PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dragan Hozdic (ranked 18413 p4p, 3791 weight class) and Fedor Alvarez (ranked 609 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Hozdic
vs
Alvarez

193 cm
36
245
4 - 7 - 0

193 cm
21
265
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

HELLBENT

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 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dragan Hozdic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Fedor Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Robert Twigg and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hozdic moves into the clinch.

Hozdic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A punch combination from Alvarez misses.

Hozdic has closed the distance and engaged Alvarez in a clinch.
Hozdic pushes Alvarez back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Alvarez wants to get back to striking at distance but Hozdic won't allow it.
A short left from Hozdic.
Alvarez wants to get back to striking at distance but Hozdic won't allow it.

Hozdic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hozdic staying out of range there.
Hozdic throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Hozdic closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Alvarez did well to prevent Hozdic getting side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hozdic is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Alvarez has managed to free his arm - good work.
We've been hearing good reports from Hozdic's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Hozdic is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Alvarez is just riding it out for now. Hozdic eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alvarez is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hozdic is looking for a kimura but Alvarez is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hozdic to get the leverage.
Hozdic missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hozdic looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Alvarez wants to get back to his feet.
Hozdic is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Hozdic is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hozdic trying to advance position but Alvarez counters by regaining guard.
Hozdic works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Hozdic is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Alvarez has managed to free his arm - good work.
Alvarez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hozdic.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hozdic is trying to work for a kimura but Alvarez is defending well.
Hozdic slips a nice elbow through Alvarez's hands, connecting with Alvarez's forehead.

Hozdic looking for a submission but Alvarez manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Hozdic working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hozdic keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Alvarez's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hozdic postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hozdic stands up over Alvarez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hozdic wants to pass the guard but Alvarez is keeping the position.

Hozdic drops back looking for a leg! Alvarez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Alvarez manages to kick Hozdic off! Hozdic jumps back into Alvarez's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hozdic postures up and lands a big shot to Alvarez's brow.
Hozdic chips away with some ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Alvarez can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hozdic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hozdic advances position into side control!
Hozdic creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Alvarez sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Hozdic tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Hozdic in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Alvarez is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Dragan Hozdic!
Dragan Hozdic really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that HELLS BALLS RECOVERY logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.