PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Owen Alvarez (ranked 2363 p4p, 2179 weight class) and Isaac Vernon (ranked 304 p4p, 287 weight class). Owen Alvarez could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Isaac Vernon's chin.

Alvarez
vs
Vernon

183 cm
26
169
9 - 6 - 0

180 cm
26
180
11 - 9 - 1

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Owen Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Isaac Vernon!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Hugh Johnson and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vernon.
Vernon throws the left hand but Alvarez avoids the punch easily.
Vernon looks for the body kick but Alvarez saw that one coming.
Vernon pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Alvarez misses with a hook.
We've been informed that Vernon has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Vernon dips to his left and cracks Alvarez with an uppercut!
Alvarez works the jab nicely.

Alvarez closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vernon.
Alvarez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right from Alvarez.
Vernon blocks an uppercut.
Alvarez misses with the head strike.
Vernon throws a punch but it's blocked by Alvarez.
Vernon swings wildly with an uppercut but Alvarez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Alvarez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Vernon prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Vernon lands with a right to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Alvarez.
Vernon letting Alvarez take a breather here.
Alvarez lands a shot to the body.
Alvarez lands with a right to the head.
Alvarez stops a takedown attempt from Vernon.
Vernon doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Alvarez works on Vernon's body with a couple of short punches.
Vernon misses with a body punch.
Alvarez lands a hook to the side of the head.
Alvarez lands a hook that snaps the head of Vernon backwards.
Alvarez stops a takedown attempt from Vernon.
Vernon tries to circle away but Alvarez has him pinned against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Alvarez fails to land.
Alvarez holding his opponent close, against the cage.
We've been hearing reports that Alvarez has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Alvarez lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Vernon wants a takedown.
Owen Alvarez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Isaac Vernon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vernon tries a body shot but Alvarez blocks it.
Alvarez lands a shoulder strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Vernon manages to break the clinch.
Alvarez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Alvarez jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

Alvarez closes the distance and clinches.
Vernon lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Alvarez.
A short right from Alvarez on the inside.
Alvarez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Vernon prevents it.
A shot in the inside from Alvarez.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Vernon creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Vernon misses with a hook to the ribs.
Vernon presses Alvarez against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Alvarez working aggressively here.
Alvarez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Vernon is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Alvarez lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Vernon tries to work over Alvarez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Alvarez.
Alvarez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Alvarez misses with the head strike.
Vernon lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Vernon lands with a short shot to the head.
Vernon wants to break the clinch but can't.
Vernon taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Vernon scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Vernon goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Alvarez working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Alvarez lands a body shot in the clinch.
Alvarez presses Vernon against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Alvarez's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Alvarez just leaning against Vernon, taking a breather.
Vernon misses with the head strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Alvarez.
Vernon tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Alvarez's elbow.
Vernon prevents the takedown attempt.
Alvarez throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Vernons head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Alvarez lands a left hand.
Vernon has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Alvarez after a bit of a struggle.
Alvarez working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Alvarez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Good body shot from Alvarez.
Alvarez lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Vernon wants to break the clinch but can't.
Vernon lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Vernon tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Alvarez looking to stall.
Vernon takes a shot to the head.
Vernon blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Alvarez scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Alvarez lands a left hand.
Good body shot from Alvarez.
Vernon working aggressively here.
Vernon misses with the head strike.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alvarez lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Vernon backwards.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Alvarez moves into range and clinches up with Vernon.
Vernon misses with a body punch.
Alvarez lands a right hand that snaps the head of Vernon backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vernon.
Alvarez misses with some punches.
Alvarez misses with a body punch.
Vernon is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Alvarez gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Vernon doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short right from Alvarez on the inside.
Alvarez has Vernon pushed against the cage.
Vernon struggles to land a body shot inside as Alvarez controls his hands.
Vernon tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Alvarez's elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vernon swings wildly with an uppercut but Alvarez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Alvarez dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Alvarez blocks a body shot from Vernon.
A nice left hand lands by Alvarez.
A left hand lands to the body for Vernon.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vernon.

Vernon escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Isaac Vernon is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vernon swings for the body but Alvarez moves out of range.
Vernon tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Alvarez was well out of range. Poor timing from Vernon.

