PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hal Middleton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hal Middleton has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Middleton
vs
Alvarez

155 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

160 cm
24
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Hal Middleton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jose Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Paul Tew and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Middleton tries to clinch there but Alvarez circles away.
Alvarez unleashes a big counter combination but Middleton bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Alvarez throws a left and a right that both miss
and Middleton counters with a left and a right that stings Alvarez.
Middleton shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Alvarez as he jumps to the side.
Alvarez throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Middleton's head.
Alvarez fails with the takedown.
A counter left hand to the body from Middleton misses its target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from Middleton as Alvarez shoots in.
Alvarez throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Middleton tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Alvarez defends well and Middleton ends up having to push Alvarez into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Alvarez tries a head kick but it misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Alvarez.
Middleton is looking to clinch but Alvarez is avoiding it.

Middleton clinches up with Alvarez and pushes him back against the cage.

Middleton pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Alvarez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nice takedown defense from Alvarez. No joy for Middleton on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hal Middleton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alvarez misses with a head kick.
Middleton could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Middleton has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Middleton there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez defending well as Middleton loads up on a big left hand.
Alvarez throws a left and a right that both miss
and Middleton counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Middleton closes the distance and clinches up with Alvarez, looking for a takedown. Middleton pushes Alvarez against the cage but Alvarez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Alvarez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Alvarez misses with a head kick.
Alvarez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Middleton moves away.
Alvarez shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Middleton eats them both and turns towards Alvarez to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alvarez pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Middleton.
Alvarez lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Alvarez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Middleton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Middleton went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Middleton fails with an attempt to clinch.
Despite the aggression on Alvarez's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Alvarez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Alvarez fails to land the takedown.
Middleton blocks a head kick by Alvarez.
Alvarez dives in and grabs Middleton's left leg, looking for a takedown. Middleton pushes down on Alvarez's head and hops out.
It looked like Middleton wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Alvarez looks winded!

Middleton clinches up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Middleton tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Alvarez avoids it.

Middleton manages to break the clinch.
Left hook, right uppercut from Alvarez.

Middleton clinches.

Alvarez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alvarez misses with a head kick.
Alvarez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Middleton tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Alvarez wants to counter the offense by Middleton and move into the clinch position.

Middleton drives through and clinches with Alvarez against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Middleton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Alvarez dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Alvarez throws a sloppy head kick and Middleton moves out of range easily.
Middleton leaves Alvarez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Middleton quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.

Middleton has closed the distance and engaged Alvarez in a clinch.
Middleton with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Middleton manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Alvarez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alvarez darts in looking for a takedown but Middleton gets double underhooks and turns Alvarez into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Alvarez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Alvarez throws a nice head kick!
Hal Middleton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Middleton has Alvarez up against the cage in a clinch.

Middleton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Alvarez throws a head kick but Middleton moves out of range.
Middleton tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from Middleton.
Middleton moves forwards but Alvarez connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Jose Alvarez seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez forces Middleton back against the cage and clinches.
Middleton swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Alvarez blocks an uppercut.

Middleton breaks the clinch.
A head kick misses from Alvarez.
Middleton throws a quick counter kick to the body but Alvarez avoids it.
Alvarez lets loose with a powerful body kick. Middleton will feel that in the morning.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Middleton tries to land a front kick but Alvarez steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Alvarez tries a head kick but it misses.
Alvarez tries to bum rush Middleton with a series of wild strikes but Middleton uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Alvarez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Alvarez is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Middleton. That did some damage!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Alvarez, right into the meat.
Alvarez throws a nice head kick!
Alvarez throws a head kick that misses.
Alvarez misses with a head kick.
Alvarez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Middleton darts in trying to clinch
and Alvarez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Alvarez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Middleton avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Middleton is looking to clinch but Alvarez is avoiding it.

Middleton drives through and clinches with Alvarez against the cage.

Middleton breaks the clinch.
Middleton tries to clinch up.

Middleton shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Alvarez napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Middleton is chipping away with strikes.
Alvarez is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Middleton asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Alvarez is letting Middleton control him for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Alvarez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Middleton's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Middleton moves into the clinch.
Middleton managing to block the knees to the body from Alvarez.

Middleton's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Middleton is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Middleton misses with a wild body shot.
As Middleton backs off Alvarez throws a huge counter combo but Middleton manages to avoid it all.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Middleton on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Alvarez. Alvarez obviously looking to wear him down.
Middleton tries to close the distance and clinch but Alvarez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Alvarez throws a right and a left that Middleton avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Middleton checks a leg kick.
Middleton avoids the head kick by Alvarez.
Middleton swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Alvarez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Alvarez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Alvarez lands with a kick to the ribs.

Middleton shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Alvarez's guard.
Alvarez wants to get back to his feet but Middleton passes into half guard.
Alvarez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Middleton is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Middleton prevents Alvarez from improving his position.
Middleton is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Alvarez taking some punishment here, with Middleton in his half guard.
Alvarez throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Middleton in particular looking to stall.
Alvarez is looking to control Middleton's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Alvarez avoid being mounted?
Middleton slips a nice elbow through Alvarez's hands, connecting with Alvarez's forehead.
Alvarez is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Middleton scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Alvarez wants to control but Middleton is keeping busy.
Alvarez on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Middleton connects with a nice short shot to Alvarez's temple.
Middleton drops an elbow to the side of Alvarez's head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Middleton connects with a nice short shot to Alvarez's temple.
Middleton controlling the action here.

Middleton is working for a submission of some sort.

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 Hal Middleton.
I think Alvarez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Alvarez!