PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Francesco Alvarado (ranked 7945 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gonali Raastupe (ranked 5339 p4p, 0 weight class). Francesco Alvarado has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Alvarado
vs
Raastupe

218 cm
22
177 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

191 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid 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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Francesco Alvarado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gonali Raastupe!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Colin Fray and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Raastupe throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Alvarado tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Raastupe is in Alvarado's guard.
Alvarado wants to stand up but Raastupe is controlling him.
Alvarado is looking to stand back up but Raastupe counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Alvarado.

Raastupe is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Alvarado has managed to free his arm - good work.
Alvarado won't allow Raastupe to pass to mount.
Alvarado is trying to get back to full guard.
Raastupe stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarado pushes Raastupe off looking to stand but Raastupe dives back in and keeps control.
Alvarado makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Alvarado.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raastupe got a little sloppy there for a moment and Alvarado has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Raastupe has managed to get both his arms back between Alvarado's legs - danger averted.
Raastupe looking to pass the guard.

Alvarado is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Raastupe presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
A head punch on the inside from Alvarado fails to land.

Raastupe breaks the clinch.
Gonali Raastupe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Raastupe clinches up against the cage.
Alvarado tries to circle away but Raastupe has him pinned against the cage.
Alvarado really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Alvarado has a couple of punches blocked by Raastupe.
Raastupe jumps guard but Alvarado turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Raastupe manages to break the clinch.
Alvarado wants to clinch but Raastupe slips to the side
and Raastupe counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Alvarado fails in his attempt to clinch.
Raastupe tries for a takedown but Alvarado circles away easily

and Alvarado moves into the clinch.

Raastupe jumps into guard, dragging Alvarado to the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Raastupe is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Alvarado lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Raastupe utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Alvarado throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alvarado wants to stand but Raastupe has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarado throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Alvarado would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Raastupe trying to control the position.
Raastupe preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Alvarado throwing strikes from guard but Raastupe blocks nicely.
Alvarado 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.
Raastupe is adopting a defensive guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Alvarado will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Alvarado working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Alvarado gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Alvarado fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Raastupe will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Francesco Alvarado has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gonali Raastupe.

Raastupe fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Alvarado, pushing him back against the cage.
Alvarado tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Alvarado drops down looking for an ankle pick but Raastupe pulls his leg out and moves away.
Raastupe dives in and grabs Alvarado's left leg, looking for a takedown. Alvarado pushes down on Raastupe's head and hops out.
Raastupe dives in for a single leg takedown but Alvarado sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Alvarado changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Raastupe looks winded!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Alvarado gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Alvarado breaks the clinch.

Raastupe gets in close and instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gonali Raastupe will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A head kick misses from Raastupe.
Alvarado went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Francesco Alvarado is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alvarado fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Alvarado tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Alvarado slaps away a takedown attempt from Raastupe, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Alvarado tries to counter with a takedown but Raastupe is quick to defend against it.

Raastupe forces Alvarado back against the cage and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Raastupe manages to break the clinch.

Raastupe shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Alvarado is trying to defend but Raastupe finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raastupe trying to control from half guard but Alvarado is working away.

Alvarado kicks off Raastupe and gets to his feet.
Raastupe lands with a good body shot.
Alvarado stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Alvarado wants it to stay on the feet.
Raastupe is breathing heavily.
Raastupe misses with a combination

and Alvarado holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Alvarado pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raastupe throws a series of punches but Alvarado avoids them all with ease.
Alvarado is looking for a counter combo.
Raastupe tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Alvarado swivels and escapes.
Francesco Alvarado has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gonali Raastupe.

Alvarado moves into the clinch.
Raastupe is trying to force a seperation but Alvarado has the dominant position.
Raastupe wants to stall.

Alvarado breaks from the clinch.
A nice leg kick lands there from Alvarado.
Alvarado lands a high kick!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Raastupe fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Alvarado, pushing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raastupe avoiding damage as Alvarado throws knees to the body.
Raastupe wants a takedown but no success here.
Raastupe has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A right hook to the body lands for Alvarado.
Alvarado is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Raastupe is defending well for now.

Alvarado pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Alvarado clinches.
Raastupe blocks a body shot from Alvarado.
Alvarado can't find room to land a body shot as Raastupe controls the action.
Alvarado can't find room to land a body shot as Raastupe controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Raastupe manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Alvarado postures up in Raastupe's guard and throws a big left but Raastupe blocks it.

Raastupe scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Alvarado gets tackled into the cage by Raastupe. Raastupe maintains the clinch.
Raastupe jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Alvarado walks away with a smile on his face. Raastupe gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Alvarado avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Alvarado as Raastupe shoots in.
Alvarado changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Sloppy strikes from Alvarado. Those never looked like landing.
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 Francesco Alvarado will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Raastupe gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Alvarado counters with a takedown into side control.
Raastupe taking a bit of punishment here - Alvarado scoring with strikes.
Raastupe is looking to regain half guard here but Alvarado keeps moving and retains side control.

Alvarado decides to stand up, so the ref orders Raastupe to his feet.
Raastupe blocks a head kick by Alvarado.
Raastupe throws a head kick that misses.
Alvarado wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Raastupe moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raastupe tries to pull guard but Alvarado won't allow it.

Alvarado breaks from the clinch.
Raastupe takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Alvarado keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
As Raastupe tries to get set, Alvarado tries to push him back and clinch up but Raastupe manages to avoid the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raastupe closes the distance and clinches.
Alvarado digs a right hand into Raastupe's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Raastupe's gas tank.

Alvarado jumps into guard, dragging Raastupe to the mat.

Alvarado is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Alvarado bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Raastupe's guard.

Alvarado scoring with punches to the head and body.
Raastupe working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Alvarado.
Alvarado is looking to work some ground and pound but Raastupe has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarado tries to stand but Raastupe is controlling from the bottom.
Alvarado with a nice head shot there.
Raastupe is pulling down on Alvarado's head to control his posture.
Alvarado trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Alvarado stands up and waves to Raastupe to follow him.
Raastupe misses with a double jab.
Alvarado drops down looking for a counter takedown but Raastupe sprawls and moves away.
Francesco Alvarado is winning the standup battle so far.
Alvarado keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Alvarado half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Francesco Alvarado has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gonali Raastupe.

Alvarado moves into range and clinches up with Raastupe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarado throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Alvarado tries to break the clinch but Raastupe is controlling the position.
Raastupe wants to get back to striking at distance but Alvarado won't allow it.
Alvarado is trying to break the clinch but Raastupe is controlling him.
Alvarado is trying to break the clinch but Raastupe has him pressed against the cage.
Raastupe prevents a body shot from Alvarado.
Alvarado lands a good knee to the midsection. Raastupe won't want to take too many of those.
Raastupe prevents a body shot from Alvarado.
Raastupe tries to stall but Alvarado uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

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.
Raastupe blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Alvarado is trying to break free.
Raastupe has had enough of the clinch but Alvarado keeps him there for the moment.
Raastupe is trying to maintain a safe position but Alvarado gets an underhook and turns Raastupe into the cage.
Raastupe has had enough of the clinch but Alvarado keeps him there for the moment.
Raastupe misses with a hook to the ribs.
Alvarado scores a nice knee to the body.
Alvarado jumps guard but Raastupe stands there with Alvarado around his waist. Alvarado gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alvarado working some nice short punches in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Francesco Alvarado showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Alvarado 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Francesco Alvarado!