PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Cage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Avila Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cage kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Basic Element - Rage. This should be a great matchup!

Cage
vs
Alvarez

189 cm
28
207 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

190 cm
27
218 lbs
6 - 12 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Johnny Cage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Avila Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, William Gold and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cage closes the distance and clinches.
Cage working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from Cage fails to land.
Cage misses with a short punch on the inside.
Alvarez blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Alvarez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alvarez shoots for a double leg takedown but Cage sprawls well. He's pushed Alvarez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Alvarez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Alvarez keeps the fight on the outside.

Alvarez gets tackled into the cage by Cage. Cage maintains the clinch.
Cage tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Alvarez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch on the inside from Cage fails to land.
Cage throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Alvarez.
Alvarez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cage lands a hook that snaps the head of Alvarez backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cage misses with a punch on the inside.
Cage misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Cage fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Cage fails to land.
Cage misses with some punches.
Cage misses with some punches.
Cage has a couple of punches blocked by Alvarez.
Cage throws a punch but it's blocked by Alvarez.
Cage misses with the head strike.
Cage misses with some punches.
Cage lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Cage throws a punch but it's blocked by Alvarez.
Cage misses with some punches.
Alvarez takes a shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Cage fails to land.
Alvarez blocks an uppercut.
Cage swings wildly with an uppercut but Alvarez uses good head movement to avoid it.

Alvarez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cage looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Alvarez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cage's waist but Cage gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Alvarez off to one side.
Cage seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Cage tries to clinch up but Alvarez circles away and keeps his distance.
Alvarez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cage moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Alvarez shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Cage manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alvarez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cage is keeping the position for now.
Alvarez won't allow Cage to get back to his feet.
Cage keeping full guard, as Alvarez tries to pass.
Alvarez prevents Cage from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Cage knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Alvarez on the ground.

Alvarez is trying to get an arm triangle but Cage is defending well.

Alvarez stands up.
Alvarez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cage swivels and escapes.
Johnny Cage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Avila Alvarez.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cage looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Cage gets caught napping as Alvarez dives in and scores a takedown. Cage manages to retain guard.
Alvarez postures up in Cage's guard and throws a big left but Cage blocks it.

Cage has his feet on Alvarez's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Cage is looking to clinch.

Alvarez tries to keep at a distance but Cage has taken the fight into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Alvarez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alvarez tries to clinch up but Cage circles away and keeps his distance.
It looked like Cage was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cage sprawls well. Cage wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Alvarez gets slowly back to his feet.
Cage fails in his attempt to clinch.
No luck for Alvarez with that takedown attempt.
Alvarez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cage is fending him off so far but Alvarez persists. Nope, Cage circles away and we're back to standing.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cage looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cage tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Cage moves into range and clinches up with Alvarez.
Cage misses with some punches.
Alvarez leaning against his opponent.
Alvarez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Cage dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Alvarez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cage swivels and escapes.
Cage moves in looking to clinch but Alvarez pushes him off.
Alvarez swats away the attempt to clinch by Cage.

Cage rushes Alvarez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Alvarez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Alvarez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cage pinned against the cage. Cage gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Cage tries to clinch but Alvarez is having none of it.
Cage moves in looking to clinch but Alvarez pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cage wants to clinch.

Cage closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alvarez breaks the clinch.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cage as he avoids it easily.
Johnny Cage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Avila Alvarez.
Alvarez fails to land the takedown.
Alvarez is looking to clinch.
Johnny Cage is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alvarez fails to land the takedown.
Cage went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Alvarez shoots for a takedown but Cage saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cage fails with an attempt to clinch.
Alvarez swats away the attempt to clinch by Cage.

