PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Josh Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alvarez comes to the cage accompanied by The Enemy by Godsmack. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Alvarez
vs
Johnson

180 cm
20
180 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

175 cm
23
165 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Josh Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rick Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Franklyn Lucas and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Alvarez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Alvarez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Alvarez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Johnson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Alvarez.
Alvarez misses with the combination.
Alvarez lands a head kick!
Alvarez throws a head kick but Johnson moves out of range.

Johnson moves into the clinch.

Johnson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Johnson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Johnson pushes Alvarez off and gets back to his feet.
Alvarez circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Johnson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
Alvarez is looking to clinch.
Alvarez works over Johnson's head and body with a nice combination.
Alvarez throws a sloppy head kick

and Johnson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Johnson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Johnson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Alvarez looking to pass the guard.
Johnson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Johnson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Alvarez has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Johnson is proving hard to escape from.
Alvarez is fighting to break Johnson's control of his arms but Johnson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Johnson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Alvarez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Johnson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Alvarez throws a head kick that misses

and Johnson counters by clinching up.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Alvarez is controlling him.
Johnson looks gassed!
A frustrated look appears on Alvarez's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Alvarez manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Alvarez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Johnson as Alvarez tries to tie him up.
Alvarez wants to break free but Johnson has control.
Johnson is working for takedown but Alvarez is calmly controlling the position for now.
Alvarez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Johnson is looking to control Alvarez's arms but Alvarez gets an underhook and turns him. Now Johnson has his back to the cage.
Alvarez has Johnson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Johnson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Alvarez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alvarez throws a head kick that misses

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Johnson.
Johnson wants a takedown but no success here.
Alvarez can't break the clinch.
Johnson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Josh Alvarez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Johnson.
Alvarez working hard to break the clinch.
Alvarez prevents the takedown attempt.

Alvarez breaks from the clinch.
Johnson tries to work over Alvarez's front leg with a kick but Alvarez checks it.
Josh Alvarez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alvarez throws a sloppy head kick and Johnson moves out of range easily.

Johnson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to control the position but Alvarez postures up.
Alvarez tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.

Alvarez stands up from guard. Let's bang!
A head kick by Alvarez misses
and Johnson counters with a nice body kick.

Alvarez moves into the clinch successfully.
Alvarez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Johnson goes for a takedown attempt but Alvarez pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Alvarez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Alvarez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Alvarez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Alvarez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johnson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Alvarez dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Alvarez is looking to clinch.
Johnson tries to clinch there but Alvarez circles away.
Johnson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Alvarez changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Johnson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Johnson can't do much from the bottom here.

Alvarez decides to stand up, so the ref orders Johnson to his feet.
Johnson is looking to clinch.
Alvarez wants to clinch but Johnson slips to the side
and Johnson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Josh Alvarez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alvarez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Alvarez tries a head kick but it misses.
Alvarez throws a sloppy head kick and Johnson moves out of range easily.
Johnson tries to clinch up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
No joy there for Alvarez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez misses with a head kick.
Alvarez tries for a takedown but Johnson circles away easily

and Johnson counters with a single leg into guard. Alvarez didn't expect that.
Alvarez wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.

Johnson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Alvarez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Johnson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Alvarez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Alvarez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Alvarez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Alvarez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Johnson pushes Alvarez up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.
A head kick by Alvarez misses

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Johnson stands up from half guard.
Nice sprawl there from Johnson as Alvarez shoots in.
Alvarez throws a combination that misses

and Johnson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Johnson content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Johnson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Alvarez gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Alvarez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alvarez with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Alvarez throws a lazy head kick

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch.
Johnson jumps guard but Alvarez stands there with Johnson around his waist. Johnson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Josh Alvarez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Johnson.
A hook to the body from Johnson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson blocks an elbow strike.
Alvarez prevents a takedown attempt there.

Alvarez breaks from the clinch.
Alvarez throws a lazy head kick

and Johnson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Alvarez is trying to break free.

Alvarez breaks from the clinch.

Johnson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Johnson lands in his opponent's guard.
Johnson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Alvarez is looking for a triangle here but Johnson uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alvarez keeps working.
Alvarez is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Johnson decides to stand back up.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch but Alvarez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Alvarez shoots in looking for a takedown. Johnson tries to sprawl out of it but Alvarez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Johnson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alvarez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Johnson pinned against the cage. Johnson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Alvarez takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Alvarez as Johnson shoots in.
Alvarez throws a head kick that misses.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alvarez swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Alvarez drives through and clinches with Johnson against the cage.

Alvarez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johnson tries to clinch up but Alvarez circles away and keeps his distance.
Alvarez misses with a series of wild punches.
Johnson shoots in but no luck this time.
Alvarez tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez throws a head kick that misses.
Alvarez tries to clinch up.
Alvarez with a lazy takedown attempt
and Johnson counters with a two punch combo.
Alvarez throws a head kick that misses.
Alvarez throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

so Johnson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson stands up and waves to Alvarez to follow him.
Johnson moves in looking to clinch but Alvarez pushes him off.
Alvarez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Johnson blocks a head kick by Alvarez.

Johnson clinches up with Alvarez and pushes him back against the cage.
Johnson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Alvarez just stands there and leans against the cage.
Josh Alvarez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Johnson.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alvarez stuffs the takedown.
Alvarez tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Johnson counters with a single leg into guard. Alvarez didn't expect that.

Alvarez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Johnson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez is working an open guard so Johnson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Alvarez misses with a two punch combination.
Johnson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Alvarez.

Johnson darts in and clinches Alvarez up against the cage.
Johnson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Alvarez prevents it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Alvarez is trying to break free.

Alvarez breaks from the clinch.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch but Alvarez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Alvarez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alvarez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Johnson connects with a looping right hand.
Josh Alvarez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Alvarez misses.

Johnson shoots in and bounces Alvarez off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Alvarez working for a triangle but Johnson defends it easily.

Alvarez working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Johnson has passed into half guard!
Johnson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alvarez keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez wants to get back to his feet.
Johnson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Alvarez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rick Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Johnson is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Johnson misses with a hook to the body
and Alvarez counters with a left and a right that stings Johnson.

It looks like Rick Johnson has been cut.
Good leg kick by Alvarez there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Johnson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight for Rick Johnson!
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight for Rick Johnson!
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight for Rick Johnson!

Rick Johnson wins by unanimous decision!