PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Pettis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edu Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Edu Alvarez struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 156.5lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. The key to victory for Anthony Pettis has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Pettis
vs
Alvarez

170 cm
28
165 lbs
17 - 11 - 0

175 cm
24
168 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Sin City Allstars

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 17 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Pettis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Edu Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, George Francis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Pettis throws out the jab.
Alvarez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pettis.
Pettis lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Alvarez circles away quickly and effectively.
Pettis avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Alvarez staying out of range there.
Some wild striking there from Pettis.
Alvarez tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Pettis looks to land a right hand but Alvarez moved out of range.
Alvarez on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Alvarez moves out of range as Pettis strikes.
Alvarez feints the counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Alvarez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Pettis definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Pettis is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Alvarez is aware though and is defending well.
Pettis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Alvarez.
Alvarez won't allow Pettis to sweep him here.
Pettis striking off his back but it's not causing Alvarez any problems.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez postures up.
Pettis wants to sweep here but Alvarez controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Pettis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Pettis preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Alvarez throws an elbow that misses. Pettis uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Alvarez's guard. Nice move by Pettis!

Pettis wants to control from the top but Alvarez keeps moving.
Alvarez told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Pettis is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Alvarez is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Pettis controls the pace.
Alvarez is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Pettis looking to pass the guard.
Pettis trying to control the position from guard on top but Alvarez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pettis lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Alvarez at a distance.
Alvarez throws a shot from downtown. Pettis moves away and avoids it.
Pettis throws a series of punches but Alvarez avoids them all with ease.
Pettis misses with a left hand

and Alvarez decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Pettis's guard.

Pettis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Pettis trying to keep a closed guard but Alvarez is proving a slippery customer.
Pettis managing to control the position.
Pettis wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pettis controls Alvarez momentarily but Alvarez frees himself.
Alvarez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Pettis pulls Alvarez in close to his closed guard and prevents Alvarez from doing any damage or advancing position.
Pettis is trying to control the position but Alvarez postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alvarez wants to land a leg kick but Pettis is out of range.
Pettis was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Pettis misses with a series of wild punches.
Alvarez changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
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 Anthony Pettis will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Alvarez on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Pettis cracks Alvarez with an open hand slap.
Alvarez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pettis.
Alvarez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pettis.
Pettis rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Alvarez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Pettis just misses with a punch to the body.
Alvarez walks into a stiff left hand from Pettis.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pettis swinging wildly here.
Pettis throws a right hand that Alvarez ducks under and follows up with a left that Alvarez also avoids with ease.
Pettis shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Alvarez eats them both and turns towards Pettis to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Anthony Pettis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pettis gets caught napping as Alvarez dives in and scores a takedown. Pettis manages to retain guard.
Pettis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Alvarez.
Pettis manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Alvarez manages to get himself to full guard.

Pettis trying to control but Alvarez is working from the bottom.
Pettis pushing down on Alvarez's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Pettis tries to pass to full mount but Alvarez defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettis seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Pettis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alvarez keeps working.
Pettis trying to control from Alvarez's half guard. Alvarez has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Pettis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Alvarez can do to turn this around?

Alvarez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Pettis looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pettis sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Alvarez's guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Still in half guard, Pettis seems content to control.
Alvarez tries to roll over but Pettis keeps him under control.
Pettis passes to full mount!
Pettis controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pettis avoids the attempt from Alvarez to control.
Alvarez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Pettis can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Alvarez is looking to escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pettis controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Pettis dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Pettis misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Alvarez tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
A jab lands there for Pettis.
Alvarez has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Pettis finds it's way round the side to connect with Alvarez's head.
A punch combination from Pettis misses.
Pettis will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Alvarez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pettis sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Alvarez somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice cross by Pettis.
Pettis misses with a left hand
and Alvarez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Alvarez has his takedown stuffed
and Pettis counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez dodges the punch combination from Pettis.
Pettis moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Pettis moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Alvarez is rocked!
No joy there for Pettis, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Donk. Alvarez catches Pettis right on the button with a cross.
Alvarez takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Alvarez is still on wobbly legs! Can Pettis finish him?
BOOM! Pettis lands a beautiful left hook that drops Alvarez. Alvarez tries to recover but Pettis is having none of it, landing more punishing shots from mount. One final crushing shot and Alvarez lies motionless on the canvas. The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Anthony Pettis!
After the big win, Anthony Pettis made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Sin City Allstars and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.
The defeated Edu Alvarez had this to say: 'wow, just wow...'.