PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Cillian (ranked 3043 p4p, 24803 weight class) and Ricky Alvarez (ranked 362 p4p, 485 weight class). Ricky Alvarez struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 157.4lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cillian
vs
Alvarez

178 cm
19
165
3 - 2 - 0

188 cm
19
170
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Shadow Realm NYC

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brandon Cillian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ricky Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Eddie Farnsworth and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Cillian does no damage.
Alvarez is looking for the big counter here.
Cillian throws a body shot but no joy.
Sloppy strikes from Cillian. Those never looked like landing.
A little jabbing left from Alvarez on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Alvarez throws a series of strikes that have Cillian backpedaling.
Cillian misses with a straight right.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Alvarez! But no joy.
Cillian throws out a loose jab but Alvarez uses good head movement to avoid it.
A jab from Alvarez misses.
A nice combination there by Cillian.
Cillian misses with a leg kick
and Alvarez counters with a stiff right hand.
Cillian tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Alvarez was well out of range. Poor timing from Cillian.
Alvarez lands with an uppercut that bounces Cillian off the cage and back into range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cillian throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cillian tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Alvarez was well out of range. Poor timing from Cillian.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Cillian misses.
Alvarez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cillian.
A little jabbing left from Alvarez on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Cillian misses with a wild combination.
Cillian lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Alvarez has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Cillian swings for the body but Alvarez moves out of range.
Cillian throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Alvarez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Brandon Cillian has been cut.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Cillian, as that shot connected.
Brandon Cillian seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cillian lunges at Alvarez with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Alvarez's hand.
Alvarez looks to score with a jab to the body but Cillian is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cillian scores with a body shot.
Cillian swings for the body but Alvarez moves out of range.
Cillian looks to score with a jab to the body but Alvarez is just out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cillian throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cillian throws a body punch but Alvarez moves out of range.
Cillian ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Alvarez checks a low kick from Cillian.
Cillian throws a big shot that misses.
Cillian throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Alvarez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cillian throws a leg kick that is checked
and Alvarez counters with a nice uppercut.
Cillian scores with a nice head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cillian looks to throw the jab but Alvarez is out of range.
Alvarez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cillian.
Alvarez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cillian lands with an uppercut that bounces Alvarez off the cage and back into range.
Cillian looks to land a left hand but Alvarez moved out of range nicely.
Alvarez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cillian.
It seemed like Alvarez was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Cillian throws a body punch but Alvarez moves out of range.
Cillian throws a combination. Alvarez tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Cillian misses with a combination
and Alvarez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Alvarez throws a body shot but no joy.
Alvarez throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Cillian connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez throws a series of punches but Cillian avoids them all with ease.
Cillian looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Cillian swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Alvarez counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cillian thinking.
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!
Cillian jabs Alvarez right on the nose. Alvarez blinks but takes it well.
Cillian circles away from the clinch attempt.
Alvarez walks into a stiff left hand from Cillian.
Alvarez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Alvarez lands a two punch combo.
Alvarez moves forwards but Cillian connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Cillian shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Alvarez eats them both and turns towards Cillian to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Alvarez is rocked!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Cillian dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Brandon Cillian's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cillian just misses with a punch to the body.
Alvarez throws a nice looking combination but Cillian bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cillian is looking to counter punch.
Cillian takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Alvarez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cillian manages to avoid it.
Cillian jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Cillian throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Cillian throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Alvarez.
Cillian misses with a combination
and Alvarez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez avoids the body shot from Cillian.
A little jabbing left from Alvarez on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Cillian misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Alvarez swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Brandon Cillian is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fighters circling - Cillian throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Alvarez looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cillian throws a combination that misses
and Alvarez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cillian fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A little jabbing left from Alvarez on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Alvarez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cillian circles away quickly and effectively.
Cillian misses with a double jab
and Cillian takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cillian misses with a right hand
and Alvarez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Good standup being displayed there by Cillian as he connects with a hook.
Cillian swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Alvarez! But no joy.
A swing and a miss from Cillian.
Alvarez is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Brandon Cillian is winning the standup battle so far.
Alvarez thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cillian stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Cillian cracks Alvarez with an open hand slap.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cillian misses with a low kick.
Alvarez takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Alvarez has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Cillian throws a poor cross that misses
and Cillian takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cillian misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Alvarez.
Cillian connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Alvarez walks into a jab.
Alvarez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cillian.
Cillian throws a lazy uppercut
and Alvarez counters with a two punch combo.
Cillian ducks under a wild hook from Alvarez.
Alvarez defending well as Cillian loads up on a big left hand.
Alvarez throws a counter combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Alvarez blocks the leg kick.
Cillian takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Cillian throws a shot from downtown. Alvarez moves away and avoids it.
Alvarez might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Alvarez misses the jab.
Cillian lands with an overhand left.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with each other but Alvarez might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Cillian has got the better of the exchanges.
Cillian lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Cillian misses with a leg kick
letting Alvarez counter with a right hand.
Alvarez takes one to the side of the head.
Cillian scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Cillian connects with a body shot that sends Alvarez's belly button to the back.
Cillian 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alvarez misses with an uppercut.
Cillian is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Cillian fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Alvarez looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Cillian throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Alvarez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cillian misses with a double jab.
Alvarez takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Alvarez ducks under a wild hook from Cillian.
Alvarez moves out of range as Cillian strikes.
Alvarez takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Cillian moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Alvarez misses with a looping right.
Cillian throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Cillian dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Brandon Cillian's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back 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.

Cillian throws out a loose jab but Alvarez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Alvarez defending well as Cillian loads up on a big left hand.
Cillian throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cillian cracks a nice hook into Alvarez's ribs.
Cillian punishes Alvarez's body with a nice straight punch.
Alvarez lands with a straight right. Cillian didn't see that one coming.
Cillian misses with a wild body shot.
Sloppy strikes from Alvarez. Those never looked like landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cillian scores with a hook.
Alvarez ducks right into an uppercut from Cillian.
Cillian is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Alvarez can do to turn this around?
Alvarez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cillian.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Alvarez. Those never looked like landing.
Cillian misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Alvarez.
Cillian changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Cillian throws a shot from downtown. Alvarez moves away and avoids it.
Cillian misses with a wild combination.
Alvarez ducks under a wild hook from Cillian.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Alvarez! But no joy.
Alvarez throws a nice looking combination but Cillian bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cillian lands a nice shot to the body.
A swing and a miss from Alvarez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Alvarez thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cillian tests Alvarez's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Alvarez shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Cillian ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cillian throws a body shot but no joy.
Alvarez misses with a wild combination.
Alvarez moves out of range of the strikes.
Cillian throws a sloppy body shot
enabling Alvarez to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cillian motions for Alvarez to come forward. Cillian throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cillian lands a leg kick that knocks Alvarez off balance momentarily.
Cillian misses with a combination
and Alvarez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cillian throws a shot from downtown. Alvarez moves away and avoids it.
Cillian misses with an uppercut
and Alvarez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Alvarez moves in looking to clinch but Cillian pushes him off.
Cillian feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Cillian avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cillian is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Alvarez.
Cillian has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Cillian there as he acknowledges the shot.
Alvarez walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez tries to clinch up.
Cillian misses with a body shot.
Alvarez takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Cillian stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Cillian takes a swing at Alvarez's ribcage but misses.
Cillian misses with an uppercut
and Alvarez counters with a nice uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cillian connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Brandon Cillian is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Alvarez takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Nice defenses there by Alvarez.
Cillian will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brandon Cillian showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cillian has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brandon Cillian!