PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hakeen Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seventh Sleeper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Alvarez
vs
Sleeper

181 cm
22
205 lbs
6 - 2 - 1

190 cm
19
223 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 6 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Hakeen Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Seventh Sleeper!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Andrew Berry and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sleeper showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Alvarez.
Sleeper swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Alvarez throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Sleeper jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sleeper takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Alvarez swings for the body but Sleeper moves out of range.
Sleeper doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Sleeper has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Alvarez connects with a leg kick. Sleeper looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Alvarez tries a head kick but it misses.
Alvarez misses with a double jab.
Sleeper has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Alvarez.
Some wild striking there from Alvarez.
Sleeper throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice defenses there by Alvarez.
Alvarez takes one on the chin but seems OK.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alvarez turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Alvarez scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Alvarez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sleeper.
Sleeper is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Alvarez with a body shot.

Sleeper has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sleeper slows down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sleeper swings wildly with an uppercut but Alvarez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Alvarez tries to circle away but Sleeper has him pinned against the cage.
Sleeper goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sleeper misses with some punches.
Sleeper gets through Alvarez's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Sleeper on the inside.
Sleeper keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Alvarez's efforts to push away.
Sleeper keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Alvarez's efforts to push away.
Sleeper tries to throw a body punch but Alvarez avoids it by throwing Sleeper back against the cage.
Alvarez managing to block the knees to the body from Sleeper.
Alvarez stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sleeper misses with the head strike.
I was talking to Alvarez's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Sleeper trying to land knees to the body.
Sleeper missing with knees to the body.
A short left from Sleeper.
Sleeper trying to land knees to the body.
Sleeper working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Sleeper lands with a right to the head.
Sleeper tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sleeper misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Alvarez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sleeper smiles and moves away.
Sleeper missing with a left hand there. Alvarez was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A telegraphed right hand from Sleeper misses the target.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sleeper has Alvarez pushed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sleeper throws a head punch that misses.
Sleeper lands a left hand that snaps the head of Alvarez backwards.
Alvarez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Alvarez trying to stall but Sleeper improves his position.
Sleeper lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Alvarez.
A shot in the inside from Sleeper.

It looks like Hakeen Alvarez has been cut.
Sleeper misses with a hook to the ribs.
A right handed body shot lands from Sleeper.
Alvarez takes a shot to the head.
Sleeper swings wildly with an uppercut but Alvarez uses good head movement to avoid it.

Sleeper's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alvarez moves away from the strike by Sleeper.
Alvarez lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Sleeper backs up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sleeper throws a big shot that misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sleeper lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Alvarez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Alvarez scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Sleeper throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sleeper scores with the left hand. Alvarez knows he should have avoided that one.
Alvarez misses with a few strikes there.
Alvarez scores with a hook.
Alvarez tries to bum rush Sleeper with a series of wild strikes but Sleeper uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nice cross by Sleeper.
Alvarez with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Sleeper to score with a decent uppercut.

Sleeper fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Alvarez, pushing him back against the cage.
Sleeper tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Alvarez's elbow.
Sleeper gets through Alvarez's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Alvarez misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sleeper displaying some good clinch control by pressing Alvarez up against the cage.
Alvarez prevents a body shot from Sleeper.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seventh Sleeper dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hakeen Alvarez's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sleeper misses with a looping left.
Sleeper throws a looping overhand right but Alvarez ducks down to avoid it.
Sleeper throws a body shot but no joy.

Sleeper rushes Alvarez and presses him up against the cage.
Sleeper has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Alvarez is looking to break free of the clinch but Sleeper has double underhooks.
Sleeper is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Alvarez is defending well for now.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Alvarez is looking to take this one to the mat.
Sleeper lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Alvarez tries to break the clinch but Sleeper is controlling the position.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sleeper.
Sleeper has a couple of punches blocked by Alvarez.
Sleeper misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sleeper misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Alvarez.
Alvarez blocking some punches.
Sleeper working aggressively here.
Alvarez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sleeper smiles and moves away.
Sleeper misses with a looping left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez throws a body punch but Sleeper moves out of range.
Alvarez slips a jab from Sleeper.
Sleeper might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Alvarez scores with a nice right hand.
Alvarez swinging wildly here.
Alvarez scores with a shot to the body.
Sleeper misses the shot to the body.
A jab from Alvarez misses.
Sleeper looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Sleeper throws a shot from downtown. Alvarez moves away and avoids it.
Sleeper changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Sleeper 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.

Sleeper has closed the distance and engaged Alvarez in a clinch.
Alvarez dodges an elbow strike from Sleeper.
Sleeper working aggressively here.
Sleeper lands a hook that snaps the head of Alvarez backwards.
Sleeper holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Sleeper lands a left hand that snaps the head of Alvarez backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez blocking some punches.
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!
Sleeper lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sleeper creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Alvarez wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sleeper misses with the head strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Alvarez.
Sleeper fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A body shot lands from Sleeper.

