PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Carlo Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daario Naharis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carlo Alvarez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Alvarez
vs
Naharis

178 cm
32
171 lbs
21 - 11 - 1

178 cm
41
185 lbs
20 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250

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 21 - 11 - 1, fighting out of New York, Carlo Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Daario Naharis!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Elvis Blanc and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Naharis has time to react.
Naharis misses with a takedown attempt - Alvarez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Naharis tries to score with a low kick but Alvarez moves his leg out of the way.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Naharis has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Naharis ducks under a wild hook from Alvarez.
Naharis takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Naharis looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Alvarez!
Alvarez tries to bench press Naharis off him but Naharis keeps the position.
Alvarez struggling a bit here.
Naharis throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Alvarez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Naharis works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
An elbow from Naharis crashes against the mat.
Naharis misses with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naharis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alvarez keeps working.
Naharis creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Alvarez sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Alvarez is looking to regain half guard here but Naharis keeps moving and retains side control.
Naharis fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Alvarez manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Alvarez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Alvarez prevents Naharis from improving his position.
Naharis is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Alvarez scores with a couple of nice shots.
Alvarez is pressing down on Naharis's thigh, looking to free his foot. Naharis is holding on for now.
Naharis holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

Naharis pushes Alvarez off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naharis swinging wildly here.
Alvarez misses with a body shot.
Naharis jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Naharis scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Naharis will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Alvarez is looking to counter punch.
Alvarez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Naharis looks to land a combination but Alvarez avoids it well.

Naharis throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Alvarez was covering up waiting for the punch and Naharis finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Naharis wants to control from the top but Alvarez keeps moving.

Alvarez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Naharis can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Alvarez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Naharis wants to control from the top but Alvarez keeps moving.

Alvarez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Naharis defends well.
Alvarez keeping moving, preventing Naharis from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Naharis throws a big right hand that misses.
Naharis throwing strikes from guard but Alvarez blocks nicely.
Naharis trying to control but Alvarez is working from the bottom.

Alvarez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Naharis gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Naharis is in close to Alvarez's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Naharis wants to control from the top but Alvarez keeps moving.
Naharis slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Alvarez is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daario Naharis dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Alvarez tries to score with a low kick but Naharis moves his leg out of the way.
Naharis throws a lazy uppercut
and Alvarez counters with a leg kick.
Naharis misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Alvarez takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Naharis blocks a low kick nicely.
Naharis throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Alvarez throwing a counter right hand but Naharis manages to avoid it.
Naharis tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Alvarez was well out of range. Poor timing from Naharis.
Alvarez throws a big counter combination but Naharis scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Alvarez looks for the body kick but Naharis saw that one coming.
Naharis drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Alvarez defends it well.
Naharis swinging wildly here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Naharis ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Naharis throws a leg kick but Alvarez checks it.
Alvarez is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naharis pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
An attempted straight right counter from Alvarez misses the target.
Naharis throws a right and a left that both miss.
Daario Naharis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alvarez fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Naharis is out of range.
Alvarez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Naharis misses with a series of wild punches.
It looked like Alvarez was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Naharis.
Alvarez feints and then cracks Naharis's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Naharis down.
Naharis scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Alvarez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Alvarez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Alvarez throws a low kick but Naharis avoids it.
Alvarez looks to land a left hand but Naharis moved out of range nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naharis throws an overhand right that lands on Alvarez's shoulder, as Alvarez tries to avoid the shot.
Alvarez tried to counter with a leg kick but Naharis avoided it.
A big left from Naharis misses.
Daario Naharis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Naharis dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
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!
Naharis throws a jab when Alvarez was well out of range.
Alvarez appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Naharis lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Naharis has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Alvarez.
Alvarez throws a nice inside leg kick.
Alvarez uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Nice takedown defense from Alvarez. No joy for Naharis on that attempt.
Naharis shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Alvarez pinned against the cage. Alvarez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez scores with a crisp jab that stopped Naharis in his tracks.
Naharis misses with an uppercut. Alvarez saw that one coming.
Naharis throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Naharis looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Alvarez!
Alvarez regains half guard.
Alvarez wants to improve his position but Naharis is controlling well.
Alvarez trying to control from the bottom.
Naharis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Naharis thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Alvarez's head.
Alvarez is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Naharis scores with a couple of nice shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Naharis passes to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naharis scoring with strikes but Alvarez is staying in there.
Naharis landing strikes, looking to finish!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alvarez taking shots to the head.
Alvarez is desperately trying to improve his position but Naharis has a good base and remains in mount.
Alvarez is working hard here to advance position.
Naharis scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Alvarez?
Alvarez slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Naharis is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Alvarez tries to roll over but Naharis keeps him under control.
Alvarez has hold of Naharis's hands but Naharis slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The fighters are battling for position here. Alvarez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Naharis lands a couple of decent looking shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daario Naharis 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. This is the final round!

Alvarez takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Naharis misses with a series of wild punches.
Horrible takedown attempt by Naharis or perhaps it was just good defense by Alvarez, which made it look bad.
Daario Naharis seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Naharis slips a jab and a cross from Alvarez.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Alvarez.
Alvarez dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Naharis. That did some damage!

Naharis scores with a takedown into Alvarez's guard.
Naharis working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Alvarez's head.
Alvarez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Naharis is looking to work some ground and pound but Alvarez has wrist control.

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

Alvarez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Naharis postures up.
Alvarez being controlled here, momentarily.
Naharis passes Alvarez's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Naharis lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Naharis is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Alvarez looking for submissions off his back.
Naharis missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Alvarez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Carlo Alvarez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naharis throwing shots but Alvarez is blocking nicely.
Alvarez on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Naharis is controlling the pace.
Naharis seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Alvarez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Alvarez is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Naharis scores with a couple of nice shots.
Naharis takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Alvarez keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Alvarez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Naharis.
Naharis trying to mount his opponent but Alvarez defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naharis trying to control from half guard but Alvarez is working away.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Alvarez is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Naharis lands a nice short elbow.
Alvarez makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Alvarez.
Naharis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Daario Naharis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Naharis wants to control from the top but Alvarez keeps moving.

Alvarez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Naharis doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Naharis manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Naharis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Daario Naharis is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Naharis is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Alvarez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Naharis is aware though and is defending well.
Alvarez is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Naharis makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Naharis controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Alvarez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Naharis postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Naharis is in close to Alvarez's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Naharis trying to control the position from guard on top but Alvarez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Naharis scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daario Naharis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Naharis has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daario Naharis!
Daario Naharis was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.