PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between James White (ranked 3318 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saul Alvarez (ranked 2913 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Saul Alvarez was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

White
vs
Alvarez

200 cm
25
232 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

189 cm
21
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight 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, James White!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Saul Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Alyssa Summers and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and White counters with a series of strikes. Alvarez will be more careful next time no doubt.
White avoids the head kick by Alvarez.
Alvarez dives in for a single leg takedown but White sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
As Alvarez looks to move away, White throws a big counter combo but Alvarez just gets out of the way.
No joy there for White, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Alvarez dodges the punch combination from White.
White misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez shoots in but no luck this time.
James White has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saul Alvarez.
White circles away from the clinch attempt.
Alvarez tries to close the distance and clinch up but White swats him away and circles back towards the center.
White throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Alvarez.
Saul Alvarez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Alvarez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Alvarez connects with a body shot that sends White's belly button to the back.
Alvarez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Alvarez scoring well with a low kick there.

White fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Alvarez, pushing him back against the cage.
White tries to work over Alvarez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

White breaks from the clinch.
Alvarez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. White tries to avoid it but Alvarez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag White to the ground. White escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown but White shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Alvarez wants to clinch up but White keeps it at a distance.
As Alvarez looks to move away, White throws a big counter combo but Alvarez just gets out of the way.
Alvarez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. White defends it nicely.
White went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Alvarez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but White paws at him with a jab and circles away.
White displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Alvarez.
White appears to be looking for a big counter.
Alvarez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Alvarez tries for a takedown but White sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Alvarez fails with a takedown attempt.
Alvarez looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from White.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says White as he avoids it easily.
White throws the kick towards the body but Alvarez avoids it.
White slips a jab and a cross from Alvarez.
Alvarez should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alvarez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Alvarez tries to clinch but White is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as White sprawls well. White wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Alvarez gets slowly back to his feet.

White clinches up with Alvarez and pushes him back against the cage.
Alvarez wants to get back to striking at distance but White won't allow it.
White has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Alvarez after a bit of a struggle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alvarez tries to break the clinch but White is controlling the position.
Alvarez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from White.
Alvarez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. White fights it off and pushes away nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James White dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

White avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
White went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Alvarez fails in his attempt to clinch.
White gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
White takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
James White is winning the standup battle so far.
Alvarez scores with a decent looking hook.
White swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
White circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
White misses with a series of wild punches.
Alvarez throws a good cross that connects.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez darts in trying to clinch
and White counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
White dodges the punch combination from Alvarez.
White throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
White misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Alvarez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and White counters with a three punch combo that has Alvarez backing up. Alvarez nods at White to acknowledge the strikes.
Alvarez moves in looking to clinch but White pushes him off.
White went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says White as he avoids it easily.
Alvarez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but White was well out of range. Poor timing from Alvarez.
White appears to be looking for a big counter.
White throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Alvarez's head.
White feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Alvarezs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alvarez misses with a takedown attempt - White sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
James White has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saul Alvarez.
White lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Alvarez circles away quickly and effectively.
White fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Alvarez shoots in looking for a takedown but White manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Alvarez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Alvarez is breathing heavily.
White throws a head kick but Alvarez moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and White counters with a left and a right that stings Alvarez.

Alvarez clinches with his opponent.

White has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Alvarez clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

White working for the choke.
A bit of a pause in the action here. White controlling the positon.
White will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

White is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Alvarez knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Alvarez for a finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez tries to escape the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
White scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Alvarez is looking for a way out.
White controlling the position well here. Alvarez rolled but White kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Alvarez trying to get back to his feet but White is in full control for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James White dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

White swats away the attempt to clinch by Alvarez.
Alvarez tries for a takedown but White circles away easily
and White counters with a series of strikes. Alvarez will be more careful next time no doubt.
Alvarez fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
White misses the jab.
Alvarez shoots in but no luck this time.
James White has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saul Alvarez.
White tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
White throws a right and a left that Alvarez avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White walks into a jab.
White swinging wildly here.
James White is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
White leaves Alvarez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Alvarez gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Alvarez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alvarez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Alvarez throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

White stands and steps away. Alvarez gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
White leaves Alvarez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

White fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Alvarez sprawls well initially but White persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
White looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White controlling the pace.

White is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Alvarez defends it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alvarez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. White is working away from the top position though.
Alvarez regains full guard. Nicely done.
Alvarez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
White chips away with some ground and pound.

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.
White content to stall in guard here.

White gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Alvarez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but White swivels and escapes.
White avoids the head kick by Alvarez.
Alvarez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has White pinned against the cage. White gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

And that's the end of the fight!
James White showed his dominance in that final round.
Well White 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James White!