PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Banner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Banner's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Pump Up The Jam. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Banner
vs
Alvarez

180 cm
38
175 lbs
20 - 10 - 0

191 cm
34
183 lbs
17 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Tokyo United Fightwear
GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bruce Banner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nick Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Felipe Paraventi and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banner throws a series of punches but Alvarez moves out of range.

Alvarez drops Banner with a right and a left! Alvarez comes rushing in but Banner regains his composure and manages to keep Alvarez in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Banner looking for a sweep. Not yet Banner, not yet.
Alvarez wants to pass the guard but Banner is keeping the position.
Banner might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Alvarez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Banner managing to control the position.
Alvarez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez trying to control the position from guard on top but Banner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Alvarez stopping the sweep attempt from Banner.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nick Alvarez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alvarez connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Banner is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Alvarez's half guard.
Alvarez is looking for a sweep. Banner is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Alvarez trying to hold on to Banner's head to control him but Banner postures up.
Banner looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Alvarez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Banner haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Banner slips a nice elbow through Alvarez's hands, connecting with Alvarez's forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banner is trying to control. Alvarez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Alvarez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Alvarez wants to improve his position but Banner is controlling well.
Banner thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Alvarez tries to roll over but Banner keeps him under control.
Banner working Alvarez over with strikes.
Alvarez manages to get to full guard.
Alvarez looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Banner puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

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

Banner is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Alvarez defends it well.

Banner is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Alvarez has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Alvarez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Alvarez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four 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.
Banner seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Alvarez makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Alvarez.
Banner with a flurry of punches that miss.

Alvarez throws his legs up looking for a submission but Banner uses it to pass to side control.
Alvarez is trying to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alvarez regains half guard.
Alvarez regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nick Alvarez will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Alvarez missing with a left hand there. Banner was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Alvarez's coach down at MB Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Alvarez's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Banner fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Alvarez shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Alvarez slows the pace down in 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 Banner does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Banner tries to get to full guard but Alvarez has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner trying to control from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Alvarez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nick Alvarez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alvarez scores with a nice strike.
Alvarez throws a series of punches but Banner moves out of range.
Nick Alvarez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Banner takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Alvarez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banner showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Alvarez.
Banner closes the distance and clinches up with Alvarez, looking for a takedown. Banner pushes Alvarez against the cage but Alvarez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Alvarez lands a lovely overhand right.
Alvarez stuns Banner with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Banner staying out of range there.
Alvarez misses with a looping right.
Alvarez misses with a straight right.
Alvarez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Banner clobbers Alvarez with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Alvarez tries to clinch but Banner is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez lands a two punch combo.
Banner with a poor takedown
and Alvarez counters with a right hand to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bruce Banner. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Banner gets a takedown into half guard.
Alvarez wants to control but Banner is keeping busy.
Alvarez tries to get to full guard but Banner has control of the leg.
Alvarez is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banner tries to pass to full mount but Alvarez defends it.
Alvarez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Banner's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Banner's back!
Bruce Banner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Banner tries to roll but Alvarez sticks to his back.
Alvarez is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Alvarez struggling to keep hold of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Alvarez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Alvarez throws a nice looking combination but Banner bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Alvarez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Banner.
Banner takes a swing at Alvarez's ribcage but misses.

Alvarez lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Banner sprawling to the canvas. Alvarez follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Banner hang on?
Alvarez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Banner keeps working.
Alvarez controlling the pace.
Banner manages to get to full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alvarez wants to control from the top but Banner keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez looking to sit in guard and control but Banner gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Banner is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Banner stays in close to Alvarez's body and controls the position.

Alvarez looking for a guillotine here but Banner defends easily.
Alvarez trying to control the position.
Bruce Banner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banner stopping the sweep attempt from Alvarez.
Alvarez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Banner manages to get himself to full guard.

Alvarez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Banner keeping full guard, as Alvarez tries to pass.
Alvarez controls from within his opponent's guard.
Banner keeping moving, preventing Alvarez from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner controls Alvarez momentarily but Alvarez frees himself.
Alvarez is stalling in the full guard.
Alvarez postures up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Alvarez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Banner dodges the punch combination from Alvarez.
Alvarez ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Alvarez misses with a wild body shot.
Banner feinted with a counter takedown.
Alvarez lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Banner getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Nick Alvarez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Alvarez throws a combination. Banner tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Alvarez throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Banner counters with a nice double leg into side control. Alvarez won't be happy with that.
Banner lands an elbow.

Banner is working to tighten his grip on Alvarez's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Alvarez has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Banner is really squeezing tight and eventually Alvarez passes out! Banner breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Bruce Banner!
An out of breath Bruce Banner thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.