PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Skreba Reijonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alvarez has chosen Doom as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Michael Alvarez enters the cage!

Reijonen
vs
Alvarez

172 cm
27
154 lbs
14 - 10 - 2

160 cm
25
145 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!

Victory! Sports Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Skreba Reijonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Colin Fotheringham and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez misses with a hook. Reijonen ducked under it nicely.
Reijonen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Reijonen looks to land a combination but Alvarez avoids it well.
Alvarez was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Reijonen throws a lazy right hand but Alvarez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Reijonen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Reijonen swings away with a body shot that misses
and Alvarez counters with a nice body kick.
Reijonen swings for the body but Alvarez moves out of range.
Reijonen backing away here, and Alvarez unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Alvarez is looking to clinch.
Reijonen throws a leg kick but Alvarez moved away.
A low kick from Alvarez misses
and Reijonen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Michael Alvarez has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Reijonen swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Alvarez swats away the attempt to clinch by Reijonen.
Alvarez flicks out a counter leg kick but Reijonen steps away.
Reijonen blocks a head kick by Alvarez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reijonen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Alvarez moves out of range of the body kick from Reijonen.
Alvarez tries to counter with a clinch but Reijonen shakes him off and moves away.
Alvarez sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Reijonen misses with a body shot.
Reijonen tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Alvarez finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Alvarez swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Reijonen.
Reijonen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Alvarez throws a wild body kick that Reijonen sees coming a mile off.
Alvarez bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Reijonen's head backwards.
Reijonen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Alvarez throws a low kick but Reijonen avoids it.
Reijonen moves out of range as Alvarez throws a body kick.
Alvarez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Reijonen swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Reijonen.
Reijonen throws a leg kick
letting Alvarez counter with a right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Reijonen throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
A leg kick checked by Reijonen.
Reijonen defending well as Alvarez loads up on a big left hand.
Reijonen misses the jab.
Alvarez tries to clinch up.
Reijonen is looking to wear down Alvarez with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Alvarez moves out of range of the leg kick from Reijonen.
Reijonen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Alvarez throws a leg kick
and Reijonen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Alvarez.

Reijonen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Alvarez blocks an uppercut.
Reijonen struggles to land a body shot inside as Alvarez controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reijonen struggles to land a body shot inside as Alvarez controls his hands.
Reijonen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Reijonen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Come on Alvarez - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
I was talking to Reijonen's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Alvarez blocks a body shot from Reijonen.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Alvarez.
Reijonen works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Reijonen blocks the elbow strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Alvarez just misses with a elbow thrown towards Reijonen's brow.
Alvarez lands a body punch.
Reijonen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Alvarez displaying some good clinch control by pressing Reijonen up against the cage.
Reijonen blocks the elbow strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Alvarez.
Alvarez throws an elbow that misses.
Alvarez is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reijonen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Reijonen throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A right handed body shot lands from Reijonen.
Alvarez goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short body shot lands from Reijonen as the two fighters clinch.
Reijonen lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Alvarez.
Alvarez trying to stall but Reijonen improves his position.
Alvarez creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Reijonen's defenses.
Reijonen lands a shot to the body.
Alvarez looks winded!
Alvarez lands a hook to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alvarez misses with an elbow over the top.
Reijonen stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Alvarez lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Alvarez lands a damaging elbow.
Reijonen blocks the elbow strike.
Reijonen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Alvarez has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Reijonen seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Alvarez can turn it around.
Alvarez comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Reijonen misses with a punch to the body.
Reijonen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
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 Skreba Reijonen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Michael Alvarez's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Alvarez scores with a jab.
Alvarez will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Reijonen is looking to counter with a body kick.
Reijonen tries to land a front kick but Alvarez steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Alvarez appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Reijonen clobbers Alvarez with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Alvarez thuds his right hand into Reijonen's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Reijonen misses with a body kick.

Alvarez tries to keep at a distance but Reijonen has taken the fight into the clinch.
Reijonen working aggressively here.
Reijonen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
With the fighters up against the cage, Alvarez throws an elbow but misses.
Reijonen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Alvarez misses with an elbow over the top.
Reijonen is leaning against Alvarez and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Reijonen can't find room to land a body shot as Alvarez controls the action.
Alvarez misses with an elbow strike.
Reijonen is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reijonen takes a shot to the head.
Reijonen blocks an uppercut.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Alvarez.

