PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Juan Carlos Alvez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mickey Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Carlos Alvez
vs
Ward

185 cm
20
178 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

192 cm
21
170 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Juan Carlos Alvez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mickey Ward!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Daniel Cesar and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ward throws a shot from downtown. Alvez moves away and avoids it.
Nice defenses there by Alvez.

Alvez closes the distance and clinches.
Alvez gets underhooks to prevent Ward's takedown attempt.

Alvez has Ward pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Alvez pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Ward tumbling to the mat - Alvez dives into Ward's guard.
Alvez is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alvez wants to control from the top but Ward keeps moving.

Ward has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Alvez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Alvez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ward on the ground.
Alvez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ward is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvez is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Ward working for a triangle but Alvez defends it easily.
Alvez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ward is keeping the position for now.

Ward working for a triangle but Alvez defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvez wants to control from the top but Ward keeps moving.
Ward is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ward is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Alvez trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Ward manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Ward drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Alvez manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Ward has Alvez in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ward is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alvez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Alvez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Alvez postures up.
Ward keeping moving, preventing Alvez from controlling successfully.

Ward is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Alvez is aware though and is defending well.
Alvez wants to control from the top but Ward keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvez is really struggling to control Ward but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Juan Carlos Alvez just wasn't active enough.

Alvez closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Ward has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Alvez escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Alvez!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Alvez working away.
Ward is not content to let Alvez control the position.
Ward tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Alvez decides to stand up, so the ref orders Ward to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Carlos Alvez dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Alvez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Ward closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Alvez did well to prevent Ward getting side control.
Ward wants to free his trapped foot but Alvez is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Alvez is trying to stand up here but Ward is controlling him well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Alvez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ward wants to control from the top but Alvez keeps moving.
Alvez is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ward lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Alvez keeping moving, preventing Ward from controlling successfully.
Ward is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Alvez keeping full guard, as Ward tries to pass.
Ward wants to control from the top but Alvez keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ward pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Alvez is keeping the position for now.
Ward pushing down on Alvez's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Alvez wants to stand back up but Ward manages to pass into side control.
Ward wants to control but Alvez is keeping him busy.
Ward throws a strike aimed at the side of Alvez's head but Alvez avoids it well.

Ward wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Alvez, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvez manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Alvez is looking to advance position but Ward won't allow it.
Ward is looking to control Alvez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ward avoid being mounted?
Alvez wants to pass to mount but Ward is defending the position.
Ward slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Alvez trying to control but Ward is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ward looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Alvez passes into half guard.

Ward looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Alvez looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Alvez is trying to control the action in half guard but Ward is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alvez looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ward wants to control but Alvez is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Ward showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ward shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Alvez as he avoids it easily.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Ward enables Alvez to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Ward manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Alvez throwing strikes but missing.
Alvez slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Ward seems keen to control Alvez's posture.

Alvez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ward has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Alvez has managed to get both his arms back between Ward's legs - danger averted.
Alvez stands up out of Ward's guard for a moment - Ward manages to land a nice upkick.
Alvez passes Ward's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward is not content to let Alvez control the position.
Alvez looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ward with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ward wants to get back to his feet.
Alvez wants to pass the guard but Ward is defending well.
Alvez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ward keeps working.
Ward moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Ward trying to keep a closed guard but Alvez is proving a slippery customer.
Alvez looking to sit in guard and control but Ward gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Ward trying to control but Alvez postures up.
Ward is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Alvez is looking to advance position but Ward won't allow it.

Ward actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward is looking to improve his position.

Ward actively working from the bottom here.
Alvez wants to control but Ward is keeping him busy.
Ward is looking to control Alvez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ward avoid being mounted?
Alvez is trying to control the action in half guard but Ward is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Alvez stalling away here and it's allowed Ward to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Alvez sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Juan Carlos Alvez has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Ward looks for a takedown but Alvez sprawls well.
Ward swats away the attempt to clinch by Alvez.
Ward fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Juan Carlos Alvez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mickey Ward.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alvez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juan Carlos Alvez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Alvez 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Carlos Alvez!