PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jaakko Savolainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Savolainen
vs
Alvarez

184 cm
34
182 lbs
24 - 21 - 0

191 cm
41
183 lbs
27 - 21 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 24 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jaakko Savolainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 21 - 2, fighting out of New York, Nick Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Savolainen throws a hook but Alvarez avoids it easily.
As Savolainen backs off Alvarez throws a huge counter combo but Savolainen manages to avoid it all.
Nice uppercut lands for Alvarez. That snapped Savolainen's head back.

It looks like Jaakko Savolainen has been cut.
Crunch! Alvarez slams his shin into Savolainen's torso.

Alvarez gets a double leg takedown into Savolainen's guard.
Savolainen looking to control.
Savolainen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Alvarez wanted to stand there but Savolainen had control of the position.
Savolainen has control of Alvarez's left arm, preventing Alvarez from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Savolainen wants to sweep but no luck.
Alvarez's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez wants to control from the top but Savolainen keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Savolainen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Alvarez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Alvarez postures up and lands a big shot to Savolainen's brow.
Savolainen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Savolainen 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.
Alvarez wants to pass the guard but Savolainen is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Alvarez throws a sloppy head kick and Savolainen moves out of range easily.
Savolainen has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Samran Muay Thai in the buildup to the fight.

Alvarez shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Savolainen napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Savolainen is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Alvarez's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Alvarez is trying to control. Savolainen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Well, if Alvarez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez is thwarting Savolainen's attempts to control the position.
Savolainen keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Alvarez landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Savolainen is looking for a sweep. Alvarez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Savolainen looking for submissions off his back.
Savolainen gets full guard.
Alvarez sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Savolainen keeping moving, preventing Alvarez from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Alvarez preventing the sweep.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Alvarez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jaakko Savolainen's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Alvarez lands a jab-cross combination.
Savolainen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Alvarez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Savolainen loads up on a big right hand but Alvarez slips the punch.
Jab, jab by Savolainen - just one landing.

Alvarez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Savolainen tries to improve position but can't.

Alvarez looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
An elbow from Alvarez crashes against the mat.
Savolainen sneaks back into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savolainen is looking for a sweep. Alvarez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Savolainen manages to get to full guard.
Alvarez trying to control but Savolainen is working from the bottom.
Savolainen working a defensive guard here.
Savolainen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Alvarez is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Savolainen has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

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

Alvarez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Savolainen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Alvarez tries to strike from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Savolainen passes into side control.
You can see the frustration on Alvarez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Savolainen is trying to get an arm triangle but Alvarez is defending well.
Alvarez trying his best to control but Savolainen has mounted him.
Savolainen trying to control but Alvarez is having none of it.
Alvarez tries to hold on but Savolainen postures up.
Alvarez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez working to try and regain half guard.
Alvarez keeps trying to improve his position.
Alvarez is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Savolainen wants to control the pace but Alvarez is squirming around nicely.
Alvarez takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Alvarez tries to lock up and control but Savolainen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Savolainen content just to control the position here.
Savolainen lands a nice shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaakko Savolainen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jaakko Savolainen's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Savolainen fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Alvarez to the ground. Savolainen is now in Alvarez's guard.

Alvarez is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Savolainen tries for a takedown. No joy.
A frustrated look appears on Alvarez's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Alvarez manages to break the clinch.
Savolainen doesn't manage to clinch there - Alvarez circles away.
Savolainen scores with a hook.
Nice sprawl there from Savolainen as Alvarez shoots in.
Savolainen's jab looks to have found its range, popping Alvarez under the eye.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown but Savolainen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Alvarez shoots for a double leg takedown but Savolainen sprawls well. He's pushed Alvarez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jaakko Savolainen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Alvarez.

Savolainen clinches up against the cage.

Savolainen gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Savolainen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savolainen works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Savolainen is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Alvarez is trying to get back to full guard.
Nick Alvarez has got the better of the ground game so far.

Savolainen is looking for a kimura but Alvarez is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Savolainen to get the leverage.
Alvarez misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Alvarez won't allow Savolainen to pass to mount.
Alvarez trying to control here.
Alvarez has hold of Savolainen's hands but Savolainen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Alvarez makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Alvarez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savolainen forces his way into half guard.
Savolainen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Savolainen is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Alvarez!
Alvarez tries to hold on but Savolainen postures up.
Savolainen moves to the back.
Alvarez trying to control the hands but Savolainen breaks the grip.
Alvarez breaks Savolainen's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savolainen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Alvarez trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Savolainen manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Alvarez wants to sweep but no luck.
Alvarez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Alvarez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Alvarez controlling Savolainen's posture.

Alvarez working for a triangle but Savolainen defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savolainen trying to control but Alvarez is working from the bottom.
Alvarez throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Savolainen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Alvarez's head.
Savolainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Alvarez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Savolainen postures up.
Alvarez wants to sweep but no luck.
Alvarez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Savolainen controls the pace.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Savolainen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Alvarez is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jaakko Savolainen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Savolainen 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jaakko Savolainen!
Jaakko Savolainen thanked the fans post fight for their support.