PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kent Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Alavez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alavez has chosen You Don't Know by Eminem, 50 Cent, Chashis and Lloyd Banks as his entrance music. Kent Russell could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Jose Alavez's chin.

Russell
vs
Alavez

183 cm
22
208 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

185 cm
19
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kent Russell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jose Alavez!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Winston Howard and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russell moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Alavez gets a takedown into half guard.
Alavez tries to stand and escape but Russell is controlling the position.
Russell avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Alavez.
Alavez moves nicely into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alavez sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Russell is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Alavez working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Russell manages to get back to half guard.
Russell moves into full guard.
Alavez is working Russell over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Russell has his foot on Alavez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Alavez works his way back into a safe position though.
Alavez works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Alavez stops Russell from getting back to his feet.
Alavez frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Russell is breathing heavily.
Alavez landing shots from mount.
Russell is trying to escape the mount.
Alavez is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Russell is in real trouble.
Alavez trying to control.
Alavez has Russell flattened out and is raining down punches.
Russell covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.

Alavez looking to break Russell's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Russell remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Alavez will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Alavez's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alavez has good solid back control here.
Alavez wants to control but Russell manages to buck him off and is now in Alavez's guard! Nice work there by Russell!
Russell forces his way into half guard.
Russell thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Russell wants to free his trapped foot but Alavez is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Alavez gets back to full guard.

Alavez is looking for a triangle but Russell pushes his legs off easily.
Alavez trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alavez tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Alavez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Russell doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Russell manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Russell tries to free his leg and advance position but Alavez is retaining full guard.
Russell works over Alavez with some ground and pound from guard.
Alavez keeping full guard, as Russell tries to pass.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Alavez is on top in guard.
Alavez connects with a couple of short punches.

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

Russell had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Alavez is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Russell Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Alavez's back instead.
Alavez tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alavez suckers Russell into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Alavez is now in Russell's guard!

Russell working for a triangle but Alavez defends it easily.
Alavez slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Alavez trying to control the action but Russell is working from the bottom.
Alavez moves into full mount!
Russell is in a horrible position here. Alavez smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Alavez lands with some strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Alavez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Russell throws a right hand that Alavez ducks under and follows up with a left that Alavez also avoids with ease.
Russell feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Alavez's calf.

Alavez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Alavez tries a knee to the head but Russell blocks it.
Stalling in the clinch from Alavez.
Alavez has Russell pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Russell manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Alavez tries to score a body lock takedown but Russell shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Alavez tries to pull guard but Russell won't allow it.
Kent Russell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Alavez.

Russell breaks the clinch.
Kent Russell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Russell shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Alavez counters by moving into the clinch.
Russell misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Alavez.
Nice elbow from Russell.

Alavez turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Alavez manages to end up in side control.
Russell gets back to half guard.
Still in half guard, Alavez seems content to control.

Russell looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alavez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Russell on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Russell gets back to full guard.
Alavez trying to control but Russell is working from the bottom.
Alavez sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Russell's guard.

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.
Alavez takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Alavez is breathing heavily.
Russell moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Alavez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Russell is keeping the position for now.
Alavez is looking to work some ground and pound but Russell has wrist control.

Alavez stands up and waves to Russell to follow him.
Russell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Alavez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Alavez just misses with a punch to the body.

Alavez rushes Russell and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Russell prevents a takedown attempt there.

Russell pulls guard effortlessly.
Alavez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Alavez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Russell's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alavez is in close to Russell's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Russell keeping moving, preventing Alavez from controlling successfully.
Jose Alavez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Russell has momentary wrist control but Alavez slips an elbow through the middle.

Alavez gets to his feet - Russell follows without any prompting.
Alavez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Russell paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Alavez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Russell but Russell pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Alavez circles away from the clinch attempt

and Alavez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Alavez.

Alavez pulls guard effortlessly.
Alavez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Russell is controlling him.

Alavez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Alavez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Russell passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Russell seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Alavez is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Russell is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Russell prevents Alavez from getting the reversal.
Russell won't let Alavez get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Alavez tries to hold on but Russell postures up.
Alavez is wriggling around trying to escape.
Russell fails to take his opponent's back.

Russell looking for a guillotine from mount but Alavez is having none of it.
Alavez is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Alavez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Alavez clinches with his opponent.
Alavez wants a takedown.
Russell tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Alavez just stands there and leans against the cage.

Alavez jumps into guard, dragging Russell to the mat.

Alavez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Alavez tries to strike from the bottom.
Russell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alavez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Russell sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Alavez's guard.
Alavez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Russell is working away from the top position though.
Alavez moves into full guard.
Alavez trying to keep a closed guard but Russell is proving a slippery customer.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Russell stopping the sweep attempt from Alavez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Alavez is keeping the position for now.

Alavez wriggles free and stands up.
Alavez misses with a takedown attempt - Russell sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Alavez tries to clinch up.
Alavez wants to clinch up but Russell keeps it at a distance.
Russell shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Alavez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Russell stops a takedown attempt from Alavez.
Kent Russell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Alavez.

Russell breaks the clinch.
Russell falls off balance throwing a combination

and Alavez holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Alavez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Russell gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Russell comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alavez wants a takedown.
Alavez leaning his opponent against the cage.
Russell is trying to break free.
Russell fails to pull guard.
Russell is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Alavez pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Alavez jumps guard.
Alavez doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Alavez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Alavez working a defensive guard here.

Russell drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Alavez dives on top into guard.
Alavez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Russell is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alavez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Alavez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Russell keeping moving, preventing Alavez from controlling successfully.
Alavez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Russell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Alavez slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Alavez trying to control the action but Russell is working from the bottom.
Russell is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Alavez's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Alavez looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

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.
Alavez trying to control from Russell's half guard. Russell has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Kent Russell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Russell looking for a sweep. Not yet Russell, not yet.
Alavez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Russell's guard.

Russell looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Alavez wants to pass the guard but Russell is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Alavez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Alavez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Alavez!