PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Michael Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Lauzon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alvarez comes to the cage accompanied by Doom. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Alvarez
vs
Lauzon

160 cm
29
145 lbs
18 - 14 - 0

168 cm
27
145 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

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 18 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ben Lauzon!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Ian Loll and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lauzon misses with an uppercut.
Alvarez misses with a body kick.
Alvarez misses with a hook. Lauzon ducked under it nicely.
Lauzon lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Alvarez backs up against the cage.
Donk. Lauzon catches Alvarez right on the button with a cross.
Alvarez slips a jab and a cross from Lauzon.
Lauzon fails with a takedown attempt.
Alvarez tries to counter by clinching up but Lauzon breaks away and moves out of range.
Lauzon throws a jab when Alvarez was well out of range.
Lauzon shoots for a double leg takedown but Alvarez sprawls well. He's pushed Lauzon's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lauzon stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Alvarez.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lauzon looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lauzon comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Lauzon clinches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A bit of stalling here from Alvarez.
Lauzon softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Lauzon drops down looking for an ankle pick but Alvarez pulls his leg out and moves away.
Michael Alvarez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Lauzon.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alvarez closes the distance and clinches.
Lauzon tries to land a knee to the head but Alvarez blocks with his arms.
Lauzon using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Alvarez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lauzon gets through Alvarez's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Lauzon scores with a shot to the side of Alvarez's head.
Alvarez lands a damaging elbow.
Lauzon doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lauzon misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lauzon is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Alvarez lands a body punch.
Lauzon goes for a takedown in the clinch but Alvarez prevents it.
Lauzon misses with some punches.
Lauzon landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Alvarez misses with an elbow over the top.
Alvarez creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Lauzon's defenses.

Alvarez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lauzon misses with a takedown attempt - Alvarez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lauzon lands with a cross.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Alvarez.
Alvarez with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Alvarez lands with a kick to the ribs.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Lauzon crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Alvarez - the referee stops the clock and Lauzon gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Alvarez. Lauzon manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Alvarez feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Lauzon's calf.
Alvarez lets loose with a powerful body kick. Lauzon will feel that in the morning.
Alvarez explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Lauzon misses with the combination.
As Lauzon tries to get set, Alvarez tries to push him back and clinch up but Lauzon manages to avoid the attempt.
Alvarez lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Lauzon has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Alvarez finds it's way round the side to connect with Lauzon's head.
Alvarez thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Lauzon if he has to take too many more of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

Alvarez pushes Lauzon up against the cage in a clinch.
Alvarez misses with an elbow strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Alvarez.
With the fighters up against the cage, Alvarez throws an elbow but misses.
Alvarez misses with a punch to the body.
Lauzon trying to control the position but instead, Alvarez has worked for underhooks and has pushed Lauzon into the cage.
Alvarez misses with a body punch.
Alvarez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Alvarez lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Lauzon lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Lauzon avoids the elbow strike from Alvarez, against the cage.
Lauzon misses with a short punch on the inside.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Come on Alvarez - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Alvarez struggles to land a body shot inside as Lauzon controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lauzon blocks an elbow strike.

Alvarez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Alvarez tests Lauzon's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lauzon attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Alvarez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lauzon is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Lauzon closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Alvarez tries to throw a body punch but Lauzon avoids it by throwing Alvarez back against the cage.

Lauzon tightens his grip and picks Alvarez up, before dumping him to the ground. Alvarez manages to land in guard.
Alvarez wants to stand but Lauzon is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alvarez wants to sweep but no luck.
Lauzon missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alvarez wants to stand and escape but Lauzon is having none of it.
Alvarez has Lauzon pulled in close to control his posture.
Alvarez keeping moving, preventing Lauzon from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Alvarez dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Alvarez misses with a body kick.
Lauzon moves into range and connects with a jab.
Alvarez throws the kick towards the body but Lauzon avoids it.
Alvarez throws a jab but it's blocked by Lauzon.
Michael Alvarez is winning the standup battle so far.
Alvarez throws a body kick that misses.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Lauzon moves out of range of the body kick from Alvarez.
Lauzon throws the left hand but Alvarez avoids the punch easily.
Alvarez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lauzon can do to turn this around?
Alvarez lands with a hook. Lauzon tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Lauzon tries to clinch up.
Alvarez wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Lauzon takes a swing at Alvarez's ribcage but misses.

Lauzon closes the distance and pushes Alvarez back into the cage.
Lauzon has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Alvarez.
Lauzon takes an elbow to the forehead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Lauzon as Alvarez tries to tie him up.
Lauzon gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Michael Alvarez has been cut.
Alvarez misses with a punch to the body.

Alvarez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Alvarez moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lauzon is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A shot in the inside from Lauzon.
Alvarez effectively controlling the action here.
Alvarez lands a nice shot to the body.
Lauzon wants a takedown.
Lauzon tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Lauzon tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Alvarez avoids it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Alvarez creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Alvarez creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Lauzon's defenses.

Alvarez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lauzon lands a jab.
Alvarez is looking to land body kicks.

Lauzon moves into the clinch successfully.
Lauzon tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Alvarez can't find room to land a body shot as Lauzon controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lauzon using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Lauzon has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alvarez looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Alvarez is trying to break the clinch but Lauzon is controlling him.
Alvarez lands a nice shot to the body.
Lauzon misses with a knee to the head.
Alvarez misses with a hook to the ribs.
Lauzon with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Alvarez stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Alvarez works on Lauzon's body with a couple of short punches.
Lauzon takes an elbow to the temple.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Alvarez.

