PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jordan Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ward has chosen I will not bow as his entrance music. Paulo Alvarez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Alvarez
vs
Ward

182 cm
23
183 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

180 cm
20
184 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Charlie Wang's Tattered Rags & 95% Laundry

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paulo Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jordan Ward!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

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 Ward's guard.
Alvarez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Alvarez trying to control the position from guard on top but Ward is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ward is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ward pulls Alvarez in close to his closed guard and prevents Alvarez from doing any damage or advancing position.
Ward controls Alvarez momentarily but Alvarez frees himself.
Alvarez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ward swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Jordan Ward wasn't active enough on the ground.
Ward looks to score with a jab to the body but Alvarez is just out of range.
Ward swings for the body but Alvarez moves out of range.
Alvarez shoots in looking for a takedown. Ward tries to sprawl out of it but Alvarez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Ward manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Alvarez closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ward to the mat! Ward manages to get full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ward is looking for a triangle but Alvarez pushes his legs off easily.

Ward working for a triangle but Alvarez defends it easily.
Alvarez landing with the ground and pound.

Ward looking for a guillotine here but Alvarez defends easily.
Alvarez looking to pass the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Alvarez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ward's head.
Alvarez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ward is keeping the position for now.
Alvarez postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Alvarez trying to control the position from guard on top but Ward is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alvarez won't allow Ward to sweep him here.
Ward controls Alvarez momentarily but Alvarez frees himself.
Alvarez throwing strikes but missing.
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!
Ward keeping full guard, as Alvarez tries to pass.
Ward pulls Alvarez in close to prevent any damage.
Alvarez looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Alvarez scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ward working a defensive guard here.
Ward pulls Alvarez in close to his closed guard and prevents Alvarez from doing any damage or advancing position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jordan Ward hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Ward throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Alvarez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ward's guard now.
Alvarez looking to sit in guard and control but Ward gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ward advances position into side control!
Alvarez parries the strikes from Ward easily there. Ward is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Alvarez to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Ward tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ward has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Ward is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Alvarez is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Ward tries for a kimura but Alvarez is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alvarez is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Alvarez dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ward connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ward misses with a wild body shot.
Ward misses with a looping left.
Ward cracks a nice hook into Alvarez's ribs.

Ward tries to sprawl but Alvarez drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Ward trying to control from the bottom.
Ward is looking to improve his position.
Ground and pound from Alvarez.
Ward manages to get to full guard.
Alvarez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ward's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ward tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward working a defensive guard here.
Ward keeping moving, preventing Alvarez from controlling successfully.
Alvarez lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Alvarez trying to control the position from guard on top but Ward is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Ward looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Alvarez wants to control from the top but Ward keeps moving.
Ward not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez trying to control but Ward is working from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Paulo Alvarez.
Ward fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Alvarez manages to avoid it.
Alvarez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jordan Ward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ward lands a nice hook to Alvarez's body. Alvarez takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alvarez fails with a takedown attempt.
Alvarez takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Alvarez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ward is trying to control the position but Alvarez postures up.
Alvarez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward is trying to control the position but Alvarez postures up.
Ward looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Alvarez throws a strike but Ward rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Ward stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alvarez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Alvarez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ward is controlling him.
Ward trying to control but Alvarez is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jordan Ward.
Ward throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Alvarez has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Ward.
Alvarez with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Ward to score with a decent uppercut.
Ward ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Alvarez moves away.
Alvarez closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Alvarez takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A left lands for Ward.

Alvarez shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Ward napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Alvarez is putting a hurting on Ward here, landing some big shots from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jordan Ward will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Alvarez fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ward to the ground. Alvarez is now in Ward's guard.
Ward wants to stand up but Alvarez is controlling him.
Alvarez slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Alvarez trying to control the position from guard on top but Ward is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ward working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Alvarez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Alvarez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ward takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Alvarez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Alvarez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Alvarez postures up.
Alvarez trying to control but Ward is working from the bottom.
Alvarez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ward wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Alvarez is pushing down on Ward's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ward is fighting to maintain full guard but Alvarez has managed to sneak the leg through.

Ward is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Alvarez pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Alvarez.
Alvarez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ward's head.
Ward moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Ward is trying to control the position but Alvarez postures up.
Ward is adopting a defensive guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Alvarez's corner is telling him to maintain 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!
Alvarez passes Ward's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Ward trying to hold on to Alvarez's head to control him but Alvarez postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez is trying to control. Ward wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Alvarez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Alvarez with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Ward has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Alvarez is working away from the top position though.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Alvarez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ward.
Ward thows a left - swing and a miss!
Alvarez shoots in looking for a takedown. Ward tries to sprawl out of it but Alvarez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Ward manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice shot by Ward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown but Ward shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ward. Alvarez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ward tries to land a front kick but Alvarez steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ward thows a body shot but no joy.
Jordan Ward seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Alvarez looks for a takedown but Ward sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paulo Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ward fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Alvarez manages to avoid it.
Ward looks to score with a jab to the body but Alvarez is just out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ward loads up on a big right hand but Alvarez slips the punch.
Alvarez is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
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!

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

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Paulo Alvarez.
I think Alvarez 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paulo Alvarez!
Paulo Alvarez was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.