PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Saul Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Tyson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alvarez comes into the arena with Survivor - 'Burning Heart' blaring out of the sound system. Tyson is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: 2pac - Uppercut. Mike Tyson has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Alvarez
vs
Tyson

175 cm
29
163 lbs
9 - 10 - 2

179 cm
34
170 lbs
26 - 15 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 - 10 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Saul Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Tyson!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tyson throws a right hand that Alvarez ducks under and follows up with a left that Alvarez also avoids with ease.
Tyson has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Tyson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Alvarez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Alvarez ducks under a wild hook from Tyson.

Alvarez gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Alvarez keeping moving, preventing Tyson from controlling successfully.
Tyson won't allow Alvarez to sweep him here.
Tyson wants to control from the top but Alvarez keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tyson preventing the sweep.
Tyson throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tyson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tyson postures up in Alvarez's guard and throws a big left but Alvarez blocks it.
Tyson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Some wild striking there from Alvarez.
Alvarez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Tyson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Tyson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alvarez swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tyson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tyson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tyson passes into half guard.
Tyson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Alvarez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tyson.
Tyson winds up and cracks Alvarez with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Alvarez on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Alvarez tries to get out of the position.
Tyson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Tyson lands a nice short elbow.
Tyson controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tyson with the ground and pound but Alvarez uses the opportunity to regain guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tyson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tyson lands a couple of digs.
Tyson is looking to work some ground and pound but Alvarez has wrist control.
Tyson connects with a couple of short punches.
Tyson throws a big right hand that misses.
Tyson is looking to work some ground and pound but Alvarez has wrist control.
Tyson trying to control the position from guard on top but Alvarez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tyson stands up over Alvarez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tyson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alvarez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Alvarez wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tyson avoids the body shot from Alvarez.
Mike Tyson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tyson avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Tyson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Alvarez momentarily.
Alvarez works the jab nicely.
Tyson throws a right and a left that Alvarez avoids nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Tyson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Tyson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Tyson dominated that round.
That's time! Alvarez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A swing and a miss from Tyson.
Tyson throws a combination that misses
and Alvarez counters with a nice body shot.
Mike Tyson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alvarez checks a low kick from Tyson.

Tyson pushes Alvarez up against the cage in a clinch.
Tyson scores with a nice hook to the head.
Alvarez is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Tyson being controlled against the cage.
I was talking to Alvarez's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Tyson tries for a takedown but Alvarez manages to get underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A short uppercut from Alvarez.
Tyson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Saul Alvarez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Tyson.
A shot in the inside from Tyson.
Alvarez gets underhooks to prevent Tyson's takedown attempt.
Alvarez taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez has Tyson pushed against the cage.

Alvarez breaks the clinch.
Alvarez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tyson manages to avoid it.
Alvarez misses with a few strikes there.
Tyson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Tyson tries to bum rush Alvarez with a series of wild strikes but Alvarez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A looping hook to the body misses from Alvarez. Tyson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tyson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Alvarez defends it nicely.
Tyson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Alvarez misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tyson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Alvarez as he jumps to the side.
Tyson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Alvarez misses with a lunging right hand
and Tyson counters with a left and a right that stings Alvarez.
Tyson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Alvarez as he jumps to the side.
Tyson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Alvarez dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tyson. That did some damage!
Alvarez just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tyson throws a right hand that Alvarez ducks under and follows up with a left that Alvarez also avoids with ease.
Saul Alvarez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Alvarez misses with a double jab
and Tyson counters with a nice leg kick.
Tyson throws a sloppy head kick
and Alvarez counters with an inside leg kick.
Tyson tries to clinch up but Alvarez circles away and keeps his distance.
Tyson moves to clinch but Alvarez breaks away
and Alvarez counters with a good low kick that Tyson was not able to check.
Alvarez scores with a leg kick.
Tyson shoots in for a takedown but Alvarez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tyson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Alvarez throws a jab but it's blocked by Tyson.
Tyson connects with a nice looking jab.
Alvarez lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Tyson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Alvarez but Alvarez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tyson slips under a jab.
Tyson ducks right into an uppercut from Alvarez.
Jab from Alvarez.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Alvarez takes the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saul Alvarez dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Tyson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Alvarez defends it nicely.
Tyson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Alvarez avoids it really well and circles away.
Tyson shoots for a double leg takedown but Alvarez sprawls well. He's pushed Tyson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Saul Alvarez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Tyson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tyson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tyson shoots in looking for a takedown. Alvarez tries to sprawl out of it but Tyson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Alvarez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tyson closes the distance and clinches up with Alvarez, looking for a takedown. Tyson pushes Alvarez against the cage but Alvarez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Alvarez chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Alvarez throws a body punch but Tyson moves out of range.
Alvarez slaps away a takedown attempt from Tyson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nice cross by Alvarez.
Jab from Alvarez.

Tyson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Alvarez napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tyson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Alvarez is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Tyson throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Alvarez defending against the ground and pound.
Tyson working the head with strikes.
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!
Tyson in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez is looking for a sweep.
Tyson fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Alvarez avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Tyson.

Tyson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Alvarez is looking for a sweep.

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.
Alvarez regains half guard there - taking advantage of Tyson's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Alvarez moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Tyson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tyson throws a big elbow that misses.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Tyson throws a big elbow that misses.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Alvarez throws a leg kick which misses Tyson's front leg but catches the back leg as Tyson tries to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Saul Alvarez.
I think Alvarez has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Saul Alvarez!
A victorious Saul Alvarez thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.