PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Earnie Shavers (ranked 2676 p4p, 16024 weight class) and Lyle Alzado (ranked 358 p4p, 673 weight class). Lyle Alzado will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Shavers
vs
Alzado

190 cm
34
247
10 - 10 - 0

213 cm
45
285
30 - 36 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

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 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Earnie Shavers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 36 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lyle Alzado!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shavers moves away from the strike by Alzado.
Alzado throws a left and a right that both miss
and Shavers counters with a right hand to the body.
Alzado with the inside leg kick.
Shavers blocks a jab.
Shavers jabs Alzado right on the nose. Alzado blinks but takes it well.
Lyle Alzado seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shavers swings for the body but Alzado moves out of range.
Alzado looks to throw the jab but Shavers is out of range.
Alzado throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A telegraphed right hand from Shavers misses the target.
Alzado misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Shavers counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Alzado misses with a hook. Shavers ducked under it nicely.

Alzado drops Shavers with a left and a right! Oh, Shavers is hurt - Alzado dives into side control looking to finish!

It looks like Earnie Shavers has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alzado throws a strike aimed at the side of Shavers's head but Shavers avoids it well.
Shavers tries to bench press Alzado off him but Alzado keeps the position.
Alzado works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Shavers is rocked!
Shavers gets back to half guard.
Shavers has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Alzado missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shavers wants to improve his position but Alzado is controlling well.
Alzado not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Alzado is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Alzado thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Shavers's head.
Alzado is thwarting Shavers's attempts to control the position.
Shavers might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Alzado thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Alzado scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Shavers wants to improve his position but Alzado is controlling well.
Shavers is trying to maintain the position but Alzado is very close to passing his half guard.
Alzado missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Alzado throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shavers wants to get back to full guard.
Alzado sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shavers defending well though.
Alzado missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Shavers is looking to improve his position.
Shavers gets full guard.
Alzado missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Alzado postures up and lands a big shot to Shavers's brow.
Shavers trying to keep a closed guard but Alzado is proving a slippery customer.
Alzado cracks Shavers with a solid left hand.
Alzado working some strikes from top position.
Shavers preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shavers looking to control.
Shavers utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Alzado throwing strikes from guard but Shavers blocks nicely.
Alzado won't allow Shavers to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alzado working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Shavers preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shavers is trying to keep Alzado in close.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Shavers moves out of range of the body kick.
It looked like Shavers wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Alzado throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Shavers swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Shavers digs a good hook to Alzado's body.
Alzado shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Shavers closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Shavers comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Lyle Alzado has been cut.
Alzado with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Alzado struggles to land a body shot inside as Shavers controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Alzado fails to land.
Alzado swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Alzado throws a punch but it's blocked by Shavers.
Shavers misses with an elbow over the top.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Alzado jumps guard.
Shavers stays in close to Alzado's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shavers wants to pass the guard but Alzado is keeping the position.
Shavers is working hard here to advance position.
Alzado has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Shavers controlling from the top position.
Alzado is looking to stand up but Shavers isn't so interested in that idea.
Shavers trying to control but Alzado is working from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lyle Alzado dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Shavers's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Shavers scores with a punch to the head.
Shavers throws a nice outside leg kick.

Shavers clinches up with Alzado and pushes him back against the cage.
Alzado lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A nice left hand lands by Alzado.
Alzado looking to throw knees to the head but Shavers is blocking nicely.
Alzado lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Shavers.
Shavers blocks an uppercut.
Alzado throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Shavers blocks it with crossed arms.
Alzado blocking some punches.
Shavers lands an uppercut.
Alzado trying to land knees to the body.
Shavers lands a nice uppercut.

Shavers breaks the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Alzado closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Alzado misses with a wild combination.
Shavers tries to counter by clinching up but Alzado breaks away and moves out of range.
Lyle Alzado seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sloppy strikes from Alzado. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good work by Shavers as he checks the leg kick.
Alzado has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Shavers defending well as Alzado loads up on a big left hand.
A low kick from Alzado is predictable there
and Shavers counters with a thumping low kick.
Alzado is breathing heavily.
A swing and a miss from Alzado.
Alzado looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Alzado swats away the attempt to clinch by Shavers.
Shavers lands a jab to Alzado's midsection.
Lyle Alzado is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shavers cracks Alzado with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A jab from Shavers finds it's way through Alzado's defenses.
Shavers tries to close the distance and clinch but Alzado swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shavers has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Alzado.
That kick from Shavers tenderised Alzado's leg. Alzado is trying to keep his angry face on.
Alzado swats away the attempt to clinch by Shavers.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Shavers.
Alzado throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Alzado misses with a leg kick.
Shavers fires out a quick counter leg kick but Alzado just manages to avoid it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alzado has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Shavers connects with a single shot there.
Shavers throws a nice inside leg kick.
Alzado on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Shavers is looking to clinch but Alzado is avoiding it.
Shavers lands a nice hook to Alzado's body. Alzado takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Alzado throws a body punch but Shavers moves out of range.
Shavers tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Alzado manages to circle out of the way.
A big left from Alzado misses.
Shavers bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alzado fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Shavers has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Alzado misses with a double jab

and Shavers holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Alzado tries a knee to the head but Shavers blocks it.
Shavers lands a hook that snaps the head of Alzado backwards.

Shavers breaks the clinch.
Good standup being displayed there by Shavers as he connects with a hook.
Shavers throws a one two combo.
Alzado keeps the fight on the outside.
Alzado will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Shavers tries to clinch up.
Shavers wants to clinch up but Alzado keeps it at a distance.
Shavers keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Alzado looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Alzado ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shavers moves away.
Alzado takes one on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shavers walks into a stiff left hand from Alzado.
Alzado throws a leg kick but Shavers sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Alzado misses with a hook to the body
and Shavers counters with a straight right hand.
Shavers dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
No joy there for Alzado, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Alzado circles away from the clinch attempt.
Alzado misses with a lunging right hand
and Shavers counters with a left to the body.
Shavers connects with a leg kick.
Shavers lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Shavers moves into range and clinches up with Alzado.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Alzado.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shavers throws an elbow but it misses.
Shavers gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Alzado using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shavers has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Shavers blocks an uppercut.
A body shot lands from Alzado.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Earnie Shavers dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Alzado walks forward, straight into a front kick from Shavers.
Shavers lands with a good body shot.
A bone on bone clash there as Shavers blocks the leg kick.
Alzado rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Shavers counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Shavers blocks a head kick by Alzado.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Shavers here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
No joy there for Shavers, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice uppercut lands for Shavers. That snapped Alzado's head back.
Alzado gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Shavers scores with a jab to the jaw.

Alzado is rocked!
Alzado misses with a hook.
Shavers tries to counter by clinching up but Alzado breaks away and moves out of range.
Shavers smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Alzado is still on wobbly legs! Can Shavers finish him?
Alzado swings away with a body shot that misses
and Shavers counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Alzado takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shavers moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Alzado misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shavers connects with a single shot there.
Shavers cracks Alzado with a big right hand that sees him stumbling back against the cage! Alzado falls to his knees and Shavers doesn't need a second invitatation - he rushes in and fires off several unanswered shots that force the referee to stop the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:09 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Earnie Shavers!
An out of breath Earnie Shavers thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.