PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hakeen Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Gustav (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hakeen Alvarez has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Alvarez
vs
Gustav

181 cm
20
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
208 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hakeen Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marcus Gustav!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Alvarez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gustav tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Alvarez was well out of range. Poor timing from Gustav.
Gustav swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Alvarez has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Bomb Squad Training Center in the buildup to the fight.
Gustav's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Gustav duly obliges.

It looks like Hakeen Alvarez has been cut.
Gustav misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gustav misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gustav works over Alvarez's head and body with a nice combination.
Alvarez misses with an uppercut. Gustav saw that one coming.
A punch combination from Alvarez misses.
Gustav throws a counter combo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alvarez misses with a lunging right hand
and Gustav counters with a series of strikes. Alvarez will be more careful next time no doubt.
Gustav lands a two punch combo.
Gustav slips a jab and a cross from Alvarez.
Alvarez looks to land a combination but Gustav avoids it well.
Alvarez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Alvarez scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

It looks like Marcus Gustav has been cut.
Gustav lands with an uppercut that bounces Alvarez off the cage and back into range.
Hakeen Alvarez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jab, jab by Alvarez - just one landing.
Gustav uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Alvarez.
Alvarez throws a hook but Gustav blocks it.
Gustav fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Gustav misses.
Gustav lands a body shot.
Alvarez throws a right and a left that Gustav avoids nicely.
Gustav bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Alvarez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Alvarez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gustav was well out of range. Poor timing from Alvarez.
Alvarez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gustav.
Gustav looks winded!
A slow jab from Alvarez misses its intended target.

