PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kostas Papadakis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Javier Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). He arrived on a last minute flight shortly after looking tired and unhappy. Officials decided the fight should still take place, much to the delight of the fans in attendance.
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kostas Papadakis and Javier Alvarez. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Papadakis
vs
Alvarez

185 cm
22
184 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

182 cm
20
198 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Good elbows
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kostas Papadakis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Javier Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez jabs Papadakis to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Alvarez with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Alvarez thows a left - swing and a miss!
An inside leg kick lands from Alvarez.
Papadakis staying out of range there.
We've been hearing reports that Papadakis has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Alvarez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right-left combo lands from Alvarez.
Alvarez throws a leg kick which misses Papadakis's front leg but catches the back leg as Papadakis tries to avoid it.
Alvarez works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez throws a body shot but no joy.
Javier Alvarez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alvarez lands with an overhand left.
Alvarez throws a series of punches but Papadakis avoids them all with ease.
Papadakis fails with a takedown attempt.
Alvarez looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Alvarez swings for the body but Papadakis moves out of range.
Papadakis with a poor takedown
and Alvarez counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Papadakis thinking.
Alvarez getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Alvarez misses with a body kick.
Alvarez is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Papadakis rather than just go for the knockout.
Papadakis takes a head kick and keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez lands a nice looking body shot.
Papadakis takes a jab right on the kisser.
Alvarez lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Alvarez as Papadakis shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kostas Papadakis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alvarez throws a push kick but Papadakis slaps the foot to one side.
Alvarez works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Alvarez throws an overhand right that lands on Papadakis's shoulder, as Papadakis tries to avoid the shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papadakis takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Alvarez has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Alvarez lands with a good body shot.
Alvarez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Alvarez tries to work over Papadakis's front leg with a kick but Papadakis checks it.
Papadakis fails with the takedown
and Papadakis takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Papadakis shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Javier Alvarez dominated that 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.

Alvarez missing with a left hand there. Papadakis was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Papadakis checks a low kick from Alvarez.
Alvarez misses with a body shot.
Alvarez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Alvarez lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Papadakis with a poor takedown
and Alvarez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Alvarez turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papadakis walks into a left hand.
Papadakis takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Alvarez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Alvarez swings for the body but Papadakis moves out of range.
Jab by Alvarez.
Papadakis takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Papadakis ducks under a wild hook from Alvarez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
A nice leg kick lands there from Alvarez.
Alvarez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Alvarez lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Alvarez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Papadakis moves out of range of the strikes.
Papadakis takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alvarez scores with a crisp jab that stopped Papadakis in his tracks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Papadakis has his takedown stuffed
and Alvarez counters with a stiff right hand.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Alvarez.
Papadakis is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A punch combination from Alvarez misses.
Papadakis shoots and misses
and Alvarez counters with a slapping leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kostas Papadakis. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Alvarez there.
Papadakis moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Alvarez lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Alvarez connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Javier Alvarez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Good standup being displayed there by Alvarez as he connects with a hook.
Alvarez feints and then cracks Papadakis's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Papadakis down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Papadakis uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Alvarez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Javier Alvarez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Papadakis's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Papadakis shoots and misses

and Alvarez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Alvarez.

Papadakis looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Alvarez trying to control the position from guard on top but Papadakis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alvarez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Papadakis haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Papadakis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Alvarez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Papadakis is keeping the position for now.
Alvarez being controlled here momentarily.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Alvarez won't allow Papadakis to sweep him here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Alvarez lands a head shot.
Good leg kick by Alvarez there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Alvarez scores with a four punch combination!
Javier Alvarez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Papadakis.
Alvarez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Papadakis with a poor takedown

and Alvarez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Papadakis won't be happy with that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kostas Papadakis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Papadakis 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Papadakis keeps working.
Papadakis is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Alvarez tries to advance to mount but Papadakis denies him.
Check out the look on Alvarez's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
You can see the frustration on Papadakis's face as Alvarez controls the position.
Papadakis manages to work his way to half guard, despite Alvarez's best efforts.
Papadakis is trying to maintain the position but Alvarez is very close to passing his half guard.
Alvarez wants to control but Papadakis is keeping him busy.
Javier 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.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Alvarez in particular looking to stall.
Let's hope that Alvarez has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Papadakis takes a jab right on the kisser.

And that's the end of the fight!
Javier 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 25:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 25:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 25:30

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