PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Christian Alvarez (ranked 25037 p4p, 22717 weight class) and Sadio Mane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alvarez comes to the cage accompanied by Body Snatchers. Mane is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Alvarez
vs
Mane

185 cm
18
140
2 - 2 - 0

150 cm
27
136
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Christian Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Sadio Mane!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Sosuke Kotani and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Alvarez closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Mane's guard.
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 stopping the sweep attempt from Mane.
Mane being controlled here, momentarily.
Mane wants to get back to his feet but Alvarez passes into half guard.
Alvarez is looking to take a break and control but Mane is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mane won't allow Alvarez to pass to mount.
Alvarez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mane's head.
Mane wants to control but Alvarez passes into side.
Mane is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Alvarez off and has taken his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mane biding his time, controlling Alvarez.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Mane has eaten all the pies!
Alvarez rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Mane trying to control from half guard but Alvarez is working away.
Mane performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Alvarez trying to hold on to Mane's head to control him but Mane postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mane throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Alvarez to regain full guard.
Mane stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alvarez swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Alvarez looking for a guillotine here but Mane defends easily.
Alvarez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mane controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mane throws a strike but Alvarez rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Mane looking to hit a scissor sweep but Alvarez is one step ahead there.
Mane pulls Alvarez in close to prevent any damage.

Mane is looking for a triangle but Alvarez pushes his legs off easily.
Mane trying to control the position.
Mane wants to improve his position but instead Alvarez has moved into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mane regains full guard. Nicely done.
Alvarez looking to sit in guard and control but Mane gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Mane content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mane tries to stand but Alvarez is controlling from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Christian Alvarez will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mane fails to land the takedown.
Alvarez takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Mane goes for a double leg but Alvarez avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Alvarez continues to drive forward.

Alvarez closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Alvarez lands in his opponent's guard.
Alvarez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mane swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez trying to control but Mane is working from the bottom.

Alvarez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez looking to sit in guard and control but Mane gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Mane stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mane.
Christian Alvarez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sadio Mane.
Mane thuds a left hand into Alvarez's body.

Alvarez gets a double leg takedown into Mane's guard.
Mane keeping moving, preventing Alvarez from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mane pulls Alvarez in to control the position.
Mane trying to keep a closed guard but Alvarez is proving a slippery customer.
Alvarez wants to pass the guard but Mane is keeping the position.
Alvarez postures up.
Alvarez throws a strike but Mane rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Mane stands up over Alvarez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Mane not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Christian Alvarez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mane slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mane stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Alvarez is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Mane's half guard.
Alvarez stops Mane from getting back to his feet.
Mane is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mane works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mane is looking to sweep but instead, Alvarez has passed into half guard.
Mane misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Mane is positioning himself well to prevent Alvarez advancing to mount.
Mane moves into full guard.
Alvarez wants to pass the guard but Mane is keeping the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mane pulls Alvarez in to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sadio Mane showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Mane misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mane closes the distance and clinches up with Alvarez, looking for a takedown. Mane pushes Alvarez against the cage but Alvarez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Alvarez clinches with his opponent.
Mane is trying to pull guard but Alvarez has him pressed against the cage.
Alvarez avoiding damage as Mane throws knees to the body.

Alvarez successfully pulls guard.

Alvarez looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Mane has picked Alvarez up and slammed him! Alvarez can't keep hold of the triangle and Mane manages to pass to side control!
Mane wants to control but Alvarez is keeping him busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mane content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mane misses with the ground and pound.
Mane misses with the ground and pound.
Mane really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Alvarez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Alvarez wants to control but Mane postures up.

Mane decides to stand up, so the ref orders Alvarez to his feet.

Mane gets in close and instigates a clinch.

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 looking to slow down the pace here.

Mane decides to pull guard.
Mane looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alvarez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mane is keeping the position for now.

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

Alvarez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mane tries to move into full mount but can't pass Alvarez's legs.
A lull in the action here as Mane stalls from top position.

Mane decides to stand back up. Mane steps back and let's Alvarez get back to his feet.

Alvarez closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Mane quickly recovers to half guard.
Mane looks like he's trying to stand up.
Alvarez blocks the strikes from Mane.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mane looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Mane blocking the ground and pound attempt from Alvarez.
Alvarez not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Alvarez is looking for a kimura but Mane is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Alvarez to get the leverage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mane gets full guard.

Mane is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Alvarez is aware though and is defending well.
Mane looking to hit a scissor sweep but Alvarez is one step ahead there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sadio Mane comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mane has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sadio Mane!