PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcio Alvarez (ranked 3662 p4p, 14809 weight class) and Felix Sturm (ranked 92 p4p, 161 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Alvarez
vs
Sturm

173 cm
39
165
15 - 11 - 0

180 cm
45
162
29 - 11 - 0

Great wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Very strong

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marcio Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Felix Sturm!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Edson Gomes and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sturm fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Alvarez has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Alvarez misses with a takedown attempt

and Sturm counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Alvarez manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Sturm keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Alvarez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Alvarez decides to pull guard.
Sturm is looking to advance position but Alvarez has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

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 sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Alvarez has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Sturm tries to hold on but Alvarez pushes him away.
Alvarez controlling the position easily from mount.
Sturm is squirming around, avoiding Alvarez's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alvarez stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Alvarez pushes Sturm up against the cage in a clinch.
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 Sturm walks away with a smile on his face. Alvarez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcio Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sturm.
A slow jab from Sturm misses its intended target.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Alvarez.
Alvarez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sturm counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Alvarez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Alvarez pulls Sturm into guard.
Alvarez wants to sweep but no luck.
Sturm stands and throws Alvarez's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Sturm really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Alvarez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sturm wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Alvarez is working hard here to advance position.
Alvarez looking for a sweep but Sturm has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Alvarez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sturm can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Alvarez is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Sturm thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sturm is keen to just control but Alvarez is a slippery customer.
Alvarez is looking to improve his position.
Alvarez is controlling Sturm's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sturm trying to control from half guard but Alvarez is working away.
Alvarez moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Alvarez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Alvarez is controlling Sturm's posture.
Sturm pushes down on Alvarez's leg and manages to get into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marcio Alvarez dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sturm tries a head kick but it misses.
Sturm throws a sloppy body shot
and Alvarez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Alvarez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sturm counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sturm fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Alvarez manages to avoid it.
Alvarez tries to counter by clinching up but Sturm breaks away and moves out of range.
Sturm is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Alvarez.
Alvarez shoots for a double leg takedown but Sturm sprawls well. He's pushed Alvarez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Alvarez dives in and grabs Sturm's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sturm pushes down on Alvarez's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcio Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice uppercut there from Sturm.
Nice uppercut lands for Sturm. That snapped Alvarez's head back.
Sturm lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Alvarez is looking to clinch but Sturm is avoiding it.
Alvarez takes one on the button.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sturm lunges at Alvarez with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Alvarez's hand.
Sturm works Alvarez's body with a nice hook.
Sturm lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Alvarez is looking to clinch but Sturm is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sturm thuds a left hand into Alvarez's body.
Alvarez has his takedown stuffed
and Sturm counters with a nice uppercut.
Alvarez takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Sturm avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sturm looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Alvarez is defended easily by Sturm.
Alvarez moves to clinch but Sturm breaks away
and Sturm counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown but Sturm shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Alvarez fails with an attempt to clinch.

Sturm shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Alvarez's guard.
Alvarez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sturm seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Alvarez holds on and takes a little breather.
Sturm trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sturm trying to control but Alvarez is working from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Sturm trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Alvarez moves to clinch but Sturm breaks away
and Sturm connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sturm slaps away a takedown attempt from Alvarez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Alvarez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sturm pinned against the cage. Sturm gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Sturm closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Alvarez's guard.
Alvarez wants to get back to his feet but Sturm passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alvarez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sturm trying to control from half guard but Alvarez is working away.
Alvarez regains full guard. Nicely done.
Alvarez pulls Sturm in close to prevent any damage.
Alvarez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Felix Sturm showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Alvarez shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sturm manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Alvarez content to stall in guard here.
Alvarez trying to control but Sturm is working from the bottom.

Alvarez gets to his feet. Sturm looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Sturm tests Alvarez's chin there with a solid looking shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sturm moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Sturm plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Sturm tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Alvarez was well out of range. Poor timing from Sturm.
Alvarez seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Nice takedown defense from Sturm. No joy for Alvarez on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sturm avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Alvarez dives in for a single leg takedown but Sturm sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcio Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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

Alvarez drives through and clinches with Sturm against the cage.
Sturm tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Alvarez's elbow.

Sturm breaks from the clinch.
Alvarez takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Sturm swats away the attempt to clinch by Alvarez.
Sturm swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Sturm scores with a jab. Alvarez acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Good exchange - Sturm coming out on top.
Sturm throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Alvarez on the side of the head.
Sturm has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Sturm scores with a punch to the head.
Sturm's corner calls for a 1-2. Sturm obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Alvarez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sturm counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown but Sturm shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alvarez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Alvarez walks into a left hand.
Alvarez takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Sturm ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sturm lands a jab to the nose.
Sturm lands with a nice body punch.
Alvarez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sturm fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Sturm jabs at Alvarez's body.
Sturm scores with a hook to the body. Alvarez takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez closes the distance and clinches up with Sturm, looking for a takedown. Alvarez pushes Sturm against the cage but Sturm circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sturm wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Alvarez wants to clinch up but Sturm keeps it at a distance.
Alvarez with a poor takedown
enabling Sturm to counter with a crisp jab.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sturm as he avoids it easily.
Sturm scores with a jab to the body.
Sturm works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Sturm drives through and clinches with Alvarez against the cage.
Alvarez tries to pull guard but Sturm holds him up against the cage and eventually Alvarez drops back down to his feet.
Sturm scores with a hook to the body.
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.
A shot in the inside from Sturm.
Sturm scores with a shoulder strike.

Alvarez is rocked!
Sturm lands a left hand that snaps the head of Alvarez backwards.
Oh Alvarez is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sturm creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Alvarez with a big uppercut! Alvarez tries to clinch up but Sturm pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Alvarez to the mat! Alvarez covers up and Sturm unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Felix Sturm!
As Felix Sturm got his breath back, he grabbed the microphone and managed to blurt out the following: I'm just too good for these guys, nobody else is beating me i'm the best fighter in this division. '.