PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Umberto Sotto Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saul Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alvarez has chosen Survivor - 'Burning Heart' as his entrance music. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Sotto Jr
vs
Alvarez

176 cm
21
164 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

175 cm
23
163 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!
Hardcore Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Umberto Sotto Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Saul Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sotto Jr just misses with a punch to the body.
Sotto Jr throws a hook but Alvarez avoids it easily.
Sotto Jr takes a swing at Alvarez's ribcage but misses.
Sotto Jr will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sotto Jr lands a really nice looking cross but Alvarez seems unphased.
Alvarez dodges the punch combination from Sotto Jr.
Alvarez takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Alvarez throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Alvarez misses with a wild body shot.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Alvarez, right into the meat.
Nice cross by Sotto Jr.
A big left from Sotto Jr misses.
Alvarez looks to land a left hand but Sotto Jr moved out of range nicely.
Alvarez thumps Sotto Jr with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alvarez clinches.
Sotto Jr misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Alvarez is trying to push Sotto Jr away but Sotto Jr has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Sotto Jr takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Alvarez lands with a left to the head.
Sotto Jr is trying to stall.
Alvarez effectively controlling the action here.
Sotto Jr is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Alvarez scores with a shoulder strike.
A head punch on the inside from Alvarez fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez looking to slow down the pace here.
Alvarez is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Sotto Jr has denied him.
Alvarez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sotto Jr.
Alvarez is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sotto Jr is defending well for now.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sotto Jr.
Alvarez throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sotto Jrs head.

Alvarez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sotto Jr lands with a cross.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A decent looking cross lands there for Alvarez.
An inside leg kick from Sotto Jr misses.
Alvarez sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Sotto Jr checks the leg kick.
A combination from Sotto Jr does no damage.
Sotto Jr darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez throws a nice inside leg kick.
Alvarez misses with a kick to the body.
Alvarez checks the leg kick.
Alvarez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Alvarez throws a jab when Sotto Jr was well out of range.
Sotto Jr throws a jab when Alvarez was well out of range.
Sotto Jr swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Alvarez walks into a straight right hand from Sotto Jr.
Sotto Jr on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Alvarez. Alvarez obviously looking to wear him down.
Alvarez throws a lazy right hand but Sotto Jr sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Alvarez.
Alvarez motions for Sotto Jr to come forward. Alvarez throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Alvarez misses with a two punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sotto Jr loads up on a big right hand but Alvarez slips the punch.
Alvarez throws a nice looking combination but Sotto Jr bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Alvarez throws a jab but it's blocked by Sotto Jr.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sotto Jr.
Sotto Jr thows a leg kick but Alvarez checks it
and Alvarez counters with a nice low kick that buckles Sotto Jr's knee momentarily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alvarez takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A slow jab from Sotto Jr misses its intended target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alvarez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Alvarez throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alvarez jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Sotto Jr stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Alvarez.
A low kick from Sotto Jr is predictable there
and Alvarez counters with a thumping low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Saul Alvarez will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sotto Jr lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Sotto Jr bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Alvarez's head backwards.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sotto Jr. Alvarez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Alvarez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sotto Jr.
Sotto Jr stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Alvarez.
Alvarez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Alvarez throws a jab when Sotto Jr was well out of range.
Alvarez digs a good body shot into Sotto Jr's ribs.
Sotto Jr fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Alvarez tries to clinch there but Sotto Jr circles away.
Alvarez takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Left hook, right uppercut from Alvarez.
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!
Sotto Jr cracks Alvarez with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez tries to close the distance and clinch but Sotto Jr swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Alvarez doesn't manage to clinch there - Sotto Jr circles away.
Alvarez thows a body shot but no joy.
Sotto Jr changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Sotto Jr doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Alvarez tries to clinch but Sotto Jr is having none of it.
Sotto Jr is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Alvarez slips under a jab from Sotto Jr.

Alvarez moves into the clinch.
Alvarez blocking some punches.
Alvarez takes a shot to the head.
Sotto Jr is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Alvarez is trying to stall.
Alvarez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez misses with a punch to the body.
Alvarez using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Alvarez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sotto Jr is trying to maintain a safe position but Alvarez gets an underhook and turns Sotto Jr into the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Alvarez pushes Sotto Jr back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Alvarez lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sotto Jr backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sotto Jr wants to get back to striking at distance but Alvarez won't allow it.
Alvarez unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Sotto Jr displaying some good clinch control by pressing Alvarez up against the cage.
Sotto Jr wants to stall.
A short body shot lands from Sotto Jr as the two fighters clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sotto Jr misses with a punch on the inside.
Sotto Jr misses with a body punch.
Alvarez tries to land a knee to the head but Sotto Jr blocks with his arms.
Alvarez stalling in the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Alvarez wants to stall.
Sotto Jr is trying to force a seperation but Alvarez has the dominant position.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Alvarez creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Saul Alvarez seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Alvarez is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Alvarez misses with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez effectively controlling the action here.
Sotto Jr blocks an uppercut.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Alvarez lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sotto Jr backwards.
Sotto Jr looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Alvarez slowing the pace effectively.

Sotto Jr pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sotto Jr lands a lovely overhand right.
Sotto Jr cracks Alvarez with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alvarez throws a low kick, looking for Sotto Jr's leg but Sotto Jr calmly moves out of range.
Sotto Jr throws a lazy right hand but Alvarez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Alvarez misses with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Saul Alvarez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Alvarez closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Alvarez lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Sotto Jr looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Alvarez lands with a thumping leg kick.
Alvarez throws a series of punches but Sotto Jr avoids them all with ease.
Sotto Jr scores with a jab.
Alvarez scores with a jab to the head.
Alvarez doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Alvarez tries to land a front kick but Sotto Jr steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Saul Alvarez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sotto Jr misses the shot to the body.
Sotto Jr staying out of range there.
Sotto Jr attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Alvarez wants to clinch up but Sotto Jr keeps it at a distance.
Sotto Jr lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez moves out of range as Sotto Jr strikes.
Alvarez avoids the head kick by Sotto Jr.
Sotto Jr takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Alvarez slips a jab from Sotto Jr.
Sotto Jr tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Alvarez was well out of range. Poor timing from Sotto Jr.
Sotto Jr takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Alvarez lands with a kick to the ribs.
Sotto Jr keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alvarez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sotto Jr takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Sotto Jr moves out of range of the body kick from Alvarez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sotto Jr.

Alvarez darts in and clinches Sotto Jr up against the cage.
Sotto Jr taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Alvarez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alvarez misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Sotto Jr counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Sotto Jr misses with a two punch combination.
Alvarez avoids the body shot from Sotto Jr.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sotto Jr moves out of range of the leg kick from Alvarez.
Alvarez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sloppy strikes from Alvarez. Those never looked like landing.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Alvarez. Sotto Jr shrugs it off though.
Sotto Jr fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Alvarez on the side of the head.
Sotto Jr misses with a jab, cross combination.
Umberto Sotto Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Alvarez does no damage.
Sotto Jr throws a push kick but Alvarez slaps the foot to one side.
Sotto Jr swinging wildly here.
Alvarez fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sotto Jr.
Alvarez connects with a jab.
Sotto Jr lands a jab to the head.
Sotto Jr staying out of range there.
Sotto Jr on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Alvarez lands with a slapping head kick.

Sotto Jr is rocked!
Alvarez closes the distance and lands a crisp combination that knocks Sotto Jr out cold! Sotto Jr corner are devastated, head in hands behind our commentary position. Poor guys.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Saul Alvarez!
After winning the bout, Saul Alvarez thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.