PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bbequenbawer Alvarez (ranked 5877 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yusup Umalatov (ranked 5870 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Alvarez
vs
Umalatov

174 cm
25
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bbequenbawer Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Yusup Umalatov!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Dirk Anderson and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Umalatov as Alvarez shoots in.
Alvarez throws a head kick but Umalatov moves out of range.

Umalatov feints and as Alvarez raises his hands in defense, Umalatov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Alvarez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Umalatov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Umalatov wants to pass the guard but Alvarez is keeping the position.
Umalatov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Umalatov tries to free his leg and advance position but Alvarez is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Umalatov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Alvarez trying to keep a closed guard but Umalatov is proving a slippery customer.
Alvarez 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.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Alvarez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Umalatov avoids it really well and circles away.
Umalatov follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Alvarez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Umalatov avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bbequenbawer Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Umalatov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Umalatov tries to pull guard but Alvarez holds him up against the cage and eventually Umalatov drops back down to his feet.
Alvarez trying to stall but Umalatov improves his position.
Alvarez throws a head punch that misses.
Umalatov has Alvarez pressed against the cage.

Alvarez pulls Umalatov into guard.
Alvarez trying to keep a closed guard but Umalatov is proving a slippery customer.
Umalatov is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez is trying to control the position but Umalatov postures up.
Umalatov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Umalatov preventing the sweep.
Umalatov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Alvarez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Umalatov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Umalatov throws a big elbow that misses.

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.
Umalatov throwing strikes but missing.
Alvarez trying to control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Umalatov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Alvarez moves in looking to clinch but Umalatov pushes him off.
Umalatov lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Umalatov swats away the attempt to clinch by Alvarez.
Alvarez has a takedown stuffed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yusup Umalatov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Alvarez drives through with a takedown into guard.

Alvarez drops back looking for a leg! Umalatov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Umalatov manages to kick Alvarez off! Alvarez jumps back into Umalatov's guard.
Alvarez is looking to stand up but Umalatov won't let him.
Alvarez won't allow Umalatov to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Umalatov seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Umalatov throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Umalatov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Alvarez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Umalatov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Alvarez is one step ahead there.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Alvarez advances position into side control!
Umalatov is looking to reverse the position.
Alvarez wants to control but Umalatov is keeping him busy.
Umalatov can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two 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 wants to control but Umalatov is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Umalatov can't do much from the bottom here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Alvarez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Umalatov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Alvarez defends it nicely.
Alvarez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Alvarez throws a leg kick but Umalatov sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Umalatov instigates a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Alvarez is trying to push Umalatov away but Umalatov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Umalatov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alvarez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Umalatov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Alvarez somewhat.
Alvarez tries to bum rush Umalatov with a series of wild strikes but Umalatov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Umalatov flicks out a counter leg kick but Alvarez steps away.

Alvarez tries to sprawl but Umalatov drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Alvarez is looking to escape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alvarez wants to control but Umalatov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Umalatov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez trying to hold on to Umalatov's head to control him but Umalatov postures up.
Umalatov wants to pass the guard but Alvarez is defending well.
Umalatov slows the pace down in half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Umalatov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Alvarez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Alvarez works his way to full guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Bbequenbawer Alvarez will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Umalatov as Alvarez shoots in.
Umalatov shoots in but no luck this time.
Alvarez is looking to clinch but Umalatov is avoiding it.
Umalatov dives in and grabs Alvarez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Alvarez pushes down on Umalatov's head and hops out.

Umalatov moves into the clinch.

Umalatov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Umalatov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Alvarez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Umalatov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Umalatov throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Umalatov pushes Alvarez up against the cage in a clinch.

Umalatov breaks from the clinch.
Alvarez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Umalatov's waist but Umalatov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Alvarez off to one side.

Umalatov gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez misses with an elbow over the top.
Umalatov stops a takedown attempt from Alvarez.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bbequenbawer Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Umalatov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Alvarez tries to score a body lock takedown but Umalatov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Umalatov is trying to pull guard but Alvarez has him pressed against the cage.
Alvarez jumps guard but Umalatov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Umalatov wants the takedown. Alvarez is fighting it off but Umalatov persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Alvarez's guard against the cage.
Umalatov stopping the sweep attempt from Alvarez.
Umalatov sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Umalatov throwing strikes from guard but Alvarez blocks nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Alvarez looking to control.
Umalatov throwing strikes from guard but Alvarez blocks nicely.
Alvarez can't keep his opponent in guard - Umalatov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Umalatov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Alvarez is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Umalatov wants to stand up but Alvarez has a hold of him and won't allow it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Umalatov clinches.
Umalatov is trying to pull guard but Alvarez has him pressed against the cage.
Alvarez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Umalatov has him pressed against the cage.

Umalatov jumps into guard, dragging Alvarez to the mat.

Umalatov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Alvarez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Umalatov's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Alvarez is looking to advance position but Umalatov won't allow it.
Umalatov pushes Alvarez off but Alvarez dives into side control.
Umalatov is trying to work for a sweep but Alvarez has mounted him!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Umalatov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Alvarez throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Umalatov wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Alvarez punches the canvas rather than the man.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yusup Umalatov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Umalatov 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yusup Umalatov!