PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Alvarez (ranked 915 p4p, 139 weight class) and Harry Winston (ranked 1372 p4p, 190 weight class). 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.

Alvarez
vs
Winston

187 cm
37
218 lbs
26 - 16 - 2

187 cm
33
207 lbs
13 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Threads of HARDCORE
Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 16 - 2, fighting out of New York, Aaron Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Harry Winston!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Alan Glass and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez misses the shot to the body.
Alvarez throws a leg kick
and Winston cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

It looks like Aaron Alvarez has been cut.
Alvarez doesn't manage to clinch there - Winston circles away.
Winston tests Alvarez's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Alvarez moves out of range of the strikes.
Winston lands a jab-cross combination.

Alvarez rushes Winston and presses him up against the cage.
Alvarez scores with a shoulder strike.

Winston pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Winston has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Alvarez is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Winston misses with a wild body shot.
Alvarez seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Alvarez tries to clinch up but Winston circles away and keeps his distance.
A jab from Alvarez finds it's way through Winston's defenses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alvarez throws a leg kick which misses Winston's front leg but catches the back leg as Winston tries to avoid it.
Alvarez misses with a straight left.
Winston uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Alvarez.
Alvarez tries to clinch up but Winston circles away and keeps his distance.
Alvarez avoids the body shot from Winston.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Alvarez lets loose with a powerful body kick. Winston will feel that in the morning.
Alvarez throws a nice looking combination but Winston bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Winston looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Alvarez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Winston throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Winston looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Alvarez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Winston changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
A combination from Winston does no damage.
Winston throws a lazy right hand but Alvarez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Winston misses with a hook. Alvarez ducked under it nicely.
Alvarez jabs Winston to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Winston throws an overhand right that lands on Alvarez's shoulder, as Alvarez tries to avoid the shot.
Winston misses the jab.
A quick step to the side and Alvarez tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Alvarez takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Winston tries to keep at a distance but Alvarez has taken the fight into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alvarez slows down the pace here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez is struggling to control the position.
Alvarez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Alvarez working some nice short punches in the clinch.
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.
Winston looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Winston escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Alvarez throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Winston on the side of the head.
Alvarez finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Alvarez fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Winston has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Alvarez blocks a jab.
Alvarez takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Alvarez throws a chopping leg kick but Winston manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Winston throws an overhand right that lands on Alvarez's shoulder, as Alvarez tries to avoid the shot.
As Winston tries to get set, Alvarez tries to push him back and clinch up but Winston manages to avoid the attempt.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winston blocks an uppercut.
Winston prevents a body shot from Alvarez.
Alvarez digs a right hand underneath Winston's ribcage. Winston let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Alvarez gets underhooks to prevent Winston's takedown attempt.
Alvarez throws a punch but it's blocked by Winston.
A frustrated look appears on Winston's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Winston blocks a body shot from Alvarez.
Alvarez misses with a short punch on the inside.
Winston blocks an uppercut.

Winston breaks the clinch.
Winston lands a jab.
Winston throws a right and a left that both miss.
Winston misses with a double jab.
Winston with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Alvarez moves into the clinch successfully.
Winston misses with a punch on the inside.
Alvarez lands a hook that snaps the head of Winston backwards.
Alvarez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Winston pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alvarez feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Winston's calf.
Winston throws a lazy right hand but Alvarez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Alvarez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Winston, pushing him back against the cage.
Winston tries to throw a body punch but Alvarez avoids it by throwing Winston back against the cage.

Winston breaks the clinch.
Alvarez blocks a head kick by Winston.
Alvarez rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Winston counters with a series of strikes. Alvarez will be more careful next time no doubt.
Alvarez tries to close the distance and clinch but Winston swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Alvarez tries to clinch but Winston moves out of range.
A slapping body kick lands there for Alvarez.
Winston lands a jab.

Aaron Alvarez's cut is getting worse.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Winston throws a lazy uppercut
and Alvarez counters with a nice kick to the body.

Alvarez closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Winston.
Alvarez tries a body shot but Winston blocks it.
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 Aaron Alvarez will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Aaron Alvarez's cut.
That's time! Alvarez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Alvarez darts in trying to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Alvarez jabs Winston right on the nose. Winston blinks but takes it well.
Alvarez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Winston paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Alvarez gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Harry Winston seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alvarez tries to clinch there but Winston circles away.
Winston just misses with a punch to the body.
Alvarez is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Winston.
Winston tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Winston throws a low kick but Alvarez moves out of range easily.
Alvarez walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Winston misses with the combination.
Alvarez will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Winston will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Alvarez tries to clinch but Winston is having none of it.
Winston looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Alvarez connects with a good right hand that stumbles Winston. Winston circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Alvarez scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Winston misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Winston lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Alvarez misses with a wild body shot.
Winston misses with a double jab.
Harry Winston seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Winston rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Alvarez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Winston looks to land a right hand but Alvarez moved out of range.
Winston takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Winston takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Winston throws a jab when Alvarez was well out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Alvarez closes the distance and pushes Winston back into the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Winston.
Winston blocks an uppercut.
Aaron Alvarez has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A head punch on the inside from Alvarez fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Alvarez throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Alvarez fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Alvarez fails to land.
Alvarez misses with a hook to the ribs.
A right hand to the body from Alvarez.
Alvarez swings wildly with an uppercut but Winston uses good head movement to avoid it.

