PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Whorely Alvarez (ranked 1734 p4p, 231 weight class) and Virgil Van Dijk (ranked 2531 p4p, 312 weight class). 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
Van Dijk

185 cm
28
185 lbs
11 - 14 - 0

184 cm
28
184 lbs
10 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Whorely Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Virgil Van Dijk!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Aafke Stam and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A right-left combo lands from Van Dijk.
Alvarez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Alvarez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Van Dijk did well to prevent Alvarez getting side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alvarez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Alvarez is looking to advance position but Van Dijk won't allow it.

Van Dijk looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Van Dijk tries to roll over but Alvarez keeps him under control.

Alvarez is working for a kimura but Van Dijk is defending it quite comfortably.
Van Dijk trying to control from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Van Dijk keeps working.
Alvarez lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Alvarez has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Alvarez trying to control the action but Van Dijk is working from the bottom.
Van Dijk blocking the ground and pound attempt from Alvarez.
Alvarez prevents Van Dijk from improving his position.
Alvarez is looking to take a break and control but Van Dijk is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Van Dijk keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Van Dijk is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Alvarez wants to pass to mount but Van Dijk is defending the position.
Van Dijk makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Van Dijk.
Alvarez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Alvarez postures up in Van Dijk's guard and throws a big left but Van Dijk blocks it.
Alvarez preventing the sweep.
Alvarez passes into half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Alvarez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Alvarez sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alvarez looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Van Dijk with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Alvarez is stalling here. Van Dijk is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Alvarez seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Van Dijk has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Whorely Alvarez will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Alvarez cracks Van Dijk with an uppercut from hell and Van Dijk crumples to the canvas, he's out! Oh no, he's recovered and he's grabbed one of Alvarez's legs and pulled him into guard. The ref thought about stopping it there but he's let it go - good reffing!

Van Dijk is rocked!
Van Dijk is trying to keep Alvarez in close.
Van Dijk looking for a sweep. Not yet Van Dijk, not yet.
Van Dijk is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Alvarez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Alvarez tries to free his leg and advance position but Van Dijk is retaining full guard.
Alvarez forces his way into half guard.
Van Dijk trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
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!
Alvarez lands a big elbow.
Alvarez avoids the attempt from Van Dijk to control.
Alvarez working the ground and pound effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Van Dijk is in all sorts of trouble here.
Alvarez working Van Dijk over with strikes here.
Van Dijk is looking to improve his position but Alvarez isn't that keen on the idea.
Alvarez lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Alvarez trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Alvarez dominating with strikes here.
Van Dijk is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Van Dijk is in a horrible position here. Alvarez smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Van Dijk is still in real trouble! Can Alvarez finish him?
Alvarez postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Van Dijk in real trouble here! The ref calls for Van Dijk to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Whorely Alvarez!
Whorely Alvarez bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.