PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez (ranked 1987 p4p, 259 weight class) and Thomas Watson (ranked 9784 p4p, 798 weight class). Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Florentino Ernesto Alvarez
vs
Watson

180 cm
43
166 lbs
30 - 14 - 1

179 cm
50
175 lbs
32 - 23 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 30 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 23 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thomas Watson!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Watson drives through and clinches with Alvarez against the cage.
Watson pressing his opponent against the cage.

Alvarez is fighting off a takedown attempt but Watson is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Alvarez to the mat. Alvarez regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Alvarez lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Alvarez wants to pass the guard but Watson is keeping the position.
Watson looking for a sweep. Not yet Watson, not yet.
Alvarez slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez is fighting to break Watson's control of his arms but Watson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Alvarez slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez postures up.
Alvarez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Alvarez wants to stand but Watson is controlling his posture from full guard.
Alvarez postures up in Watson's guard and throws a big left but Watson blocks it.

Alvarez drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Watson manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Alvarez has Watson in his guard.

Watson landing some decent shots from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Watson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Watson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Alvarez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Watson throws a strike but Alvarez rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Alvarez is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Watson wants to sweep here but Alvarez controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez trying to control the position from guard on top but Watson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alvarez throwing strikes but missing.
Watson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Watson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Watson trying to keep a closed guard but Alvarez is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Alvarez trying to control but Watson is working from the bottom.
Alvarez stops Watson from standing up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Watson clinches.
Watson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Watson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Watson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Watson lands with a left to the head.
Watson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Alvarez has Watson pressed against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Watson.

Alvarez gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Watson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Alvarez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Watson tries to avoid it but Alvarez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Watson to the ground. Watson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Alvarez shoots in but no luck this time.

Alvarez dives in and scores a takedown into Watson's guard.
Watson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Alvarez is controlling him.
Watson wants to sweep but no luck.
Alvarez makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Alvarez sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Watson's guard.
Watson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Alvarez is working away from the top position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

Watson manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez checks the leg kick.
Alvarez tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Watson defends well and Alvarez ends up having to push Watson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Watson looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Alvarez fails with a takedown attempt.

Alvarez gets tackled into the cage by Watson. Watson maintains the clinch.
Watson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Alvarez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Watson swings wildly with an uppercut but Alvarez uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Watson but Watson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Watson steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Alvarez.
Alvarez ducks under a wild hook from Watson.
Alvarez tries for a takedown but Watson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Alvarez shoots in but Watson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Watson wants to counter the offense by Alvarez and move into the clinch position.
Alvarez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Watson defends it nicely.
Watson wants to counter with a clinch but Alvarez pushes him away.
Alvarez dives in and grabs Watson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Watson pushes down on Alvarez's head and hops out.
Watson throws a low kick but Alvarez avoids it.

Watson has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson is pushing Alvarez up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Alvarez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Watson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Alvarez.

Watson gets a clinch.
Alvarez taking a breather.
A bit of stalling here from Watson.

Alvarez breaks the clinch.
Alvarez jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
No luck for Alvarez with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Alvarez scoring with punches to the head and body.
Alvarez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Alvarez trying to control the position from guard on top but Watson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Watson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Watson wants to control from the top but Alvarez keeps moving.

Alvarez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Watson 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Watson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Alvarez fails with a takedown attempt.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Watson enables Alvarez to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Watson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Alvarez stopping the sweep attempt from Watson.
Alvarez stops Watson from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez preventing the sweep.
Alvarez stays in close to Watson's body and controls the position.
Alvarez won't allow Watson to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Watson manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Alvarez blocks a body shot from Watson.
Watson tries a body shot but Alvarez blocks it.

Alvarez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alvarez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Watson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Alvarez somewhat.
Alvarez avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Watson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Alvarez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Alvarez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Watson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Alvarez tries for a takedown but Watson circles away easily

and Watson moves into the clinch.
Watson misses with some punches.
Alvarez is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Watson is keeping busy.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Watson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Watson.
Watson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Alvarez blocks an uppercut.

Alvarez works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Watson wants to stand up but Alvarez is controlling him.
Alvarez wants to control from the top but Watson keeps moving.
Alvarez postures up.
Watson keeping moving, preventing Alvarez from controlling successfully.
Watson wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Alvarez manages to pass to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson is looking to escape.
Alvarez looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Watson controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Watson tries to get to full guard but Alvarez has control of the leg.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Thomas Watson.
I've got Watson 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Watson!