvares preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Key preventing the sweep.
Alvares trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvares preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Key stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alvares swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Alvares throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Alvares looking to hit a scissor sweep but Key is one step ahead there.
Alvares striking off his back but it's not causing Key any problems.
Key postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Key preventing the sweep.
Key with a flurry of punches that miss.
Alvares trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Alvares lands a decent shot there.
Alvares throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Alvares throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Alvares wants to sweep here but Key controlling him for the moment.
Key scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Key working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Key content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Key throwing strikes but missing.
Key lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alvares trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Key throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Alvares striking from the bottom here.
Key loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Key has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Key throws a big right hand that misses.
Alvares strikes from his own guard.
Alvares is looking to stand up but Key isn't so interested in that idea.
Key working some strikes from top position.
Key working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Alvares scores with a short punch from the bottom.
Alvares punching from the bottom.
Key with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Alvares doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Key is looking to work some ground and pound but Alvares has wrist control.
Alvares throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvares avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Alvares utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Key stands up over Alvares, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Key looks gassed!
Alvares doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Alvares looking for a sweep. Not yet Alvares, not yet.
Alvares lands a decent shot there.
Alvares strikes from his own guard.
Alvares tries to strike from the bottom.
Alvares throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Alvares lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Key!
Key is working to get back to half guard.
Key is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Key that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alvares lands with some strikes.
Alvares with shots to the head and body - Key looks very uncomfortable down there.
Alvares is landing with some decent strikes but Key is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Alvares working the ground and pound effectively.
Key is in a horrible position here. Alvares smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Alvares with a couple of short strikes.
Key is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Alvares working Key over with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santiago Alvares dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice sprawl there from Key as Alvares shoots in.
Key tries to clinch up.
Key tries to clinch up.
Nice takedown defense from Key. No joy for Alvares on that attempt.
Alvares shoots in looking for a takedown but Key manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Alvares's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Santiago Alvares. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Key wants to clinch.
A good leg kick by Key.

Alvares shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Key napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Key is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Alvares off and has taken his back!
Key is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Alvares. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Key lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Key.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Key doesn't have the hooks in and Alvares manages to turn into his guard.
Alvares throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Santiago Alvares overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Key pushes Alvares off and gets back to his feet.
Santiago Alvares is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alvares swats away the attempt to clinch by Key.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Key closes the distance and clinches.
Key lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Santiago Alvares has been cut.
Alvares takes a knee to the side of the body.

Key is fighting off a takedown attempt but Alvares is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Key to the mat. Key regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Key pushes Alvares off and gets back to his feet.
Alvares closes the distance and clinches up with Key, looking for a takedown. Alvares pushes Key against the cage but Key circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Key gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Alvares has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Key after a bit of a struggle.
Key looking to throw knees to the head but Alvares is blocking nicely.
Alvares wants a takedown but no success here.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Key obliges.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Key is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Alvares is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Key scores a nice knee to the body.
Key lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Alvares blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Alvares gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Alvares throws a big right hand that misses.
Alvares postures up.
Key preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Key has momentary wrist control but Alvares slips an elbow through the middle.
Alvares postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Alvares missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Alvares throws a strike but Key rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Alvares throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Alvares striking off his back but it's not causing Key any problems.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Key throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Key postures up in Alvares's guard and throws a big left but Alvares blocks it.
Alvares doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Key content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Alvares throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Alvares is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Key is controlling him.
Key working some strikes from top position.
Alvares doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Key lands a couple of digs.
Alvares thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Key distracts Alvares with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Key postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Key with a flurry of punches that miss.
Key stopping the sweep attempt from Alvares.
Alvares throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvares striking off his back but it's not causing Key any problems.
Alvares looking for a sweep. Not yet Alvares, not yet.
Key scoring with some ground and pound.
Key postures up in Alvares's guard and throws a big left but Alvares blocks it.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Key with a flurry of punches that miss.
Alvares doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Key cracks Alvares with a solid left hand.
Key loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Key throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Alvares lands some strikes from the bottom.
Alvares is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Alvares throws a couple of heel strikes.
Key is looking to work some ground and pound but Alvares has wrist control.
Key throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mon Key will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Santiago Alvares's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Key displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Alvares.
Alvares swats away the attempt to clinch by Key.
The fight stays on the outside here - Key looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Alvares shoots in looking for a takedown. Key tries to sprawl out of it but Alvares keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Key manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Key throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Key instigates a clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Key.
Key lands a damaging elbow.
Alvares is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Key is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Santiago Alvares. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Key unloads a knee to the mid-section. Alvares lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Knees to the body from Key.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Key working Alvares over with knees to the body.
Key lands an elbow inside that Alvares shrugs off.
Alvares takes a knee to the side of the body.
Key comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Alvares avoiding damage as Key throws knees to the body.
Alvares on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Key landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Key prevents a takedown attempt there.
Key crunches a lovely knee into Alvares's ribcage.
Alvares is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Key scores with a knee to the head.
Alvares tries for a takedown but Key manages to get underhooks.
Alvares takes a knee to the side of the body.
Alvares avoiding damage as Key throws knees to the body.
Mon Key seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Key trying to land knees to the body.
Alvares drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Key is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Alvares wants a takedown but no success here.
Key lands an elbow inside.
Key prevents a takedown attempt there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Key using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Key trying to land knees to the body.
Alvares is working for takedown but Key is calmly controlling the position for now.
Alvares drops down looking for an ankle pick but Key pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sloppy strikes from Key. Those never looked like landing.
Alvares fails to land the takedown.
Mon Key seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alvares shoots in for a takedown but Key shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Key drives through and clinches with Alvares against the cage.
Key crunches a lovely knee into Alvares's ribcage.
Key comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Key unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Key stops a takedown attempt from Alvares.
Key is pressed up against the cage. Alvares has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Key down to the mat. Key avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Key throws a series of punches but Alvares avoids them all with ease.
Mon Key is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Alvares checks a leg kick nicely.

Alvares feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Alvares prevents Key from getting back to his feet.
Alvares trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Key utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Alvares cracks Key with a solid left hand.
Alvares trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alvares throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Key works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Key is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Alvares is working for takedown but Key is calmly controlling the position for now.
Alvares on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Alvares has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Key after a bit of a struggle.
Key lands an elbow just above Alvares 's eye.
Key tries to land a knee to the head but Alvares blocks with his arms.
Key prevents the takedown attempt.
Key gets underhooks to prevent Alvares's takedown attempt.
Alvares blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Alvares wants a takedown.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Alvares has Key pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Alvares pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Key tumbling to the mat - Alvares dives into Key's guard.
Alvares chips away with some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mon Key comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Key has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mon Key!
Mon Key seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.