PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Simon Bates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darwingh Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Simon Bates had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Bates
vs
Alvarez

178 cm
18
143 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

150 cm
22
130 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Simon Bates!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Darwingh Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Stewart Dunkirk and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Alvarez gets a double leg takedown into Bates's guard.
Bates definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Alvarez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Bates looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Alvarez has picked Bates up and slammed him! Bates can't keep hold of the triangle and Alvarez manages to pass to side control!
Alvarez slows the pace down.

Alvarez tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Alvarez has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bates is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez is looking to take a break and control but Bates is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bates manages to work his way to half guard, despite Alvarez's best efforts.

Bates actively working from the bottom here.
Alvarez trying to control from Bates's half guard. Bates has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Bates will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Alvarez slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Alvarez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Bates's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Alvarez passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Bates is looking to regain half guard here but Alvarez keeps moving and retains side control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Alvarez in side control lands a decent elbow.
Alvarez advances to full mount.
Alvarez controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez working Bates over with strikes here.
Alvarez controlling the position easily from mount.
Bates is trying to escape the mount.
Alvarez sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Alvarez landing strikes from the mount and Bates is in trouble!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez with a couple of short strikes.
Alvarez unloading with bombs!
Bates takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Alvarez wants to control the pace but Bates is squirming around nicely.
Alvarez with good strikes from the mount here!
Alvarez trying to control but Bates is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alvarez controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darwingh Alvarez dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Alvarez gets the takedown into side control.
Bates pushes Alvarez away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Alvarez gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Bates tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Alvarez lands a couple of good shots and Bates has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Alvarez lands a shot to the head.

Alvarez is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Bates knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Bates for a finish.

Alvarez is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Bates is defending well though. Alvarez let's go of the attempt for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez is controlling the position but Bates somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.

Alvarez wants to work for an arm triangle but Bates is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Alvarez trying to control from half guard but Bates is working away.

Alvarez looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two 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 frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Alvarez lands a couple of good shots and Bates has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Bates is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bates prevents Alvarez from getting a body triangle.
Darwingh Alvarez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Alvarez lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Bates takes a big shot to the side of the head.

Alvarez is persistently looking for the submission but Bates is defending it well.

Bates is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez is persistently looking for the submission but Bates is defending it well.
Alvarez biding his time, looking for the opening.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alvarez is looking to control Bates but Bates is wriggling around and keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darwingh Alvarez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Bates swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Alvarez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Alvarez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bates counters with a nice uppercut.
Alvarez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Alvarez darts in and clinches Bates up against the cage.
Bates is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Bates tries for a takedown but Alvarez manages to get underhooks.
Bates fails to pull guard.

Alvarez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Bates gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bates 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.

Alvarez stands and steps away. Bates gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bates tries to bum rush Alvarez with a series of wild strikes but Alvarez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bates tries to sprawl but Alvarez drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Alvarez with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Alvarez wants to free his trapped foot but Bates is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Bates tries to kick Alvarez off in order to stand up. Alvarez Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Bates is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Alvarez taking a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bates on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
You can see the frustration on Bates's face as Alvarez controls the position.
Bates wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The referee asks Alvarez politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Alvarez prefers to stall for the moment though.

Alvarez decides to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez has taken the fight to the clinch.

Alvarez jumps guard and drags Bates to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Alvarez is controlling Bates's posture.
Bates throws a big right hand that misses.
Alvarez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Alvarez is adopting a defensive guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez wants to stand and escape but Bates is having none of it.

Bates is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Alvarez is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Alvarez has escaped and now he's on top!

Bates has momentary wrist control but Alvarez slips an elbow through the middle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alvarez controlling from the top position.
Simon Bates has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Darwingh Alvarez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darwingh Alvarez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Alvarez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 26:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 26:30

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