PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Edu Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jouni Juoni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Alvarez
vs
Juoni

175 cm
17
168 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

150 cm
19
158 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Enjoys gardening

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Edu Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jouni Juoni!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Valeri Chadov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Juoni motions for Alvarez to come forward. Juoni throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Juoni gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Alvarez to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Alvarez drops back looking for a leg! Juoni is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Juoni manages to kick Alvarez off! Alvarez jumps back into Juoni's guard.
Alvarez stands and throws Juoni's legs to the side, diving into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Alvarez thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Juoni is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Juoni trying to remain calm as Alvarez controls from the top position.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Juoni has eaten all the pies!
Juoni has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Alvarez is trying to get an arm triangle but Juoni is defending well.
Juoni manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Alvarez slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Alvarez controlling the position.
Juoni seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Alvarez pulls Juoni in to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Juoni looking to pass the guard.
Juoni trying to control but Alvarez is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Alvarez is on top in guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Juoni working a defensive guard here.
Alvarez slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Juoni is looking for a sweep.
Alvarez trying to control the position but Juoni is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alvarez is really struggling to control Juoni but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Alvarez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Juoni has escaped the position, nice work there.
Juoni 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Juoni throws a low kick, looking for Alvarez's leg but Alvarez calmly moves out of range.
Juoni connects with a leg kick. Alvarez looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Alvarez takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Alvarez drives through with a takedown into Juoni's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Alvarez drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Juoni dives on top into guard.

Alvarez wants to sweep here but Juoni controlling him for the moment.

Alvarez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Juoni defends well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Juoni tries to free his leg and advance position but Alvarez is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Juoni manages to get himself to full guard.

Alvarez's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Alvarez drops back, looking for a kneebar! Juoni looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Juoni looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Juoni!

Alvarez is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Juoni is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Juoni wants to control the pace but Alvarez is squirming around nicely.
Alvarez is trying to escape the mount.
Juoni wants to control the pace but Alvarez is squirming around nicely.
Alvarez tries to lock up and control but Juoni gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Alvarez gets back to half guard.
Alvarez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Juoni can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Juoni is looking to advance position but Alvarez won't allow it.
Alvarez is trying is best to control the position here.
Alvarez gets full guard.
Alvarez keeping full guard, as Juoni tries to pass.
Alvarez seems keen to control Juoni's posture.
Alvarez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Juoni accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Edu Alvarez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Juoni displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Alvarez.
Alvarez shoots in but Juoni avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Alvarez shoots in and bounces Juoni off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Juoni is trying to control the position but Alvarez postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alvarez works a leg free and moves into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Edu Alvarez will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! 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.

Alvarez throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Juoni tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Alvarez is in Juoni's guard.
Alvarez passes Juoni's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Juoni wants to control but Alvarez is keeping busy.

Alvarez is looking for a kimura here.

Alvarez seems to be working for a kimura but Juoni defends the submission attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Juoni moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Juoni striking off his back but it's not causing Alvarez any problems.
Alvarez slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Alvarez wants to control from the top but Juoni keeps moving.
Alvarez passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Juoni is trying to control Alvarez's posture but Alvarez avoids it.
Alvarez remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Juoni 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.
Juoni is being controlled here.
Alvarez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Juoni keeps working.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Alvarez tries for a kimura but Juoni is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez working away.
Alvarez controlling the position from side mount.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Juoni throws out a leg kick but Alvarez moves out of range and Juoni only half commits.
Edu Alvarez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alvarez takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Juoni misses the shot to the body.
Juoni connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Juoni misses with a head kick.
Juoni looks to land a body kick but Alvarez moved away.

Alvarez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Juoni sprawls well initially but Alvarez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Alvarez wants to pass the guard but Juoni is defending well.
Alvarez is taking a breather. Juoni 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.
Juoni tries to get to full guard but Alvarez has control of the leg.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Alvarez passes the guard and advances to mount!
Jouni Juoni has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Alvarez wants to finish this one by submission but Juoni is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Alvarez.

And that's the end of the fight!
Edu Alvarez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Alvarez, 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27

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