Cage gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Alvarez breaks from the clinch.
Cage is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Alvarez can do to turn this around?
The fight stays on the outside here - Cage looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cage wants to clinch up but Alvarez keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez shoots for a double leg takedown but Cage sprawls well. He's pushed Alvarez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cage tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Alvarez paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Alvarez throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Cage was covering up waiting for the punch and Alvarez finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Cage wants to stand up but Alvarez is controlling him.
Alvarez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cage is keeping the position for now.
Alvarez forces his way into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alvarez is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Cage defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Alvarez.
Alvarez won't let Cage get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Alvarez has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Cage's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Alvarez working for a guillotine from mount but Cage is in no mood to give up.
Alvarez landing strikes, looking to finish!
Cage avoids a series of strikes thrown by Alvarez.
Alvarez won't let Cage get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Avila Alvarez has got the better of the ground game so far.

Alvarez looking to secure an arm triangle but Cage defends it well.
Cage is trying to stand up.

Alvarez with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
You get the feeling that Cage really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Alvarez looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Alvarez has hold of Cage's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Cage manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Alvarez scoring with strikes but Cage is staying in there.
Cage is trying to stand up.
Alvarez lands a big elbow.
You get the feeling that Cage really doesn't like being in this position too much.

Cage bucks Alvarez off and manages to get back to his feet!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alvarez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cage stuffs the takedown attempt from Alvarez. Alvarez gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnny Cage is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Alvarez is breathing heavily.
Alvarez shoots for a takedown but Cage saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cage tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Avila Alvarez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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.

Alvarez tries for a takedown but Cage circles away easily
and Cage counters with a two punch combo.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cage looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cage wants to clinch.
Cage wants to clinch up but Alvarez keeps it at a distance.
Alvarez swats away the attempt to clinch by Cage.
Cage is looking to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cage tries to clinch up but Alvarez circles away and keeps his distance.
Cage tries to clinch up.
Cage tries to clinch there but Alvarez circles away.
Alvarez tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cage defends well and Alvarez ends up having to push Cage into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Cage tries to close the distance and clinch but Alvarez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cage tries to clinch but Alvarez moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage keeps the fight on the outside.

Cage gets a clinch.
Johnny Cage has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Cage misses with a punch on the inside.
Cage misses with the head strike.
Cage misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short left from Cage.
Cage swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cage misses with a punch on the inside.
Cage fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cage tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Alvarez breaks the clinch.
Cage is looking to clinch but Alvarez is avoiding it.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cage as he avoids it easily.
Johnny Cage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Avila Alvarez.
Cage fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cage is looking to clinch.
Cage tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Alvarez swats away the attempt to clinch by Cage.
Cage tries to clinch but Alvarez moves out of range.
Cage wants to clinch.
Cage is looking to clinch but Alvarez is avoiding it.
Alvarez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cage sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Alvarez somewhat.
Cage wants to clinch up but Alvarez keeps it at a distance.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown but Cage shows good takedown defense.
Alvarez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cage looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cage tries to clinch there but Alvarez circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cage tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alvarez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Alvarez swats away the attempt to clinch by Cage.
Alvarez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cage defends it nicely.
Alvarez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cage tries to clinch up but Alvarez circles away and keeps his distance.
Avila Alvarez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cage as he avoids it easily.
Cage is looking to clinch but Alvarez is avoiding it.
Cage tries to close the distance and clinch but Alvarez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
It seemed like Alvarez was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Alvarez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Alvarez swats away the attempt to clinch by Cage.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown but Cage shows good takedown defense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cage looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cage tries to clinch up.

Cage has closed the distance and engaged Alvarez in a clinch.
Cage misses with a hook from the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Alvarez.
Cage working aggressively here.
Cage has a couple of punches blocked by Alvarez.
Cage misses with a punch on the inside.
Cage misses with some punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Alvarez breaks from the clinch.
Alvarez dives in for a single leg takedown but Cage sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Avila Alvarez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cage wants to clinch

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

Cage has his feet on Alvarez's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Cage showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cage has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Cage!
Johnny Cage thanked the fans post fight for their support.
In defeat, Avila Alvarez stepped up to the mic, saying 'This feud...it isn't over!'.