It looks like Skreba Reijonen has been cut.
Alvarez lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Alvarez misses with an elbow strike.
Alvarez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short left from Reijonen.
Michael Alvarez seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Good body shot from Reijonen.
Reijonen tries to throw a body punch but Alvarez avoids it by throwing Reijonen back against the cage.
Alvarez's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Reijonen throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Reijonen working aggressively here.
A short uppercut from Reijonen.
Reijonen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Reijonen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Reijonen throws a head punch that misses.
Reijonen misses with some punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Come on Alvarez - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A head punch on the inside from Reijonen fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reijonen misses with a punch to the body.
Alvarez's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Reijonen scores with a shot to the side of Alvarez's head.
Alvarez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Alvarez lands with a right to the head.
Reijonen lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Alvarez lands an elbow inside.
Alvarez pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Alvarez creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Reijonen's defenses.
Reijonen struggles to land a body shot inside as Alvarez controls his hands.
Reijonen blocks a body shot from Alvarez.
Reijonen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
With the fighters up against the cage, Alvarez throws an elbow but misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Reijonen.
Reijonen tries to work over Alvarez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Alvarez misses with an elbow strike.
Reijonen tries to work over Alvarez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Alvarez throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reijonen lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Reijonen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, Alvarez throws an elbow but misses.
Alvarez lands an elbow inside.
Reijonen throws a punch but it's blocked by Alvarez.
Alvarez works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Reijonen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Alvarezs head.
Reijonen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Alvarez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Reijonen misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Reijonen fails to land.
Reijonen can't find room to land a body shot as Alvarez controls the action.
Alvarez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Alvarez.
Alvarez pushes off an throws an elbow but Reijonen leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Reijonen misses with some punches.
Alvarez lands an elbow inside that Reijonen shrugs off.
Alvarez misses with an elbow over the top.
Reijonen takes a shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Alvarez throws an elbow but misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Reijonen blocks an uppercut.
A short right from Reijonen on the inside.
Reijonen blocks the elbow strike.
Reijonen digs a right hand into Alvarez's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Alvarez's gas tank.
Reijonen digs a right hand into Alvarez's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Alvarez's gas tank.
Alvarez misses with some punches.
Reijonen cracks Alvarez with a nice body shot.
Reijonen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Alvarez tries a body shot but Reijonen blocks it.
Reijonen will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Alvarez up against the cage.
Alvarez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Reijonen struggles to land a body shot inside as Alvarez controls his hands.
Alvarez tries to stall but Reijonen uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Reijonen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Reijonen takes an elbow to the forehead.
Alvarez blocks an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Skreba Reijonen will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! 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.

Reijonen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Alvarez.
Alvarez throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Reijonen darts in and clinches Alvarez up against the cage.
Alvarez has a couple of punches blocked by Reijonen.
With the fighters up against the cage, Alvarez throws an elbow but misses.
Reijonen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Alvarez lands an elbow inside.
Alvarez is trying to stall.
Reijonen lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Alvarez backwards.
Alvarez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Alvarez can't find room to land a body shot as Reijonen controls the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Reijonen pushes Alvarez back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Reijonen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Alvarez pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Alvarez scores with a nice hook to the head.
Alvarez throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Reijonen's elbow.
Reijonen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short right from Reijonen on the inside.
Alvarez throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Reijonen takes an elbow to the temple.
Alvarez comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Alvarez throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Reijonen blocks the elbow strike.
Reijonen throws a punch but it's blocked by Alvarez.
Alvarez tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Reijonen's elbow.
Still in the clinch, Reijonen scores with a nice short uppercut.
Reijonen tries a body shot but Alvarez blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Reijonen fails to land.
Reijonen swings wildly with an uppercut but Alvarez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Reijonen lands with a right to the head.
Reijonen struggles to land a body shot inside as Alvarez controls his hands.
Alvarez lands with a short punch from the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Alvarez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez throws an elbow but it misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Reijonen blocking some punches.
Alvarez wants to stall.
Reijonen lands a body punch in the clinch.
Reijonen misses with some punches.
Reijonen throws a punch but it's blocked by Alvarez.
Alvarez lands a shot to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Alvarez goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Reijonen lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Reijonen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Alvarez lands a damaging elbow.
Reijonen tries a body shot but Alvarez blocks it.
Reijonen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Reijonen prevents a body shot from Alvarez.
Alvarez misses with a punch on the inside.
Reijonen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reijonen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Reijonen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Alvarez lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right from Reijonen.
Alvarez stalling in the clinch but Reijonen improves position.
Reijonen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Alvarez throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Reijonen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Reijonen tries to throw a body punch but Alvarez avoids it by throwing Reijonen back against the cage.
Alvarez blocks a body shot from Reijonen.
Alvarez throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Alvarez misses with an elbow strike.
Alvarez throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A head punch on the inside from Alvarez fails to land.
Alvarez stalling the fight.
Alvarez struggles to land a body shot inside as Reijonen controls his hands.
Alvarez blocking some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Reijonen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Alvarez throws an elbow but misses.
Reijonen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Alvarez blocks a body shot from Reijonen.
Alvarez throws an elbow but it misses.
Alvarez pushes off an throws an elbow but Reijonen leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Alvarez.
Reijonen scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Reijonen can't find room to land a body shot as Alvarez controls the action.
Reijonen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Reijonen blocks an elbow strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alvarez tries to work over Reijonen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Alvarez lands an elbow inside.
Reijonen dodges an elbow strike from Alvarez.
Reijonen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Alvarezs head.
Skreba Reijonen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Reijonen scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Reijonen avoids the elbow strike from Alvarez, against the cage.
Michael Alvarez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Reijonen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Reijonen throws a punch but it's blocked by Alvarez.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Skreba Reijonen.
Well Reijonen 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Skreba Reijonen!
A victorious Skreba Reijonen thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
The defeated Michael Alvarez had this to say: 'I admit defeat. He did a good job.'.