PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Dela Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Santiago Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Dela Cruz
vs
Alvarez

183 cm
25
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
21
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Dela Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Santiago Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Alvarez moves into the clinch.
Alvarez is trying to break the clinch but Dela Cruz has him pressed against the cage.

Dela Cruz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dela Cruz lands a nice shot that snaps Alvarez's head back.
Dela Cruz cracks Alvarez with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Dela Cruz fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Alvarez is out of range.
Alvarez avoids the body shot from Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz closes the distance looking to clinch
and Alvarez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Dela Cruz on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Nice shot by Dela Cruz.

Dela Cruz moves into the clinch successfully.

Alvarez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Alvarez gets a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A body shot lands from Dela Cruz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dela Cruz is trying to break the clinch but Alvarez is controlling him.
Alvarez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Dela Cruz is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Dela Cruz working hard to break the clinch.
Alvarez misses with a body punch.
Dela Cruz prevents Alvarez from breaking the clinch.
Alvarez is trying to force a seperation but Dela Cruz has the dominant position.
Alvarez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Dela Cruz stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Alvarez is trying to break the clinch but Dela Cruz is controlling him.
Alvarez is trying to break the clinch but Dela Cruz is controlling him.
Dela Cruz tries to break free but Alvarez pushes him back against the cage.
Alvarez is looking to break free of the clinch but Dela Cruz has double underhooks.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Dela Cruz stalling the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Alvarez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Dela Cruz.
Alvarez misses with a knee strike.
Alvarez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Dela Cruz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Alvarez fails to pull the fight into his guard.
John Dela Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Santiago Alvarez.
Dela Cruz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Dela Cruz is pushing Alvarez up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Dela Cruz presses Alvarez against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alvarez is trying to break free.
Alvarez working hard to break the clinch.
Alvarez is trying to pull guard but Dela Cruz turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz gets underhooks to prevent Alvarez's takedown attempt.
Dela Cruz stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Alvarez looks gassed!
Alvarez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Dela Cruz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Dela Cruz pushes Alvarez up against the cage in a clinch.
Dela Cruz digs a right hand into Alvarez's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Alvarez's gas tank.
Dela Cruz lands a body shot in the clinch.
Alvarez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Dela Cruz walks away with a smile on his face. Alvarez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Dela Cruz fails in his attempt to clinch.

Dela Cruz closes the distance and clinches.
Alvarez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Dela Cruz scores with a hook to the body.
Alvarez is trying to break the clinch but Dela Cruz is controlling him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice body punch from Dela Cruz - that landed with a thud.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Alvarez has Dela Cruz pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Dela Cruz manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Dela Cruz digs a right hand underneath Alvarez's ribcage. Alvarez let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A nice right hand lands inside from Dela Cruz.

Dela Cruz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Dela Cruz has managed to clinch.
Alvarez is trying to force a seperation but Dela Cruz has the dominant position.
Dela Cruz wants to break free but Alvarez has control.
A nice right hand lands inside from Dela Cruz.
A right handed body shot lands from Dela Cruz.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dela Cruz is working Alvarez over against the cage.
Alvarez wants a takedown.
Dela Cruz has Alvarez pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Dela Cruz dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Dela Cruz fails in his attempt to clinch.

Dela Cruz pushes Alvarez up against the cage in a clinch.
Alvarez has had enough of the clinch but Dela Cruz keeps him there for the moment.
Dela Cruz lands a nice shot to the body.
Alvarez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Dela Cruz digs a right hand underneath Alvarez's ribcage. Alvarez let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Dela Cruz tries to circle away but Alvarez has him pinned against the cage.
Nice body punch from Dela Cruz - that landed with a thud.
Alvarez looking for a takedown.
A hook to the body from Dela Cruz.
A frustrated look appears on Alvarez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Alvarez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Dela Cruz just stands there and leans against the cage.
Alvarez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Dela Cruz is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
John Dela Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Santiago Alvarez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dela Cruz scores with a nice hook to the head.
Alvarez wants a takedown but no success here.
Alvarez is breathing heavily.
The referee is keeping an eye on Dela Cruz - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Dela Cruz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Dela Cruz moves into range and clinches up with Alvarez.
Dela Cruz lands a shoulder strike.
Dela Cruz can't break the clinch.
Dela Cruz lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Alvarez or not.
Dela Cruz lands a body punch in the clinch.
Alvarez being controlled against the cage.
Dela Cruz is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz is pushing Alvarez up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Alvarez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Dela Cruz has Alvarez pushed against the cage.
Alvarez wants to take the fight to the mat but Dela Cruz manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Alvarez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Dela Cruz smiles and moves away.
John Dela Cruz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Dela Cruz fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Alvarez, pushing him back against the cage.
John Dela Cruz has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Alvarez tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Dela Cruz avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Alvarez is trying to force a seperation but Dela Cruz has the dominant position.

