PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jerry Wheeler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Wheeler
vs
Alvarez

218 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

200 cm
21
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jerry Wheeler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wheeler tries to clinch but Alvarez moves out of range.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Wheeler enables Alvarez to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Wheeler manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Wheeler is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Alvarez tries to stand but Wheeler is controlling from the bottom.

Alvarez gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Alvarez throws a combination that misses

and Wheeler moves into the clinch.

Alvarez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Alvarez throws out a leg kick but Wheeler moves out of range and Alvarez only half commits.
Alvarez tries a low kick but Wheeler avoids it.
Alvarez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Alvarez connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Wheeler's hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Wheeler circles away quickly and effectively.
Alvarez fails to land with a series of punches.

Alvarez gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Alvarez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wheeler fails in his attempt to clinch.

Alvarez fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Wheeler to the ground. Alvarez is now in Wheeler's guard.
Wheeler looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Alvarez tries to stand but Wheeler is controlling from the bottom.
Alvarez controls from within his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alvarez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Alvarez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Alvarez won't allow Wheeler to sweep him here.
Wheeler really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Wheeler not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Alvarez falls off balance throwing a combination
and Wheeler counters with a nice body kick.

Alvarez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alvarez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Wheeler does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Alvarez stalling.
Wheeler wants to improve his position but Alvarez is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez is taking a breather. Wheeler says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Michael Alvarez was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Alvarez tries to clinch up but Wheeler circles away and keeps his distance.
Wheeler goes for a double leg but Alvarez avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Alvarez continues to drive forward.

Alvarez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wheeler takes a jab right on the kisser.

Alvarez clinches up with Wheeler and pushes him back against the cage.

Alvarez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Alvarez feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Wheeler has a closed guard, preventing Alvarez from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez looks winded!
Wheeler not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
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!
Wheeler has a closed guard, preventing Alvarez from standing up.

We're going to have a standup here because Jerry Wheeler wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Alvarez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

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

Alvarez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Alvarez closes the distance and clinches.

Alvarez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Alvarez circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Alvarez dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Alvarez throws a left and a right that both miss
and Wheeler makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Wheeler has a takedown stuffed.
Alvarez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Wheeler paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Wheeler tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Alvarez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Wheeler takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A combination from Alvarez does no damage.
Some wild striking there from Alvarez.
Alvarez tries to clinch but Wheeler is having none of it.
Alvarez throws a looping overhand right but Wheeler ducks down to avoid it.
Alvarez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Wheeler.
Alvarez fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Wheeler looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez misses with a few strikes there.

Wheeler gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Alvarez to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Alvarez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Wheeler. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Alvarez is breathing heavily.
Wheeler wants to sweep but no luck.
Wheeler controlling the position.
Wheeler will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Alvarez won't allow Wheeler to sweep him here.
Michael Alvarez has got the better of the ground game so far.

Alvarez decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Alvarez throws a right hand that Wheeler ducks under and follows up with a left that Wheeler also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Wheeler looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Alvarez!
Wheeler postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Wheeler tries to score with some ground and pound. Alvarez controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Sloppy strikes there by Wheeler.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez regains half guard, as Wheeler was trying to land strikes.

Wheeler is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Alvarez has managed to free his arm - good work.
Alvarez wants to stand back up but Wheeler manages to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez tries to escape but Wheeler is in control.

Alvarez sneaks out the side door and pushes Wheeler away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Michael Alvarez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Alvarez connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Wheeler tries a low kick but Alvarez avoids it.
Alvarez throws a nice looking combination but Wheeler bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Alvarez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Wheeler checks a leg kick.

Alvarez closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Alvarez lands in his opponent's guard.

Alvarez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Wheeler being controlled here, momentarily.

Alvarez gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez throws a head kick but Wheeler moves out of range.
A clash of legs there as Wheeler blocks the low kick.

Alvarez gets a double leg takedown into Wheeler's guard.
Alvarez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Wheeler holds on and takes a little breather.

Wheeler looking for a guillotine here but Alvarez defends easily.
Wheeler looking to hit a scissor sweep but Alvarez is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez wants to get up but he can't break Wheeler's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Alvarez being controlled here momentarily.
Wheeler looking to hit a scissor sweep but Alvarez is one step ahead there.
Alvarez wants to stand and escape but instead Wheeler has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Alvarez is looking to stand up but Wheeler isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jerry Wheeler just wasn't active enough.
Alvarez lands with a nice combination. Wheeler backs away looking to recover.
Alvarez throws a combination. Wheeler tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Alvarez moves into the clinch successfully.
Alvarez keeps control of Wheeler as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Alvarez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alvarez throws a sloppy head kick and Wheeler moves out of range easily.
Alvarez misses with a straight left.

Alvarez drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler managing to control the position.
Alvarez is looking to stand up but Wheeler won't let him.
Alvarez trying to control the position from guard on top but Wheeler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alvarez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Wheeler working a defensive guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Good work by Alvarez as he checks the leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Alvarez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Alvarez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Alvarez!