PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pavel Sherbo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sherbo has chosen Take Back the Power/ The Interrupters as his entrance music. Pavel Sherbo has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Florentino Ernesto Alvarez
vs
Sherbo

180 cm
30
166 lbs
19 - 6 - 1

177 cm
34
162 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Sparta Fightware

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 19 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Pavel Sherbo!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Alec Ball and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sherbo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Alvarez misses with a hook. Sherbo ducked under it nicely.
Alvarez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sherbo.
Alvarez feinted with a counter takedown.
Sherbo lands with a straight right. Alvarez didn't see that one coming.
Sherbo takes a swing at Alvarez's ribcage but misses.
Sherbo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sherbo takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Sherbo connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Sherbo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sherbo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Alvarez slips under a jab from Sherbo.
Sherbo throws a nice looking combination but Alvarez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Alvarez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sherbo on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Alvarez. Alvarez obviously looking to wear him down.
Sloppy strikes from Sherbo. Those never looked like landing.
Alvarez changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sherbo looks to throw the jab but Alvarez is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez lands with an uppercut that bounces Sherbo off the cage and back into range.
Sherbo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sherbo throws a counter combo.
Sherbo lands a slapping body shot.
Pavel Sherbo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sherbo throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Alvarez stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Alvarez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sherbo.
Alvarez lands a nice hook to Sherbo's body. Sherbo takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Alvarez staying out of range there.
Alvarez scores with a spinning back kick!
Alvarez takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Sherbo misses with a wild combination.
Alvarez lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Alvarez gets a takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alvarez is keen to just control but Sherbo is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherbo tries to roll over but Alvarez keeps him under control.
Alvarez is stalling here. Sherbo is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Alvarez seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Sherbo has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Sherbo wants to control but Alvarez is keeping him busy.

Sherbo decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Alvarez lands with a nice combination. Sherbo backs away looking to recover.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez looks to score with a jab to the body but Sherbo is just out of range.
Alvarez's corner calls for a 1-2. Alvarez obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Alvarez misses the jab.
Sherbo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Alvarez changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Sherbo throws out a loose jab but Alvarez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Alvarez missing with a left hand there. Sherbo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sherbo throws a hook but Alvarez blocks it.
Alvarez drops down looking for a counter takedown but Sherbo sprawls and moves away.
Alvarez ducks right into an uppercut from Sherbo.
Alvarez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sherbo moves away from the strike by Alvarez.
Sherbo paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Sherbo misses with an uppercut. Alvarez saw that one coming.
The fighters circling - Alvarez throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Alvarez staying out of range there.
The fighters circling - Sherbo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sherbo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Alvarez throws out the jab.
Sherbo misses with an uppercut

and Alvarez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Alvarez.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sherbo keeping moving, preventing Alvarez from controlling successfully.
Alvarez controls from within his opponent's guard.
Sherbo wants to stand but Alvarez is controlling the position.
Alvarez passes Sherbo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Alvarez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sherbo throws a body shot but no joy.
Alvarez blocks a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sherbo. Alvarez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Alvarez is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Sherbo.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Alvarez digs a good body shot into Sherbo's ribs.
Alvarez jabs at Sherbo's body.
Alvarez looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Sherbo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Alvarez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Alvarez looks to throw the jab but Sherbo is out of range.
Alvarez throws out a powerful jab.
Sherbo throws a hook but Alvarez blocks it.
Alvarez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sherbo.
Sherbo lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Sherbo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alvarez takes a swing at Sherbo's ribcage but misses.
Alvarez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sherbo.
Sherbo lands a slapping body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Sherbo.
Alvarez tries to counter with a takedown but Sherbo is quick to defend against it.
Sherbo tries to bum rush Alvarez with a series of wild strikes but Alvarez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sherbo fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Alvarez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Alvarez lands a right hook to the body.
Alvarez misses with a body shot.
Jab, jab by Sherbo - just one landing.
A big left from Sherbo misses.
Alvarez is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Alvarez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sherbo moves away.
Alvarez doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Alvarez drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sherbo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sherbo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Alvarez trying to control but Sherbo is working from the bottom.
Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sherbo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alvarez looking to pass the guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Alvarez's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Sherbo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Alvarez defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sherbo shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Alvarez shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Sherbo is trying to defend but Alvarez finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Alvarez trying to control from half guard but Sherbo is working away.

Alvarez is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sherbo sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Alvarez content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sherbo wants to improve his position but Alvarez is controlling well.
Alvarez wants to take a breather but Sherbo is having none of it.
Sherbo trying to control from the bottom.
Sherbo is trying to stand.
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 Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Alvarez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sherbo.
Alvarez attempts a counter takedown but Sherbo avoids it well and moves away.
Pavel Sherbo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Alvarez works Sherbo's body with a nice hook.
Alvarez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sherbo.
Sloppy strikes from Sherbo. Those never looked like landing.
Sherbo avoids the body shot from Alvarez.
A looping hook to the body misses from Alvarez. Sherbo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sherbo connects with a nice looking jab.
Alvarez takes one to the chin there.
Alvarez moves forwards but Sherbo connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Alvarez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Sherbo. No joy for Alvarez on that attempt.
Nice jab there from Sherbo.
Sherbo throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Alvarez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sherbo won't be happy with that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alvarez controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez cracks Sherbo with a big right hand but Sherbo just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Sherbo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Alvarez working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Alvarez grinds an elbow into Sherbo's temple.
Sherbo wants to control but Alvarez postures up.
Alvarez creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Alvarez in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez lands a decent elbow from side control.
Sherbo manages to get back to half guard.
Sherbo felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Alvarez trying to control from half guard but Sherbo is working away.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Alvarez in particular looking to stall.
Alvarez prevents Sherbo from improving his position.
Sherbo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Sherbo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Alvarez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sherbo is not content to let Alvarez control the position.

Sherbo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Alvarez pulls his head out easily.
Nice strikes from Alvarez there.

Alvarez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Alvarez thows a huge punch but Sherbo dodges it nicely.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Sherbo throws a hook to the side of Alvarez's head but Alvarez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sherbo stuffs the takedown attempt from Alvarez. Alvarez gets slowly back to his feet.
A shot to the liver by Alvarez. Beautiful body shot.
Sherbo throws a hook but Alvarez blocks it.
Pavel Sherbo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alvarez's jab looks to have found its range, popping Sherbo under the eye.
Sherbo scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Alvarez takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Sherbo on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Sherbo fails to land with a series of punches.
Sherbo misses with a combination

and Alvarez counters with a shoot takedown. Sherbo fights it but they end up in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leonardo Florentino Ernesto 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez!
After winning the bout, Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.