PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jackson Alvarez (ranked 2509 p4p, 3063 weight class) and Cyril Cizek (ranked 256 p4p, 302 weight class). Alvarez comes to the cage accompanied by Juan Luis Guerra - Soldado. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Alvarez
vs
Cizek

170 cm
28
150
9 - 4 - 0

170 cm
21
152
5 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jackson Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cyril Cizek!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Andrew Berry and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Alvarez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Cizek!
Alvarez throws a strike aimed at the side of Cizek's head but Cizek avoids it well.
Cizek wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Alvarez in side control, throwing shots but Cizek defends.
Alvarez creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Cizek sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Cizek throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Some wild striking there from Cizek.
Cizek takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Cizek avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cizek misses the shot to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alvarez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The fighters circle momentarily. Alvarez darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cizek slaps away a takedown attempt from Alvarez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Alvarez cracks Cizek with a good jab.
Cizek avoids a punch combination nicely.

Alvarez pushes Cizek up against the cage in a clinch.

Alvarez turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Alvarez manages to end up in side control.
Alvarez wants to control but Cizek is keeping him busy.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Cizek wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Cizek is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
The ground and pound from Alvarez seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cizek is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Alvarez is controlling him well.
Alvarez scores with a couple of short elbows.
Cizek is pushing Alvarez's head away, looking to escape. Alvarez manages to hold on to the position though.
A lull in the action here as Alvarez stalls from top position.
Cizek is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Alvarez is controlling him well.
Alvarez trying to control the action but Cizek is working from the bottom.
Alvarez looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Cizek is avoiding damage well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez is looking to take a break and control but Cizek is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Alvarez lands a few punches from side control.
Cizek is trying to buck Alvarez off.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Alvarez trying to control the action but Cizek is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Cizek bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Alvarez's head backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Cizek to counter with a crisp jab.
Cizek connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Cizek cracks Alvarez with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
A solid leg kick lands there for Cizek.
Alvarez fails in his attempt to clinch.

Alvarez scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Cizek explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Cizek fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cizek as he avoids it easily.

Cizek gets tackled into the cage by Alvarez. Alvarez maintains the clinch.
Cizek can't find room to land a body shot as Alvarez controls the action.
Alvarez is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jackson Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A body shot lands from Cizek.
Alvarez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cizek misses with a body punch.
A shot in the inside from Alvarez.
Cizek doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Cyril Cizek will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cizek displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Alvarez ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Crunch! Cizek slams his shin into Alvarez's torso.
Cizek scores with a kick to the midsection.

Alvarez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cizek tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Alvarez's elbow.
Alvarez scores with a shot to the side of Cizek's head.
A head punch on the inside from Alvarez fails to land.
A body shot lands from Cizek.
Cizek gets underhooks to prevent Alvarez's takedown attempt.

Cizek breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cizek bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
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 has a takedown stuffed.
As Alvarez backs off Cizek throws a huge counter combo but Alvarez manages to avoid it all.

Alvarez clinches up against the cage.
Cizek misses with a punch to the body.
Cizek tries to work over Alvarez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cizek breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cizek swats away the attempt to clinch by Alvarez.
A nice side step and Cizek releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Cizek looks to land a combination but Alvarez avoids it well.
Good standup being displayed there by Cizek as he connects with a hook.
Alvarez tries to close the distance and clinch but Cizek swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cizek uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Cizek keeps the fight on the outside.
Cizek throws a counter combo.
We've been told by Alvarez's head coaches at The Scrap Squad that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Alvarez takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Cyril Cizek seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cizek stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Cizek throws a nice looking combination but Alvarez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cizek has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

Alvarez shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Alvarez was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cizek stops Alvarez from passing to mount.
Alvarez wants to control but Cizek is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cizek wants to get back to his feet.
Alvarez throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Cizek tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Alvarez postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Cizek looks a forlorn figure.
Cizek is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cizek is squirming around, avoiding Alvarez's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez looking to finish Cizek with some ground and pound. This is bad for Cizek!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Cizek is trying to stand up.
Alvarez landing strikes from the mount and Cizek is in trouble!
Alvarez thowing shots but they're missing.
Cizek in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cizek can do anything to dispel that myth.
Alvarez thowing shots but they're missing.
Cizek wants to get back to his feet.
Alvarez cracks Cizek with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Cizek wants to get back to his feet.
Alvarez sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jackson Alvarez will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Cizek scores with a jab to the head.
Cizek thows a body kick. Alvarez tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Cizek rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Alvarez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Alvarez moves out of range of the body kick from Cizek.
Cizek lands a high kick!
Cizek explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Cizek connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Cizek pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A quick step to the side and Alvarez tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Alvarez will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Cizek lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Alvarez on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Cizek. Cizek obviously looking to wear him down.

Alvarez gets a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A right hand to the body from Cizek.
A head punch on the inside from Alvarez fails to land.
Alvarez manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Cizek gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Alvarez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Alvarez on the inside.

Cizek pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Good shot there by Cizek.
Cizek throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Alvarez.
Alvarez moves in looking to clinch but Cizek pushes him off.
Cizek follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Alvarez takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Alvarez is looking to clinch.
Cyril Cizek is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Alvarez fails with an attempt to clinch.

Alvarez moves into range and clinches up with Cizek.
Alvarez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cizek misses with a hook to the ribs.
Alvarez is stalling here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez misses with the head strike.
Alvarez taking a breather.
Cizek lands a nice shot to the body.
Alvarez lands a body shot in the clinch.
Cizek tries to break free but Alvarez pushes him back against the cage.
Cizek gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Alvarez.
Cizek blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Cizek breaks the clinch.
Alvarez displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
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 looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Alvarez closes the distance and clinches up with Cizek, looking for a takedown. Alvarez pushes Cizek against the cage but Cizek circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jackson Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alvarez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cizek lands a head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Cizek.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cizek lands with a nice body kick.
Alvarez tries to close the distance and clinch but Cizek swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Jackson Alvarez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cizek moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Alvarez tries to clinch there but Cizek circles away.
Alvarez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Alvarez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Alvarez is looking to clinch.
Cizek lands a head kick. Alvarez smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Alvarez is rocked!
Ohhhhh! A huge head kick from Cizek! Alvarez is out on his feet! Cizek rushes in and throws more strikes. The ref is looking closely - Alvarez is covering up but the punishment is just too much and the ref steps in to stop the fight! Alvarez is staring into space, just thankful that the beatdown has ended. Brutal finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Cyril Cizek!