PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Russell Westbrook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Westbrook
vs
Florentino Ernesto Alvarez

175 cm
36
170 lbs
5 - 1 - 1

180 cm
40
166 lbs
25 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
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 5 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Russell Westbrook!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez moves to clinch but Westbrook breaks away
and Westbrook connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Westbrook swings for the body but Alvarez moves out of range.
Westbrook loads up on a big right hand but Alvarez slips the punch.
Alvarez tries to counter by closing the distance.

Alvarez rushes Westbrook and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Westbrook.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Alvarez takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Westbrook lands with a short punch from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Alvarez blocks an uppercut.
Alvarez looking to slow down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Westbrook tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Alvarez's elbow.
Westbrook misses with a hook from the clinch.
Alvarez is pushing Westbrook up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Westbrook swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A bit of stalling here from Alvarez.
Alvarez pressing his opponent against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez.

Westbrook closes the distance and clinches.
A short right from Westbrook.
Westbrook misses with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Alvarez avoiding damage.
Westbrook creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Westbrook struggles to land a body shot inside as Alvarez controls his hands.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Westbrook.
Westbrook throws an elbow that misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Westbrook just misses with a elbow thrown towards Alvarez's brow.
Alvarez avoids a wild elbow strike from Westbrook.
A bit of stalling here from Alvarez.
Westbrook misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Westbrook fails to land.
Westbrook lands an elbow inside that Alvarez shrugs off.
Alvarez just leaning against Westbrook, taking a breather.
Westbrook throws a punch but it's blocked by Alvarez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Westbrook scores with a shot to the side of Alvarez's head.
Westbrook throws a punch but it's blocked by Alvarez.
Alvarez manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Alvarez manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Alvarez has Westbrook pressed against the cage.
The crowd are getting on Alvarez's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Westbrook tries to throw a body punch but Alvarez avoids it by throwing Westbrook back against the cage.
Come on Alvarez - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Alvarez takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez.
Alvarez tries to close the distance and clinch but Westbrook swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Westbrook looks to land a combination but Alvarez avoids it well.
Westbrook throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Alvarez on the side of the head.
Some wild striking there from Westbrook.
Westbrook sets himself, and Alvarez steps forward looking for the clinch! Westbrook avoids it this time.
Alvarez tries to clinch up.
Alvarez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
It looked like Westbrook wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Westbrook closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alvarez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Alvarez blocks the elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russell Westbrook dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Alvarez clinches up against the cage.
Alvarez leaning his opponent against the cage.
Alvarez trying to stall but Westbrook improves his position.
Westbrook misses with a short punch on the inside.
Alvarez is pushing Westbrook up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Westbrook softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Westbrook lands a right hand that snaps the head of Alvarez backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Westbrook.
Alvarez blocks the elbow strike.
Alvarez pressing his opponent against the cage.
Westbrook misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Alvarez content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Alvarez dodges an elbow strike from Westbrook.
Alvarez holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Westbrook lands a nice elbow.
Westbrook lands with a short shot to the head.
Alvarez has Westbrook pushed against the cage.
Westbrook lands with a right to the head.
Westbrook pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Westbrook misses with an elbow strike.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Westbrook as Alvarez tries to tie him up.
Russell Westbrook has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Westbrook looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Westbrook misses with a short punch on the inside.
Alvarez blocking some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Westbrook.
Alvarez avoids the elbow strike from Westbrook, against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Alvarez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Westbrook throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Westbrook misses with some punches.
Westbrook tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Westbrook looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Alvarez has Westbrook pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez blocks an elbow strike.
Westbrook fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Westbrook misses with a hook to the ribs.
Alvarez blocking some punches.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Westbrook creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Alvarez leaning his opponent against the cage.
Westbrook is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Alvarez can do to turn this around?
Alvarez leaning against his opponent.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez.

Westbrook gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Westbrook misses with a hook from the clinch.
Westbrook throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Westbrook misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Westbrook pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Westbrook throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Westbrook throws a head punch that misses.
Alvarez avoiding damage.
Alvarez avoids the elbow strike from Westbrook, against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Alvarez taking a breather.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Westbrook pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Alvarez displaying some good clinch control by pressing Westbrook up against the cage.
Alvarez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russell Westbrook dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Alvarez tries to clinch up but Westbrook circles away and keeps his distance.
Westbrook lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Alvarez wants to clinch.
Westbrook misses with a body shot.
Alvarez steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Westbrook.
Alvarez takes one to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Westbrook lands with a nice body punch.
Westbrook throws a lazy right hand but Alvarez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Alvarez tries to counter with a clinch but Westbrook shakes him off and moves away.
Westbrook lands a really nice looking cross but Alvarez seems unphased.
Westbrook throws a shot from downtown. Alvarez moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Westbrook looks to land a right hand but Alvarez moved out of range.
Westbrook misses with a low kick.
Alvarez tries to counter with a clinch but Westbrook shakes him off and moves away.
Alvarez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Westbrook.

Westbrook moves into the clinch.
Westbrook lands a nice elbow.
The referee is keeping an eye on Alvarez - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Alvarez stalls.
Alvarez blocking some punches.
Alvarez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Alvarez trying to stall but Westbrook improves his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Westbrook lands an elbow inside.
Alvarez stalling the fight.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Alvarez effectively controlling the action here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez.

Westbrook clinches up with Alvarez and pushes him back against the cage.
Westbrook working aggressively here.
Westbrook lands a right hand that snaps the head of Alvarez backwards.
Westbrook being controlled against the cage.
Westbrook throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Westbrook fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Westbrook has a couple of punches blocked by Alvarez.
Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Westbrook fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Alvarez tries to stall but Westbrook uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Alvarez has Westbrook pressed against the cage.
Alvarez is struggling to control the position.
Alvarez trying to control the position but instead, Westbrook has worked for underhooks and has pushed Alvarez into the cage.
Westbrook lands a hook that snaps the head of Alvarez backwards.
Alvarez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Westbrook tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Alvarez leaning against his opponent.
Westbrook lands a right hand that snaps the head of Alvarez backwards.
Westbrook misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Leonardo Florentino Ernesto Alvarez.

Alvarez tries to keep at a distance but Westbrook has taken the fight into the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Alvarez.
Alvarez stalling the fight.
Westbrook gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Alvarez controlling the action here for a moment.
Westbrook misses with a hook from the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Westbrook just misses with a elbow thrown towards Alvarez's brow.
Nice elbow from Westbrook.
A nice left hand lands by Westbrook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A right hand to the body from Westbrook.
Westbrook lands a nice elbow.
Russell Westbrook is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Alvarez lands a nice shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Russell Westbrook showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Westbrook 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Russell Westbrook!
Russell Westbrook took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, King of Fists for their support in the buildup to the fight.