Alvarez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lauzon lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Nice takedown defense from Alvarez. No joy for Lauzon on that attempt.

Alvarez pushes Lauzon up against the cage in a clinch.
Alvarez lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Alvarez lands a hook that snaps the head of Lauzon backwards.
Alvarez lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lauzon avoids a wild elbow strike from Alvarez.
Alvarez taking a breather.
Alvarez stops a takedown attempt from Lauzon.
Michael Alvarez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Lauzon.
Alvarez tries to work over Lauzon's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Alvarez looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Lauzon can't get the takedown.
Alvarez creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Lauzon's defenses.
Alvarez tries a body shot but Lauzon blocks it.
Alvarez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Lauzon takes a shot to the head.
Alvarez comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Lauzon can't get the takedown.
Alvarez comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Lauzon throws a head punch that misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Lauzon throws an elbow but misses.
Nice elbow from Alvarez.

Alvarez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lauzon's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Alvarez connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Lauzon scrambles back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lauzon shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Alvarez pinned against the cage. Alvarez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Alvarez feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Lauzon's calf.
Alvarez lands with a cross.
Alvarez throws a head kick but Lauzon moves out of range.
Lauzon avoids a kick to the body.
Lauzon scores with a jab to the body.
Lauzon avoids the head kick by Alvarez.

Alvarez moves into the clinch.
Alvarez lands an elbow just above Lauzon 's eye.
Alvarez is trying to force a seperation but Lauzon has the dominant position.

Lauzon has clasped his hands together around Alvarez's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Alvarez dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Michael Alvarez's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Alvarez goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Alvarez cracks Lauzon with an open hand slap.
Lauzon defending well as Alvarez loads up on a big left hand.

Lauzon moves into range and clinches up with Alvarez.

Alvarez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Alvarez throws a head kick but Lauzon moves out of range.

Lauzon closes the distance and clinches.
Alvarez is struggling to control the position.
Lauzon avoids a wild elbow strike from Alvarez.
Alvarez tries to work over Lauzon's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Alvarez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lauzon stalling in the clinch.
Lauzon dodges an elbow strike from Alvarez.
Alvarez lands a damaging elbow.
Lauzon tries to pull guard but Alvarez holds him up against the cage and eventually Lauzon drops back down to his feet.
Lauzon fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lauzon avoids the elbow strike from Alvarez, against the cage.
Alvarez displaying some good clinch control by pressing Lauzon up against the cage.
Lauzon is trying to pull guard but Alvarez has him pressed against the cage.
Lauzon lands a hook that snaps the head of Alvarez backwards.
Lauzon goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Alvarez works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Lauzon throws a head punch that misses.
Lauzon blocks an uppercut.

Lauzon gets control of Alvarez's arms and successfully pulls guard. Lauzon will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Alvarez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Alvarez decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Lauzon, up you get!
Alvarez lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Michael Alvarez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Alvarez connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Alvarez is looking to land body kicks.
And Lauzon tries to counter it with a takedown but Alvarez pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lauzon tries to clinch but Alvarez is having none of it.
Lauzon is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Alvarez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lauzon tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alvarez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lauzon fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Michael Alvarez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Lauzon.
Alvarez lands a high kick!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lauzon connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Alvarez momentarily.
Alvarez pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Lauzon tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Alvarez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lauzon shoots for a takedown but Alvarez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Alvarez tries to counter by clinching up but Lauzon breaks away and moves out of range.
Lauzon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lauzon moves out of range as Alvarez throws a body kick.
Lauzon swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Lauzon fails with an attempt to clinch.
Alvarez lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A thudding body kick lands there by Alvarez!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lauzon ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The crowd cheers as Alvarez lands an impressive looking overhand right. Lauzon doesn't seem phased though.
Alvarez throws a wild body kick that Lauzon sees coming a mile off.
Alvarez misses with an attempted mid kick.
Lauzon feints the counter takedown.
Alvarez throws a low kick but Lauzon moves out of range easily.
Alvarez wants to land a leg kick but Lauzon is out of range.
Alvarez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lauzon fails to land the takedown.
Alvarez seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Alvarez throws a body kick that misses.
Ben Lauzon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Alvarez darts in and clinches Lauzon up against the cage.
Lauzon avoids a wild elbow strike from Alvarez.
Alvarez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Alvarez misses with an elbow over the top.
Nice elbow from Alvarez.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez working aggressively here.
Alvarez scores with a shoulder strike.
A bit of stalling here from Alvarez.
Lauzon trying to land knees to the body.
Lauzon swings wildly with an uppercut but Alvarez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Alvarez throws an elbow but it's blocked.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lauzon throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Alvarez blocks it with crossed arms.
Lauzon lands with a light punch inside.
Lauzon fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Alvarez.
Alvarez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
A short right from Lauzon.
Lauzon wants to stall.
Alvarez lands an elbow that stopped Lauzon in his tracks for a moment.
Alvarez lands a body punch in the clinch.
Alvarez avoiding damage as Lauzon throws knees to the body.
Alvarez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Alvarez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Alvarez, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Alvarez!
A very excited looking Michael Alvarez made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.