PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rod Raskolnikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darwingh Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Darwingh Alvarez is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Raskolnikov
vs
Alvarez

173 cm
18
146 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
20
140 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Decent elbows
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rod Raskolnikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Darwingh Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Gwen Towbar and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Raskolnikov rushes Alvarez and presses him up against the cage.
Alvarez fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Raskolnikov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Alvarez is looking for a takedown.
Raskolnikov slows down the pace here.
Raskolnikov throws an elbow but it misses.
Raskolnikov will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Alvarez up against the cage.
Raskolnikov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Alvarez blocks an elbow strike.
Alvarez blocks an elbow strike from Raskolnikov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raskolnikov throws an elbow but it misses.
Alvarez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Raskolnikov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rod Raskolnikov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darwingh Alvarez.
Raskolnikov throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Raskolnikov creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Alvarez's defenses.
Raskolnikov lands an elbow inside that Alvarez shrugs off.
Raskolnikov stalling in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Raskolnikov.
Raskolnikov pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Alvarez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Alvarez shoots in and drives through. Raskolnikov sprawls well.
Raskolnikov moves out of range of the body kick from Alvarez.
Raskolnikov is looking to counter the offense by Alvarez and move into the clinch.

Raskolnikov forces Alvarez back against the cage and clinches.
Alvarez is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Raskolnikov misses with an elbow over the top.
Raskolnikov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Raskolnikov throws an elbow but misses.
Raskolnikov pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Alvarez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Raskolnikov smiles and moves away.
Alvarez shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Raskolnikov eats them both and turns towards Alvarez to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Nice sprawl there from Raskolnikov as Alvarez shoots in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Raskolnikov takes the fight into the clinch.
Alvarez has Raskolnikov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Raskolnikov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
The referee calls for Raskolnikov to work.
Raskolnikov throws an elbow but it misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Raskolnikov scores a nice knee to the body.
Alvarez looks winded!
Alvarez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Raskolnikov walks away with a smile on his face. Alvarez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Alvarez shoots in for a double leg but Raskolnikov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Alvarez shoots and misses

and Raskolnikov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Alvarez takes an elbow to the forehead.
Raskolnikov controlling the action here for a moment.
Nice elbow from Raskolnikov.

Alvarez is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clinched against the cage, Raskolnikov lands a big elbow that drops Alvarez! The ref dives in to save him from more shots - Alvarez is complaining that he's OK but he was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:09 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rod Raskolnikov!