PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Damien Alvarez (ranked 3320 p4p, 120 weight class) and Vasyl Lomachenko (ranked 4310 p4p, 156 weight class). Alvarez comes to the cage accompanied by Big Pun: Off Wit His Head. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Alvarez
vs
Lomachenko

173 cm
19
148 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

170 cm
26
130 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

HELLBENT
Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Damien Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Vasyl Lomachenko!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Gwen Towbar and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Alvarez manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Lomachenko on his heels. He'll look to pass Lomachenko's guard now, I'm sure.
Alvarez trying to control but Lomachenko is working from the bottom.
Alvarez stops Lomachenko from standing up.
Alvarez 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.
Our spies down at at Far-Q Fight Club inform us that Lomachenko has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Alvarez slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Lomachenko is trying to buck Alvarez off.
Alvarez tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Lomachenko tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Alvarez working for a choke but Lomachenko is defending well.
Lomachenko wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alvarez is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Lomachenko has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Alvarez looking for the choke from the back.
Lomachenko wants to get back to his feet.
Alvarez scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Alvarez softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Lomachenko wants to get back to his feet.

Lomachenko is trying to shake Alvarez off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Alvarez won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
Lomachenko throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Alvarez counters with a nice uppercut.
Lomachenko misses with a double jab.
Alvarez throwing a counter right hand but Lomachenko manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lomachenko.
Alvarez fails to land the takedown.
Alvarez shoots for a takedown but Lomachenko saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alvarez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lomachenko's waist but Lomachenko gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Alvarez off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Damien Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lomachenko throws a series of punches but Alvarez moves out of range.

Alvarez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Lomachenko did well to prevent Alvarez getting side control.
Lomachenko is trying to stand.
Still in half guard, Alvarez seems content to control.
Lomachenko is trying to stand.
Alvarez wants to take a breather but Lomachenko is having none of it.

Alvarez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Alvarez scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Lomachenko is trying to stand.

Alvarez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Alvarez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lomachenko keeps working.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Alvarez in particular looking to stall.
Lomachenko is trying to stand.
Lomachenko tries to kick Alvarez off in order to stand up. Alvarez Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Alvarez is working Lomachenko over with some ground and pound from side control.
Alvarez working the ground and pound but Lomachenko is defending the strikes.
Lomachenko is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Alvarez tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Lomachenko pushes Alvarez away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Alvarez gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lomachenko taking punishment in the form of punches.
Lomachenko dodges the ground and pound from Alvarez.
Lomachenko is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Alvarez tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Alvarez has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Alvarez tries to move into full mount but can't pass Lomachenko's legs.
Alvarez in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Alvarez tries to move to mount but Lomachenko blocks the move with his legs.
Alvarez prevents Lomachenko from escaping the position.
Alvarez landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lomachenko wants to get back to his feet but Alvarez drags him back down.
Lomachenko is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damien Alvarez dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lomachenko gets caught napping as Alvarez dives in and scores a takedown. Lomachenko manages to retain guard.

Alvarez is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Alvarez scoring with punches to the head and body.
Alvarez trying to control but Lomachenko is working from the bottom.
Alvarez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lomachenko can do to turn this around?
Alvarez is stalling in the full guard.
Alvarez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Alvarez wants to control from the top but Lomachenko keeps moving.
Alvarez stops Lomachenko from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez looking to pass the guard.
Damien Alvarez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lomachenko is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Alvarez is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Alvarez trying to control but Lomachenko is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Alvarez looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Alvarez shoots in but Lomachenko avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lomachenko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lomachenko throws a left and a right that both miss
and Alvarez counters with a nice body shot.
Alvarez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lomachenko swivels and escapes.
Lomachenko swinging wildly here.
Lomachenko falls off balance throwing a combination
and Alvarez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lomachenko throws a series of punches but Alvarez avoids them all with ease.
Lomachenko misses with a double jab
and Alvarez counters with a stiff right hand.
Lomachenko will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
It looked like Alvarez was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Lomachenko.
Alvarez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lomachenko pinned against the cage. Lomachenko gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Damien Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez slips a jab and a cross from Lomachenko.

Alvarez looking to score a takedown here. Lomachenko is defending well but Alvarez drives through and ends up in Lomachenko's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alvarez trying to control but Lomachenko is working from the bottom.

Lomachenko manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Lomachenko misses with a hook to the ribs.
Alvarez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Lomachenko walks away with a smile on his face. Alvarez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Lomachenko defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Alvarez.
Lomachenko feints the counter takedown.
Lomachenko loads up on a big right hand but Alvarez slips the punch.
Lomachenko lands with a right hand.
Lomachenko throws a combination. Alvarez tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Damien Alvarez has been cut.
Some wild striking there from Lomachenko.
Lomachenko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Alvarez shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Lomachenko manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Lomachenko manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Lomachenko does no damage.
Lomachenko misses with a hook to the body
and Alvarez counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Lomachenko thinking.
Alvarez slips a jab and a cross from Lomachenko.

Alvarez closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Lomachenko to the mat! Lomachenko manages to get full guard.

Lomachenko has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Alvarez off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Lomachenko is breathing heavily.

Alvarez bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Lomachenko sneaks out the side door and pushes Alvarez away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lomachenko lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Lomachenko.
Alvarez walks into a jab.

Alvarez drives through with a takedown into Lomachenko's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Alvarez has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Lomachenko is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Alvarez is controlling him.
Alvarez trying to control but Lomachenko is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Alvarez working the ground and pound from side control.
Alvarez is looking to take a break and control but Lomachenko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lomachenko wants to get back to his feet.
Alvarez wants to control but Lomachenko is keeping him busy.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Alvarez has an Americana. Lomachenko didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Alvarez is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Alvarez hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Damien Alvarez!
Damien Alvarez thanked the fans post fight for their support.