Winston's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Winston throws a hook but Alvarez avoids it easily.
Winston moves out of range as Alvarez throws a body kick.
Alvarez checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Nice defenses there by Alvarez.
A head kick by Winston misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Winston throws a leg kick but Alvarez checks it.
As Winston tries to get set, Alvarez tries to push him back and clinch up but Winston manages to avoid the attempt.
Alvarez lands with a slapping head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winston throws a jab when Alvarez was well out of range.
Winston cracks Alvarez with a good jab.
Winston loads up on a big right hand but Alvarez slips the punch.

Alvarez instigates a clinch.
Alvarez prevents Winston from breaking the clinch.
Alvarez keeps control of Winston as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The referee calls for Winston to work.
Alvarez softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Alvarez.
Alvarez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Winston jumps guard but Alvarez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Winston blocking some punches.
Alvarez working aggressively here.
Winston tries to throw a body punch but Alvarez avoids it by throwing Winston back against the cage.
Alvarez taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Alvarez fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Winston throws a head punch that misses.
Alvarez throws a head punch that misses.
Alvarez lands a body shot.
Alvarez misses with a punch to the body.
Winston misses with a hook from the clinch.
Winston's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Alvarez trying to stall but Winston improves his position.
Alvarez is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Winston trying to control the position but instead, Alvarez has worked for underhooks and has pushed Winston into the cage.
Winston has a couple of punches blocked by Alvarez.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Winston softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Winston blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Alvarez makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Alvarez.

Winston escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Aaron Alvarez will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Aaron Alvarez's cut.
That's time! Alvarez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Alvarez pivots, looking for a leg kick but Winston is out of range and Alvarez settles back down.
Winston throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Alvarez.
Winston moves out of range of the body kick.
Winston scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Alvarez scores with a jab.
Winston misses with an uppercut.
The fighters circling - Winston throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Alvarez throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A jab from Alvarez does it's job there.
Winston lands a lovely overhand right.
Winston checks the leg kick.
A little jabbing left from Winston on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Alvarez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Winston throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Alvarez works Winston's body with a nice hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alvarez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Winston swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Alvarez is looking to clinch but Winston is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winston scores with a leg kick.
Alvarez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Alvarez lands a nice looking kick to the body. Winston takes a step back to recover.
Winston moves out of range of the body kick.
Winston misses with a head kick.
It looked like Alvarez wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Winston is looking to score with low kicks.
Alvarez lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Winston lands a jab to the head.
Alvarez feints and then cracks Winston's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Winston down.
Winston throws a lazy right hand but Alvarez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Alvarez moves away from the strike by Winston.
Winston swats away the attempt to clinch by Alvarez.
Alvarez fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Winston on the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Winston works Alvarez's body with a nice hook.
Winston is looking to slow Alvarez down with leg kicks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alvarez moves out of range as Winston strikes.
Alvarez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Winston tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Alvarez dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Winston. That did some damage!
Alvarez jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Winston dips to his left and cracks Alvarez with an uppercut!
Alvarez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Winston walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Alvarez checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Alvarez blocks a jab.
Alvarez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Winston paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Winston.
Aaron Alvarez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Winston scores with a head kick. Alvarez tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Winston throws a predictable looking body shot

and Alvarez moves into the clinch.
Alvarez can't find room to land a body shot as Winston controls the action.
Winston swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Alvarez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Winston working hard to break the clinch.
Alvarez throws a punch but it's blocked by Winston.
Winston stalling in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Winston.
Alvarez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Alvarez lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Winston is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Winston misses with a body punch.
Alvarez's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Harry Winston has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez struggles to land a body shot inside as Winston controls his hands.
A nice left hand lands by Alvarez.

Winston escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fighters circle momentarily. Alvarez darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Winston moves out of range of the body kick.
Winston throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Alvarez darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Alvarez on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Winston. Winston obviously looking to wear him down.
Winston swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Alvarez closes the distance and clinches.
Alvarez taking a breather.
A short body shot lands from Alvarez as the two fighters clinch.
Winston holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Aaron Alvarez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Alvarez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

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 Aaron Alvarez.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Alvarez, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

The fight is ruled a draw!