PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Peter Pickle (ranked 2970 p4p, 24985 weight class) and Ricky Alvarez (ranked 344 p4p, 540 weight class). Ricky Alvarez struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 156.5lbs 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. 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?

Pickle
vs
Alvarez

181 cm
22
158
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
19
170
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Liminal Apparel

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Peter Pickle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ricky Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, David Schapiro and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pickle shoots in and bounces Alvarez off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Pickle sitting in guard here, content to control.

Alvarez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pickle gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Pickle controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pickle's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pickle has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Alvarez can't keep his opponent in guard - Pickle advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Pickle trying to mount his opponent but Alvarez defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Alvarez is trying to stand back up but Pickle is controlling him
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pickle controlling the action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
We've been hearing reports that Pickle has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

Pickle bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Alvarez sneaks out the side door and pushes Pickle away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Alvarez scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Pickle doesn't seem bothered though.
Pickle takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Alvarez keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Alvarez bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Pickle's head.
Alvarez connects with a right hand. Pickle shakes it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez digs a good body shot into Pickle's ribs.
Alvarez shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Pickle eats them both and turns towards Alvarez to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Pickle drives through with a takedown into guard.
Pickle won't allow Alvarez to get back to his feet.
Alvarez seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Alvarez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Alvarez keeping full guard, as Pickle tries to pass.
Pickle not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Pickle tries to free his leg and advance position but Alvarez is retaining full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Pickle takes one to the chin there.
Pickle takes a jab right on the kisser.
Alvarez wants to clinch up but Pickle keeps it at a distance.
Alvarez throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Pickle stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Alvarez dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Alvarez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Pickle with a poor takedown
and Pickle takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pickle looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Alvarez lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Alvarez lands a nice shot that snaps Pickle's head back.
Alvarez scores with a nice right hand.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Alvarez.
Alvarez throws a nice looking combination but Pickle bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pickle throws a series of punches but Alvarez avoids them all with ease.
Alvarez looks to land a combination. Pickle sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Pickle fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Alvarez avoids it really well and circles away.
Alvarez looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Alvarez throws a one two combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez jabs at Pickle's body.
Left hook, right uppercut from Alvarez.
Peter Pickle is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alvarez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pickle.
Alvarez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Pickle misses with a double jab
and Alvarez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Alvarez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pickle circles away quickly and effectively.
Pickle swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Alvarez counters with a stiff right hand.
Alvarez changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Alvarez is looking to clinch.
Pickle tries to counter with a takedown but Alvarez is quick to defend against it.
Alvarez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Alvarez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pickle looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alvarez wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nice uppercut there from Alvarez.

Alvarez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Alvarez trying to land knees to the body.
Alvarez gets underhooks to prevent Pickle's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Peter Pickle. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Alvarez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A right-left combo lands from Alvarez.
Alvarez lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Ricky Alvarez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alvarez lands a nice hook to Pickle's body. Pickle takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Alvarez lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Pickle keeps the fight on the outside.
Alvarez has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Pickle fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez scores with a jab to the jaw.
Alvarez paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Alvarez scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Pickle rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Alvarez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Alvarez scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Ricky Alvarez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Alvarez lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Alvarez feints a jab promting Pickle to slip. Alvarez then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Pickle slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Alvarez lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Pickle backs up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alvarez lands the left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez misses with a series of wild punches.
Pickle attempts a counter takedown but Alvarez avoids it well and moves away.
Alvarez with a jab.
Alvarez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Pickle changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Alvarez tries to avoid it but Pickle manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Alvarez to the ground. Alvarez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Alvarez lands a nice shot that snaps Pickle's head back.
A cross from Alvarez lands.
A nice combination there by Alvarez.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A left and a right from Alvarez both land. Nice combination.
Alvarez connects with a body shot.
Alvarez scores with a three punch combo!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Alvarez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Pickle's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Pickle takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Alvarez lands with a cross.
Alvarez is working the combinations to good effect here.
Pickle walks into a straight right hand from Alvarez.
Pickle moves forwards but Alvarez connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A jab from Alvarez does it's job there.
Alvarez moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Alvarez getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Alvarez feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Pickles jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Alvarez throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alvarez lands with a nice combination. Pickle backs away looking to recover.
Alvarez scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Alvarez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Alvarez smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez lands with a right hand.
A jab from Alvarez misses.
Pickle shoots in looking for a takedown. Alvarez tries to sprawl out of it but Pickle keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Alvarez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Alvarez scores with a nice right hand.
Pickle drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Alvarez scores with a three punch combo!
Alvarez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Alvarez lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pickle takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Jab from Alvarez.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Alvarez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pickle circles away quickly and effectively.
Ricky Alvarez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Danga de danga de dang - Alvarez scores with a four punch combination!
Alvarez's corner calls for a 1-2. Alvarez obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Alvarez looks to land a combination. Pickle sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Pickle gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Alvarez throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Alvarez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pickle fails with a takedown attempt.
Pickle misses with a combination
and Alvarez counters with a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez scores with a jab to the body.
Alvarez lands with a cross.
Alvarez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Alvarez tries to clinch up.
Pickle on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Alvarez lands with a straight right. Pickle didn't see that one coming.
Alvarez punishes Pickle's body with a nice straight punch.
Pickle looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Alvarez wants to clinch.
Pickle takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pickle throws a leg kick
and Alvarez counters with a stiff right hand.
Pickle walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Alvarez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Pickle is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alvarez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Alvarez lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Pickle swinging wildly here.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pickle has his takedown stuffed
and Alvarez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Peter Pickle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alvarez works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Alvarez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Alvarez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 25:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 25:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Alvarez!