Oooooh!!! Alvarez has knocked Gustav down with a huge combo! Alvarez steps away and waves a wobbly Gustav back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Gustav is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Alvarez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gustav is still on wobbly legs! Can Alvarez finish him?
Alvarez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gustav.
Alvarez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gustav seems to have recovered his senses.
Gustav bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Alvarez throws a jab when Gustav was well out of range.
As Alvarez backs off Gustav throws a huge counter combo but Alvarez manages to avoid it all.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Gustav slips a jab from Alvarez.
Gustav dodges the punch combination from Alvarez.
Alvarez misses with a leg kick
and Gustav counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Alvarez throws an overhand right that lands on Gustav's shoulder, as Gustav tries to avoid the shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gustav moves away.
Gustav uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Alvarez.
Alvarez fails to land with a series of punches.
A combination from Gustav does no damage.
Gustav shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Alvarez eats them both and turns towards Gustav to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Alvarez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Alvarez throws a nice looking combination but Gustav bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Alvarez swinging wildly here.
Gustav is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Alvarez throws out a loose jab but Gustav uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gustav throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Alvarez throws a big counter combination but Gustav scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Alvarez misses with a left hand
and Gustav connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Alvarez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gustav unleashes a big counter combination but Alvarez bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Alvarez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gustav bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Alvarez's head backwards.
Alvarez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gustav manages to avoid it.
Alvarez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gustav swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Alvarez is looking to counter punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez loads up on a big right hand but Gustav slips the punch.
Gustav swinging wildly here.
Alvarez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gustav manages to avoid it.
Alvarez misses with a series of wild punches.
A punch combination from Alvarez misses.
Alvarez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gustav.
Alvarez throws a body shot but no joy.
Alvarez defending well as Gustav loads up on a big left hand.
Gustav keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Alvarez scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That has opened up Marcus Gustav's cut even more.
Alvarez is looking to score with low kicks.
The fighters circling - Alvarez throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Alvarez misses with a body shot.
Alvarez throws a series of punches but Gustav moves out of range.
As Alvarez backs off Gustav throws a huge counter combo but Alvarez manages to avoid it all.
Alvarez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gustav moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gustav unleashes a big counter combination but Alvarez bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Alvarez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gustav manages to avoid it.
Despite the aggression on Gustav's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gustav throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Alvarez.
Alvarez throws a jab but it's blocked by Gustav.
Gustav moves out of range of the body kick.
Gustav on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Gustav is working the combinations to good effect here.
Alvarez misses with a few strikes there.
Alvarez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gustav moves away.
Alvarez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gustav throws a good cross that connects.
Alvarez misses with a body shot.
Gustav uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Alvarez.
Gustav throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Alvarez.
A decent looking cross lands there for Alvarez.
Gustav throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gustav slips a jab and a cross from Alvarez.
Gustav dodges the punch combination from Alvarez.
Alvarez tries to bum rush Gustav with a series of wild strikes but Gustav uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakeen Alvarez dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Alvarez scores with a jab to the body.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Gustav might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Alvarez has got the better of the exchanges.
Alvarez looks to land a combination but Gustav avoids it well.
As Alvarez backs off Gustav throws a huge counter combo but Alvarez manages to avoid it all.
Alvarez takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Gustav dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Alvarez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
As Alvarez backs off Gustav throws a huge counter combo but Alvarez manages to avoid it all.
Alvarez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Alvarez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Alvarez gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Gustav.
Hakeen Alvarez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alvarez looks to land a combination but Gustav avoids it well.
Gustav lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Alvarez scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gustav looks to land a combination. Alvarez sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Gustav lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Some wild striking there from Alvarez.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Some wild striking there from Alvarez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez misses with a two punch combination.
Alvarez throws a right and a left that Gustav avoids nicely.
Alvarez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gustav shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Alvarez eats them both and turns towards Gustav to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Alvarez on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Alvarez throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Gustav connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gustav throws a right and a left that both miss.
A big right from Alvarez misses.
Alvarez throws the left hand but Gustav avoids the punch easily.
Alvarez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gustav is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Alvarez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sloppy strikes from Alvarez. Those never looked like landing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gustav throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Alvarez.
Alvarez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Alvarez misses with a two punch combination.
Gustav misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez throws out a loose jab but Gustav uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gustav is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Gustav moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Alvarez missing with a left hand there. Gustav was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Alvarez looks to land a left hand but Gustav moved out of range nicely.
Gustav avoids the body shot from Alvarez.
Alvarez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gustav takes one on the button.
Alvarez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Alvarez gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Gustav lands a nice looking body shot.
Alvarez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gustav swings for the body but Alvarez moves out of range.
Alvarez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gustav.
Gustav bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez dodges the punch combination from Gustav.
A looping hook to the body misses from Alvarez. Gustav does a little dance to reset his feet.
A punch combination from Alvarez misses.
Gustav is looking for the big counter here.
Gustav scores with a hook to the body. Alvarez takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Alvarez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Alvarez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gustav.
Gustav fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Alvarez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gustav.
Alvarez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gustav swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Alvarez throws a right hand that Gustav ducks under and follows up with a left that Gustav also avoids with ease.
Alvarez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Alvarez takes a swing at Gustav's ribcage but misses.
Gustav scores with a jab. Alvarez acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A combination from Alvarez does no damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gustav shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Alvarez eats them both and turns towards Gustav to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Gustav avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gustav slips a jab and a cross from Alvarez.
Hakeen Alvarez is winning the standup battle so far.
Alvarez dodges the punch combination from Gustav.
Alvarez is looking to land body kicks.
Alvarez throws an overhand right that lands on Gustav's shoulder, as Gustav tries to avoid the shot.
Gustav avoids the body shot from Alvarez.
Alvarez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gustav.
Alvarez is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Gustav.
A punch combination from Alvarez misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alvarez fails to land with a series of punches.
A punch combination from Alvarez misses.
Gustav looks to land a combination. Alvarez sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Alvarez shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Gustav eats them both and turns towards Alvarez to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
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 Hakeen Alvarez will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Gustav uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Alvarez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Alvarez looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Alvarez misses with a series of wild punches.
A punch combination from Alvarez misses.
Alvarez misses with a few strikes there.
Alvarez loads up on a big right hand but Gustav slips the punch.
A left and a right from Gustav both land. Nice combination.
Alvarez throws a series of punches but Gustav moves out of range.
Alvarez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gustav circles away quickly and effectively.
Gustav lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
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!
Gustav throws a good cross that connects.
Gustav bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A punch lands to the side of Alvarez 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Alvarez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gustav is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Alvarez lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Gustav goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Alvarez misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gustav lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Alvarez backs up against the cage.
Alvarez fails to land with a series of punches.
Alvarez looks to land a combination but Gustav avoids it well.
A left and a right from Gustav both land. Nice combination.
Alvarez misses the shot to the body.
Alvarez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gustav lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Gustav scores with a one two! Alvarez had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alvarez scores with a jab to the head.
Alvarez throws a nice looking combination but Gustav bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Alvarez just misses with a punch to the body.
Gustav throws a series of punches but Alvarez avoids them all with ease.
Alvarez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Alvarez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Alvarez throws a nice looking combination but Gustav bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nice cross by Gustav.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez misses with the combination.
Gustav lands a nice shot to the body.
A bone on bone clash there as Gustav blocks the leg kick.
Some wild striking there from Alvarez.
Gustav throws a right and a left that both miss.
Alvarez seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Gustav in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Some wild striking there from Alvarez.
Alvarez misses with a series of wild punches.
Alvarez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gustav moves away.
Alvarez has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Alvarez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gustav showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Alvarez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gustav ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Alvarez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Alvarez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gustav rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Alvarez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gustav slips under a jab from Alvarez.
Alvarez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gustav.
Alvarez throws a series of punches but Gustav avoids them all with ease.
Gustav looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Alvarez looks to score with a jab to the body but Gustav is just out of range.
Gustav is looking for the big counter here.
Gustav slips under a jab from Alvarez.
Alvarez misses with an uppercut.
A punch combination from Alvarez misses.
Alvarez throws a head kick but Gustav moves out of range.
Alvarez swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gustav scores with a three punch combo!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alvarez ducks under a wild hook from Gustav.
A slow jab from Alvarez misses its intended target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Alvarez. Gustav does a little dance to reset his feet.
Alvarez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Alvarez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Marcus Gustav has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alvarez works over Gustav's head and body with a nice combination.
Gustav lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
No joy there for Alvarez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gustav lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Alvarez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alvarez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gustav moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Alvarez throws an overhand right that lands on Gustav's shoulder, as Gustav tries to avoid the shot.
A lazy body kick from Alvarez
and Gustav counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hakeen Alvarez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Alvarez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gustav is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Alvarez with a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Hakeen Alvarez.
Well Alvarez 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!