PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Irvin Potter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Alvares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Irvin Potter has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Potter
vs
Alvares

157 cm
18
150 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

175 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Irvin Potter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Alvares!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Eddie Farnsworth and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvares swings for the body but Potter moves out of range.

Alvares closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Potter quickly recovers to half guard.
Alvares throwing shots but Potter is blocking nicely.
Potter is trying to control but can't.
Still in half guard, Alvares seems content to control.
Potter won't allow Alvares to pass to mount.
Potter is staying active underneath Alvares, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Potter could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Michael Alvares hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Alvares bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Alvares lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Potter is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvares working the head with strikes.
Potter tries to bench press Alvares off him but Alvares keeps the position.
Alvares is working Potter over with some ground and pound from side control.
Alvares cracks Potter with a big right hand but Potter just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Alvares trying to control the action but Potter is working from the bottom.
Alvares scoring with punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alvares tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Alvares has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Potter manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Potter is staying active underneath Alvares, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvares throwing shots but Potter is blocking nicely.
Potter is pressing down on Alvares's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Alvares tries to free his leg and advance position but Potter is retaining full guard.
Alvares is fighting to break Potter's control of his arms but Potter is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Alvares pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Potter is keeping the position for now.
Potter might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Michael Alvares has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Alvares darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvares works his way into full mount!

Alvares is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Potter can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Potter sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Alvares dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Alvares shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Potter manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Alvares throws a big elbow that misses.
Potter keeping moving, preventing Alvares from controlling successfully.
Alvares postures up in Potter's guard and throws a big left but Potter blocks it.

Potter is looking for a triangle but Alvares pushes his legs off easily.
Michael Alvares has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Alvares's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Alvares must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Potter is looking for a triangle but Alvares pushes his legs off easily.
Alvares keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Potter's head.
Alvares wants to pass the guard but Potter is keeping the position.
Potter managing to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvares is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Potter working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Irvin Potter.

Alvares closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Alvares lands in his opponent's guard.
Potter wants to stand and escape but Alvares is having none of it.
Alvares trying to control but Potter is working from the bottom.
Alvares's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Michael Alvares has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Alvares connects with a body shot.
Alvares misses with a double jab.

Alvares decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Alvares missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Alvares thows a huge punch but Potter dodges it nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alvares prevents Potter from improving his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alvares is trying to control. Potter wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Alvares showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Potter gets caught flat footed, as Alvares shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Potter is looking to stand up but Alvares isn't so interested in that idea.
Alvares postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Potter is trying to keep Alvares in close.
Alvares trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Irvin Potter has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Alvares tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Potter manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alvares gets a takedown into half guard.
Potter trying to control but Alvares postures up.
Alvares throwing shots but Potter is blocking nicely.
Alvares is trying to control. Potter wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Potter is on top in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Alvares wants to sweep here but Potter controlling him for the moment.
Alvares keeping moving, preventing Potter from controlling successfully.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Potter is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvares looking to hit a scissor sweep but Potter is one step ahead there.
Potter throws an elbow that misses. Alvares uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Potter's guard. Nice move by Alvares!

Potter working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Alvares doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Alvares manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Alvares working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Potter's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Potter trying to keep a closed guard but Alvares is proving a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Irvin Potter wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Alvares shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Alvares trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Potter has momentary wrist control but Alvares slips an elbow through the middle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Alvares comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Alvares 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Alvares!
Michael Alvares was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.