PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Gustav (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hakeen Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hakeen Alvarez acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Gustav
vs
Alvarez

187 cm
25
208 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

181 cm
20
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 - 1, fighting out of London, Marcus Gustav!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Hakeen Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Chris Edwards and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gustav walks into a left hand.

It looks like Marcus Gustav has been cut.
Alvarez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Alvarez tries a head kick but it misses.
Gustav misses with a series of wild punches.
Alvarez lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Gustav at a distance.
Alvarez throws a body punch but Gustav moves out of range.
Gustav is looking for a counter combo.
Alvarez misses with a combination
enabling Gustav to counter with a crisp jab.
Nice uppercut there from Alvarez.
Alvarez looks to land a combination but Gustav avoids it well.
Alvarez misses with a wild combination.
Hakeen Alvarez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gustav gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez misses with the body kick
and Gustav counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Gustav showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Alvarez.
Gustav throws a big counter combination but Alvarez scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Gustav displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Alvarez falls off balance throwing a combination
and Alvarez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Alvarez has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Gustav finds it's way round the side to connect with Alvarez's head.
Alvarez thows a left - swing and a miss!
Alvarez swings for the body but Gustav moves out of range.
Alvarez fails to land with a series of punches.
Alvarez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gustav.
Gustav swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alvarez throws a body kick that misses.
Alvarez has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Alvarez misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gustav tries to bum rush Alvarez with a series of wild strikes but Alvarez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Alvarez throws a combination that misses
and Gustav counters with a three punch combo that has Alvarez backing up. Alvarez nods at Gustav to acknowledge the strikes.

It looks like Hakeen Alvarez has been cut.
Alvarez misses with a body shot
and Gustav counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Gustav avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Alvarez takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Alvarez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Alvarez misses with a looping right.
Gustav ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Alvarez throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Gustav on the side of the head.
Sloppy strikes from Alvarez. Those never looked like landing.
Gustav staying out of range there.
Gustav throws a series of punches but Alvarez moves out of range.
Alvarez misses with a double jab.
Gustav lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Alvarez circles away quickly and effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez with a jab.
A big left from Alvarez misses.
Alvarez tries to bum rush Gustav with a series of wild strikes but Gustav uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Alvarez lands a nice shot that snaps Gustav's head back.
Alvarez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gustav was well out of range. Poor timing from Alvarez.
It looked like Gustav was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Alvarez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Alvarez misses with a two punch combination.
Gustav scores with a one two! Alvarez had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Gustav throws a one two combo.
Alvarez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gustav moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alvarez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gustav went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
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.
Alvarez misses with a hook.
Gustav throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Alvarez.
Alvarez throws a wild body kick that Gustav sees coming a mile off.
It looked like Gustav was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Alvarez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez throws a jab but it's blocked by Gustav.
It looked like Gustav was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Gustav uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Alvarez.
Alvarez stalks Gustav and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Gustav's face. Gustav staggers backwards, shaken.

