PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Hawla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marco Alvarado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Hawla
vs
Alvarado

182 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Johnny Hawla!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marco Alvarado!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarado takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Hawla has Alvarado up against the cage in a clinch.
Alvarado goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hawla prevents it.
Hawla misses with a punch on the inside.
Hawla tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Alvarado looking for a takedown.
Alvarado wants to break the clinch but can't.

Alvarado has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Hawla is trying to keep an underhook but Alvarado manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Hawla avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Alvarado.
Hawla keeping control of the position.

Alvarado wants to work for an arm triangle but Hawla is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hawla is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hawla looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Alvarado is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alvarado is working for a kimura but Hawla is defending it quite comfortably.
Hawla is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Alvarado fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Johnny Hawla has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marco Alvarado.
Alvarado has a takedown stuffed.
Alvarado looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
A good leg kick by Hawla.

Hawla shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Alvarado's guard.
Hawla showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hawla scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hawla trying to control the position from guard on top but Alvarado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawla preventing the sweep.
Hawla passes Alvarado's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Alvarado is looking for a sweep. Hawla is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hawla wants to stand up but Alvarado is controlling the position.
Hawla passes into side control, despite Alvarado's attempt to control the position.
Hawla trying to control the action but Alvarado is working from the bottom.
Hawla is working Alvarado over with some ground and pound from side control.

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.
Hawla lands a decent elbow from side control.
You can see the frustration on Alvarado's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hawla lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Hawla shoots in and drives through. Alvarado sprawls well.
Johnny Hawla seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hawla.
Alvarado dodges the punch combination from Hawla.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Alvarado.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hawla is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hawla fails with an attempt to clinch.

Hawla darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Alvarado actively working from the bottom here.
Alvarado won't allow Hawla to pass to mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hawla is looking to take a break and control but Alvarado is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Alvarado looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawla sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Hawla is thwarting Alvarado's attempts to control the position.

Alvarado looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Alvarado wants to control but Hawla is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Hawla shoots in and bounces Alvarado off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarado wants to stand up but Hawla is controlling him.
Hawla advances position into side control!
Check out the look on Hawla's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Alvarado is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Hawla is controlling him well.
Hawla is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Alvarado will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Alvarado tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarado wants to control but Hawla postures up.
Alvarado tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hawla wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Alvarado takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Alvarado is trying to control Hawla's posture but Hawla avoids it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hawla cracks Alvarado with a good jab.
Hawla goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Hawla doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Alvarado counters by moving into the clinch.

That's four 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.

Alvarado gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Alvarado is keen to just control but Hawla is a slippery customer.
Alvarado thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hawla's head.

Hawla looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hawla wants to get back to full guard.
Hawla wants to get back to his feet.
Alvarado prevents Hawla from improving his position.
Alvarado is nestled in close to Hawla, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Hawla dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Alvarado feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Alvarado cracks Hawla with a solid left hand.
Alvarado trying to control the position from guard on top but Hawla is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alvarado missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Alvarado trying to control but Hawla is working from the bottom.
Hawla is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Hawla is working an open guard so Alvarado takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Alvarado is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hawla misses with a takedown attempt

and Alvarado counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawla moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hawla manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Alvarado manages to get himself to full guard.
Alvarado keeping full guard, as Hawla tries to pass.
Hawla wants to control from the top but Alvarado keeps moving.
Hawla loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hawla is looking to work some ground and pound but Alvarado has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Alvarado trying to keep a closed guard but Hawla is proving a slippery customer.
Alvarado striking off his back, scoring a few points.
Hawla trying to control but Alvarado is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hawla throws a head kick but Alvarado moves out of range.

Alvarado closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Alvarado has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hawla is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Hawla tightens his grip and picks Alvarado up, before dumping him to the ground. Alvarado manages to land in guard.
Hawla trying to control the position from guard on top but Alvarado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hawla gets to his feet. Alvarado looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarado shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hawla counters with a head kick. That will keep Alvarado thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Hawla shoots in for a double leg but Alvarado sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Alvarado tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Alvarado clinches up with Hawla and pushes him back against the cage.

Hawla escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hawla wants to clinch.
Hawla doesn't manage to clinch there - Alvarado circles away.

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.

Alvarado feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Alvarado wants to control from the top but Hawla keeps moving.
Hawla trying to keep a closed guard but Alvarado is proving a slippery customer.
Hawla has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Alvarado won't allow Hawla to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hawla trying to control the position.
Marco Alvarado has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnny Hawla is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Marco Alvarado comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hawla has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Hawla!