PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Eleider Alvarez (ranked 25809 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdulla Al Hassan (ranked 4520 p4p, 0 weight class). Abdulla Al Hassan told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Alvarez
vs
Al Hassan

187 cm
25
158 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

177 cm
25
159 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eleider Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abdulla Al Hassan!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Robert Twigg and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Al Hassan has taken the fight to the clinch.
Al Hassan's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Al Hassan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Alvarez scores with a takedown into Al Hassan's guard.
Al Hassan keeping full guard, as Alvarez tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Al Hassan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Alvarez's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Hassan trying to control the position from guard on top but Alvarez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Al Hassan might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Alvarez haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Hassan controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Alvarez holds on and takes a little breather.
Alvarez wants to sweep here but Al Hassan controlling him for the moment.
Alvarez wants to stand but Al Hassan is controlling the position.
Al Hassan trying to control but Alvarez is working from the bottom.
Al Hassan trying to stand up but can't free himself from Alvarez's guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's two 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.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Alvarez gets a double leg takedown into Al Hassan's guard.
Al Hassan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Alvarez is controlling him.
Al Hassan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Alvarez manages to get himself to full guard.

Alvarez keeping full guard, as Al Hassan tries to pass.
Al Hassan wants to control from the top but Alvarez keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Al Hassan's guard.

Al Hassan had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Alvarez defends it easily.
Alvarez trying to control the position from guard on top but Al Hassan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alvarez lands a couple of elbows.

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.
Alvarez trying to control but Al Hassan is working from the bottom.

Al Hassan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Alvarez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Alvarez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Al Hassan doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Abdulla Al Hassan will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Alvarez tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Al Hassan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Alvarez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Al Hassan misses with a wild combination.
Nice takedown defense from Al Hassan. No joy for Alvarez on that attempt.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Al Hassan sprawls well. Al Hassan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Alvarez gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Alvarez. No joy for Al Hassan on that attempt.
Alvarez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Al Hassan swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eleider Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Al Hassan is fending him off so far but Alvarez persists. Nope, Al Hassan circles away and we're back to standing.
Eleider Alvarez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alvarez leaves Al Hassan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A counter left hand to the body from Alvarez misses its target.
Nice takedown defense from Al Hassan. No joy for Alvarez on that attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Alvarez.
Alvarez tries for a takedown but Al Hassan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Al Hassan throws a leg kick that misses.

Al Hassan pushes Alvarez up against the cage in a clinch.

Al Hassan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Al Hassan avoids the head kick by Alvarez.
Al Hassan on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Al Hassan shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Alvarez defends it nicely.
Al Hassan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Hassan has a takedown stuffed.

Al Hassan darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Al Hassan working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Al Hassan is keen to just control but Alvarez is a slippery customer.
Alvarez is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Al Hassan content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Al Hassan's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Al Hassan's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alvarez keeps control of the position as Al Hassan tries to break free.

Al Hassan fending off the submission attempt from Alvarez.
Alvarez gets his hands free as Al Hassan looks to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Hassan trying to get back to his feet but Alvarez is in full control for now.
Alvarez doesn't have the hooks in and Al Hassan manages to turn into his guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Al Hassan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Alvarez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Al Hassan throws a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdulla Al Hassan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Al Hassan fails with an attempt to clinch.
No luck for Al Hassan with that takedown attempt.
Alvarez fails with the takedown.
Al Hassan shoots in and drives through. Alvarez sprawls well.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Al Hassan.
Eleider Alvarez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Abdulla Al Hassan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Al Hassan. No joy for Alvarez on that attempt.
Alvarez shoots in but no luck this time.
Alvarez tries to clinch up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Al Hassan misses with a takedown attempt - Alvarez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez dives in and grabs Al Hassan's left leg, looking for a takedown. Al Hassan pushes down on Alvarez's head and hops out.
Al Hassan is looking to clinch but Alvarez is avoiding it.
Alvarez leaves Al Hassan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Alvarez wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Alvarez scores with a takedown into Al Hassan's guard.
Al Hassan working a defensive guard here.
Alvarez is working Al Hassan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Hassan is trying to control the position but Alvarez postures up.
Alvarez is looking to stand up but Al Hassan won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Alvarez seems to be working for a kimura but Al Hassan defends the submission attempt.
Still in half guard, Alvarez seems content to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Al Hassan tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Alvarez defends well and Al Hassan ends up having to push Alvarez into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Alvarez is looking for a counter combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Alvarez stuffs the takedown.

Alvarez closes the distance and clinches.
Alvarez looking for a takedown.

Alvarez manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Alvarez is trying to keep Al Hassan in close.
Alvarez has a closed guard, preventing Al Hassan from standing up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Al Hassan slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Eleider Alvarez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Abdulla Al Hassan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Alvarez keeping moving, preventing Al Hassan from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eleider Alvarez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Al Hassan 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Abdulla Al Hassan!