PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Javier Pena (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Pena
vs
Florentino Ernesto Alvarez

186 cm
37
165 lbs
23 - 20 - 0

180 cm
32
166 lbs
22 - 8 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Spartan Nutrition
Beaver Jooce!

KAISER
Beaver Jooce!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 20 - 0, fighting out of New York, Javier Pena!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Steve Smith and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pena throws a big shot that misses.
Alvarez with the counter takedown but Pena avoids it easily.
Alvarez avoids the head kick by Pena.
Pena throws an ugly left hook that misses

so Alvarez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Alvarez prevents Pena from getting back to his feet.
Alvarez looking to sit in guard and control but Pena gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Pena is looking to stand up but Alvarez won't let him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Alvarez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pena gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Pena tries to stand but Alvarez is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pena stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Pena is looking to land body kicks.
A head kick misses from Pena.
Alvarez drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Pena defends it well.
Alvarez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pena manages to avoid it.
Alvarez moves out of range of the body kick from Pena.
Alvarez has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Pena throws an off balance right hand

and Alvarez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Pena is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Alvarez wants to pass the guard but Pena is keeping the position.
Alvarez trying to control the position from guard on top but Pena is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alvarez pushing down on Pena's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez is looking for a kimura here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Alvarez connects with a nice short shot to Pena's temple.

Alvarez is working for a submission of some sort.
Alvarez prevents Pena from standing back up.

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.
Alvarez thows a huge punch but Pena dodges it nicely.
Alvarez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pena's head.
Alvarez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pena is trying to stand back up but Alvarez is controlling him

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Alvarez changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Pena throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Good exchange - Pena coming out on top.
Pena throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Alvarez blocks a head kick by Pena.
Pena throws a body shot but no joy.
Pena misses with a right hand

and Alvarez decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Pena's guard.
Alvarez looking to sit in guard and control but Pena gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Alvarez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Alvarez trying to keep a closed guard but Pena is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Alvarez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Pena defends it easily.
Our spies down at at Mean Team inform us that Alvarez has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pena is looking to stand up but Alvarez won't let him.

Alvarez looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Pena passes into half guard.
Pena wants to stand up but Alvarez is controlling the position.
Pena prevents Alvarez from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Alvarez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Pena decides to stand and escape the position.
Pena tries a head kick but it misses.
Pena throws a body punch but Alvarez moves out of range.
Alvarez swings for the body but Pena moves out of range.
Pena tries a head kick but it misses.
Alvarez scores with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pena throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Pena misses with a straight left.
Alvarez throws a shot from downtown. Pena moves away and avoids it.
Alvarez takes one to the chin there.
Alvarez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Pena throws out the jab.
Alvarez avoids the head kick by Pena.
Pena scores with a body shot.
Pena throws the left hand but Alvarez avoids the punch easily.
Pena throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Alvarez changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pena.
Alvarez throws a shot from downtown. Pena moves away and avoids it.
A swing and a miss from Pena.
And Alvarez tries to counter it with a takedown but Pena pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Alvarez avoids the body shot from Pena.
Pena takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Alvarez avoids the head kick by Pena.
Pena misses with an uppercut.
Javier Pena is winning the standup battle so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pena cracks Alvarez with an open hand slap.
Pena takes a shot to the body in his stride.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pena dodges the punch combination from Alvarez.
Alvarez on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Pena lands a high kick!
Pena goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Alvarez drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Pena defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez throws a hook but Pena avoids it easily.
Pena slips under a jab.
Pena cracks Alvarez with a good jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez misses with a body shot.
Pena throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Pena pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Alvarez scores with a crisp jab that stopped Pena in his tracks.
Alvarez lands a nice hook to Pena's body. Pena takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Alvarez takes one to the side of the head.
Pena ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Alvarez moves away.
Pena swings for the body but Alvarez moves out of range.
Alvarez blocks the body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pena looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Pena connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Pena fails to land with a series of punches.
Pena throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A jab from Alvarez misses.
Pena thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pena scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
We've been told by Pena's head coaches at Combat Fitness that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alvarez scores with a jab to the head.
Alvarez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pena was well out of range. Poor timing from Alvarez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez jabs at Pena's body.
Alvarez lands a nice shot to the body.
Alvarez digs a good body shot into Pena's ribs.
Pena misses with a hook.
And Alvarez tries to counter it with a takedown but Pena pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Alvarez is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Pena rather than just go for the knockout.
Alvarez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Javier Pena seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pena goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Pena throws a head kick but Alvarez moves out of range.
Pena misses with a leg kick.
Alvarez drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Pena defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pena on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Alvarez shoots in but Pena avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Alvarez moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Nice sprawl there from Pena as Alvarez shoots in.
A little feinted left hand from Pena on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A head kick misses from Pena.
Alvarez changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Pena dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Alvarez lunges at Pena with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Pena's hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Javier Pena clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Alvarez misses with a hook
and Pena counters with a body kick that stops Alvarez in his tracks momentarily.
Pena keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Pena loads up on a big right hand but Alvarez slips the punch.
Pena smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Jab from Alvarez.
Pena throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Alvarez with the counter takedown but Pena avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pena throws an overhand right that lands on Alvarez's shoulder, as Alvarez tries to avoid the shot.
Pena takes a swing at Alvarez's ribcage but misses.
Alvarez cracks Pena with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez tests Pena's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Alvarez scores with a decent looking hook.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Pena - that will leave a mark!
A head kick by Pena misses

and Alvarez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Alvarez wants to control from the top but Pena keeps moving.
Alvarez won't allow Pena to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alvarez wants to control from the top but Pena keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pena wants to get back to his feet but Alvarez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Alvarez advances position into side control!
Pena stops Alvarez from passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pena is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Alvarez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Pena has escaped the position, nice work there.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Pena throws a head kick that misses

and Alvarez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pena is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Alvarez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Pena is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Pena has escaped and now he's on top!

Pena wants to stand and escape but instead Alvarez has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pena wants to stand but Alvarez is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez dominated that fourth round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Alvarez lands the left hand.
Pena throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Alvarez.
Nice defenses there by Pena.
The fighters circle momentarily. Pena darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Alvarez connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pena feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Alvarez's calf.
Alvarez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pena.
Pena looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pena steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Alvarez.
Pena was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Alvarez scores with a shot to the body.
Alvarez slips a jab from Pena.
Pena swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Alvarez lands with a shot to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Pena misses the target.
Alvarez drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Pena defends it well.
Pena misses the jab.
Alvarez drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Pena defends it well.
Pena uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Alvarez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez cracks Pena with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Pena takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Pena throws a head kick but Alvarez moves out of range.
Pena doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Pena looks to land a left hand but Alvarez moved out of range nicely.

Alvarez changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Pena looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alvarez throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Pena works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Pena avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Alvarez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez is looking to advance position but Pena won't allow it.
Pena looks like he's trying to stand up.
Alvarez throwing shots but Pena is blocking nicely.
Pena wants to get back to his feet.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Alvarez not landing any meaningful shots this time.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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.
Alvarez scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Pena takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Pena ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Alvarez on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Alvarez ducks under a wild hook from Pena.
Alvarez tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pena avoids the body shot from Alvarez.
Alvarez bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Pena's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Alvarez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge William Peck scores the fight 47:48
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 47:48
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez!
Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez is the new lightweight champion!
An out of breath Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.