Alvarez darts in and clinches Vernon up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Alvarez.
Alvarez lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Alvarez lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Alvarez misses with a hook to the ribs.
Alvarez blocks a body shot from Vernon.
Vernon tries to work over Alvarez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Alvarez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Alvarez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Vernon tries to throw a body punch but Alvarez avoids it by throwing Vernon back against the cage.
A body shot lands from Vernon.
Vernon lands an uppercut.
Alvarez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Vernon pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vernon defending well as Alvarez loads up on a big left hand.
Alvarez throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Vernon on the side of the head.
Alvarez moves out of range as Vernon strikes.
Vernon slips under a jab from Alvarez.
Vernon throws a big counter head kick but Alvarez avoids it with no problem.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alvarez fails with a takedown attempt.
Alvarez tries for a takedown but Vernon sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Owen Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vernon defending well as Alvarez loads up on a big left hand.

Alvarez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Vernon, pushing him back against the cage.
Vernon doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vernon.
Vernon misses with a body punch.
Vernon can't find room to land a body shot as Alvarez controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Vernon backwards.
Alvarez misses with the head strike.
Alvarez misses with a punch to the body.
Vernon works on Alvarez's body with a couple of short punches.
Vernon throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A right hook to the body lands for Alvarez.

Alvarez has clasped his hands together around Vernon's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Alvarez lands an elbow.
Vernon is trying to control Alvarez's posture but Alvarez avoids it.
Alvarez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vernon can do to turn this around?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vernon is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Vernon to see if he's OK.
Alvarez scoring with punches and elbows.
Alvarez lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Vernon down.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vernon tries to control but Alvarez manages to take his back.
Alvarez biding his time, controlling Vernon.
Vernon trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
The referee is taking a good look at Vernon as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Alvarez!
Alvarez 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.
Alvarez just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Owen Alvarez dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Alvarez moves into the clinch successfully.
Owen Alvarez has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Alvarez tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vernon's elbow.
Alvarez working aggressively here.
Alvarez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Vernon gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Alvarez tries to throw a body punch but Vernon avoids it by throwing Alvarez back against the cage.
Alvarez lands a hook that snaps the head of Vernon backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vernon.
Alvarez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Alvarez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vernon has Alvarez pressed against the cage.
Alvarez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Alvarez lands a body punch.
Vernon misses with a punch to the body.
Vernon lands a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vernon is working Alvarez over against the cage.
Vernon tries a body shot but Alvarez blocks it.
Alvarez lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Vernon backwards.
Alvarez slows down the pace here.
Alvarez leaning his opponent against the cage.
Vernon lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Alvarez.
Vernon tries to work over Alvarez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Vernon lands with a right to the head.
Vernon tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Alvarez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Vernon gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Alvarez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Vernon tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vernon blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Vernon misses with a punch on the inside.
Alvarez lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Alvarez goes for a takedown attempt but Vernon pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Owen Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vernon lands a jab to Alvarez's midsection.
Alvarez works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Vernon is the more experienced fighter here and he's going to need to draw on some of that experience if he's going to pull this one out the bag.
Alvarez lands a nice hook to Vernon's body. Vernon takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alvarez moves in looking to clinch but Vernon pushes him off.
Vernon steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Alvarez lands an overhand right.
Alvarez moves forwards but Vernon connects with a nice, crisp jab.
No joy there for Vernon, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Vernon takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vernon misses with a body shot.
Vernon swings for the body but Alvarez moves out of range.
Vernon misses with a low kick.
Alvarez tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Vernon counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Isaac Vernon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A looping hook to the body misses from Alvarez. Vernon does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vernon throws out a counter right but Alvarez avoids it with no problem.
Vernon throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Alvarez lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Alvarez misses with a series of wild punches.
Alvarez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Vernon throws out the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown but Vernon shows good takedown defense.
Alvarez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vernon throws out a counter right but Alvarez avoids it with no problem.
Vernon avoids the body shot from Alvarez.
Alvarez works Vernon's body with a nice hook.
Vernon throws a leg kick but Alvarez moved away.
Donk. Vernon catches Alvarez right on the button with a cross.
Vernon ducks under a wild hook from Alvarez.
Alvarez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vernon.
Alvarez misses with a double jab.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Alvarez missing with a left hand there. Vernon was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Alvarez tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Vernon counters with a stiff right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Owen Alvarez.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Alvarez, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chris Dean scores the fight for Owen Alvarez!
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight for Owen Alvarez!
Judge John Mangel scores the fight for Owen Alvarez!

Owen Alvarez wins by unanimous decision!
After the fight, Owen Alvarez was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.