PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tyler Alvarez (ranked 1378 p4p, 1067 weight class) and Jian Zhao (ranked 192 p4p, 155 weight class). Zhao has chosen GZA - Shadowboxin' as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. This should be a great matchup!

Alvarez
vs
Zhao

183 cm
24
157
9 - 4 - 0

173 cm
24
155
10 - 5 - 1

Great wrestler
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

Altitude Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tyler Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 1, fighting out of New York, Jian Zhao!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zhao swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zhao goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Alvarez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zhao throws out the jab.
Zhao throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Alvarez counters with a single leg into guard. Zhao didn't expect that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zhao keeping moving, preventing Alvarez from controlling successfully.
Zhao not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez trying to control but Zhao is working from the bottom.
Alvarez passes into half guard.

Alvarez is trying to work for a kimura but Zhao is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Alvarez is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Zhao is surviving well by controlling Alvarez's body position as best he can.
We've been hearing that Alvarez has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Alvarez punching from mount but Zhao doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Alvarez lands a couple of good shots and Zhao has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Alvarez tries to get the hooks in deep but Zhao pushed the leg off.
Alvarez throwing sloppy strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zhao is in a bad position with Alvarez working for a choke. Zhao manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.
Alvarez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Zhao controls the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zhao won't allow Alvarez to sweep him here.

Alvarez working for a triangle but Zhao defends it easily.
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 looking to control.
Zhao pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Alvarez is keeping the position for now.
Zhao trying to control the position from guard on top but Alvarez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zhao can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Zhao is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Let's hope that Zhao has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Zhao must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Zhao trying to control the position from guard on top but Alvarez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Zhao stays in close to Alvarez's body and controls the position.
Zhao passes Alvarez's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Zhao 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.
Well, if Zhao is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Alvarez wants to improve his position but Zhao is controlling well.
Alvarez is working hard here to advance position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zhao controlling the action here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Alvarez on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Alvarez dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Alvarez misses with a right hand
and Zhao counters with a stiff right hand.
A slapping body kick lands there for Zhao.
Jian Zhao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zhao looks to score with a jab to the body but Alvarez is just out of range.
Zhao throws a push kick but Alvarez slaps the foot to one side.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zhao sprawls well. Zhao wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Alvarez gets slowly back to his feet.
It seemed like Zhao was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Alvarez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhao connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Alvarez shoots for a double leg takedown but Zhao sprawls well. He's pushed Alvarez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyler Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zhao lands with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhao works the jab nicely.
Zhao comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Zhao bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zhao appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Zhao is looking to land body kicks.
Zhao just misses with a punch to the body.
Alvarez feinted with a counter takedown.
Zhao lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Zhao jabs at Alvarez's body.
Zhao dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Alvarez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Zhao misses the jab.
Alvarez walks into a stiff left hand from Zhao.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhao fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Alvarez checks it well.
Zhao lands a front kick.
Jian Zhao is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zhao misses with a kick to the body.
Zhao scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Zhao uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Alvarez.
Alvarez slips a jab from Zhao.
Alvarez tries to counter with a takedown but Zhao is quick to defend against it.
Alvarez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Zhao.
Donk. Alvarez catches Zhao right on the button with a cross.
Alvarez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zhao throws a front kick aimed at Alvarez's knee but Alvarez avoids it well.
Zhao throws a chopping leg kick but Alvarez manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez throws an overhand right that lands on Zhao's shoulder, as Zhao tries to avoid the shot.
Alvarez's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Zhao connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Alvarez scrambles back to his feet.
Alvarez scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Zhao pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Alvarez gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Zhao.
Zhao has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Crunch! Zhao slams his shin into Alvarez's torso.
A jab from Alvarez misses.
Zhao throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Zhao has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.

Zhao cracks Alvarez with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Zhao has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Alvarez to stand back up!

Alvarez is rocked!

It looks like Tyler Alvarez has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zhao circles away before darting back in with a big straight right hand. It connects beautifully and sends Alvarez tumbling to the canvas! He's out cold! Zhao wins by KO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Jian Zhao!
During a confident post fight interview, Jian Zhao thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.