Marcus Gustav's cut is getting worse.
Gustav misses with the combination.
Gustav is breathing heavily.
Alvarez throws a right and a left that both miss.
It looked like Gustav wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Gustav slips a jab and a cross from Alvarez.
Alvarez throws a jab but it's blocked by Gustav.
Alvarez misses with a few strikes there.
Alvarez throws a series of punches but Gustav moves out of range.
Gustav went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alvarez misses with a combination
and Gustav counters with a series of strikes. Alvarez will be more careful next time no doubt.
Alvarez throws a right and a left that both miss.
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 the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gustav tries to bum rush Alvarez with a series of wild strikes but Alvarez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gustav gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Gustav throws a right and a left that both miss.
Alvarez misses with a series of wild punches.
A combination from Alvarez does no damage.
Gustav swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Gustav takes a body punch but keeps moving.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Gustav might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Alvarez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gustav throws a big counter combination but Alvarez scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Alvarez throws a nice looking combination but Gustav bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
It looked like Gustav wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez misses with a double jab
and Gustav counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A punch combination from Alvarez misses.
It looked like Gustav was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Danga de danga de dang - Gustav scores with a four punch combination!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alvarez lands a jab to the nose.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez dodges the punch combination from Gustav.
Gustav misses with a series of wild punches.
Alvarez looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Alvarez misses with a double jab.
Alvarez throws a series of punches but Gustav avoids them all with ease.
Gustav shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Alvarez misses with a series of wild punches.
Gustav with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Alvarez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gustav has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Alvarez misses with a double jab.
Gustav seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Alvarez is breathing heavily.
A left and a right from Alvarez both land. Nice combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alvarez looks to land a combination but Gustav avoids it well.
Gustav rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Alvarez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Alvarez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Alvarez fails to land with a series of punches.
A little feinted left hand from Gustav on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Alvarez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gustav misses with the combination.
Alvarez throws a body shot but no joy.
A punch combination from Alvarez misses.
Gustav is looking for a counter combo.
Gustav misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gustav misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Alvarez scores with a one two! Gustav had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Alvarez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gustav throws a big counter combination but Alvarez scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Gustav slips a jab and a cross from Alvarez.
It looked like Gustav wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Alvarez throws a right and a left that Gustav avoids nicely.
Alvarez tries to bum rush Gustav with a series of wild strikes but Gustav uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hakeen Alvarez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Alvarez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Alvarez misses the shot to the body.
Gustav throws a big counter combination but Alvarez scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Alvarez misses with a hook.
Alvarez misses with a few strikes there.
A slow jab from Alvarez misses its intended target.
A little feinted left hand from Gustav on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Alvarez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Alvarez misses with a combination
and Gustav counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Alvarez thinking.
A punch combination from Gustav misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Alvarez tries a head kick but it misses.
Gustav misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Alvarez throws a left and a right that both miss
and Gustav counters with a two punch combo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alvarez throws a right and a left that Gustav avoids nicely.
Alvarez looks to land a left hand but Gustav moved out of range nicely.
Gustav avoids the body shot from Alvarez.
Alvarez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A little feinted left hand from Gustav on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Alvarez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Alvarez throws a right hand that Gustav ducks under and follows up with a left that Gustav also avoids with ease.
Alvarez misses with a combination
and Gustav counters with a one-two to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakeen Alvarez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Gustav lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Alvarez circles away quickly and effectively.
Alvarez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gustav went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Alvarez tries to bum rush Gustav with a series of wild strikes but Gustav uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gustav throws a big counter combination but Alvarez scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
A combination from Alvarez does no damage.
Alvarez is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Alvarez throws a poor cross that misses
and Alvarez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Alvarez tries to bum rush Gustav with a series of wild strikes but Gustav uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Alvarez misses with a two punch combination.
Gustav throwing a counter right hand but Alvarez manages to avoid it.
Gustav throws a series of punches but Alvarez avoids them all with ease.
Gustav showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Alvarez.
Gustav dodges the punch combination from Alvarez.
Alvarez misses with a body shot.
It looked like Gustav was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Alvarez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gustav connects with a jab.
Gustav tries to bum rush Alvarez with a series of wild strikes but Alvarez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gustav catches Alvarez with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Gustav tests Alvarez's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Alvarez throws a leg kick but Gustav sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Alvarez lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Alvarez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gustav.
Alvarez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A little feinted left hand from Gustav on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Gustav lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Alvarez misses with a double jab
and Gustav counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gustav scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Alvarez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gustav throws a big counter combination but Alvarez scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Alvarez misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gustav avoids a punch combination nicely.
Alvarez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Alvarez misses with a two punch combination.
Alvarez misses with a wild combination.
It looked like Gustav was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Alvarez falls off balance throwing a combination
and Gustav counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Alvarez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gustav.
Gustav scores with a nice right hand.
Alvarez throws out a loose jab but Gustav uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gustav throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez lands with a shot to the body.
Alvarez throws a body shot but no joy.
As Alvarez looks to move away, Gustav throws a big counter combo bu Alvarez just gets out of the way.
Alvarez misses with a double jab
and Gustav counters with a left and a right that stings Alvarez.
Alvarez dodges the punch combination from Gustav.
Some wild striking there from Alvarez.
Alvarez swings away with a body shot that misses
and Gustav counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Alvarez misses with a combination
and Gustav counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Alvarez tries to bum rush Gustav with a series of wild strikes but Gustav uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A punch combination from Gustav misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez throws a right hand that Gustav ducks under and follows up with a left that Gustav also avoids with ease.
Gustav lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gustav throws a hook to the side of Alvarez's head but Alvarez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Alvarez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gustav circles away quickly and effectively.
Alvarez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gustav.
Alvarez misses with the combination.
Marcus Gustav has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alvarez goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Gustav throws a big counter combination but Alvarez scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Gustav is working the combinations to good effect here.
Alvarez misses with a two punch combination.
A lazy left from Alvarez finds it's target.

Marcus Gustav's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Gustav blocks a jab.
Alvarez connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hakeen Alvarez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Some wild striking there from Alvarez.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Hakeen Alvarez.
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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30

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