PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Marat Gafurov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruno Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gafurov comes to the cage accompanied by Queen – I Want To Break Free. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Gafurov
vs
Alvarez

175 cm
24
154 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

172 cm
25
147 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

Underworld Clothing /w 90% Laundry
GREEN!160

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marat Gafurov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bruno Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gafurov.
A jab lands there for Gafurov.
Gafurov throws a nice inside leg kick.

Gafurov gets a double leg takedown into Alvarez's guard.
We've been hearing that Gafurov has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Gafurov trying to control but Alvarez is working from the bottom.
Gafurov stops Alvarez from standing up.
Alvarez is trying to control the position but Gafurov postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gafurov trying to control but Alvarez is working from the bottom.
Alvarez controls Gafurov momentarily but Gafurov frees himself.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Alvarez is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gafurov wants to sweep here but Alvarez controlling him for the moment.

Alvarez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gafurov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Alvarez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Alvarez wants to control from the top but Gafurov keeps moving.
Alvarez with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Alvarez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Alvarez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Gafurov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Alvarez defends it easily.
Alvarez trying to control but Gafurov is working from the bottom.
Alvarez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Gafurov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Alvarez defends well.
Alvarez being controlled here momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gafurov has his foot on Alvarez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Alvarez works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez drops back looking for a leg! Gafurov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gafurov manages to kick Alvarez off! Alvarez jumps back into Gafurov's guard.
Gafurov wants to sweep here but Alvarez controlling him for the moment.

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

Gafurov 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.

Gafurov drops back, looking for a kneebar! Alvarez looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Alvarez looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Alvarez!

Gafurov tries to bench press Alvarez off him but Alvarez keeps the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Alvarez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Gafurov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez is trying to get an arm triangle but Gafurov is defending well.
Gafurov struggling a bit here.
Alvarez wants to control but Gafurov is keeping him busy.
Gafurov is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Alvarez is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Alvarez misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Gafurov is looking to improve his position but Alvarez isn't that keen on the idea.
Alvarez unloads with some shots from mount but Gafurov bucks and avoids them well.
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 Marat Gafurov will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Alvarez walks into a jab.
Gafurov connects with a body shot.
Alvarez scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Alvarez throws an overhand right that lands on Gafurov's shoulder, as Gafurov tries to avoid the shot.
Gafurov half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Gafurov avoids the body shot from Alvarez.
Alvarez defending well as Gafurov loads up on a big left hand.
And Alvarez tries to counter it with a takedown but Gafurov pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Gafurov forces Alvarez back against the cage and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gafurov has Alvarez pressed against the cage.
Gafurov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Gafurov just misses with a elbow thrown towards Alvarez's brow.
Gafurov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Gafurov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gafurov holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Gafurov misses with an elbow over the top.
Gafurov throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Alvarez is looking for a takedown.
Gafurov scores with a hook to the body.
Gafurov manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Gafurov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gafurov throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Gafurov throws an elbow that misses.
Gafurov has a couple of punches blocked by Alvarez.
Gafurov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Alvarez blocks an elbow strike from Gafurov.
A frustrated look appears on Alvarez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Gafurov misses with an elbow over the top.
Gafurov unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Gafurov.
Gafurov stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Alvarez takes a shot to the head.
Gafurov will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Alvarez up against the cage.
Gafurov throws an elbow that misses.
Gafurov stops a takedown attempt from Alvarez.
Gafurov lands a hook that snaps the head of Alvarez backwards.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Gafurov lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gafurov is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Alvarez can't fight it off and eventually Gafurov manages to take the fight to the floor. Alvarez looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gafurov trying to control but Alvarez is working from the bottom.
Gafurov passes Alvarez's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gafurov trying to control the action but Alvarez is working from the bottom.
Alvarez won't allow Gafurov to pass to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marat Gafurov dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Gafurov scores with a nice strike.
Gafurov throws a shot from downtown. Alvarez moves away and avoids it.
Gafurov bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Alvarez's head.

Gafurov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Gafurov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Gafurov wants to work for an arm triangle but Alvarez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gafurov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alvarez keeps working.
Alvarez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gafurov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gafurov is keen to just control but Alvarez is a slippery customer.

Gafurov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Alvarez is just riding it out for now. Gafurov eventually gives up the hold.

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

Gafurov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Alvarez is just riding it out for now. Gafurov eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Gafurov is looking for a kimura but Alvarez is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gafurov to get the leverage.

Gafurov is working for a submission of some sort.
Alvarez looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Alvarez looks to land a right hand but Gafurov moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gafurov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Gafurov is looking to advance position but Alvarez won't allow it.
Alvarez wants to control but Gafurov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Alvarez is trying to stand.
Marat Gafurov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gafurov not doing much here.
Gafurov wants to pass the guard but Alvarez is defending well.
Gafurov trying to control the action but Alvarez is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Gafurov seems content to control.
Bruno Alvarez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gafurov is keen to just control but Alvarez is a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Alvarez throws out a loose jab but Gafurov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gafurov misses with a body shot.

Alvarez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gafurov did well to prevent Alvarez getting side control.
Gafurov trying to control from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

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

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Marat Gafurov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gafurov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marat Gafurov!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Marat Gafurov made sure he mentioned GREEN!160, along with how happy he was to win his fight.