Alvarez has Dela Cruz pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Alvarez pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Dela Cruz tumbling to the mat - Alvarez dives into Dela Cruz's guard.
Alvarez wants to pass the guard but Dela Cruz is keeping the position.
Dela Cruz knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Alvarez on the ground.
Alvarez content to stall in guard here.
Alvarez wants to stand but Dela Cruz has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Dela Cruz keeping moving, preventing Alvarez from controlling successfully.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Santiago Alvarez wasn't active enough on the ground.
Dela Cruz lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Alvarez shoots for a takedown but Dela Cruz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alvarez keeps the fight on the outside.
Dela Cruz connects with a body shot that sends Alvarez's belly button to the back.

Alvarez has Dela Cruz up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Dela Cruz dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Dela Cruz has closed the distance and engaged Alvarez in a clinch.

Dela Cruz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dela Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Alvarez paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Alvarez forces Dela Cruz back against the cage and clinches.

Alvarez breaks from the clinch.

Alvarez forces Dela Cruz back against the cage and clinches.
Alvarez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Dela Cruz just stands there and leans against the cage.
Alvarez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Alvarez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Dela Cruz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Dela Cruz.
A right handed body shot lands from Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz works on Alvarez's body with a couple of short punches.
Alvarez is trying to break the clinch but Dela Cruz has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez is looking for a takedown.
John Dela Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Santiago Alvarez.
Alvarez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Alvarez can't break the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Dela Cruz.
Alvarez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Dela Cruz has him pressed against the cage.
Dela Cruz tries to break the clinch but Alvarez is controlling the position.
Alvarez wants to break free but Dela Cruz has control.
Alvarez can't break the clinch.
Dela Cruz lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Alvarez tries to circle away but Dela Cruz has him pinned against the cage.
Alvarez managing to block the knees to the body from Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Alvarez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Dela Cruz smiles and moves away.

Dela Cruz instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Dela Cruz walks away with a smile on his face. Alvarez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Alvarez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Dela Cruz has closed the distance and engaged Alvarez in a clinch.
Alvarez is looking to break free of the clinch but Dela Cruz has double underhooks.
Dela Cruz lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Alvarez or not.
Dela Cruz has Alvarez pressed against the cage.
Dela Cruz makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alvarez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Dela Cruz breaks from the clinch.
Dela Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Alvarez paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dela Cruz closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Alvarez struggles to land a body shot inside as Dela Cruz controls his hands.
Alvarez wants to take the fight to the mat but Dela Cruz manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Alvarez is trying to pull guard but Dela Cruz has him pressed against the cage.
Dela Cruz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Dela Cruz working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Nice body punch from Dela Cruz - that landed with a thud.
A right handed body shot lands from Dela Cruz.
A short body shot lands from Dela Cruz as the two fighters clinch.
Dela Cruz lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Alvarez.
Dela Cruz slowing the pace effectively.

Dela Cruz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Dela Cruz pressing his opponent against the cage.
Alvarez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Santiago Alvarez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
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!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Dela Cruz.
A right hook to the body lands for Dela Cruz.
Alvarez tries for a takedown. No joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dela Cruz scores with a hook to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz lands a shoulder strike.
John Dela Cruz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Alvarez tries to land knees in the clinch but Dela Cruz avoids the damage to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Dela Cruz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dela Cruz, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Dela Cruz!