PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Marcin Vanatta (ranked 4721 p4p, 324 weight class) and Aaron Alvarez (ranked 5130 p4p, 0 weight class). Aaron Alvarez has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Marcin Vanatta's chin.

Vanatta
vs
Alvarez

170 cm
24
148 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite 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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marcin Vanatta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Aaron Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Reed Andrews and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez lands a jab to Vanatta's midsection.
Vanatta ducks under a wild hook from Alvarez.
Vanatta avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A lazy left from Alvarez finds it's target.
Vanatta feints and then cracks Alvarez's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Alvarez down.
Alvarez blocks a head kick by Vanatta.
Alvarez lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Alvarez throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Vanatta stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Alvarez is looking to chop away at Vanatta's legs.
Vanatta is looking to counter the offense by Alvarez and move into the clinch.
Alvarez swings for the body but Vanatta moves out of range.
Alvarez fails to land with a series of punches.
Alvarez throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Vanatta counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Alvarez!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vanatta slows the pace down.

Vanatta stands up and beckons Alvarez to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Nice uppercut lands for Alvarez. That snapped Vanatta's head back.
Alvarez misses with a looping left.
Alvarez scores with a jab to the body.
Alvarez loads up on a big right hand but Vanatta slips the punch.
Vanatta misses with a two punch combination.
It seemed like Alvarez was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Alvarez scores with the left hand. Vanatta knows he should have avoided that one.
Alvarez feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Vanattas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Alvarez lands a nice shot to the body.
Alvarez connects with a nice looking jab.
Alvarez scores with a body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A shot to the liver by Alvarez. Beautiful body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vanatta misses the shot to the body.
Alvarez throws a jab but it's blocked by Vanatta.
Alvarez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Vanatta moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Alvarez bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Vanatta avoids a punch combination nicely.
Alvarez tests Vanatta's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Vanatta bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Vanatta throws a series of punches but Alvarez moves out of range.
Aaron Alvarez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alvarez blocks a low kick nicely.
Alvarez misses with an uppercut. Vanatta saw that one coming.
Alvarez moves out of range of the body kick from Vanatta.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanatta takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Alvarez comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Alvarez scores with a crisp jab that stopped Vanatta in his tracks.
Vanatta tries to clinch up but Alvarez circles away and keeps his distance.
Alvarez takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Jab by Alvarez.
Alvarez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vanatta is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Alvarez.
A nice inside leg kick there by Vanatta. That's going to slow Alvarez down.
Alvarez misses the shot to the body.
Alvarez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vanatta was well out of range. Poor timing from Alvarez.
Vanatta appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Vanatta drops his hands momentarily and Alvarez takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Alvarez throws a body shot but no joy.
Vanatta feinted with a counter takedown.
Vanatta on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Alvarez is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Vanatta had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez looks to throw a body kick

and Vanatta counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vanatta trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vanatta 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.
Vanatta passes Alvarez's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Vanatta maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Alvarez could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Vanatta has cracked it and Alvarez is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Vanatta!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Marcin Vanatta!
Our winner, Marcin Vanatta, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.