PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hannibal Butrovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Butrovic
vs
Florentino Ernesto Alvarez

180 cm
30
168 lbs
21 - 8 - 0

180 cm
28
166 lbs
16 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hannibal Butrovic!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Andrew Berry and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice body punch from Alvarez.
Butrovic shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Alvarez counters with a shoot takedown. Butrovic fights it but they end up in guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Butrovic trying to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alvarez looking to sit in guard and control but Butrovic gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Butrovic loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Alvarez keeping moving, preventing Butrovic from controlling successfully.
Butrovic throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butrovic is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Butrovic looking to sit in guard and control but Alvarez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Butrovic is adopting a defensive guard.
Alvarez sitting in guard here, content to control.
Alvarez scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Butrovic looking for a sweep. Not yet Butrovic, not yet.
Butrovic is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez controlling from the top position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Butrovic gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Alvarez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Alvarez lands a nice short elbow.

Butrovic looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Alvarez connects with a nice short shot to Butrovic's temple.
Alvarez lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Butrovic wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butrovic is trying to maintain the position but Alvarez is very close to passing his half guard.
Butrovic regains full guard. Nicely done.
Alvarez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Alvarez stopping the sweep attempt from Butrovic.
Alvarez works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Butrovic keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Butrovic trying to control here.
Alvarez is trying to control the action in half guard but Butrovic is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez wants to pass the guard but Butrovic is defending well.

Alvarez is working for a submission of some sort.
Butrovic is looking to improve his position.
Butrovic has a hand on Alvarez's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Alvarez takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alvarez with shots to the head and body - Butrovic looks very uncomfortable down there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Butrovic will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Butrovic shoots in looking for a takedown. Alvarez tries to sprawl out of it but Butrovic keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Alvarez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Butrovic misses with a takedown

and Alvarez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hannibal Butrovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alvarez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Alvarez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Butrovic avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Alvarez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Butrovic seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Alvarez preventing the sweep.
Butrovic utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Butrovic manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Alvarez manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butrovic wants to control from the top but Alvarez keeps moving.

Alvarez is looking for a triangle but Butrovic pushes his legs off easily.
Alvarez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Butrovic stands and throws Alvarez's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Butrovic laying and praying for a moment but Alvarez takes advantage and regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butrovic throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Alvarez to regain full guard.

Alvarez looking for a guillotine here but Butrovic defends easily.
Alvarez keeping moving, preventing Butrovic from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butrovic throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Alvarez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Alvarez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Our spies down at at Laoch Den inform us that Alvarez has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Alvarez keeping moving, preventing Butrovic from controlling successfully.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Butrovic is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Alvarez is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Hannibal Butrovic wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Alvarez cracks Butrovic with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Butrovic shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Alvarez sprawls well. Alvarez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Butrovic gets slowly back to his feet.
Butrovic is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Alvarez.
Butrovic fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Alvarez avoids it really well and circles away.
Butrovic shoots and misses

and Alvarez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Alvarez.
Butrovic wants to control but Alvarez passes easily into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alvarez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Butrovic defending well though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Alvarez is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Butrovic is just riding it out for now. Alvarez eventually gives up the hold.
Butrovic is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Butrovic lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Alvarez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Butrovic.
Butrovic shoots in for a double leg but Alvarez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Butrovic fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Alvarez manages to avoid it.
Alvarez slaps away a takedown attempt from Butrovic, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hannibal Butrovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Alvarez gets caught flat footed, as Butrovic shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Alvarez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Alvarez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Butrovic looking to sit in guard and control but Alvarez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butrovic looking to control.
Alvarez trying to control but Butrovic is working from the bottom.
Alvarez postures up.
Butrovic tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Butrovic manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Alvarez sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez is refusing to be controlled, as Butrovic sits in half guard.
Alvarez trying to get back to full guard but Butrovic takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alvarez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Alvarez sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Alvarez is refusing to be controlled, as Butrovic sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Butrovic connects with a nice short shot to Alvarez's temple.
Butrovic tries to pass to full mount but Alvarez defends it.
Butrovic working over Alvarez with some ground and pound. Alvarez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Butrovic connects with a nice short shot to Alvarez's temple.
Alvarez wants to control but Butrovic passes into side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Butrovic is looking to take a break and control but Alvarez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Butrovic throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Butrovic wants to control but Alvarez is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hannibal Butrovic clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Alvarez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Butrovic is defended easily by Alvarez.
A looping hook to the body misses from Alvarez. Butrovic does a little dance to reset his feet.
Alvarez connects with a body shot.

Alvarez closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Alvarez lands in his opponent's guard.
Alvarez is fighting to break Butrovic's control of his arms but Butrovic is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Alvarez distracts Butrovic with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Alvarez preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez wants to control from the top but Butrovic keeps moving.
Alvarez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Alvarez wants to pass the guard but Butrovic is keeping the position.

Butrovic working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Alvarez has passed into half guard!
Alvarez working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Alvarez seems to be working for a kimura but Butrovic defends the submission attempt.
Butrovic wants to control but Alvarez is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Butrovic is staying active underneath Alvarez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Alvarez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Butrovic's head.
Butrovic manages to get to full guard.
Alvarez stands and throws Butrovic's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Alvarez is looking to take a break and control but Butrovic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butrovic tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Alvarez wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Alvarez working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
What's Butrovic going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Butrovic is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Alvarez off and has taken his back!
Alvarez turns into Butrovic and is now in his guard.
Alvarez slips nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Butrovic tries to roll over but Alvarez keeps him under control.

Butrovic is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Alvarez pulls his head out easily.
Butrovic is pressing down on Alvarez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Alvarez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Alvarez wants to control from the top but Butrovic keeps moving.
Butrovic avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Butrovic is trying to keep Alvarez in close.
Butrovic looking for a sweep. Not yet Butrovic, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez dominated that fourth round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Butrovic shoots and misses
and Alvarez counters with a left and a right that stings Butrovic.
A telegraphed right hand from Alvarez misses the target.
Butrovic shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Butrovic has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hannibal Butrovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alvarez pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Butrovic back to the cage. Alvarez follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
A slow jab from Alvarez misses its intended target.
A big right from Butrovic misses.
Butrovic shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Butrovic shoots in for a takedown but Alvarez shows good takedown defense.
Alvarez tries to bum rush Butrovic with a series of wild strikes but Butrovic uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Butrovic.

Alvarez shoots in and gets a takedown into Butrovic's guard.
Alvarez stands and throws Butrovic's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez lands a decent elbow from side control.
Alvarez cracks Butrovic with a big elbow.
Butrovic is looking to reverse the position.
Butrovic struggling a bit here.
Butrovic is looking to regain half guard here but Alvarez keeps moving and retains side control.
Alvarez trying to control the action but Butrovic is working from the bottom.
Alvarez throws a strike aimed at the side of Butrovic's head but Butrovic avoids it well.
Alvarez is looking to take a break and control but Butrovic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Butrovic struggling a bit here.

Alvarez tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Alvarez fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Butrovic can't do much from the bottom here.
Alvarez trying to control the action but Butrovic is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Butrovic tries to buck Alvarez off but Alvarez is having none of it.
Hannibal Butrovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alvarez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Butrovic keeps working.
Alvarez is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Butrovic is letting Alvarez control him for a moment.
Butrovic wants to control but Alvarez postures up.
Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Butrovic is trying to get back to half guard.
Alvarez controlling the position.
Butrovic is trying to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Butrovic's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Alvarez moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alvarez creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leonardo Florentino Ernesto 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 46:49
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 46:49
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez!
Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez is the new lightweight champion!
During a confident post fight interview, Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.