PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Alvarez (ranked 1421 p4p, 1817 weight class) and Deviante Russell (ranked 204 p4p, 249 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
Russell

187 cm
39
218
27 - 19 - 3

188 cm
29
206
11 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
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 27 - 19 - 3, fighting out of New York, Aaron Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Deviante Russell!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Frank Dennis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Russell has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Russell looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Russell tries to clinch there but Alvarez circles away.
Russell throws a big shot that misses.
Deviante Russell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Russell is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Russell shoots in looking for a takedown. Alvarez tries to sprawl out of it but Russell 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.
Alvarez takes a swing at Russell's ribcage but misses.
Russell checks a leg kick nicely.

Russell moves into the clinch.
Russell has a couple of punches blocked by Alvarez.
Alvarez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Russell jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Alvarez walks away with a smile on his face. Russell gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Aaron Alvarez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Deviante Russell.
Alvarez bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Russell gets a clinch.
Russell lands an uppercut.
Alvarez goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Alvarez cracks Russell with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Still in the clinch, Alvarez scores with a nice short uppercut.
Alvarez lands with a right to the head.

Russell gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Alvarez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Russell is aware though and is defending well.

Russell gets to his feet. Alvarez looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Russell shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Alvarez scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Alvarez lands a jab.
Russell works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Russell checks a leg kick.
Good leg kick by Alvarez.

Russell looking to score a takedown here. Alvarez is defending well but Russell drives through and ends up in Alvarez's guard.

Alvarez has his feet on Russell's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Alvarez keeps the fight on the outside.

Alvarez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Russell, pushing him back against the cage.
Alvarez lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Alvarez misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Russell up against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Alvarez takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Russell has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Alvarez after a bit of a struggle.

Alvarez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A cross from Alvarez lands.
Alvarez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Russell wants to counter the offense by Alvarez and move into the clinch position.
Aaron Alvarez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Russell wants to clinch.
Alvarez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Alvarez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A solid leg kick lands there for Alvarez.

Russell fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Alvarez to the ground. Russell is now in Alvarez's guard.

Alvarez is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Alvarez scores with a nice short uppercut.

Russell turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Alvarez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Alvarez is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Russell off and has taken his back!
Alvarez is punishing Russell with some ground and pound.
Russell covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Alvarez is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
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!
Russell turns into Alvarez and is now in his guard.
Alvarez working a defensive guard here.

Alvarez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Russell is aware though and is defending well.

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

Russell is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez looking for a guillotine here but Russell defends easily.

Russell thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Alvarez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Russell's guard.

Alvarez is stalling in the full guard.

Russell has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Alvarez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Russell throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Russell had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Alvarez defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Alvarez dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Alvarez throws a shot to the body.
Some bone on bone action there as Russell checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Alvarez fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Russell has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Alvarez gets tackled into the cage by Russell. Russell maintains the clinch.
A hook to the body from Alvarez.
Alvarez is trying to maintain a safe position but Russell gets an underhook and turns Alvarez into the cage.
A short right from Alvarez on the inside.
Alvarez scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Russell tries to pull guard but Alvarez forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Alvarez.
Alvarez misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short left from Alvarez.

Russell jumps guard.
Alvarez trying to control the position from guard on top but Russell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alvarez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Russell is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Alvarez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Alvarez wants to control from the top but Russell keeps moving.
Alvarez looking to pass the guard.

Russell looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Alvarez trying to control but Russell is working from the bottom.
Our spies down at at Roosters Coop inform us that Russell has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Alvarez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Alvarez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Alvarez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Russell preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Russell 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 is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Russell can do to turn this around?

That's two 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.

Russell is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Alvarez defends well.
Alvarez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Russell keeping moving, preventing Alvarez from controlling successfully.
Russell lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.

Russell is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Alvarez defends well.

Russell is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Alvarez defends well.
Alvarez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Russell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Alvarez looking to pass the guard.

Russell is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez postures up in Russell's guard and throws a big left but Russell blocks it.

Russell is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Alvarez defends well.
Russell keeping full guard, as Alvarez tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alvarez controlling from the top position.
Russell keeping moving, preventing Alvarez from controlling successfully.
Alvarez showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Alvarez preventing the sweep.

That's four 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.

Russell is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Alvarez's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Russell throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Russell is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Alvarez frees his head nicely. Oh but Russell has switched to an armbar! Alvarez is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Deviante Russell!
After winning the bout, Deviante Russell thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.