PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mark Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alvarez has chosen The Enemy by Godsmack as his entrance music. 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.

Miller
vs
Alvarez

180 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 1 - 1

180 cm
21
180 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 1 - 1, fighting out of New York, Mark Miller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Josh Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Chad Campbell and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Miller wants to clinch.
Miller is looking to clinch but Alvarez is avoiding it.

Alvarez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Miller wants to get back to his feet.

Alvarez stands up and beckons Miller to join him on the feet.
Alvarez connects with a nice looking jab.
Miller pushes Alvarez away with a front kick.
Miller slaps away a takedown attempt from Alvarez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nice jab there from Miller.
Alvarez shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Miller throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Miller. No joy for Alvarez on that attempt.
Mark Miller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Alvarez.

Miller clinches.
Alvarez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Alvarez looks gassed!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Miller prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Miller is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Alvarez can't fight it off and eventually Miller manages to take the fight to the floor. Alvarez looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Miller would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Miller trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Miller stands up from Alvarez's guard - Miller perhaps looking for a knockout.
Alvarez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Miller is fending him off so far but Alvarez persists. Nope, Miller circles away and we're back to standing.
Miller keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Alvarez keeps the fight on the outside.

Alvarez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Miller is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Miller to get to his feet.
An inside leg kick lands from Miller.
A cross from Miller lands.
Miller tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Miller takes the fight into the clinch.
Alvarez is working for takedown but Miller is calmly controlling the position for now.

Alvarez has picked Miller up - he's going for a ride! Alvarez dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Alvarez wants to stand but Miller has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Alvarez decides to stand and escape the position.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Miller forces Alvarez back against the cage and clinches.
Alvarez wants a takedown.
Alvarez prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miller can't break the clinch.
Miller is pressed up against the cage. Alvarez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Miller down to the mat. Miller avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Alvarez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Miller's waist but Miller gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Alvarez off to one side.
Alvarez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Alvarez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Miller tries to avoid it but Alvarez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Miller to the ground. Miller escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Miller dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Alvarez shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
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!

Miller has one foot on Alvarez's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Miller throws and low kick but Alvarez moves out of range easily.
Miller misses with a hook.
Miller pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Alvarez shoots in and drives through. Miller sprawls well.
Josh Alvarez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alvarez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
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 Mark Miller will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Miller looks to land a combination but Alvarez avoids it well.
Alvarez walks into a stiff left hand from Miller.
Miller pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Miller drives through and clinches with Alvarez against the cage.
Alvarez is working for takedown but Miller is calmly controlling the position for now.
Alvarez is trying to drag Miller to the mat but Miller just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Miller wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Alvarez has him pressed against the cage.
Alvarez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Miller fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Mark Miller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Alvarez.
A cross from Miller lands.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Miller sprawls well. Miller wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Alvarez gets slowly back to his feet.
Alvarez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Miller tries to avoid it but Alvarez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Miller to the ground. Miller escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Miller's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Miller duly obliges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez keeps the fight on the outside.

Miller drives through with a takedown into guard.

Miller decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Alvarez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Alvarez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Miller did well to prevent Alvarez getting side control.

Alvarez decides to stand and escape the position.
Nice sprawl there from Miller as Alvarez shoots in.
Miller looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Alvarez misses with a takedown
and Miller counters with a right hand to the body.
A jab lands there for Miller.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Miller gets back to full guard.
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!
Miller is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Alvarez is controlling him.
Miller not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Alvarez wants to get up but he can't break Miller's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Miller scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Alvarez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Miller circles away.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Miller.
Miller is looking to clinch.
Alvarez checks a leg kick nicely.
Alvarez fails with a takedown attempt.
Miller connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Alvarez momentarily.

Alvarez shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Alvarez was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Alvarez is standing up, even though he is in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez rushes Miller and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Alvarez has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Miller regains guard immediately.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Miller wriggles free and stands up.
Miller works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Alvarez closes the distance looking to clinch
and Miller counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Alvarez shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Miller napping and manages to drive through into side control!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Alvarez stands up and beckons Miller to his feet.

Miller instigates a clinch.
Miller tries to break free but Alvarez pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Alvarez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Alvarez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Miller closes the distance and pushes Alvarez back into the cage.

Miller ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Miller no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Miller has a closed guard, preventing Alvarez from standing up.
Miller lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Alvarez!

Miller stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller lands a with a good body shot.
Alvarez shoots in looking for a takedown. Miller tries to sprawl out of it but Alvarez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Miller manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Alvarez swats away the attempt to clinch by Miller.
Miller misses with a few strikes there.
Mark Miller is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alvarez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Miller sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mark Miller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Alvarez.
Alvarez takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Miller shoots and misses

and Alvarez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Miller regains full guard. Nicely done.
Miller has his hands on Alvarez's head, controlling the position.

Alvarez decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Miller, up you get!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller wants to clinch up but Alvarez keeps it at a distance.

Alvarez instigates a clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Miller is pressed up against the cage. Alvarez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Miller down to the mat. Miller avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Alvarez misses with a takedown attempt
and Miller counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Alvarez is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Miller clinches up against the cage.
Alvarez can't get the takedown.
Alvarez is working for takedown but Miller is calmly controlling the position for now.
Miller prevents a takedown attempt there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alvarez goes for a takedown attempt but Miller pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Alvarez shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Alvarez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller is trying to stand up here but Alvarez is controlling him well.
Miller wants to improve his position but Alvarez is controlling well.

Alvarez stands up and beckons Miller to join him on the feet.
Miller looks to land a right hand but Alvarez moved out of range.
Alvarez misses with a takedown attempt - Miller sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Miller is looking to chop away at Alvarez's legs.
Miller tries to clinch but Alvarez moves out of range.
Alvarez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Miller's waist but Miller gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Alvarez off to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Miller lands a two punch combo.
Alvarez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Miller counters with a three punch combo that has Alvarez backing up. Alvarez nods at Miller to acknowledge the strikes.
Miller tries to clinch

so Alvarez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Miller has a closed guard, preventing Alvarez from standing up.
Alvarez wants to stand and escape but instead Miller has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Miller wants to stand but Alvarez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Miller wants to control from the top but Alvarez keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Alvarez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Alvarez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Alvarez!