Alvarez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Alvarez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sleeper appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Sleeper swinging wildly here.
Alvarez throws a right and a left that Sleeper avoids nicely.
Sleeper lands with an overhand left.
Alvarez lets loose with a powerful body kick. Sleeper will feel that in the morning.
Alvarez misses with a two punch combination.
Alvarez is looking to wear down Sleeper with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sleeper lands with a nice body punch.
Sleeper avoids a kick to the body.
Alvarez blocks a jab.
Sleeper darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Alvarez ducks under a wild hook from Sleeper.
Alvarez went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Sleeper misses the jab.
Alvarez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sleeper cracks Alvarez with a good jab.
Alvarez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sleeper.
Alvarez fails to land with a series of punches.
Alvarez misses with a head kick.
Sleeper connects with a body shot that sends Alvarez's belly button to the back.
Sleeper throws a shot from downtown. Alvarez moves away and avoids it.
Sleeper looks to throw the jab but Alvarez is out of range.
Alvarez staying out of range there.
Sleeper lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Sleeper moves into the clinch.
Sleeper misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sleeper struggles to land a body shot inside as Alvarez controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sleeper misses with some punches.
Alvarez wants to break the clinch but can't.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Alvarez.

Alvarez breaks the clinch.
Nice uppercut there from Alvarez.
Sleeper misses with a looping left.
Alvarez throws a body kick that misses.
A slow jab from Sleeper misses its intended target.
A combination from Alvarez does no damage.
Sleeper looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Alvarez throws a head kick but Sleeper moves out of range.
Alvarez staying out of range there.
Alvarez swats away the attempt to clinch by Sleeper.
Alvarez takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Sleeper scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A left lands for Sleeper.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seventh Sleeper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Hakeen Alvarez's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Sleeper bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Alvarez throws a nice looking combination but Sleeper bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Alvarez throws a series of punches but Sleeper moves out of range.
Sleeper moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Sleeper slips a jab and a cross from Alvarez.
Alvarez throws a right hand that Sleeper ducks under and follows up with a left that Sleeper also avoids with ease.
Sleeper throws a poor cross that misses
and Alvarez counters with a three punch combo that has Sleeper backing up. Sleeper nods at Alvarez to acknowledge the strikes.
Sleeper tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Alvarez was well out of range. Poor timing from Sleeper.
Alvarez seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Alvarez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sleeper swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Alvarez.
Sleeper misses with an uppercut. Alvarez saw that one coming.
Sleeper throws a big shot that misses.
Hakeen Alvarez is winning the standup battle so far.
Nice uppercut lands for Sleeper. That snapped Alvarez's head back.
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!
Sleeper on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Sleeper throws a hook to the side of Alvarez's head but Alvarez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Left hook, right uppercut from Alvarez.
Sleeper lands a slapping body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Alvarez connects with a nice looking jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sleeper. Alvarez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Some wild striking there from Alvarez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Sleeper tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alvarez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sleeper misses with a wild body shot.
Alvarez defending well as Sleeper loads up on a big left hand.
Sleeper misses with a body shot.
Sleeper missing with a left hand there. Alvarez was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Alvarez is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Alvarez throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Alvarez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sleeper wants to counter with a clinch but Alvarez pushes him away.
Sleeper tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Alvarez was well out of range. Poor timing from Sleeper.
Alvarez takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Hakeen Alvarez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Sleeper gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Alvarez blocks an uppercut.
Sleeper lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Alvarez breaks from the clinch.
Seventh Sleeper is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sleeper getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sleeper drives through and clinches with Alvarez against the cage.
Alvarez can't break the clinch.
Alvarez throws a punch but it's blocked by Sleeper.
Alvarez tries to break free but Sleeper pushes him back against the cage.
Sleeper tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Alvarez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Alvarez moves away from the strike by Sleeper.
It looked like Alvarez wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Alvarez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sleeper misses with a right hand
and Alvarez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Sleeper smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Sleeper has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sleeper there as he acknowledges the shot.
Sleeper scores with the left hand. Alvarez knows he should have avoided that one.
Alvarez avoids the body shot from Sleeper.
Alvarez takes one to the side of the head.
Sleeper sizes up Alvarez with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Alvarez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Alvarez lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sleeper. Alvarez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Seventh Sleeper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sleeper scores with a hook to the body. Alvarez takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Sleeper on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
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 throws a head kick that misses.
Sleeper looks to land a right hand but Alvarez moved out of range.
Alvarez ducks under a wild hook from Sleeper.
Alvarez is looking for a counter combo.
Sleeper misses with a straight right.
Alvarez throws a series of punches but Sleeper avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sleeper ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Alvarez moves away.
Sleeper scores with a jab.
Alvarez throws a big shot that misses.
Sleeper throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sleeper throws out a powerful jab.
Alvarez swinging wildly here.
Alvarez throws a chopping leg kick but Sleeper manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Sleeper dips to his left and cracks Alvarez with an uppercut!

Sleeper gets a clinch.
Alvarez has had enough of the clinch but Sleeper keeps him there for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Alvarez manages to break the clinch.
Hakeen Alvarez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alvarez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sleeper tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Seventh Sleeper.
Well Sleeper 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Seventh Sleeper!
Seventh Sleeper took some time post fight to say the following; 'My retirement fight'.