PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Francisco Alvarez (ranked 2915 p4p, 2942 weight class) and Alex Harper (ranked 347 p4p, 349 weight class). Alvarez kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Jak Bailey - Sunset N Santa Fe. The key to victory for Francisco Alvarez has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Alvarez
vs
Harper

207 cm
27
250
3 - 2 - 0

191 cm
26
260
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Voodoo Nutrition

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Francisco Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Alex Harper!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Dmitry Maklakov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez misses with a straight left.
Harper shoots in but Alvarez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Alvarez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Horrible takedown attempt by Harper or perhaps it was just good defense by Alvarez, which made it look bad.
Alvarez slips a jab and a cross from Harper.
Alvarez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
We've been told by Alvarez's head coaches at Cozad MMA Hilo that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Alvarez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Alvarez swinging wildly here.
Harper tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Alvarez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez throws a series of punches but Harper moves out of range.
Alvarez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Harper drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Alvarez bucks up and tries to throw Harper off but instead Harper has got his back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harper is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Alvarez defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Harper is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Alvarez has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Harper.
Alvarez is trying to stand back up.
Alvarez has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Harper.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harper controls the position.

Harper seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Alvarez's chin but Alvarez turns very nicely into Harper's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Alvarez.
Harper wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Our spies down at at Team Mass Valley Academy inform us that Harper has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Harper wants to stand but Alvarez is controlling the position.
Harper has control of Alvarez's left arm, preventing Alvarez from doing any damage.

Harper is working an open guard so Alvarez takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Harper misses with a head kick.

Alvarez drops Harper with a nice combination! Alvarez dives into Harper's guard, looking to finish!

It looks like Alex Harper has been cut.
Harper is trying to control the position but Alvarez postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harper pulls Alvarez in close to prevent any damage.

Alvarez stands up and waves to Harper to follow him.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Francisco Alvarez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alex Harper's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Alvarez lands with a big right hook that stumbles Harper - he's out on his feet here! Alvarez follows up with another monster hook that separates Harper from consciousness! Harper falls, almost in slow motion to the canvas! Alvarez stands and admires his work as the crowd go wild.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Francisco Alvarez!
After the big win, Francisco Alvarez made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Voodoo Nutrition and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.