PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ruben Albarran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Javier Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Albarran
vs
Alvarez

180 cm
19
190 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

182 cm
21
198 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Dangerous GnP
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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ruben Albarran !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Javier Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Alan Glass and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez gets off balance looking for a body kick

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

Albarran drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Alvarez manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Albarran has Alvarez in his guard.

Albarran wants to sweep here but Alvarez controlling him for the moment.
Alvarez postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Alvarez working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez postures up in Albarran 's guard and throws a big left but Albarran blocks it.
Alvarez content to stall in guard here.
Albarran is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Albarran looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Alvarez is stalling in the full guard.
Alvarez connects with a couple of short punches.
Alvarez throwing strikes but missing.

Albarran has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Alvarez is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Albarran .

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Alvarez working the head and body with strikes.
Alvarez moves into full mount!

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

Albarran defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Alvarez.
Albarran manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez is looking to advance position but Albarran won't allow it.

Alvarez is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Albarran has managed to free his arm - good work.
Alvarez keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Albarran won't allow Alvarez to pass to mount.

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.
Alvarez trying to control the pace.
Albarran knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Alvarez on the ground.

Alvarez is looking for a kimura but Albarran is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Alvarez to get the leverage.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Alvarez wants to control but Albarran is keeping him busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Albarran avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Alvarez.
Alvarez throwing shots but Albarran is blocking nicely.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Javier Alvarez dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Albarran has a takedown stuffed.
Alvarez connects with a good right hand that stumbles Albarran . Albarran circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Albarran blocks a leg kick.
Albarran avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Alvarez throws a nice inside leg kick.
Albarran looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Alvarez throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Albarran sees it coming and avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Albarran steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Alvarez.
Alvarez feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Albarran s jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Horrible takedown attempt by Albarran or perhaps it was just good defense by Alvarez, which made it look bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez shoots in and drives through. Albarran sprawls well.
Alvarez throws a right hand that Albarran ducks under and follows up with a left that Albarran also avoids with ease.
Albarran changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Alvarez throws a nice looking combination but Albarran bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Albarran half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Alvarez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Albarran has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Alvarez.
Albarran takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Albarran uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Alvarez.

Albarran gets a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alvarez wants to control but Albarran is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Albarran is working for a submission of some sort.

Albarran is working for a kimura but Alvarez is defending it quite comfortably.
Javier Alvarez has got the better of the ground game so far.

Albarran is looking for a kimura but Alvarez is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Albarran to get the leverage.

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

Albarran is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Albarran is working for a kimura but Alvarez is defending it quite comfortably.

Albarran is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Alvarez has managed to free his arm - good work.
Alvarez slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Albarran postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Alvarez is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Albarran , into his guard.

Alvarez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Alvarez stands up over Albarran , holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Alvarez stands up over Albarran , holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alvarez advances position into side control!
The strikes coming from Alvarez are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
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.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Albarran shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Alvarez but Alvarez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Alvarez changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Alvarez misses with a straight left.
Albarran takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Alvarez drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Albarran is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Albarran does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Alvarez is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Alvarez not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez trying to control the action but Albarran is working from the bottom.
Alvarez working the head and body with strikes.
Albarran is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Alvarez jumps into side control!
Albarran takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Albarran tries to buck Alvarez off but Alvarez is having none of it.
Alvarez is putting a hurting on Albarran here, landing some big shots from side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez works to advance to full mount. Albarran defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Alvarez pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Alvarez is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Albarran can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Alvarez postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Albarran looks a forlorn figure.
Alvarez lands a big shot to the head and Albarran winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Javier Alvarez!