PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between La Lawn (ranked 25271 p4p, 362 weight class) and Damien Alvarez (ranked 24815 p4p, 365 weight class). Alvarez is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Big Pun: Off Wit His Head. Damien Alvarez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lawn
vs
Alvarez

150 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

173 cm
18
147 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Blue Moon
Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, La Lawn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Damien Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Alan Glass and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez dips to his left and cracks Lawn with an uppercut!
Lawn closes the distance and clinches up with Alvarez, looking for a takedown. Lawn pushes Alvarez against the cage but Alvarez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Alvarez lands with a hook. Lawn tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Lawn uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Alvarez.
Lawn takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Alvarez connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Alvarez connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Alvarez lands a head shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawn shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Alvarez as he avoids it easily.
Lawn is trying hard to land a takedown here. Alvarez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for La Lawn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lawn with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Alvarez to score with a decent uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez lands with a cross.
Alvarez digs a good body shot into Lawn's ribs.
Lawn could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Alvarez punishes Lawn's body with a nice straight punch.
Damien Alvarez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alvarez scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Lawn uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Alvarez.

Lawn scores with a takedown into Alvarez's guard.
Lawn wants to control from the top but Alvarez keeps moving.

Alvarez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Lawn looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Alvarez working for a triangle but Lawn defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawn slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Alvarez can do anything to dispel that myth.

Lawn avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Lawn wants to control from the top but Alvarez keeps moving.
Alvarez trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Lawn is stalling in the full guard.

Alvarez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez has his foot on Lawn's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lawn works his way back into a safe position though.

Alvarez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lawn defends it easily.

Alvarez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lawn doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lawn manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Alvarez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Lawn looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Alvarez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lawn engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Lawn misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nice takedown defense from Alvarez. No joy for Lawn on that attempt.
Alvarez has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Lawn is landing a low percentage of strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lawn darts in looking for a takedown but Alvarez gets double underhooks and turns Lawn into the cage.
Lawn ducks right into an uppercut from Alvarez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damien Alvarez dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Alvarez throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Lawn on the side of the head.
Good exchange - Alvarez coming out on top.
Alvarez lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Alvarez lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Lawn at a distance.
Lawn has a takedown stuffed.
Lawn needs to keep his hands up - Alvarez had a free shot at his head there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez throws a body punch but Lawn moves out of range.
Alvarez throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Alvarez is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez throws a body punch but Lawn moves out of range.
Alvarez lands with a straight right. Lawn didn't see that one coming.
The crowd cheers as Alvarez lands an impressive looking overhand right. Lawn doesn't seem phased though.
Alvarez lands a jab to the nose.
Alvarez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lawn shoots in for a takedown but Alvarez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Alvarez has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Alvarez lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Alvarez lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Alvarez lands a jab to the head.
Alvarez throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Lawn on the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez digs a good body shot into Lawn's ribs.
Alvarez lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Alvarez tests Lawn's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Alvarez lands a really nice looking cross but Lawn seems unphased.
Lawn closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Alvarez scores with a body shot.
Alvarez jabs at Lawn's body.
Alvarez lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawn will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for La Lawn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alvarez getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Lawn ducks right into an uppercut from Alvarez.
Alvarez throws a good cross that connects.
Lawn shoots in looking for a takedown but Alvarez manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lawn's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Lawn takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Alvarez digs a good body shot into Lawn's ribs.
Lawn takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Lawn on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawn takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Alvarez digs a good body shot into Lawn's ribs.
Alvarez works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alvarez throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Lawn on the side of the head.
Lawn's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Alvarez connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Lawn scrambles back to his feet.
Lawn on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lawn.
Alvarez throws a body shot but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damien Alvarez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Lawn's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Alvarez with a jab.
Lawn takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Alvarez fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Lawn looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Lawn shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Alvarez but Alvarez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Alvarez getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lawn closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Alvarez's guard.
Alvarez lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Alvarez advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez cracks Lawn with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Lawn tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Alvarez wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Alvarez tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Alvarez has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Sloppy strikes there by Alvarez.

Alvarez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lawn knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Lawn can't do much from the bottom here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Alvarez cracks Lawn with a big right hand but Lawn just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Lawn tries to bench press Alvarez off him but Alvarez keeps the position.

Alvarez wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lawn, who protects the arm well.

Alvarez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lawn is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Alvarez tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Alvarez throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
You can see the frustration on Lawn's face as Alvarez controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alvarez scoring with punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawn takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Alvarez working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Alvarez looks up at the clock and then as Lawn takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Alvarez smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Lawn is not content to let Alvarez control the position.
Alvarez is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Lawn's shoulder. That is not cool.
Alvarez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lawn keeps working.
Alvarez lands a few punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez taking a breather here.
Alvarez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lawn keeps working.
Damien Alvarez has got the better of the ground game so far.

Alvarez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lawn is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Alvarez is chipping away with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alvarez controlling the position from side mount.
Alvarez scores with a couple of short elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damien Alvarez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 26:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damien Alvarez!
During a confident post fight interview, Damien Alvarez thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.