PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight kickboxing rules bout between Nick Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vasiliy Khrapov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Khrapov has chosen Rocky road to Dublin (RUS) as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Alvarez
vs
Khrapov

191 cm
37
183 lbs
23 - 14 - 1

178 cm
38
168 lbs
20 - 12 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 23 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Nick Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vasiliy Khrapov!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Alvarez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Khrapov manages to avoid it.
Khrapov scores with a sloppy right hand. Alvarez should have avoided that one.

Alvarez closes the distance and clinches.
Alvarez is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Khrapov is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Alvarez throws a head punch that misses.
Khrapov misses with some punches.
A nice left hand lands by Alvarez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khrapov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Khrapov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Alvarez's elbow.
Khrapov lands a hook that snaps the head of Alvarez backwards.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Alvarez dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the ropes.
Khrapov misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez taking a breather.
Alvarez's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Khrapov throws a punch but it's blocked by Alvarez.
Khrapov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Khrapov scores with a shoulder strike.
Alvarez lands a body shot.
Alvarez is trying to force a seperation but Khrapov has the dominant position.
Khrapov misses with the head strike.
Khrapov misses with some punches.
Khrapov working aggressively here.
Khrapov throws a punch but it's blocked by Alvarez.

Alvarez manages to break the clinch.
Khrapov misses with a right hand
and Alvarez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Khrapov loads up on a big right hand but Alvarez slips the punch.
A shot to the liver by Alvarez. Beautiful body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez tries to clinch but Khrapov moves out of range.
Alvarez connects with a single shot there.
Alvarez lands a head kick!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Alvarez closes the distance and clinches.
Alvarez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Khrapov.
Khrapov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Alvarez lands with a left to the head.
Alvarez tries to stall but Khrapov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Khrapov has Alvarez pushed against the ropes.

Alvarez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Alvarez throws a quick inside leg kick.
Alvarez punishes Khrapov's body with a nice straight punch.
Alvarez wants to clinch up but Khrapov keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Alvarez dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Alvarez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Alvarez lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Alvarez lands with a nice body kick.
Khrapov misses with a jab to the body

and Alvarez counters by moving into the clinch.
Khrapov pushes Alvarez back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.

Alvarez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Alvarez lands with a kick to the ribs.
Khrapov lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Nick Alvarez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Khrapov circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A left and a right from Alvarez both land. Nice combination.
Khrapov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Alvarez throws a sloppy head kick and Khrapov moves out of range easily.
Khrapov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alvarez is looking to clinch but Khrapov is avoiding it.
Khrapov throws an overhand right that lands on Alvarez's shoulder, as Alvarez tries to avoid the shot.
Nick Alvarez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khrapov ducks right into an uppercut from Alvarez.
Alvarez looks to throw a body kick
and Khrapov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Alvarez thinking.
Khrapov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Alvarez moves into the clinch.
Alvarez wants to stall.

Alvarez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Alvarez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Alvarez tries to clinch there but Khrapov circles away.
Khrapov swats away the attempt to clinch by Alvarez.
Alvarez is looking to land body kicks.

Alvarez closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khrapov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Khrapov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Alvarezs head.
Khrapov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Alvarez tries to break the clinch but Khrapov is controlling the position.
Alvarez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Alvarez misses with a short punch on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Khrapov.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alvarez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Alvarez is trying to push Khrapov away but Khrapov has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Khrapov takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Khrapov is looking to control Alvarez's arms but Alvarez gets an underhook and turns him. Now Khrapov has his back to the ropes.

Alvarez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Alvarez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vasiliy Khrapov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Alvarez forces Khrapov back against the ropes and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Alvarez dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Khrapov misses with a right hand
and Alvarez counters with a stiff right hand.
Vasiliy Khrapov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Khrapov keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Khrapov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Alvarez shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Khrapov eats them both and turns towards Alvarez to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Alvarez connects with a high kick.

It looks like Vasiliy Khrapov has been cut.
Khrapov might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Alvarez cracks Khrapov with a right hand to the side of the head.
Khrapov lands a lovely overhand right.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alvarez misses with a head kick.
Khrapov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
No joy there for Alvarez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Alvarez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Khrapov can do to turn this around?
Alvarez misses with a head kick.

Alvarez rushes Khrapov and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.

Alvarez manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez wants to clinch.
Khrapov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Alvarez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Khrapov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Khrapov swats away the attempt to clinch by Alvarez.
Khrapov throws a body punch but Alvarez moves out of range.
Khrapov walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Alvarez checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Khrapov avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Khrapov back to the ropes. Alvarez follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Alvarez throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Khrapov.
Khrapov swings widly with a right hand
and Khrapov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Khrapov getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Nick Alvarez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alvarez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Khrapov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Khrapov scores with a body shot.
Khrapov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Alvarez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Khrapov.
A nice combination there by Alvarez.
Khrapov throws a big shot that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Alvarez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Alvarez has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

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